Driver Seat Airbag Folding Preparation Body with Pre-Folded Portion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional driver seat airbag folding methods result in a rigid folded portion that inhibits compact folding and increases pressing force on the driver when inflated, as the rolled folded portion is difficult to bend and occupies more space due to its rigidity.

Innovation Solution

A folding preparation body with a pre-folded portion where the front edge of the airbag is folded to approach the inflow opening, featuring a non-folded portion on the vehicle body side wall and a J-shaped cover portion on the driver side wall, which reduces rigidity and allows for smoother bending, enabling compact folding without rolling, thus reducing the pressing force on the driver during inflation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a rolled folded portion is provided on the front edge side to reduce pressing force on the driver, then the pressing force is reduced, but the folded portion becomes rigid and difficult to bend, inhibiting compact folding

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepressing force on driverVSAvoidbendability of folded portion

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the structural parameters of the folded portion by introducing a non-folded portion that extends from the inflow opening to the crease of the pre-folded portion. This non-folded portion maintains flexibility and bendability while the folded portion still provides the function of reducing pressing force on the driver when inflated.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The front edge of the airbag is divided into distinct segments: a non-folded portion extending from the inflow opening to the crease, and a folded portion that is folded to approach the inflow opening. This segmentation allows each portion to fulfill its specific function - the non-folded portion maintains flexibility while the folded portion reduces pressing force.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Volume of moving object

If the folded body is folded compactly by gathering the outer circumferential edge to the upper side of the inflow opening, then compactness is improved, but the rigid rolled folded portion makes folding difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefolded body sizeVSAvoidfolding process difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the folding parameters by specifying that the pre-folded portion is folded to approach the inflow opening without completely rolling it. The non-folded portion remains unfolded, creating a flexible structure that can be easily folded compactly while maintaining the space-reducing effect.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The pre-folded portion is prepared in advance with a specific configuration where the front edge is folded to approach the inflow opening but not completely rolled. This preliminary folding action creates a structure that is easier to fold compactly while still achieving the desired compactness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Volume of moving object

If the front edge is folded to approach the inflow opening, then compact folding is enabled, but rigidity increases making the folded portion hard to bend

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefolded body sizeVSAvoidrigidity of folded portion

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the structural parameters by introducing a non-folded portion that maintains flexibility. The folded portion is configured to approach the inflow opening for compactness, but the non-folded portion counteracts the rigidity increase, allowing the folded portion to remain bendable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The front edge structure is segmented into a non-folded portion and a folded portion. The folded portion provides compactness when folded to approach the inflow opening, while the non-folded portion maintains flexibility and reduces overall rigidity, enabling easy bending.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS10106122B2Folding preparation body of driver seat airbag and folding method of folded body

Publication Date: 2018.10.23 TOYODA GOSEI CO LTD

AI summary

A folding preparation body includes a pre-folded portion folded in a folded shape of being gathered to an upper side of the inflow opening and mounted in the steering wheel, the pre-folded portion includes a portion in which the front edge of the initial preparation body is folded to approach the inflow opening in the vehicle body side wall, the vehicle body side wall of the folding preparation body includes a non-folded portion from the inflow opening to a crease of the pre-folded portion and a folded portion which is folded from the crease to be overlapped on the lower surface of the non-folded portion, and the pre-folded portion includes the folded portion of the vehicle body side wall and a lower surface side portion, which covers an outer surface of the folded portion, in the cover portion of the driver side wall.