Claims
- 1. An airbag including a bag of strong, lightweight, thin, flexible fabric of low permeability comprising an uncoated woven cloth characterized by a permeability of not more than one cubic foot of air per minute per square foot of cloth (0.5 cm.sup.3 /sec/cm.sup.2) at a pressure drop of 0.5 inch of water (1.27 cm) across the cloth.
- 2. The airbag of claim 1 wherein said fabric is further characterized by a Mullen burst strength of at least 650 psi (4482 kilopascals), a tensile strength of at least 300 lbs. (1334 newtons), a trapezoid tear of at least 40 lbs. (178 newtons), an elongation at break of at least 25%, a weight of not more than 8.25 oz/square yard (280 gm/m.sup.2), and a thickness of less than 0.016 inch (0.041 cm).
- 3. The airbag of claim 1 wherein said cloth is woven in a 1.times.1 plain weave.
- 4. The airbag of claim 1 wherein said cloth is woven in a 2.times.2 basket weave.
- 5. The airbag of claim 1 wherein said cloth is woven about 51-52 ends/inch by about 43-52 picks/inch (20 ends/cm by 17-20 picks/cm.)
- 6. The airbag of claim 1 wherein said cloth is polyester.
- 7. The airbag of claim 1 wherein said cloth is woven of not greater than 600 denier multifilament yarn.
- 8. The airbag of claim 7 wherein said cloth is woven of 400-600 denier multifilament yarn.
- 9. The airbag of claim 8 wherein said cloth is woven from yarn having 100-300 filaments.
- 10. The airbag of claim 9 wherein said cloth is woven from polyester filament yarn.
- 11. The airbag of claim 1 wherein said cloth is calendered on both sides below its softening temperature.
- 12. The airbag of claim 1 additionally including a finish disposed on at least the surface of said cloth forming the interior of said bag to reduce flash point melting of said cloth.
- 13. The airbag of claim 12 wherein said finish is of low thermal conductivity.
- 14. The airbag of claim 12 wherein said finish includes volatiles.
- 15. An airbag including a bag of strong, lightweight, thin, flexible fabric of low permeability comprising an uncoated, woven, high strength, lightweight, thin, flexible cloth calendered on both sides below its softening temperature to reduce the permeability to not more than one cubic foot of air per minute per square foot of cloth (0.5 cm.sup.3 /sec/cm.sup.2) at a pressure drop of 0.5 inch of water (1.27 cm) across the cloth.
- 16. An airbag including a bag of strong, lightweight, thin, flexible fabric of low permeability comprising an uncoated woven cloth of polyester calendered on both sides below its softening temperature to reduce the permeability to not more than one cubic foot of air per minute per square foot of cloth (0.5 cm.sup.3 /sec/cm.sup.2) at a pressure drop of 0.5 inch of water (1.27 cm) across the cloth, and characterized by a Mullen burst strength of at least 650 psi (4482 kilopascals), a tensile strength of at least 300 lbs. (1334 newtons), a trapezoid tear of at least 40 lbs. (178 newtons), an elongation at break of at least 25%, a weight of not more than 8.25 oz/square yard (280 gm/m.sup.2), and a thickness of less than 0.016 inch (0.041 cm), woven of 400-600 denier multifilament yarn, having 100-300 filaments per yarn bundle.
- 17. An airbag comprising a bag of a heat-resistant strong, lightweight, thin, flexible fabric of low permeability formed of
- (A) an uncoated woven cloth made from yarn and characterized by a permeability of not more than one cubic foot of air per minute per square foot of cloth (0.5 cm.sup.3 /sec/cm.sup.2) at a pressure drop of 0.5 inch of water (1.27 cm) across the cloth; and
- (B) a finish disposed on at least the surface of said cloth forming the interior of said bag to reduce flash point melting of said cloth.
- 18. The airbag of claim 17 wherein said finish is of low thermal conductivity.
- 19. The airbag of claim 17 wherein said finish includes volatiles.
- 20. The airbag of claim 17 wherein said finish is an additive added to said cloth after weaving thereof.
- 21. The airbag of claim 17 wherein said finish is an additive added to said yarn prior to weaving of said cloth.
- 22. The airbag of claim 17 wherein said finish is a processing lubricant.
- 23. The airbag of claim 22 wherein said processing lubricant is a blend of mineral oil and at least one non-ionic surfactant.
- 24. The airbag of claim 1 wherein said cloth is woven in a 2/1 twill weave.
- 25. The airbag of claim 1 constructed and arranged without vent holes.
- 26. The airbag of claim 15 constructed and arranged without vent holes.
- 27. The airbag of claim 16 constructed and arranged without vent holes.
- 28. The airbag of claim 17 constructed and arranged without vent holes.
- 29. A method of making an airbag including a bag of strong, lightweight, thin, flexible fabric of low permeability, comprising the steps of:
- (A) providing an uncoated, woven, strong, lightweight, thin, flexible cloth of high permeability; and
- (B) calendering the cloth on both sides below its softening temperature to reduce the permeability to not more than three cubic feet of air per minute per square foot of cloth (1.5 cm.sup.3 /sec/cm.sup.2) at a pressure drop of 0.5 inch of water (1.27 cm) across the cloth.
CROSS - REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This is a continuation in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 264,158, filed Oct. 28, 1988, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,977,016.
US Referenced Citations (10)
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
264158 |
Oct 1988 |
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