Airbag Pelvis Restraint with Movable Mounting Strap
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing safety restraint systems, including inflatable pelvis restraints, face challenges in enhancing occupant protection during vehicle impacts and rollovers, particularly in providing effective and comfortable restraint while maintaining design flexibility and reducing weight.
Innovation Solution
A safety restraint system featuring an airbag with an inflatable pelvis restraint portion that extends laterally across the seat cushion, mounted with a strap allowing one side to move relative to the seat upon inflation, accommodating radial expansion and improving deployment height without restricting tension forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the airbag is securely mounted to the seat with fixed mounting points, then the airbag provides stable support and restraint, but the deployment height and radial expansion are restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system transitions from a static fixed connection to a dynamic movable connection. The airbag is mounted to the seat via a mounting structure that permits movement in a direction substantially perpendicular to the seat cushion, allowing the airbag to dynamically adjust its position and deployment height while maintaining secure attachment during normal operation and impact events.
2Ease of manufacture
If the airbag is mounted with fixed mounting points, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the airbag cannot translate laterally to accommodate radial expansion
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting structure incorporates movable connections that allow lateral translation of the airbag during deployment. This dynamic mounting approach maintains manufacturing simplicity while enabling the airbag to adapt its position to accommodate radial expansion and optimize restraint performance during impact events.
3Reliability
If the airbag uses heavy rigid mounting structures, then the airbag remains stable during deployment, but the overall system weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system utilizes flexible mounting structures that can accommodate airbag deployment while maintaining stability. These flexible mounting elements provide the necessary support and restraint functionality without the weight penalty of heavy rigid structures, allowing lateral movement and radial expansion while keeping the overall system weight reduced.
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 provides enhanced pelvis restraint and energy absorption during impacts, offering improved comfort, design flexibility, and reduced weight by allowing the airbag to translate and expand radially, enhancing occupant protection and seat design.
Implementation Method 1
The airbag has an inflatable pelvis restraint portion extending across the lower seat cushion in a lateral direction
Implementation Method 2
At least one of the first and second lateral sides is laterally movable relative to the lower seat cushion upon inflation of the inflatable pelvis restraint portion
Data Source
AI summary
A safety restraint system for a vehicle seat having a frame, a seat back and a lower seat cushion supported on the frame includes an airbag having an inflatable pelvis restraint portion. The inflatable pelvis restraint portion extends across the lower seat cushion between a first lateral side and a second lateral side of the inflatable pelvis restraint portion. At least one of the first and second lateral sides is laterally movable relative to the lower seat cushion upon inflation of the airbag. The inflatable portion may be secured to the vehicle seat with a mounting strap.