Airbag Vent Shielding Tether for Pressure Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing airbag apparatuses fail to effectively maintain internal pressure after a collision, which is crucial for reducing neck injuries, due to issues with vent hole closure caused by non-pressurized horizontal tethers.
Innovation Solution
An airbag apparatus with two or more vents, shielding parts, and a tether system where the tether connects shielding parts to each other and the airbag body, allowing the shielding parts to close the vents in response to pressurization, thereby controlling the vent closure time and maintaining internal pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a horizontal tether is installed traversing inside the airbag cushion, then the vent hole closure mechanism is provided, but the tether may not be pressurized during collision, causing the vent hole to remain open and failing to maintain internal pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the tether installation from a horizontal traversal inside the airbag cushion to a vertical arrangement along the side surface of the airbag cushion. This dimensional change ensures the tether is positioned in a region that experiences pressurization during collision, enabling reliable vent hole closure and internal pressure maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a guide groove structure as an intermediary element that guides the tether and ensures proper positioning. The guide groove mediates between the tether and the airbag cushion, ensuring the tether remains in the pressurized region and functions reliably to close the vent hole.
2Force
If the vent hole remains open during collision, then gas can escape to reduce impact force, but internal pressure cannot be maintained, failing to reduce neck injuries
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the tether and shielding part in advance along the side surface of the airbag cushion, preparing the closure mechanism before collision occurs. When collision happens, the pre-positioned tether is immediately pressurized and activates the shielding part to close the vent hole, ensuring timely pressure maintenance for neck injury reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a dynamic closure mechanism where the shielding part can move between open and closed states based on pressurization. The tether connects to the shielding part, allowing it to dynamically respond to collision forces by closing the vent hole when needed, thus adapting the venting function to the actual collision conditions.
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 airbag apparatus reduces the impact force on passengers by allowing gas to escape during unfolding, then shielding the vents post-collision to maintain pressure and minimize neck injuries.
Implementation Method 1
a tether configured to connect the shielding parts to each other and a hinge part configured to make the tether be in close contact with an internal surface of the airbag body
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an airbag apparatus, which includes: an airbag body unfolded by gas generated by an inflator during a crash of a car; two or more vents formed at one side of the airbag body; shielding parts installed so as to shield the vents, respectively; a tether configured to connect the shielding parts to each other; and a hinge part configured to make the tether be in close contact with an internal surface of the airbag body. Accordingly, the vent is shielded after a passenger collides with the airbag body, so that it is possible to minimize an injury to the neck of the passenger by maintaining a pressure inside the airbag apparatus.