Floor-Mounted Lower Leg Restraint for Flexible Vehicle Cabins
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Solution Overview
Problem
In autonomous vehicles, the absence of traditional structural elements like instrument panels and steering wheels poses challenges for airbag deployment and reaction surfaces, as occupants can be positioned and oriented differently, making it difficult to effectively absorb impact energy and protect lower legs and feet during collisions.
Innovation Solution
A deployable restraint system is integrated into the vehicle floor, including an inflatable airbag module with a door that opens to serve as a reaction surface, and a pyrotechnic actuator to deploy a restraining panel above the floor, which engages the occupant's feet and legs to prevent hyperextension and absorb impact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If traditional instrument panel and steering wheel structures are removed to create spacious autonomous vehicle cabins, then vehicle spaciousness and design flexibility are improved, but reaction surfaces for airbag deployment are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from traditional two-dimensional airbag deployment surfaces (instrument panel, steering wheel) to a three-dimensional floor-based deployment system. The airbag module is positioned in the floor with the door serving as a reaction surface, creating a volumetric protection zone that adapts to various occupant positions and orientations in autonomous vehicles.
Solution Approach 2:
The floor-mounted airbag module serves multiple functions: it provides a reaction surface for airbag deployment, protects occupants' lower legs and feet from impact, and adapts to various seating configurations. The system is designed to work with occupants in different positions (forward-facing, rearward-facing, side-facing) making it universally applicable to autonomous vehicle cabin layouts.
2Adaptability or versatility
If occupants are positioned and oriented outside traditional configurations in autonomous vehicles, then design flexibility is improved, but airbag protection effectiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag module is designed with a door that can open in multiple directions and the airbag itself can inflate in various orientations. This dynamic deployment capability allows the system to adapt to occupants in different positions and orientations, whether forward-facing, rearward-facing, or side-facing, while maintaining effective impact energy absorption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent provides specialized protection for specific body parts (lower legs and feet) that are vulnerable in various seating configurations. By focusing protection on these local areas through the floor-mounted module, the system effectively addresses impact risks regardless of overall occupant positioning or orientation.
3Device complexity
If floor-mounted airbag module is used without traditional structural supports, then design simplicity is improved, but deployment reliability may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The door acts as an intermediary between the airbag module and the floor structure. It serves as the reaction surface that the airbag pushes against during deployment, transferring the deployment forces to the floor mounting points. This intermediary structure provides the necessary stability and force distribution without requiring complex traditional structural supports.
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 system effectively protects occupants by deploying an airbag and restraining panel to cushion and stabilize the legs and feet during collisions, providing a ride-down effect and preventing hyperextension, even in the absence of traditional structural supports.
Implementation Method 1
an inflator for inflating and deploying the airbag
Implementation Method 2
The airbag door opens as a result of forces exerted on the door by the inflating airbag
Implementation Method 3
a pyrotechnic actuator to deploy a restraining panel above the floor, which engages the occupant's feet and legs to prevent hyperextension and absorb impact
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for helping to protect occupants of a vehicle in the event of a collision includes a deployable restraint having a stored, predeployment condition in a vehicle floor. The restraint is deployable from the floor to restrain the feet and/or lower legs of an occupant from swinging forward and upward in response to a vehicle collision. In one configuration, the deployable restraint can include a module comprising an airbag and an inflator for inflating and deploying the airbag. The module can include a door that opens in response to deployment of the airbag and that serves as a reaction surface for the airbag. In another configuration, the deployable restraint can include a restraining panel configured to move to a deployed position extending above the vehicle floor adjacent the occupants lower leg and feet.