Side Curtain Airbag Inflator Bracket with Integral Shelf
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Solution Overview
Problem
The assembly of side curtain airbag assemblies to vehicle roof rails is challenging due to space constraints and the risk of fabric pinching during fastener installation, leading to potential deployment failures and increased complexity and cost with existing solutions.
Innovation Solution
A curtain airbag inflator bracket with integral shelves between mounting tabs and the folded curtain fabric, fabricated from sheet metal or composite materials, ensures a secure and defined separation, preventing fabric interference and allowing for reliable and rapid assembly without special handling or additional components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If discrete polymer tubs or deflector tabs are provided to protect the mounting tab area, then fabric pinching is prevented, but device complexity and assembly cost increase due to additional components and intermediate assembly steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the protective function (preventing fabric pinching) with the mounting bracket structure by forming an integrated bracket that includes both the mounting tab and the protective deflector features as a single unit. This eliminates the need for separate polymer tubs or deflector tabs and their associated assembly steps, while maintaining the reliability of preventing fabric interference during fastener installation
2Reliability
If tape or restraint is used to compress the curtain fabric, then fabric pinching is prevented, but ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in placing the restraint adjacent to the mounting tab
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated bracket design provides self-service by having the protective deflector features built-in as part of the bracket structure itself. The bracket automatically provides the necessary protection and compression guidance without requiring operators to manually apply tape or external restraints, making the assembly process straightforward and eliminating the operational difficulties associated with positioning external compression elements
3Reliability
If special assembly aids are used to push away the side curtain fabric, then fabric pinching is prevented, but device complexity increases and verified proper assembly is not readily available
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated bracket incorporates preliminary action by having the protective deflector features pre-formed as part of the bracket structure before assembly begins. The geometry of the integrated bracket automatically guides the fabric away from the fastener path and provides built-in verification features that allow operators to confirm proper assembly without requiring special tools or complex procedures
Data Source
AI summary
An inflator bracket for a side curtain vehicle airbag assembly of a type for mounting along a roof rail of a motor vehicle interior and mounting an inflator for generating inflation gas for a side curtain airbag. The inflator bracket in the form of a formed sheet metal component providing a carrier section adapted to engage and support the inflator and extending to form a base section and forming at least one mounting tab having a hole therethrough for enabling a threaded fastener to fasten the bracket to the roof rail. A shelf formed by the bracket positioned between the mounting tab and the carrier section and extending generally perpendicular to the base section provides clearance for the fastening of the threaded fastener without interference with the curtain airbag. The bracket is provided in the form of an integrated structure incorporating the carrier section, the base section, the mounting tab, and the shelf.