Airbag Bottom Pocket Deployment via Tether Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing airbag devices for front passenger seats face challenges in protecting passengers at normal positions while avoiding undue pressure on out-of-position passengers, particularly due to the design of the bottom pocket which can cause inadequate deployment and internal pressure issues.
Innovation Solution
The airbag device features a passenger-side wall with a circumferential wall, a gas inlet port, a bottom pocket recessed upward, and a tether connecting the passenger-side wall to the gas inlet port, allowing the bottom pocket to deploy away from the passenger-side wall, thus preventing undue pressure on out-of-position passengers and maintaining sufficient internal pressure for in-position passengers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the bottom pocket is directly joined to the passenger-side wall, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the bottom pocket cannot deploy smoothly and may open inadvertently causing insufficient internal pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag is divided into functionally independent regions: the bottom pocket and the passenger-side wall are separated by the circumferential wall, allowing each to perform its specific function without interfering with the other. This segmentation enables the bottom pocket to deploy independently for out-of-position passengers while the passenger-side wall maintains structural integrity for in-position passengers.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the airbag are given different structural properties: the bottom pocket is made flexible and recessed to accommodate out-of-position passengers, while the passenger-side wall is reinforced and maintains its shape to provide adequate protection for in-position passengers. The circumferential wall creates this local differentiation.
2Device complexity
If the bottom pocket is directly joined to the passenger-side wall, then the structure is simple, but the region near the rear edge does not bend easily causing failure in smooth reception of out-of-position passenger head
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag structure is segmented into the bottom pocket and passenger-side wall as separate functional zones connected through the circumferential wall. This allows the bottom pocket to have high flexibility for receiving out-of-position passengers while the passenger-side wall maintains its structural form.
Solution Approach 2:
The circumferential wall acts as an intermediary structure connecting the bottom pocket and passenger-side wall. It allows the bottom pocket to deploy forward independently while the passenger-side wall remains relatively stable, solving the problem of rigid connection that prevented smooth bending.
3Device complexity
If the bottom pocket is directly joined to the passenger-side wall, then the structure is simple, but the bottom pocket can open inadvertently when passenger presses the passenger-side wall forward causing insufficient reaction force
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag is segmented into the bottom pocket and passenger-side wall as separate functional zones. The bottom pocket can deform independently to receive out-of-position passengers without compromising the structural integrity of the passenger-side wall, maintaining sufficient reaction force for in-position passengers.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions are given different mechanical properties: the bottom pocket is designed to be flexible and deformable, while the passenger-side wall is designed to maintain its shape and provide strong reaction force. The circumferential wall creates this local quality differentiation.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the bottom pocket is made recessed upward to reduce pressing force on out-of-position passenger, then the protection for out-of-position passenger is improved, but the deployment smoothness and opening capability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag is segmented into the bottom pocket and passenger-side wall as separate functional zones connected through the circumferential wall. This allows the bottom pocket to have high flexibility for receiving out-of-position passengers while the passenger-side wall maintains structural integrity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration ensures smooth deployment and adequate protection for both in-position and out-of-position passengers by preventing the bottom pocket from being affected by the passenger-side wall, reducing pressure on out-of-position passengers and maintaining sufficient reaction force for in-position passengers.
Implementation Method 1
an airbag which is housed in the housing in a folded-up configuration and inflatable with an inflation gas
Data Source
AI summary
An airbag of an airbag device for a front passenger seat includes a passenger-side wall, a circumferential wall, a gas inlet port disposed in a vicinity of the front end of the airbag as deployed, a bottom pocket that is recessed upward from a lower region of the circumferential wall in such a manner as to be continuous with the lower region, and a tether that is disposed generally along a front and rear direction inside the airbag and connects the passenger-side wall and a vicinity of the gas inlet port. The bottom pocket is formed into a pouch like contour by joining outer circumferential edges of left and right bottom pocket constituent regions that extend from the lower region of the circumferential wall. The upper end region of the bottom pocket is joined to the tether.