Folding method of a side airbag for a car seat

Abstract

The application discloses a folding method of a side airbag of a car seat, which comprises the following steps: step 1, laying the side airbag; step 2, folding the upper part of the airbag to the passenger side, and then folding the upper part upward to form a Z-fold; step 3, inserting the lower end of the airbag into a fold to form an inner plug structure, at this time, the airbag is folded into a long strip shape; step 4, laying the long strip-shaped airbag, and folding the X-direction front part of the airbag to the passenger side direction; step 5, continuing to fold the X-direction rear part of the airbag to the root of the gas generator in a Z-fold manner; and step 6, wrapping a cloth around the outer periphery of the folded airbag to maintain the shape. The application has a good guiding effect on a large amount of gas generated by the gas generator, can effectively guide the gas to rapidly inflate to the dummy arm direction, makes the airbag unfold to the passenger side of the dummy and be filled with the gas, and realizes the function of rapidly lifting the arm of the dummy.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of automotive airbag technology, and in particular to a folding method for the airbag of a contoured side airbag in an automotive seat. Background Technology

[0002] Side airbags are a key component of a vehicle's passive safety restraint system. When a side collision occurs, the airbag deploys instantly, forming a buffer barrier between the occupant and interior components such as the door and B-pillar, reducing injuries to the occupant's chest, abdomen, and pelvis. Currently, conventional side airbags are typically designed and developed based on the condition of the seat back being at a normal angle (i.e., the occupant in a standard sitting posture). The airbag's protection area, deployment shape, and folding method are optimized for this specific posture, meeting the protection needs of the occupant's shoulders, chest, abdomen, and pelvis in a normal sitting position.

[0003] However, as car cabins evolve towards the concept of a "third living space," new seating configurations such as comfort seats and zero-gravity seats, which allow for large-angle backrest adjustments and even put occupants in a near-reclining position, are becoming increasingly popular. When the seat backrest is adjusted to a large angle, the relative position between the occupant's body posture and the airbag changes significantly. Traditional side airbags, due to their fixed folding method and deployment path, cannot adjust their protection range according to changes in occupant posture, resulting in a significant decrease in protection for occupants in a reclining or semi-reclining position, especially the head area, which is often not effectively covered. Although some models use roof-mounted curtain airbags to protect the head, these airbags cannot tilt with the seat, so the occupant's head remains unprotected when the seat is in a large reclining position.

[0004] Furthermore, in side-impact tests, the vehicle body intrusion depth and speed are relatively high, placing higher demands on the thickness of the airbag, the range of its protection area, and its deployment stability. An ideal conformal side airbag should cover a broad area from the shoulder to the pelvis, and in a lying-down position, it may even need to extend further to cover the head. However, two major technical challenges have been encountered in actual development:

[0005] Firstly, during airbag deployment, the dummy's arm is frequently pushed towards the chest by the airbag, causing abnormal compression of the chest and resulting in excessive chest compression. This is because, with traditional folding methods, the airbag's inflation direction lacks guidance and lifting effect on the arm, leaving it compressed between the airbag and the chest, severely affecting chest injury indicators.

[0006] Secondly, due to limited space in the area surrounding the head (such as the B-pillar, roof, headrests, and door trim), there is a risk that the airbag's head protection area may not deploy properly or that the deployment direction may be uncontrollable. If the folding method is improper, the airbag may get stuck in the seat foam, inside the door panel, or fail to form an effective protection area in a very short time due to interference from the interior trim, resulting in failure of head protection.

[0007] Therefore, designing a folding method that ensures rapid, stable, and directional deployment of the airbag and effectively raises the dummy's arms to avoid chest compression is a technical problem that urgently needs to be solved by those skilled in the art for the purpose of developing a new type of automotive seat side airbag that can provide conformal protection as the seat back angle changes.

[0008] Therefore, through beneficial exploration and research, the applicant has found a solution to the above problems, and the technical solution to be introduced below is the result of this research. Summary of the Invention

[0009] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a folding method for a car seat conformal side airbag that can ensure rapid, stable, and directional deployment of the airbag and effectively lift the dummy's arm to avoid chest compression, in order to address the shortcomings of the prior art.

[0010] The technical problem to be solved by this invention can be achieved by the following technical solution:

[0011] A method for folding a conformal side airbag in a car seat includes the following steps:

[0012] Step S10: Lay the sewn conformal side airbag flat, with the occupant side of the airbag facing up and the door side facing down.

[0013] Step S20: Fold the upper part of the airbag towards the occupant side first, and then fold it upward to form a Z-fold. This is to prevent the upper part of the airbag from being interfered with by the surrounding interior when it is deployed, and to ensure that the head protection area is in place quickly.

[0014] Step S30: Tuck the lower end of the airbag inward to form an inner plug structure. At this time, the airbag is folded into a long strip to allow the lower end of the airbag to unfold quickly and to unfold from bottom to top, so as to facilitate lifting the occupant's arm.

[0015] Step S40: Lay the long strip of airbag flat and fold it several times towards the occupant side at the X-shaped front until the folded length reaches 1 / 2 to 2 / 3 of the total length of the airbag. This is used to control the airbag's unfolding direction towards the occupant side, so that the unfolded airbag fits tightly against the occupant.

[0016] Step S50: Fold the air bag from X to the rear in a Z-fold manner to the root of the gas generator to make the front of the air bag unfold quickly and stabilize its direction, so as to prevent the air bag from entering the seat foam or door panel.

[0017] Step S60: Wrap the outer periphery of the folded conformal side airbag with a wrapping cloth to maintain its shape.

[0018] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in step S30, if it is necessary to further reduce the Z-axis length of the folded air bag after inserting a fold inward, the protruding part formed by inserting is pulled outward so that the edge of the protruding part is aligned with the edge of the air bag body.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the number of folds in step S40 is 6.

[0020] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the number of Z folds in step S50 is 3 folds.

[0021] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the side conformal airbag is provided with a pull strap inside for adjusting airflow, the pull strap has an adjustment hole or an airflow gap between it and the inner wall of the airbag, and the airbag is also provided with an exhaust hole.

[0022] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the folding method is applied to an airbag that can adapt to changes in the angle of the seat back; when the seat back is at a normal angle, the deployed airbag simultaneously protects the occupant's head, chest, abdomen, and pelvis; when the seat back is adjusted to a large angle, the deployed airbag tilts with the backrest, similarly covering the aforementioned areas.

[0023] Due to the adoption of the above technical solution, the beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: The folding method of this invention, while ensuring the effective deployment of the side-mounted airbag, effectively guides the large amount of gas generated by the gas generator during detonation. This guides the gas to preferentially and rapidly inflate towards the dummy's arms, causing the airbag to unfold and fill with gas towards the dummy's occupant side, thus achieving the function of quickly raising the dummy's arms. Furthermore, it allows the head airbag to deploy smoothly without obstruction. Thus, under side-impact test conditions, the unique folding method of this airbag structure effectively protects the dummy, preventing head injuries and chest compression due to arm compression, which would result in excessive chest compression and score deductions. Simultaneously, this invention provides good protection for the dummy occupant, achieving the desired effect smoothly when the side-mounted airbag deploys, particularly in protecting the dummy's head and chest. Attached Figure Description

[0024] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0025] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the conformal side airbag for automobile seats in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the coverage area of ​​the side conformal airbag in a normal sitting posture according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the coverage area of ​​the side conformal airbag in a lying position according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the state of step S10 of the folding method in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the state of step S20 of the folding method in an embodiment of the present invention, wherein... Figure 5 The left side shows a diagram of the airbag after it has been folded. Figure 5 The right side is Figure 5 Sectional view along line AA on the left.

[0030] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the state of step S30 of the folding method in an embodiment of the present invention, wherein... Figure 6 The left side shows a diagram of the airbag after it has been folded. Figure 6 The right side is Figure 6 BB-direction cross-sectional view on the left.

[0031] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the state of step S40 of the folding method in an embodiment of the present invention, wherein... Figure 7 The left side shows a diagram of the airbag after it has been folded. Figure 7 The right side is Figure 7 Cross-sectional view from the left (CC direction).

[0032] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the state of step S50 of the folding method in an embodiment of the present invention, wherein... Figure 8 The left side shows a diagram of the airbag after it has been folded. Figure 8 The right side is Figure 8 Sectional view along the DD direction on the left.

[0033] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the final folded form after the wrapping cloth is applied in an embodiment of the present invention, wherein... Figure 9The left side shows a diagram after the wrapping cloth has been applied. Figure 9 The right side is Figure 9 Side view on the left. Detailed Implementation

[0034] To make the technical means, creative features, objectives and effects of this invention easier to understand, the invention will be further described below with reference to specific illustrations.

[0035] like Figure 1 As shown, the car seat conformal side airbag 100 involved in this embodiment includes an air bag 110, a strap 120, and a gas generator 130.

[0036] The air bag 110 has a pull strap 120 inside for regulating airflow. The pull strap 120 may have adjustment holes, or gaps 113 and 114 may be left between the two ends of the pull strap 120 and the inner wall of the air bag 110 to distribute airflow. The pull strap 120 may be a structure with adjustment holes, or a structure with gaps left at both ends that are not sewn to the edge of the air bag, or even other structural forms that can control airflow distribution, as long as the function of "prioritizing inflation of the lower chamber and then distributing airflow to the upper chamber" can be achieved.

[0037] The pull strap 120 divides the inflation chamber of the airbag 110 into an upper chamber 111 and a lower chamber 112. The lower chamber 112 is used to protect the occupant's chest, abdomen, and pelvis, while the upper chamber 111 is used to protect the occupant's head. The airbag 110 is also provided with an exhaust port 115 for adjusting the pressure inside the airbag.

[0038] When a side collision occurs, the electronic control unit (ACU) sends a detonation signal to the gas generator 130, which instantly generates a large amount of gas. The gas first fills the lower chamber 112, causing it to expand rapidly to counteract the impact of interior materials such as the doors and B-pillars on the occupant's chest, abdomen, and pelvis. Subsequently, the gas enters the upper chamber 111 through the gaps or adjustment holes on both sides of the strap 120, causing the head protection area to expand and form a buffer protection for the head.

[0039] This embodiment provides a folding method for a conformal side airbag in a car seat. This method is suitable for airbags that can provide conformal protection as the seat back angle changes. The following describes the method in conjunction with... Figures 4 to 9 The method is described in detail.

[0040] Step S10: Initial Placement

[0041] See Figure 4Place the sewn conformal side airbag flat on the workbench, adjusting its orientation so that the occupant side of the airbag faces upwards and the door side faces downwards. This placement provides a consistent reference for subsequent folding operations, ensuring that the airbag deploys towards the occupant side upon deployment.

[0042] Step S20: Upper end Z-fold

[0043] See Figure 5 The upper part of the airbag is first folded towards the occupant, then folded upwards to form a Z-fold structure. The function of this Z-fold structure is that when the gas generator detonates and the airbag begins to inflate, the upper part of the airbag (i.e., the head protection area) can unfold along the predetermined Z-fold path, effectively avoiding interference from surrounding interior materials (such as B-pillars, headliners, seat headrests, etc.), ensuring that the head protection area quickly and smoothly reaches the predetermined protection position.

[0044] Step S30: Fold the lower inner plug

[0045] See Figure 6 The lower end of the airbag is folded inwards to form an inner plug structure. After this step, the airbag is folded into a long strip. The function of this inner plug structure is that, during the initial inflation of the airbag, gas preferentially enters the inner plugged lower area, causing the lower end of the airbag to expand first and guiding the deployment direction from bottom to top. This bottom-up deployment method helps occupants actively raise their arms during airbag deployment, preventing the arms from being pushed towards the chest by the airbag and causing excessive chest compression.

[0046] As a further preferred embodiment, after inserting the airbag inward, if the overall vehicle space is limited and a smaller length in the Z-axis (i.e., vertical direction) is required after folding, the protruding portion formed by inserting the airbag can be pulled outward so that the edge of the protruding portion aligns with the edge of the airbag body. By adjusting the amount of pull-back, precise control of the total length of the folded airbag can be achieved to meet the assembly requirements of different vehicle models.

[0047] Step S40: Front fold

[0048] See Figure 7 The elongated airbag obtained after folding in steps S20 to S30 is laid flat, and then its X-front portion (i.e., the part closest to the occupant) is rolled up towards the occupant side. The preferred number of folds is 6, and the rolling length is controlled between 1 / 2 and 2 / 3 of the total airbag length. Of course, the number of folds in step S40 is not limited to 6; it can be adjusted appropriately based on the X-length of the airbag and the overall vehicle layout space requirements, while ensuring the rolling length reaches 1 / 2 to 2 / 3 of the total airbag length.

[0049] The purpose of this folding method is to control the unfolding direction of the airbag towards the occupant during inflation, ensuring that the unfolded airbag fits snugly against the occupant's body and avoids abnormal unfolding posture caused by interior trim, thus achieving a more stable conformal protection effect. The tightness of the fold should be moderate, ensuring both the stability of the folded shape and smooth unfolding during inflation.

[0050] Step S50: Fold the rear Z-section to the root of the generator.

[0051] See Figure 8 The gas bag is then folded in a Z-fold pattern towards the rear (i.e., the remaining unfolded portion) until it reaches the root of the gas generator. In this embodiment, the number of Z-folds is preferably three. Of course, the number of Z-folds in step S50 is not limited to three and can be adjusted adaptively according to the length of the rear of the gas bag and the installation position of the generator.

[0052] The Z-fold structure serves to ensure that the front side of the airbag (i.e., the folded portion in step S40) unfolds quickly and stably in the initial inflation phase, preventing delays or directional deviations due to the large dimensions of the airbag. Simultaneously, this Z-fold design effectively prevents the airbag from entering the seat foam or door panel gaps during unfolding, ensuring that the airbag unfolds outward along a predetermined path and fully performs its protective function.

[0053] Step S60: Cover with a wrapping cloth to maintain shape

[0054] See Figure 9 First, a covering fabric is placed around the folded, conformal airbag to maintain its shape. The covering fabric can be non-woven, nylon, or other materials with appropriate strength and breathability. Its purpose is to prevent the folded airbag from loosening or deforming during transportation, assembly, and installation, ensuring the consistency and reliability of the airbag module. The specific material, sewing method, and fixing method of the covering fabric to the airbag can be selected according to the actual production process requirements, as long as it maintains the shape of the folded airbag and does not affect the normal deployment of the airbag upon ignition. After wrapping, the gas generator and fixing bolts, along with other accessories, are installed in place, completing the assembly of the entire airbag module.

[0055] like Figure 2 As shown, when the seat back is at its normal angle (the occupant is in a normal sitting posture), after the gas generator detonates, the airbag unfolds along the aforementioned folding path. The lower chamber quickly fills to protect the occupant's chest, abdomen, and pelvis, and then the upper chamber fills to protect the occupant's head. At this time, the airbag simultaneously covers four areas: the occupant's head, chest, abdomen, and pelvis.

[0056] like Figure 3As shown, when the seat back is adjusted to a large angle (the occupant is in a near-reclining position), the airbag module, fixed to the side of the seat back, tilts along with the seat back. After the gas generator deploys, the airbag unfolds along the same folding path. Although the occupant's posture changes, the airbag's unfolding direction relative to the seat back remains unchanged. Furthermore, due to the Z-fold design in step S20 and the internal insertion design in step S30, the head protection area can still be quickly positioned, and the arm-raising function remains effective. Therefore, even with the seat back at a large angle, the unfolded airbag tilts with the backrest, still covering the occupant's head, chest, abdomen, and pelvis, solving the technical problems of traditional side airbags lacking head protection and arm compression of the chest in a reclining position.

[0057] The foregoing has shown and described the basic principles, main features, and advantages of the present invention. Those skilled in the art should understand that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. The embodiments and descriptions in the specification are merely illustrative of the principles of the invention. Various changes and modifications can be made to the invention without departing from its spirit and scope, and all such changes and modifications fall within the scope of the present invention as claimed. The scope of protection of this invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A method for folding the side airbag of a car seat, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: Step S10: Lay the sewn conformal side airbag flat, with the occupant side of the airbag facing up and the door side facing down. Step S20: Fold the upper part of the airbag towards the occupant side first, and then fold it upward to form a Z-fold. This is to prevent the upper part of the airbag from being interfered with by the surrounding interior when it is deployed, and to ensure that the head protection area is in place quickly. Step S30: Tuck the lower end of the airbag inward to form an inner plug structure. At this time, the airbag is folded into a long strip to allow the lower end of the airbag to unfold quickly and to unfold from bottom to top, so as to facilitate lifting the occupant's arm. Step S40: Lay the long strip of airbag flat and fold it several times towards the occupant side at the X-shaped front until the folded length reaches 1 / 2 to 2 / 3 of the total length of the airbag. This is used to control the airbag's unfolding direction towards the occupant side, so that the unfolded airbag fits tightly against the occupant. Step S50: Fold the air bag from X to the rear in a Z-fold manner to the root of the gas generator to make the front of the air bag unfold quickly and stabilize its direction, so as to prevent the air bag from entering the seat foam or door panel. Step S60: Wrap the outer periphery of the folded conformal side airbag with a wrapping cloth to maintain its shape.

2. The folding method of the conformal side airbag of the automobile seat as described in claim 1, characterized in that, In step S30, after inserting a fold inward, if it is necessary to further reduce the Z-axis length of the folded air bag, the protruding part formed by the insertion is pulled outward so that the edge of the protruding part is aligned with the edge of the air bag body.

3. The folding method of the conformal side airbag of the automobile seat as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The number of folds in step S40 is 6.

4. The folding method of the conformal side airbag of the automobile seat as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The number of folds in step S50 is 3.

5. The folding method of the conformal side airbag of the automobile seat as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The side-mounted conformal airbag has a pull strap inside for adjusting airflow. The pull strap has adjustment holes or leaves an airflow gap between itself and the inner wall of the airbag. The airbag also has an exhaust hole.

6. The folding method of the conformal side airbag of a car seat as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The folding method is applied to airbags that can adapt to changes in the angle of the seat back; when the seat back is at a normal angle, the deployed airbag protects the occupant's head, chest, abdomen, and pelvis simultaneously; when the seat back is adjusted to a large angle, the deployed airbag tilts with the backrest, also covering the aforementioned areas.

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