A method for manufacturing a one-piece woven (OPW) air bag includes method for manufacturing an OPW airbag. The method includes providing yarns, warping the yarns on at least one beam of a loom, and simultaneously weaving yarns into a fabric air bag structure having two layer portions defining an inflatable volume and single layer portions forming seams delimiting the inflatable volume. A plurality of the yarns overlay one another to form nonwoven alignment elements in at least one of the single layer portions. The air bag structure is cut to define the OPW air bag. The alignment elements are aligned with alignment elements on a panel. The air bag structure is sewn to the panel with the alignment elements aligned with one another.

Provided are a base cloth for a material and a manufacturing method therefor, the base cloth suppressing opening of a boundary portion between an expanding part and a non-expanding part when used in a bag body, having low dynamic air permeability, and being capable of exhibiting the characteristic of being unlikely to burst even at high temperatures. A fabric base cloth for a material according to the present invention is composed of fibers having a prescribed thread breaking strength value, and for which the cloth surface is not subjected to resin coating, laminating, or a resin impregnation treatment.

A method for manufacturing a one-piece woven (OPW) air bag includes providing yarns and warping the yarns on at least one beam of a loom. Yarns are simultaneously woven into a fabric air bag structure having two layer portions defining both an inflatable volume and non-inflatable portions and single layer portions forming seams delimiting the inflatable volume. The air bag structure is cut to define the OPW air bag and at least one opening extending through only one layer of the two layer portions.

The present invention discloses a multiple-chamber airbag structure where the airbag design has at least a stiff lower section to reduce the chest velocity and a soft upper section to meet the HIC requirements. Although stowed and deployed as a unitary airbag, the present invention includes separate chambers, which allows for independent gas inflation and stiffness control with venting.

The present invention discloses a multiple-chamber airbag structure where the airbag design has at least a stiff lower section to reduce the chest velocity and a soft upper section to meet the HIC requirements. Although stowed and deployed as a unitary airbag, the present invention includes separate chambers, which allows for independent gas inflation and stiffness control with venting.

The present invention discloses a multiple-chamber airbag structure where the airbag design has at least a stiff lower section to reduce the chest velocity and a soft upper section to meet the HIC requirements. Although stowed and deployed as a unitary airbag, the present invention includes separate chambers, which allows for independent gas inflation and stiffness control with venting.

The present invention discloses a multiple-chamber airbag structure where the airbag design has at least a stiff lower section to reduce the chest velocity and a soft upper section to meet the HIC requirements. Although stowed and deployed as a unitary airbag, the present invention includes separate chambers, which allows for independent gas inflation and stiffness control with venting.

A method for producing a woven fabric comprises weaving fibers in a warp direction and a weft direction to form a fabric having a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the warp fibers and weft fibers each comprises one or more filaments of a synthetic polymer having substantially uniform cross-sectional composition. At least a portion of the filaments in the fibers on the top and/or bottom surface of the fabric are then fused together in the presence of a heat transfer liquid or vapor added during the fusing step or added in a prior step of the fabric production process and retained by the filaments. The fusing step produces a treated fabric having a tensile strength in both the warp and weft directions of 1000 N or greater and having, in the absence of any coating, a static air permeability (SAP) of 3 l/dm.sup.2/min or lower.

A method for producing a woven fabric comprises weaving fibers in a warp direction and a weft direction to form a fabric having a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the warp fibers and weft fibers each comprises one or more filaments of a synthetic polymer having substantially uniform cross-sectional composition. At least a portion of the filaments in the fibers on the top and/or bottom surface of the fabric are then fused together in the presence of a heat transfer liquid or vapor added during the fusing step or added in a prior step of the fabric production process and retained by the filaments. The fusing step produces a treated fabric having a tensile strength in both the warp and weft directions of 1000 N or greater and having, in the absence of any coating, a static air permeability (SAP) of 3 l/dm.sup.2/min or lower.

An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle seat includes an airbag defining an inflatable volume for receiving inflation fluid from an inflator having first and second ends. The airbag has a first sleeve configured to receive the first end of the inflator and a second end configured to receive the second end of the inflator. The first and second sleeves extend from the airbag.