Airbag Cover Textile Hinge with Wave-Shaped Stop Threads
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing airbag cover designs require excessive material for stopping threads, which are not efficiently utilized, and sacrificial threads tend to tear simultaneously, leading to inadequate deployment and material waste.
Innovation Solution
The airbag cover features non-breaking stop threads arranged in a dense wave or loop shape only at the hinge area, with multiple types of sacrificial threads of varying lengths and strengths, allowing sequential tearing and reducing material consumption by spacing stop threads further apart outside the hinge area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If stop threads are arranged densely over the entire length of the textile planar element, then the airbag cover can be held securely after deployment, but excessive material is required for the stopping threads
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by varying the density of stop threads along the length of the textile planar element. Dense stop thread arrangement is provided only in the hinge area where high holding force is needed, while sparse arrangement is used in areas outside the hinge where less holding force is required. This localized differentiation resolves the contradiction by providing secure hold where necessary while reducing overall material consumption.
2Speed
If sacrificial threads are arranged to tear simultaneously, then the airbag cover opens quickly, but the threads are not utilized efficiently and material is wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the sacrificial threads into multiple types with different lengths and strengths. Instead of having all threads tear simultaneously, the threads are divided into groups that tear sequentially - first the shorter/weaker threads tear, then the longer/stronger threads tear subsequently. This segmentation maintains fast deployment while improving material utilization efficiency by having threads perform their sacrificial function at different times.
3Quantity of substance
If stop threads are arranged sparsely outside the hinge area, then material consumption is reduced, but the textile planar element may not be held securely in the plastic cover
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by applying local quality - the stop thread density is optimized for each specific location. In the hinge area where the cover needs to be held securely against the plastic, stop threads are arranged densely. In areas outside the hinge where the cover does not contact the plastic, stop threads are arranged sparsely. This location-specific arrangement ensures secure holding where needed while minimizing material consumption elsewhere.
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 design ensures a secure hold of the textile planar element in the plastic cover while minimizing material usage, enabling faster lid rotation and improved deployment efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the textile planar element also has stop threads that allow the airbag cover to pivot about the hinge axis when the airbag is triggered without to tear in the area of the hinge in order to hold the airbag cover securely after the airbag has been deployed
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention relates to a covering for an airbag having at least one airbag that is articulated on the stationary covering region surrounding the airbag cover by a textile hinge, wherein the airbag cover and the covering region surrounding the airbag cover are formed from a sheet material made of plastic, the rear face of which supports a textile surface element having sacrifical threads (2) that extend substantially at right angles to the hinge axis (3) and tear in the region (A) of the hinge when the airbag is activated, and wherein the textile surface element also has stop threads that, when the airbag is activated, allow the airbag cover to pivot about the hinge axis (3) without tearing in the region of the hinge in order to hold the airbag cover securely after activation of the airbag, wherein the non-tearing stop threads are arranged such that said threads are compressed in the form of corrugations and/or loops only in region (A) of the hinge and therefore have a greater length there than in the regions (B) outside the hinge and the region compressed in the form of corrugations and/or loops is located in the plane of the textile surface element.