Vehicle Seat Airbag Housing Interface Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing vehicle seat airbag safety devices require precise adaptation of the interface part and airbag housing, leading to increased design time and cost due to manufacturing dimensional variations, and are sensitive to vehicle vibrations, causing noisy movements and visual imperfections.

Innovation Solution

The airbag housing 'pilots' the positioning of the interface part, allowing for greater manufacturing tolerance and reduced design time by using pegs, tabs, and screws with positioning means to secure the components, ensuring precise alignment and stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the interface part is designed to perfectly adapt to the airbag housing, then the positioning precision and visual quality are improved, but the design time and manufacturing cost increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning precisionVSAvoiddesign time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system is divided into independent modular components: the airbag housing with its positioning means (pegs, tabs) and the interface part with corresponding positioning features (holes, zones). This segmentation allows each component to be designed and manufactured independently with standard tolerances, eliminating the need for complex integrated design while maintaining precise relative positioning through the modular connection interface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Manufacturing precision

If the interface part is designed to perfectly adapt to the airbag housing, then the positioning precision and visual quality are improved, but the manufacturing cost increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning precisionVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The airbag housing serves multiple functions: it contains the inflatable bag, provides structural support, and incorporates positioning means (pegs, tabs) that enable precise alignment with the interface part. The interface part similarly serves as both a mounting interface and a positioning reference. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional specialized components, lowering manufacturing cost while maintaining precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Stability of the object's composition

If the interface part and airbag housing are tightly coupled, then the stability and visual quality are improved, but the assembly complexity and production time increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition stabilityVSAvoidassembly speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The positioning means (pegs, tabs, holes, zones) are pre-formed as integral features of the airbag housing and interface part during their respective manufacturing processes. This preliminary action eliminates the need for complex assembly operations or additional fastening steps, allowing the components to be quickly and accurately assembled while maintaining tight coupling and stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3172089B1Safety device having an interface part positioned with respect to the airbag housing, for a vehicle seat
Publication Date: 2018.08.01 AUTOLIV DEV AB
  • EP3172089B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3172089B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6
  • EP3172089B1 patent drawingFigure 7~9

AI summary

A safety device (DS) comprises an interface part (PI) and an airbag housing (BS) coupled to this interface part (PI) and fixedly secured to a backrest framework (AD) of a vehicle seat. The interface part (PI) comprises a rear face, provided with at least one clip-fastening lug (PCP) clip-fastened to a suitable part of the framework (AD) in order to ensure a pre-hold, and a front face, provided with first and second positioning means. The housing (BS) comprises a rear face provided with third and fourth positioning means that cooperate respectively with the first and second positioning means in order to precisely position the interface part (PI) with respect to the housing (BS), and at least one screw (VB) that is able to fixedly secure the housing (BS) and interface part (PI) to the framework (AD).