Airbag Textile Panel With Distributed Stop Threads for Easier Assembly

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing airbag manufacturing processes require precise alignment of stop threads in the joint area, complicating the production process and increasing the risk of manufacturing errors.

Innovation Solution

Distribute stop threads across the entire surface of the textile element, forming a helix along its length, and embed them in the airbag flap and firing channel wall plastic, ensuring even distribution and improved tensile strength.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If stop threads are only arranged in the joint area, then the hinge area must be precisely aligned with the stop thread area during manufacturing, but this increases manufacturing complexity and the risk of alignment errors

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment precision of joint areaVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The textile planar element is segmented into functional zones: the joint area with concentrated stop threads for hinge attachment, and the surrounding area with distributed stop threads for manufacturing flexibility. This segmentation allows the joint area to be precisely positioned while providing buffer zones that accommodate manufacturing tolerances.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Stop threads are preliminarily distributed over the entire surface of the textile planar element before the joint formation step. This preliminary distribution ensures that regardless of where the joint area is positioned during manufacturing, adequate stop threads are already in place to support the hinge attachment, eliminating alignment concerns.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of manufacture

If stop threads are distributed over the entire surface of the textile planar element, then manufacturing is simplified and alignment errors are eliminated, but the amount of thread material and processing steps increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidthread material quantity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The density of stop threads is not uniform across the entire textile planar element. Instead, stop threads are concentrated in the joint area where they are most needed for hinge attachment, and sparsely distributed in the surrounding areas. This local quality variation provides manufacturing flexibility while minimizing unnecessary thread material.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

Rather than distributing stop threads uniformly across the entire surface, the invention applies stop threads partially - specifically in the joint area and selectively in surrounding regions. This partial action provides sufficient manufacturing flexibility without the excessive material consumption that would result from complete surface coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP4151473B1Textile panel of an airbag
Publication Date: 2026.05.06 RSW GMBH
  • EP4151473B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4151473B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The invention relates to a textile surface element (F) of an airbag, which is attached with a first area (F1) to the inside of an airbag firing channel and with the second area (F2) to the underside of an airbag flap (1), wherein the connection between the first and the second area forms a joint (11), and wherein the joint has threads (a) of the basic structure of the surface element and additionally stop threads (b) which have a different, in particular greater, tensile strength compared to the threads of the basic structure of the textile surface element forming the sacrificial threads (c), wherein the stop threads (b) and the sacrificial threads (c) are arranged not only in the area of ​​the joint (11) but distributed over the entire surface of the textile surface element (F).