Self-Standing Center Side Airbag Tether Anchoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing side airbags fail to restrict transverse movement of passengers in side collisions, especially when there is no passenger on the passenger seat or when riding positions are not aligned with the lateral collision direction, as they lack inherent support force and often collapse without effective protection.
Innovation Solution
A self-standing center side airbag with a tether system that provides support force by penetrating through specific holes in the airbag cushion and being fixed to the seat back, allowing it to maintain a constant length and support passengers without reliance on surrounding structures, including an inflator to supply gas and an extending support part to enhance pulling force.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the airbag is supported by a center console or unfolded between driver and passenger to obtain support force, then the airbag can prevent collision between driver and passenger, but when there is no passenger on the passenger seat, the airbag lacks support force and collapses, failing to restrict transverse movement of the driver
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag system uses the driver's own body (specifically the shoulder) as the anchoring point for the tether, eliminating the need for external support structures like the center console. The tether is fixed to the driver's shoulder through the airbag cushion, allowing the airbag to generate its own support force independently of passenger presence or center console support.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of fixing the tether to external structures (center console) or requiring passenger seat occupancy for support, the invention inverts the approach by fixing the tether to the driver's own body (shoulder). This internal anchoring method ensures the airbag maintains support force regardless of passenger conditions.
2Strength
If the airbag is designed to be supported by surrounding structures, then the structure can provide support force, but the airbag cannot effectively protect passengers when riding positions are not aligned with the lateral collision direction
Solution Approach 1:
The tether is designed with flexibility and movement capability, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position and angle according to the driver's riding position. The tether can move relative to the airbag cushion and driver's shoulder, maintaining effective support force even when the driver's position varies or does not align with the lateral collision direction.
Solution Approach 2:
The tether is divided into multiple sections (first section from seat back to first through hole, second section between through holes, third section from second through hole to seat back), allowing independent movement and adjustment of each segment. This segmentation enables the tether to adapt to different riding positions while maintaining support force.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the tether length is made adjustable to adapt to different riding positions, then the airbag can accommodate various positions, but the tether length becomes variable rather than constant
Solution Approach 1:
The tether maintains a constant total length while achieving adaptability through dynamic reconfiguration of its segments. The tether can slide through the through holes and change the distribution of length among its sections, but the sum of all section lengths remains constant, providing both adaptability and stability.
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 self-standing center side airbag effectively restricts transverse and longitudinal movements of passengers by maintaining a constant tether length and applying force through the airbag cushion, ensuring protection without external support, even in scenarios where traditional airbags would collapse or fail to provide adequate restraint.
Implementation Method 1
an inflator configured to supply gas from a lower end portion of the airbag cushion into the airbag cushion
Implementation Method 2
a tether configured to penetrate through the first through hole and the second through hole and have both ends fixed at the seat back side
Data Source
AI summary
A self standing center side airbag includes: an airbag cushion configured to be located at a side of an interior facing side of a seat back; a first through hole configured to penetrate through the airbag cushion and be located at a back with respect to a central line that bisects the airbag cushion in a front and back direction; a second through hole configured to penetrate through the airbag cushion and be located at a front with respect to the central line that bisects the airbag cushion in the front and back direction; and a tether configured to penetrate through the first through hole and the second through hole and have both ends fixed at the seat back side.