Curtain Airbag Bar Code Indicia for Installation Twist Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Inflatable vehicle occupant protection devices, such as curtain airbags, face challenges in maintaining a twisted configuration during installation, which can hinder proper deployment and affect their protective effectiveness.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a bar code indicia along the length of the curtain airbag that extends parallel to the axis during proper rolling, allowing installers to recognize and correct any twisting, ensuring the airbag is correctly rolled and deployed without distortion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the curtain airbag is rolled up during installation, then it can be stored and deployed in the vehicle, but twisting may occur during rolling which hinders proper deployment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstallation processVSAvoiddeployment correctness

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies visual indicia (bar codes, colored stripes, or patterns) printed on the curtain airbag that change orientation when twisting occurs. These visual indicators allow installers to quickly identify correct rolling orientation without complex mechanical guides, resolving the contradiction by making proper installation intuitive while ensuring reliable deployment orientation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces complex mechanical alignment systems with simple visual indicia printed on the airbag fabric. Instead of using mechanical guides, alignment pins, or complex positioning mechanisms, the system uses optically detectable patterns that indicate correct rolling orientation, simplifying the installation process while maintaining deployment reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If visual indicia are added to indicate twisting, then deployment correctness can be verified, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeployment correctnessVSAvoidairbag construction

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses simple visual indicia such as bar codes, colored stripes, or geometric patterns printed directly on the curtain airbag fabric. These indicators provide clear visual feedback about twisting orientation without adding mechanical complexity. The indicia are integrated into the manufacturing process through printing techniques, maintaining simplicity while enabling reliable verification of correct deployment orientation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

Data Source

PatentUS10872281B2Airbag with bar code

Publication Date: 2020.12.22 TRW VEHICLE SAFETY SYST INC

AI summary

An inflatable vehicle occupant protection device includes a curtain airbag having an upper edge portion for securing to an interior of a vehicle for deployment between a side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant. Indicia extends along the length of the curtain airbag for indicating twisting of the curtain airbag when the curtain airbag is rolled up along its length. The indicia includes a bar code printed on the airbag.