Airbag deployment sensor tape folding loom

Abstract

A tape for use within an airbag deployment sensor is formed in an apparatus that has a housing that receives an elongated tape within a tape slot. A pin base with upwardly protruding parallel pins is positioned forward of the tape slot and reciprocates vertically. A tray is mounted to the housing forward of the pins which has an upwardly facing shelf which receives the elongated tape thereon as it is folded. Parallel blades are mounted to the housing and are slidable in the front to back direction. Each blade is movable from behind the pins to extend between two pins such that portions of the blade protrude forward of the pins. Each blade may thus extend across the tray shelf to engage with the tape extending through the tape slot to impose a fold on the tape.

I claim:  
     
         1 . An apparatus for folding elongated tapes, the apparatus comprising: 
 a housing having portions defining a tape slot, and portions which define an inlet to the tape slot and an outlet from the tape slot;    a pin base mounted to the housing for reciprocating vertical motion, and positioned forward of the tape slot;    a plurality of parallel pins which are fixed to the pin base and which extend upwardly therefrom;    a tray mounted to the housing forward of the pins, the tray having an upwardly facing shelf which receives an elongated tape thereon; and    a plurality of parallel sliding blades which are mounted to the housing and are slidable in the front to back direction, wherein each blade is movable from a first position rearward of the pins, and a second position extending between two pins such that portions of said blade protrude forward of the pins, wherein each blade in the second position extends across the tray shelf, the blades being thus engageable with a tape extending through the tape slot to impose a plurality of folds on the tape.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the housing has a first wall which extends upwardly above the level of the tray shelf, and wherein a flange extends upwardly from the tray within the housing, the flange being substantially parallel to the housing first wall, such that the tray may be advanced to compress the folded tape between the flange and the first wall.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the flange has portions defining an upwardly opening finger relief opening, and the first wall has portions defining an upwardly opening finger relief opening.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a cover that is hinged to the housing and which in a first position extends over and covers the tray, and in a second position allows access to the tray.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the housing has a first sidewall and a parallel second sidewall, and wherein parallel tray slots are defined in the first sidewall and the second sidewall to receive the tray extending therethrough, and wherein portions of the tray extend outwardly from the second sidewall prior to the imposition of the plurality of folds on the tape.  
     
     
         6 . An apparatus for folding elongated tapes, the apparatus comprising: 
 a tape supporting tray;    a housing having portions defining an interior tape compartment, into which the tray extends;    portions of the housing defining a tape slot communicating with the tape compartment and having an inlet and an outlet;    a plurality of pins which project upwardly into the tape compartment, the pins being movable to be positioned below the tray, the pins being positioned forward of the tape slot and rearwardly of the tray;    portions of the housing which define a plurality of parallel blade slots communicating with the tape compartment; and    a plurality of blades, each blade being mounted in one of said blade slots, wherein each blade is movable from a first position rearward of the pins, and a second position extending between two pins such that portions of said blade protrude forward of the pins, wherein each blade in the second position extends across the tray shelf, the blades being thus engageable with a tape extending through the tape slot to impose a plurality of folds on the tape.    
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the housing has a first wall which extends upwardly above the level of the tray shelf, and wherein a flange extends upwardly from the tray within the housing, the flange being substantially parallel to the housing first wall, such that the tray may be advanced to compress the folded tape between the flange and the first wall.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the flange has portions defining an upwardly opening finger relief opening, and the first wall has portions defining an upwardly opening finger relief opening.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 6  further comprising a cover which is hinged to the housing and which in a first position extends over and covers the tape compartment, and in a second position allows access to the tape compartment.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the housing has a first sidewall and a parallel second sidewall, and wherein parallel tray slots are defined in the first sidewall and the second sidewall to receive the tray extending therethrough, and wherein portions of the tray extend outwardly from the second sidewall prior to the imposition of the plurality of folds on the tape.  
     
     
         11 . A method for folding an elongated tape for use within an airbag position sensor, the method comprising the steps of: 
 inserting an elongated tape into a tape slot within a housing having portions defining the tape slot, and portions which define an inlet to the tape slot and an outlet from the tape slot, such that a length of tape projects from the housing tape slot outlet, the tape extending rearwardly of a plurality of parallel vertically extending pins mounted to a pin base;    sliding a first blade forward between two of the plurality of pins, such that the blade engages against the tape within the tape slot, and crosses over a tray mounted within the housing forward of the pins, to thereby impose a fold on the tape;    after sliding the first blade, sliding a plurality of latter blades one after the other to extend across the tray and impose a plurality of folds on the tape;    depressing the plurality of pins below the folded tape;    retracting the blades; and    compressing the folded tape on the shelf and extracting it from the housing.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein each blade has a rearward notch, and wherein the step of retracting the blades comprises: 
 engaging a retraction member with a plurality of slots with the rearward notches of the blades; and  
 moving the retraction member rearwardly to simultaneously retract the engaged blades.