Airbag Center Bag Regulating Tether Preventing Mirror Contact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional airbag devices for front passenger seats often result in contact between the airbag and the rearview mirror during deployment, as the upper portion of the center bag section collapses, pushing the mirror upward.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a regulating tether within the airbag device that connects the upper and lower portions of the center bag section, preventing it from bulging upward and thus avoiding contact with the rearview mirror, while also forming a recessed region to accommodate the mirror and being supported by the roof or windshield for additional stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the upper portion of the center bag section is configured as a recessed region to accommodate the rearview mirror, then the airbag can be inflated around the rearview mirror, but the recessed region may collapse when the airbag catches a passenger and is pushed forward forcefully, causing the airbag to move upward and push the rearview mirror upward
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring the regulating tether in a folded state within the airbag structure before deployment. The tether is positioned to extend from the upper portion to the lower portion of the center bag section, ready to activate and prevent upward movement when the airbag deploys and encounters a passenger
Solution Approach 2:
The regulating tether acts as an intermediary element between the upper and lower portions of the center bag section. It mediates the force distribution during airbag deployment, preventing the upper recessed region from collapsing while maintaining the overall inflation structure
2Strength
If the airbag is designed to be inflated with sufficient force to effectively protect the passenger, then the airbag can provide adequate protection, but the excessive force may cause the recessed region to collapse and the airbag to contact the rearview mirror
Solution Approach 1:
The regulating tether serves as a mechanical intermediary that distributes and regulates the inflation force within the airbag structure. It prevents the concentrated force from collapsing the upper recessed region while maintaining sufficient overall inflation pressure for passenger protection
Solution Approach 2:
The tether is pre-positioned in a folded state within the airbag, ready to activate during deployment. This preliminary configuration ensures that the force distribution is automatically regulated when inflation occurs, preventing harmful contact with the rearview mirror
Data Source
AI summary
An airbag is disclosed, including a main bag section deployable in front of a passenger seat, a center bag section which is deployable in such a manner as to protrude towards an inboard side in a vehicle width direction out of the main bag section to an area beneath the rearview mirror. The center bag section includes, on the upper portion as deployed, a region that faces the rearview mirror in an up and down direction. The center bag section internally includes a regulating tether that is disposed generally along an up and down direction and connects the region of the upper portion of the center bag section facing the rearview mirror at airbag deployment and a region of a lower portion of the center bag section deployed beneath the region facing the rearview mirror in order to prevent contact between the center bag section and the rearview mirror.