Airbag Cushion Folding for Driver Head and Neck Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

In vehicle collisions, drivers seated close to the steering wheel may be injured by the rapid expansion of the airbag, which distributes force over a larger area, potentially impacting the chest, neck, and head.

Innovation Solution

The airbag cushion is folded to deploy differently, with the rear end deploying downwards and the front end deploying upwards relative to the steering wheel rim, utilizing specific folding lines and stitch lines to control deployment directions and delay, thereby redirecting the force away from the driver's head and neck.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the airbag cushion is rapidly inflated to protect the driver from hard interior objects, then the protective function is improved, but the risk of injuring the driver (especially head and neck) increases due to fast expansion force distribution

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotective functionVSAvoidimpact injury to driver

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The airbag cushion is divided into multiple deployment zones with different folding patterns. The rear portion (near driver's head) uses a folding pattern that directs deployment away from the head, while the front portion uses a different folding pattern. This segmentation allows different parts of the airbag to serve different protective functions and avoid harmful impacts to specific body parts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different folding patterns are applied to different local regions of the airbag cushion. The rear end portion has folds configured to deploy downwards away from the driver's head, while the front end portion has folds configured to deploy upwards. This local differentiation optimizes the deployment characteristics for each region, protecting the driver from head and neck injuries while maintaining overall protective function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Area of stationary object

If the airbag cushion deploys in the traditional upward direction, then the protective coverage is improved, but the force distribution harms the driver's head and neck

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotective coverage areaVSAvoidforce impact on head and neck

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The traditional upward deployment direction is inverted in the rear portion of the airbag cushion. By configuring the folds so that the rear portion deploys downwards instead of upwards, the airbag directs force away from the driver's head and neck while the front portion maintains upward deployment to provide chest and abdomen protection. This inversion resolves the contradiction between coverage area and harmful force distribution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS7988193B2Airbag cushion for driver and folding method thereof

Publication Date: 2011.08.02 HYUNDAI MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

An airbag cushion for a driver and a folding method thereof. The method of folding an airbag cushion installed inside a cover bracket of a steering wheel includes folding a rear end portion of the airbag cushion at least once towards a bottom surface; folding a front end portion of the airbag cushion at least once towards an upper surface; inserting the folded rear and front portions of the airbag cushion into a space between the upper surface and the bottom surface of the airbag cushion; and folding at least a longitudinal end of the folded airbag cushion at least once. When the airbag cushion deploys, the rear portion of the airbag cushion unfolds towards the inside of the rim portion of the steering wheel and the front portion of the airbag cushion unfolds towards the outside of the rim portion.