Airbag Case Segmentation and Hook Engagement for Deployment Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional metal- or resin-made box-like airbag cases are heavy, resource-intensive, and require strong mounting sections, contradicting trends towards weight reduction and resource conservation.

Innovation Solution

An airbag device with an airbag case that maintains a folded shape during installation and restricts deployment direction using a separate engagement member and lower face plate member configured to overlap, with hooks and extension sections for fastening, allowing for reduced weight and resource usage by omitting side walls and optimizing the fastening mode to prevent detachment during deployment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a metal- or resin-made box-like airbag case is used to maintain folded shape and restrict deployment direction, then the airbag deployment control is improved, but the weight and resource consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveairbag deployment controlVSAvoidairbag case weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The airbag case is divided into separate components: a lower face plate member and an engagement member. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and reduces the overall material required compared to a complete box-like structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The side walls are completely removed from the airbag case design. The engagement member with hooks is extracted as a separate component that attaches to the instrument panel, eliminating the need for substantial side wall structures while maintaining deployment control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If a metal- or resin-made box-like airbag case is used to maintain folded shape and restrict deployment direction, then the airbag deployment control is improved, but the resource consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveairbag deployment controlVSAvoidresource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Strength

If the airbag case weight is increased, then the structural strength is improved, but the mounting section must be stronger which further increases weight

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveairbag case strengthVSAvoidmounting section weight

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The engagement member combines multiple functions: it provides structural support, enables attachment to the instrument panel through hooks, and maintains the folded shape of the airbag. This merging of functions reduces the need for additional strengthening components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Stability of the object's composition

If a complete box-like airbag case with side walls is used, then the folded shape maintenance is improved, but the weight and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefolded shape maintenanceVSAvoidairbag case structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP2517932B1Air bag device

Publication Date: 2017.09.20 AUTOLIV DEV AB

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3(a)~3(b)

AI summary

A fastening section between an engagement member and a lower face plate member is prevented from coming off during airbag deployment. An airbag device is provided with an airbag case 12 in which there is mounted an inflator 5 that supplies gas to an airbag 1 that is housed in the airbag case 12, and a member, for instance a fabric housing 11, that holds the airbag 1 when the airbag 1 is housed in the airbag case 12. The housing 11 is formed as a bottomed box having an open ceiling. The airbag case 12 is provided with an opening 12aa through which the fabric housing 11 is inserted. In the opening section 12aa, an engagement member 12a provided with hooks 12ab for engagement with an instrument panel and a lower face plate member 12b that is fastened to the engagement member 12a are provided. The engagement member 12a and the lower face plate member 12b are disposed to overlap each other such that the engagement member 12a is positioned inward of the lower face plate member 12b at fastening sections 12c of the two members 12a, 12b. As a result, the fastening sections are unlikely to come off during airbag deployment.