John B Sollars

US Patent:

6467511, Oct 22, 2002

Filed:

Jul 5, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/899307

Inventors:

John A. Sollars - LaGrange GA

Assignee:

Miliken Company - Spartanburg SC

International Classification:

D03D 4908

US Classification:

139430, 2424226, 2421298, 2421561, 66146, 139 54

Abstract:

A mechanism to automatically control tension of supplemental yarns added to a weaving or knitting machine has a pivotal control arm, one end of which is influenced by the tension of the yarn being controlled, while a counteracting force is applied to another end of the arm. The movement of the arm is used to modulate and adjust a braking device acting against the yarn holding spool to keep the tension of the yarn substantially uniform over time as the diameter of the yarn wound on the storage spool changes.

US Patent:

6978808, Dec 27, 2005

Filed:

Jul 17, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/621713

Inventors:

Robert V. Walsh - Peachtree City GA, US
John Sollars - LaGrange GA, US

Assignee:

Milliken & Company - Spartanburg SC

International Classification:

D03D041/00

US Classification:

139 11, 139383 R, 139DIG 1, 2807431, 280735

Abstract:

A method for making a side curtain airbag by weaving the airbag in a bias direction ranging from 20 to 70 with respect to the warp of the fabric of which the side curtain airbag is made in order to increase contraction of the bag upon inflation and to increase productivity of airbag manufacture. By orienting the airbag pattern on a bias, airbags can be better “nested” in the output of the loom, less material is wasted and high loom utilization achieved. The airbag is preferably made with a low-permeability weave to reduce leakage of inflation medium upon inflation of the airbag. In some applications, the major axis of the airbag is perpendicular to the warp.

US Patent:

7713890, May 11, 2010

Filed:

Aug 23, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/508623

Inventors:

Kirkland W. Vogt - Simpsonville SC, US
Karl M. Gruenberg - Spartanburg SC, US
John A. Sollars - LaGrange GA, US
Carlton J. Senn - LaGrange GA, US
Stophon F. Waddell - Easley SC, US
Kasey R. Myers - Auburn AL, US

Assignee:

Milliken & Company - Spartanburg SC

International Classification:

B32B 27/12
D04H 1/00

US Classification:

442 2, 442286, 442287, 442292

Abstract:

Provided herein are various flexible sheet-like substrates that are lightweight, rupture or burst resistant, and suitable for use in constructing a variety of structures used in fluid-containment, especially gas containment, and other applications, and the processes by which such composites can be fabricated. In the most general case, the composites of this disclosure are comprised of a woven textile fabric to which has been laminated a flexible film. Two principal embodiments are disclosed: a first embodiment without a reinforcing layer, and a second embodiment with a structurally robust, bias-oriented reinforcing layer, preferably interposed between the fabric and the film.

US Patent:

20010005660, Jun 28, 2001

Filed:

Jan 22, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/767156

Inventors:

Shulong Li - Spartanburg SC, US
John Sollars - LaGrange GA, US

International Classification:

B32B005/02

US Classification:

442/071000, 442/059000

Abstract:

Coated inflatable fabrics, more particularly airbags to which very low add-on amounts of coating have been applied, are provided which exhibit extremely low air permeabilities. The inventive fabrics are primarily for use in automotive restraint cushions which require low permeability characteristics (such as side curtain airbags). Traditionally, heavy, and thus expensive, coatings of compounds such as neoprene, silicones and the like, have been utilized to provide such required low permeability. The inventive fabric utilizes an inexpensive, very thin coating to provide such necessary low permeability levels. Thus, the inventive coated airbag possesses a coating of at most 3.0 ounces per square yard, most preferably about 0.8 ounces per square yard, and exhibits a leak-down time (a measurement of the time required for the entire amount of gas introduced within the airbag at peak pressure during inflation to escape the airbag at 10 psi) of at least 5 seconds as well as very low packing volumes (for more efficient use of storage space within a vehicle). All coatings, in particular elastomeric, preferably, though not necessarily, non-silicon coatings, and coated airbags meeting these criteria are intended to reside within the scope of this invention.

US Patent:

20010009829, Jul 26, 2001

Filed:

Jan 22, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/767250

Inventors:

John Sollars - LaGrange GA, US
Shulong Li - Spartanburg SC, US

International Classification:

B32B005/18
B32B005/22

US Classification:

442/076000, 442/182000, 442/218000, 442/242000

Abstract:

Coated inflatable fabrics, more particularly airbags to which very low add-on amounts of coating have been applied, are provided which exhibit extremely low air permeability. The inventive inflatable fabrics are primarily for use in automotive restraint cushions that require low permeability characteristics (such as side curtain airbags). Traditionally, heavy, and thus expensive, coatings of compounds such as neoprene, silicones and the like, have been utilized to provide such required low permeability. The inventive fabric utilizes an inexpensive, very thin coating to provide such necessarily low permeability levels. Thus, the inventive coated inflatable airbag comprises a film laminated on at least a portion of the target fabric surface wherein the film possesses a tensile strength of at least 2,000 and an elongation at break of at least 180%. The film provides a low permeability airbag cushion exhibiting a leak-down time of at least 5 seconds as well as a very low packing volume (for more efficient use of storage space within a vehicle) for the target side curtain airbag.

US Patent:

20010042980, Nov 22, 2001

Filed:

Jun 19, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/884541

Inventors:

John Sollars - LaGrange GA, US

International Classification:

B60R021/16

US Classification:

280/743100

Abstract:

An inflatable airbag cushion () is provided. The bag includes a face portion and a rear portion formed from first and second fabric layers (). The bag further includes a number of straight line woven in joints () defining flow barrier elements (). The flow barrier elements () serve to contain the inflation gases and to restrict inflation of the cushion.

US Patent:

20030034640, Feb 20, 2003

Filed:

Aug 15, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/930613

Inventors:

John Sollars - LaGrange GA, US

International Classification:

B60R021/18

US Classification:

280/733000, 280/743100

Abstract:

An airbag system for seatbelts including a housing and an elongated one-piece tubular inflatable structure disposed within the housing, where the housing and inflatable structure include a seatbelt passageway so that a seatbelt may pass therethrough unhindered and unaffected during normal seatbelt use, while the inflatable structure remains in an uninflated state. In a collision event, an inflator causes the inflatable structure to unfold, or preferably unroll, and extend from the housing along the seatbelt, so that the inflatable structure surrounds the seatbelt over an extended length thereof to provide a cushion between the seatbelt and an occupant. Such an arrangement may be easily applied to existing seatbelt systems.

US Patent:

20050077708, Apr 14, 2005

Filed:

Oct 29, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/696757

Inventors:

John Sollars - LaGrange GA, US

International Classification:

B60R021/24

US Classification:

280729000

Abstract:

An inflatable airbag cushion () is provided. The bag includes a face portion and a rear portion formed from first and second fabric layers (). The bag further includes a number of straight line woven in joints () defining flow barrier elements (). The flow barrier elements () serve to contain the inflation gases and to restrict inflation of the cushion.