Side Curtain Airbag Holding Area for Diagonal Impact Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current side impact protection devices, such as curtain airbags, often fail to provide adequate protection during diagonal impacts, as they typically only extend to the A pillar and do not effectively restrain the occupant's head, leading to potential contact with the A pillar and increased head rotation due to friction.
Innovation Solution
A side impact protection device featuring a side curtain airbag with a cushion area extending along the side window and a holding area that projects inwardly from the cushion area, secured to the vehicle roof, forming a V- or L-shape in a top view, which helps guide the occupant's head and reduce rotation by creating a funnel-like restraint surface, preventing contact with the A pillar and overlapping with the front airbag.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the airbag extends only to the A pillar, then the device complexity is reduced, but the protection capability against diagonal impact is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag is divided into two functional areas: a cushion area extending along the side window and a holding area extending inward from the cushion area. This segmentation allows each area to perform its specific function - the cushion area provides lateral protection while the holding area prevents forward contact with the A pillar during diagonal impacts.
Solution Approach 2:
The airbag extends not only laterally along the side window but also inward toward the vehicle center, creating a three-dimensional protective volume. This additional inward extension adds a new spatial dimension to the protection, forming a corner structure that effectively covers the A pillar area.
2Reliability
If the airbag is thickened at the A pillar area, then the protection against diagonal impact is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than thickening the existing airbag structure, the patent segments the airbag into distinct cushion and holding areas. The holding area is specifically positioned to extend inward and cover the A pillar, providing enhanced protection without requiring overall thickening of the airbag.
Solution Approach 2:
The airbag provides different structural characteristics in different areas: the cushion area maintains a standard profile for lateral protection, while the holding area extends inward to specifically address the A pillar protection need. This localized structural differentiation optimizes protection where needed without unnecessarily complicating the overall structure.
3Ease of manufacture
If the holding area is secured to the lateral roof rail, then the manufacturing is simplified, but the restraint effectiveness is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The holding area is secured to the vehicle roof at a position spaced apart from the lateral roof rail, utilizing the vertical dimension above the occupant. This positioning allows the holding area to extend downward and inward, creating an effective corner structure that restrains the occupant between the cushion and holding areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The holding area acts as an intermediary structure between the roof mounting point and the occupant's head. By being secured to the roof rather than the lateral rail, it creates a more effective restraint geometry that guides the head away from the A pillar while maintaining manufacturability.
4Reliability
If the airbag forms a V-shape or L-shape, then the head guidance is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag is segmented into a cushion area and a holding area that are fluidly connected. This segmentation naturally creates the V-shape or L-shape configuration when inflated, with the cushion area forming one leg and the holding area forming the other leg, meeting at the A pillar corner.
Solution Approach 2:
The airbag utilizes curved, three-dimensional surfaces to form the corner structure. The holding area curves inward and downward to create a funnel-like shape that effectively guides the occupant's head, utilizing smooth transitions rather than sharp angles to achieve the guidance function.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a side impact protection device comprising a side curtain airbag (22), wherein the side curtain airbag (22) includes a cushion area (24) extending along the side window (90) and at least partially covering the latter in the inflated state, comprising an upper securing edge (28) by which the cushion area (24) is secured to the lateral roof rail (18), and comprising a holding area (26) in the inflated state extending away from the side window (90) and from the cushion area (24) which constitutes the inner end of the side curtain airbag (22) and which is secured by its upper edge (29) to the vehicle roof (40) spaced apart from the lateral roof rail (18).