Airbag Energy-Absorbing Elements for Occupant Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional airbags are ineffective in providing central impact protection when occupants are not seated centrally or during diagonal impacts, as they can be pushed through and fail to distribute support force effectively.
Innovation Solution
An airbag system with energy-absorbing elements, such as foam rods or gas-filled tubes, is designed to unfold and distribute support force in a predetermined manner, creating a funnel function to guide occupants to a central impact point and provide additional protection by applying varying support forces based on the occupant's movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional airbag is used, then the airbag can be filled with gas to provide support force, but the protective effect is reduced when an occupant impacts it other than centrally or with high accident severity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by attaching energy-absorbing elements (foam rods, foam beads, or gas-filled tubes) to specific regions of the airbag. These elements create localized areas of increased support force and structural rigidity at critical locations, allowing the airbag to maintain its protective function regardless of where the occupant impacts it.
Solution Approach 2:
The airbag is segmented into different functional zones by attaching energy-absorbing elements to specific regions. This segmentation creates a funnel-shaped support force distribution where certain areas provide enhanced support, guiding occupants toward central impact positions while maintaining protection across various impact scenarios.
2Strength
If an airbag is pushed through during high severity impact or diagonal impact, then no further damping gas is available between the occupant and hard impact parts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite structure by combining the flexible airbag material with rigid or semi-rigid energy-absorbing elements (foam rods, foam beads, gas-filled tubes). This composite construction provides localized strength and resistance to pushing through at critical locations while maintaining the overall flexibility and gas-damping capability of the airbag system.
Solution Approach 2:
The energy-absorbing elements are pre-attached to the airbag to provide beforehand cushioning and structural support. These elements create a predetermined support force distribution that prevents the airbag from being pushed through during high severity or diagonal impacts, ensuring continuous protective function.
3Reliability
If energy-absorbing elements are attached to the airbag to increase support force locally, then the airbag can provide predetermined support force distribution and funnel function, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than making the entire airbag complex, the patent applies energy-absorbing elements only to specific local regions where additional support force is needed. This localized approach creates the predetermined support force distribution and funnel function while minimizing the overall increase in device complexity.
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
The system enhances occupant safety by preventing pushing through the airbag during impacts, guiding occupants to a central position, and distributing force to reduce excessive strain on body parts, thereby improving the overall restraint system's effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
one or more energy-absorbing elements, which are attached to the airbag in order to unfold it and/or to increase its support force locally
Implementation Method 2
The energy-absorbing element has one or more gas-filled tubes
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle occupant restraint system has an airbag, which provides a predetermined support force distribution in the filled (unfolded) state, and at least one energy-absorbing element that is attached to the airbag in order to unfold it or to locally increase the support force thereof. The energy-absorbing element(s) are arranged such that at least one energy absorbing element may apply itself to an occupant, and may at least partially follow the movements of the same at least to a certain extent. The energy-absorbing element has an occupant-protective function, and/or the airbag has a funnel function relative to an occupant to be supported. The occupant is guided toward the center of the airbag during an impact by means of the funnel function, and is possibly also protected laterally by means of the side walls.