Specific fabric articles exhibiting very low air and/or gas permeability
(even upon application of high inflation pressures) and very high tear
strengths are herein disclosed and claimed. Such a specific fabric also
permits the incorporation of discrete openings (through cutting, for
example) through which air and/or gas introduced by an airbag inflation
canister will travel. Such a specific fabric acts as a barrier to the
complete introduction of high pressure inflation gases into an airbag
cushion, thereby permitting a more controlled, safer inflation upon the
occurrence of a collision event. Thus, the specific inventive fabric
permits movement of inflation gas and/or air substantially solely through
the openings within the fabric and not through the interstices between the
individual fiber constituents. The inventive fabric also withstands the
intense heat generated by the explosion which creates the inflation gasses
and does not lose any appreciable degree of performance during and after
such an inflation event. An inflation module, as well as an entire vehicle
restraint system, comprising such a specific timing fabric is also
contemplated within this invention.
