Patent ID: 7753406

Claim:
A method of folding an air bag for a motor vehicle, the air bag being initially uninflated and having a front panel and a back panel disposed opposite the front panel, the method comprising: positioning the air bag such that a center line divides the front and back panels into symmetrical first and second side portions; extending the air bag in a first direction along the center line such that there are no folds in the air bag, wherein a first end of the air bag disposed furthest from an inlet is disposed in a first position and a second end of the air bag is disposed opposite the first end; positioning a first perimeter section of the first side portion toward the center line and between the front and back panels to create a first upper pleat and a first lower pleat while the first end is disposed in the first position such that the first upper pleat is not stitched to the first lower pleat and wherein no other pleats are provided with the first side portion; positioning a second perimeter section of the second side portion toward the center line and between the front and back panels to create a second upper pleat and a second lower pleat while the first end is disposed in the first position; and rolling the air bag in a second direction disposed opposite the first direction to create a rolled portion; wherein positioning of the first upper and lower pleats and the second upper and lower pleats relative to the center line is kept constant prior to rolling the air bag and wherein the second end is not folded over the rolled portion.