Airbag Front Wall Segmentation for Cushioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional front airbags have a fixed three-dimensional shape that limits the ability to optimize cushioning for vehicle occupants, as the non-inflated state is already curved, restricting the potential for increased volume and improved cushioning quality.
Innovation Solution
A front airbag design featuring a front wall composed of multiple cut parts that can be curved towards the occupant, allowing for variable shape adaptation and increased volume without excessive manufacturing complexity, with the option to use two or more cut parts made of suitable airbag material, such as coated fabric, to enhance cushioning by creating a bulge that increases the airbag's volume when inflated.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the front wall is composed of multiple cut parts to increase volume and improve cushioning, then the cushioning quality is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The front wall is divided into multiple cut parts (at least two) that are joined together to form the complete front wall. This segmentation allows the front wall to be curved toward the occupant, creating additional volume and improving cushioning quality while maintaining manageable manufacturing complexity through standardized cutting and joining processes
2Volume of stationary object
If the front wall is curved to increase airbag volume, then the cushioning effectiveness is improved, but the ability to spread flat for manufacturing is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the front wall into multiple cut parts, the patent enables the final assembled front wall to have a curved three-dimensional shape that increases airbag volume, while each individual cut part can be cut from flat material and joined to others, maintaining ease of manufacture through flat pattern cutting and assembly
Solution Approach 2:
The front wall transitions from a two-dimensional flat state during manufacturing to a three-dimensional curved state in the inflated airbag. This dimensionality change is achieved by joining multiple cut parts at angles to each other, creating the curved surface needed for increased volume while preserving flat manufacturability of individual components
Data Source
AI summary
A front airbag comprises a front wall (20) facing an associated occupant in the inflated state which front wall serves for cushioning the vehicle occupant and is secured to a peripheral wall of the front airbag (12). The front wall (20) is composed of at least two cut parts (28a, 28b) so that it is curved toward the vehicle occupant and is not adapted to be flatly spread.