Airbag Support Bracket for Vehicle Door Opening Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle airbag assemblies lack an effective installation method that securely positions them between a rear seat assembly and a door opening, failing to provide adequate support and stability.
Innovation Solution
An airbag assembly is installed with a support bracket retained by a pivot pin of a seat assembly, where the airbag support member is attached to the vehicle's interior side wall at two locations, with the lower end above the floor structure and the upper end above the seat supporting section, utilizing a frame assembly made of heavy gauge wire-like material for structural integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the airbag assembly is installed between the rear seat assembly and door opening using conventional methods, then the airbag can be positioned in the required location, but the installation lacks adequate support and stability causing rattling noise
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag assembly is divided into separate components: the airbag module itself and a support bracket assembly. The support bracket is segmented into multiple attachment points (first attachment to door opening, second attachment to seat assembly) that independently secure different portions of the bracket, distributing the stabilization function across multiple secured locations rather than relying on a single attachment point.
Solution Approach 2:
A support bracket serves as an intermediary component between the airbag assembly and the vehicle structure. This bracket is secured to both the door opening and the seat assembly, creating a stable triangular support structure that prevents rattling noise without requiring direct attachment of the airbag module itself to multiple points.
2Reliability
If the airbag assembly is secured to multiple points on the vehicle structure, then stability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support bracket is designed to perform multiple functions: it provides structural support for the airbag assembly, attaches to both the door opening and seat assembly, and prevents rattling noise. By consolidating these multiple functions into a single bracket component rather than requiring separate brackets for each function, the overall device complexity is reduced.
Solution Approach 2:
The support bracket merges the attachment functions to both the door opening and seat assembly into a single integrated component. Instead of using separate brackets or mounting structures for each attachment point, the design combines these functions into one bracket that spans between the two structural elements, simplifying the overall installation structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle body structure includes an interior side wall, a floor structure and an airbag support member. The interior side wall defines a first door opening. The floor structure at least partially defines a passenger compartment of a vehicle along with the interior side wall. The floor structure defines seat supporting section adjacent to the first door opening. The airbag support member has an upper end and a lower end and an airbag attachment portion. The lower end is attached to the interior side wall at a first location above the floor structure between the first door opening and the seat supporting section, the upper end being attached to the interior side wall structure at a second location above the first location.