A distal balloon structure with a U-shaped balloon and a folding and unfolding method thereof

Abstract

The application discloses a far-end airbag structure with a U-shaped airbag and a folding and unfolding method thereof, and belongs to the technical field of automobile safety airbags. The far-end airbag structure comprises a first airbag and a second airbag in communication with the inner cavity of the first airbag. The second airbag has a U-shaped structure, and the two side arms of the U-shaped structure are unfolded preferentially to the middle area to form a shape of clamping the head of an occupant from the outside to the inside. The U-shaped inner concave surface is arranged in a stepped shape to realize graded buffering. The middle area is constrained by a pull belt, and the air passage is limited in flow to realize three-stage time sequence unfolding. In particular, the two side arms adopt a reverse folding mode of outwardly folding or outwardly turning to move outwardly in the initial stage and bend inwardly in the later stage, so that the impact on the face is avoided. The application solves the problems of insufficient head protection of the existing far-end airbag and difficult control of the unfolding time sequence, and has the advantages of good protection effect, accurate time sequence, and feasible folding process.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of automotive airbag technology, and more specifically, to a remote airbag structure with a U-shaped airbag for remote protection of a vehicle and its folding and deployment method. Background Technology

[0002] With the development of automotive safety technology, the far-side airbag (FSAB), as a protective device to prevent occupants from colliding with each other in side or oblique collisions, and to prevent secondary collisions between occupants and structures such as the center console, has gradually become an important part of the vehicle safety system. The far-side airbag is typically positioned in the central area between the driver and front passenger seats, deploying upon impact to create a barrier between the two occupants.

[0003] However, existing distal airbag structures still have the following technical problems: 1. Limited deployment sequence: Traditional distal airbags are mostly single-cavity structures that fully deploy all at once after inflation, making it impossible to achieve precise protection by region or stage, especially when there are different protection needs for the head and torso, it is difficult to take into account both.

[0004] 2. Insufficient head protection: Existing airbags mainly restrain the head with planar barriers, lacking lateral head wrapping. During a collision, the head may still experience excessive lateral displacement or twisting, resulting in a higher risk of neck injury.

[0005] 3. Poor controllability of deployment shape: For airbags with complex shapes (such as U-shape), how to ensure that they are formed in a preset direction and sequence during deployment, and avoid problems such as incomplete deployment, entanglement or impact on the occupant's face, is an engineering challenge.

[0006] 4. Complex folding process: Folding and packaging volume control of multi-cavity and irregularly shaped airbags is difficult, affecting their installation feasibility in limited spaces.

[0007] Therefore, there is an urgent need for a distal airbag structure and corresponding folding and deployment method that can achieve phased deployment, provide effective head protection, and have a reliable folding process. Summary of the Invention

[0008] The purpose of this invention is to provide a distal airbag structure with a U-shaped airbag and its folding and deployment method, so as to solve at least one technical problem of existing distal airbags in terms of head protection effect, deployment timing control and folding process.

[0009] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution: A distal airbag structure with a U-shaped airbag, comprising: The first airbag is located in the central area between the driver's and passenger's seats and is configured to deploy upwards first and then to the sides in the event of a collision. At least one second airbag communicates with the inner cavity of the first airbag and has a U-shaped structure, the U-shaped structure including a bottom and two side arms extending from the bottom; The second airbag is configured such that, while the first airbag deploys to the top and then to both sides, the two side arms of the second airbag deploy preferentially over the middle region of the U-shaped structure, forming an deployment shape that encloses the occupant's head from the outside in.

[0010] As a preferred technical solution, the concave surface of the U-shaped structure of the second airbag is set in a stepped shape, and the stepped concave surface includes at least two buffer areas of different depths for providing graded buffering for the occupant's head and neck.

[0011] As a preferred technical solution, the distal airbag structure further includes: A pull strap, which is located in the middle area of ​​the U-shaped structure of the second airbag, is used to temporarily restrain the expansion of the middle area during the initial inflation phase, forcing the gas to flow preferentially to the two side arms. The pull strap is configured to release when the two side arms are extended to a predetermined extent, so that the middle region subsequently extends.

[0012] As a preferred technical solution, a connecting airway is provided between the first airbag and the second airbag. The connecting airway is configured to limit the flow rate of gas from the first airbag to the second airbag, so as to achieve delayed deployment of the second airbag relative to the first airbag.

[0013] As a preferred technical solution, the two arms of the U-shaped structure of the second airbag are folded outward or flipped over to the sides of the first airbag in the folded state, and the folding direction is opposite to the wrapping direction when unfolded; the middle area of ​​the U-shaped structure is folded over to the top or rear of the first airbag in a flat or Z-shaped folding manner.

[0014] A method for folding and deploying a distal airbag with a U-shaped air bladder, applied to the distal airbag structure with a U-shaped air bladder described in any of the above claims, includes the following steps: Folding steps: Fold the two arms of the U-shaped structure of the second airbag outward or fold outward and position them on both sides of the first airbag, with the folding direction opposite to the final wrapping direction; fold the middle area of ​​the U-shaped structure and position it on the top or back of the first airbag, and temporarily restrain the middle area with a pull strap; First deployment phase: In response to the collision signal, the gas generator inflates the first airbag, causing the first airbag to deploy upwards; Second deployment phase: The first airbag continues to deploy to both sides, while gas enters the second airbag through the connecting airway. Under the constraint of the straps, the gas preferentially enters the two side arms, causing the two side arms to deploy outward first, passing over the outside of the occupant's head. Third deployment stage: When the two side arms are deployed outward to a predetermined extent, under the action of airbag fabric tension and internal air pressure, the two side arms bend inward, and at the same time the straps are released, gas enters the middle area of ​​the U-shaped structure, causing the middle area to unfold, and together with the two side arms, form a U-shaped protective structure that wraps around the occupant's head from the outside in.

[0015] As a preferred technical solution, in the folding step, the two arms are folded outward to form a compact roll structure; or they are folded outward so that the folding direction is opposite to the unfolding direction.

[0016] As a preferred technical solution, in the second deployment stage, the deployment delay time of the second airbag relative to the first airbag is adjusted by controlling the cross-sectional area or tortuosity of the connecting airway.

[0017] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects: 1. Precise timing control: By setting up a second airbag connected to the first airbag, and combining it with structures such as strap restraint and airway flow restriction, a three-stage timing control is achieved: "the first airbag deploys upwards and then to both sides, the two arms of the second airbag deploy first, and the middle area deploys later," so that the airbag deployment process matches the occupant's movement trajectory.

[0018] 2. Excellent head protection: The second airbag adopts a U-shaped structure, and the two arms fold in opposite directions to achieve an deployment trajectory of "first extending outward and then bending inward". This can wrap the occupant's head in the U-shaped groove, actively conforming to the occupant's head and neck, rather than being passively impacted. This effectively limits the lateral displacement and torsion of the head during the collision and reduces the risk of neck injury.

[0019] 3. Avoid facial impact: By folding the two arms in opposite directions to the wrapping direction, they move outwards in the initial stage of deployment, avoiding direct impact on the occupant's face and improving the safety of the deployment process.

[0020] 4. Graded buffer function: The U-shaped concave surface is set in a stepped shape to form multiple buffer areas of different depths, which can provide graded buffer according to the magnitude of the collision energy, further optimizing the protection effect on the head and neck.

[0021] 5. The folding process is feasible: By folding the two side arms outward or flipping them outward, and folding the middle area flat and combining it with the pull strap for temporary restraint, the compactness after folding is ensured, and the reliability of the unfolding sequence is also ensured, which is convenient for industrial production and assembly. Attached Figure Description

[0022] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below.

[0023] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an embodiment of the present invention in its fully unfolded state; Figure 2 This is a side view of the structure of an embodiment of the present invention in its fully unfolded state; Figure 3 This is a top view of the structure in the unfolded state of an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the airbag in its folded state and the deployment direction of the second airbag according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of a structure with two second airbags; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the airbag deployment state and its coordination with the driver according to the present invention.

[0024] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures: 1-First airbag; 2-Second airbag; 21-Bottom of the second airbag; 22-Both sides of the second airbag; 241-First buffer zone; 242-Second buffer area; 3-Pull strap; 4-Connecting airway. Detailed Implementation

[0025] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention. Example 1

[0026] This embodiment provides a distal airbag structure with a U-shaped airbag.

[0027] like Figure 1-5As shown, the remote airbag structure includes a first airbag 1 and a second airbag 2 disposed on the first airbag 1. The first airbag 1 is disposed in the central area between the driver's and passenger's seats, specifically in the center armrest, the side of the seat back, or the roof. The first airbag 1 is configured to deploy upwards first and then to the sides in the event of a collision, thereby forming a barrier between the two occupants.

[0028] The second airbag 2 communicates with the inner cavity of the first airbag 1 and has a U-shaped structure. This U-shaped structure includes a bottom 21 and two side arms 22 extending from the bottom 21. The second airbag 2 is configured such that, while the first airbag 1 deploys to its top and then to both sides, the side arms 22 of the second airbag 2 deploy preferentially before or simultaneously with the middle region of the U-shaped structure, forming an deployment configuration that envelops the occupant's head from the outside in. That is, the side arms 22 first deploy to the left and right sides of the occupant's head, then fill the bottom of the U-shaped groove with the middle region, ultimately enveloping the head within the U-shaped structure.

[0029] like Figure 3 As shown, the concave surface of the U-shaped structure of the second airbag 2 is stepped, comprising a first buffer region 241 and a second buffer region 242, with the depth of the first buffer region 241 being less than the depth of the second buffer region 242. During a collision, the occupant's head first contacts the shallower first buffer region 241, receiving a gentler initial cushioning; as the head moves further, it enters the deeper second buffer region 242, receiving stronger restraint and support. This tiered cushioning design effectively reduces the shear and torsional forces experienced by the neck.

[0030] To achieve the aforementioned deployment sequence, this embodiment also includes a pull strap 3. The pull strap 3 is located in the middle region of the U-shaped structure of the second airbag 2, and is used to temporarily constrain the deployment of the middle region during the initial inflation phase, forcing gas to preferentially flow to the two side arms 22. The pull strap 3 is configured to release when the two side arms 22 have deployed to a predetermined extent, so that the middle region subsequently deploys.

[0031] Furthermore, a connecting airway 4 is provided between the first airbag 1 and the second airbag 2. The connecting airway 4 is configured to limit the flow rate of gas from the first airbag 1 to the second airbag 2, thereby achieving a delayed deployment of the second airbag 2 relative to the first airbag 1. The connecting airway 4 may employ a bent channel or a constricted channel structure, utilizing gas flow resistance to achieve a natural time delay.

[0032] In the folded state, the two arms 22 of the U-shaped structure of the second airbag 2 are rolled outwards and gathered to the sides of the first airbag 1, with the folding direction opposite to the final wrapping direction; the middle area of ​​the U-shaped structure is folded flat and gathered to the top of the first airbag 1, and temporarily restrained by the strap 3. This reverse folding layout causes the two arms 22 to initially unfold outwards, passing over the outside of the occupant's head, and then bend inwards under the tension of the airbag fabric and the internal air pressure, ultimately forming a shape that wraps around the occupant from the outside in. Example 2

[0033] This embodiment provides a folding and unfolding method for a distal airbag with a U-shaped air bladder, which is applied to the distal airbag structure described in Embodiment 1.

[0034] The method includes the following steps: Folding step S1: Fold the two side arms 22 of the U-shaped structure of the second airbag 2 outwards and position them on both sides of the first airbag 1, with the folding direction opposite to the final wrapping direction; fold the middle area of ​​the U-shaped structure and position it on the top or back of the first airbag 1, and temporarily restrain the middle area with the pull strap 3. Specifically, the two side arms 22 can be folded outwards to form a compact roll structure; or they can be folded outwards so that the folding direction is opposite to the unfolding direction. The middle area can be folded in a Z-shape or flat.

[0035] First deployment phase S2: In response to the collision signal, the gas generator inflates the first airbag 1, causing the first airbag 1 to deploy upwards. During this phase, due to the flow restriction effect of the connecting airway 4, the gas mainly fills the first airbag 1, and the second airbag 2 has not yet deployed or has only deployed slightly.

[0036] In the second deployment phase S3: the first airbag 1 continues to deploy to both sides, while gas enters the second airbag 2 through the connecting airway 4. Under the constraint of the straps 3, the middle area is temporarily restrained, and the gas preferentially enters the two side arms 22. Since the two side arms 22 adopt a reverse folding (outward rolling), they first deploy outward, passing over the outside of the occupant's head to avoid direct impact on the occupant's face.

[0037] The third deployment stage S4: When the two side arms 22 extend outward to the predetermined extent, under the tension of the airbag fabric and the internal air pressure, the two side arms 22 begin to bend inward. At the same time, the strap 3 is released, and gas enters the middle area of ​​the U-shaped structure, causing the middle area to deploy. The inward bending of the two side arms 22, together with the middle area, forms a U-shaped protective structure that wraps around the occupant's head from the outside in.

[0038] Through the above steps, precise protection of the occupant's head is achieved, while avoiding impact on the occupant's face during the initial deployment phase.

[0039] In the above method, during the second deployment stage S3, the deployment delay time of the second airbag 2 relative to the first airbag 1 can be adjusted by controlling the cross-sectional area or tortuosity of the connecting air passage 4, so as to adapt to the needs of different vehicle models and collision conditions. Example 3

[0040] The difference between this embodiment and Embodiment 1 or Embodiment 2 is that the two arms 22 of the U-shaped structure of the second airbag 2 adopt an outward folding method instead of an outward rolling method in the folded state. Outward folding refers to folding the two arms outward, so that they are in an outward flipped shape in the folded state. In the initial stage of inflation, the two arms first flip outward and unfold, which can also achieve the "outward first, then inward" clamping trajectory. Both outward folding and outward rolling can achieve the technical effect of avoiding facial impact and forming a clamping protection, and can be selected according to the specific installation space and process conditions.

[0041] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The scope of protection of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. Any equivalent modifications or changes made by those skilled in the art based on the content disclosed in the present invention should be included within the scope of protection set forth in the claims.

Claims

1. A distal airbag structure with a U-shaped airbag, comprising: The first airbag is located in the central area between the driver's and passenger's seats and is configured to deploy upwards first and then to the sides in the event of a collision. The feature is that it further includes at least one second airbag, which communicates with the inner cavity of the first airbag and has a U-shaped structure, the U-shaped structure including a bottom and two side arms extending from the bottom; The second airbag is configured such that, while the first airbag deploys to the top and then to both sides, the two side arms of the second airbag deploy preferentially over the middle area of ​​the U-shaped structure, forming an deployment shape that encloses the occupant's head from the outside in. The concave surface of the U-shaped structure of the second airbag is set in a stepped shape, and the stepped concave surface includes at least two buffer areas of different depths for providing graded cushioning for the occupant's head and neck.

2. The distal airbag structure with a U-shaped airbag according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: A pull strap, which is located in the middle area of ​​the U-shaped structure of the second airbag, is used to temporarily restrain the expansion of the middle area during the initial inflation phase, forcing the gas to flow preferentially to the two side arms. The pull strap is configured to release when the two side arms are extended to a predetermined extent, so that the middle region subsequently extends.

3. The distal airbag structure with a U-shaped airbag according to claim 1, characterized in that, A connecting airway is provided between the first airbag and the second airbag. The connecting airway is configured to limit the flow rate of gas from the first airbag to the second airbag, so as to achieve delayed deployment of the second airbag relative to the first airbag.

4. The distal airbag structure with a U-shaped airbag according to claim 1, characterized in that, When the second airbag's U-shaped structure is folded, its two arms are rolled outward or folded outward to the sides of the first airbag, with the folding direction opposite to the wrapping direction when unfolded; the middle area of ​​the U-shaped structure is folded flat or in a Z-shape to the top or rear of the first airbag.

5. A method for folding and deploying a distal airbag with a U-shaped air bladder, applied to the distal airbag structure with a U-shaped air bladder as described in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: Folding steps: Fold the two arms of the U-shaped structure of the second airbag outward or fold outward and position them on both sides of the first airbag, with the folding direction opposite to the final wrapping direction; fold the middle area of ​​the U-shaped structure and position it on the top or back of the first airbag, and temporarily restrain the middle area with a pull strap; First deployment phase: In response to the collision signal, the gas generator inflates the first airbag, causing the first airbag to deploy upwards; Second deployment phase: The first airbag continues to deploy to both sides, while gas enters the second airbag through the connecting airway. Under the constraint of the straps, the gas preferentially enters the two side arms, causing the two side arms to deploy outward first, passing over the outside of the occupant's head. Third deployment stage: When the two side arms are deployed outward to a predetermined extent, under the action of airbag fabric tension and internal air pressure, the two side arms bend inward, and at the same time the straps are released, gas enters the middle area of ​​the U-shaped structure, causing the middle area to unfold, and together with the two side arms, form a U-shaped protective structure that wraps around the occupant's head from the outside in.

6. The folding and unfolding method of the distal airbag with a U-shaped airbag according to claim 5, characterized in that, In the folding step, the two arms are folded outward to form a compact roll structure; or they are folded outward so that the folding direction is opposite to the unfolding direction.

7. The folding and unfolding method of the distal airbag with a U-shaped airbag according to claim 5, characterized in that, In the second deployment phase, the deployment delay time of the second airbag relative to the first airbag is adjusted by controlling the cross-sectional area or tortuosity of the connecting airway.

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