Side Curtain Airbag Protector Contact Portion

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing curtain airbag apparatuses face issues with low workability during assembly due to the tendency of the airbag to drop off the vehicle body panel during temporary fixation, especially when the cover is not in contact with the lower surface of the bent portion, leading to instability and potential detachment.

Innovation Solution

The airbag apparatus is designed with a protector that includes a contact portion with a base plate and ribs, which are in contact with the lower surface of the bent vehicle body panel, preventing upward movement and rotation, and an upper contact portion to restrain movement towards the panel, ensuring stable fixation and inflation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the cover is not in contact with the lower surface of the bent portion, then the structure is simpler, but the airbag apparatus is likely to drop off during temporary fixation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidfixation stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The contact portion is designed to extend in a new spatial dimension by contacting the lower surface of the bent portion, creating a multi-point constraint system that prevents upward movement while maintaining structural simplicity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The contact portion acts as an intermediary element between the cover and the bent portion, transferring and distributing the weight of the airbag apparatus to multiple support points, thereby enhancing fixation stability without complicating the overall structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If only temporary fixing claw is used, then the fixation process is faster, but the airbag apparatus may drop off when touched

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly speedVSAvoidtemporary fixation stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The contact portion is pre-configured to contact the lower surface of the bent portion before the airbag apparatus is fully assembled, creating preliminary support that prevents dropping during the assembly process while maintaining fast installation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The contact portion provides beforehand cushioning by distributing the weight and preventing concentrated stress on the temporary fixing claw, thereby preventing detachment when the apparatus is touched during assembly

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Reliability

If the contact portion contacts the lower surface of the bent portion, then upward movement is restrained, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveposition stabilityVSAvoidcover structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The contact portion is merged with the existing cover structure, integrating the stabilization function into the cover itself rather than adding a separate component, thus maintaining position stability while minimizing device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS10336281B2Airbag apparatus

Publication Date: 2019.07.02 HONDA MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

There is provided a side curtain airbag apparatus. The side curtain airbag apparatus includes a bag that is inflated and unfolded, a piece of fixing hardware that is fixed to an edge portion of the bag and includes a temporary fixing claw capable of being locked to a locking portion of a vehicle body panel, and a protector that includes a lower contact portion in contact with a lower surface of a bent portion of the vehicle body panel and surrounds the bag.