Guiding Bracket Weak Portion for Head Impact Absorption

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional head protection devices fail to absorb the load of a passenger's head during small collisions where the inflator is not activated, while also guiding the air bag smoothly to the vehicle cabin side during expansion.

Innovation Solution

A guiding bracket with an attachment surface, guiding wall, and contact portion is designed to include a weak portion that deforms towards the vehicle cabin outer side when a passenger's head collides, absorbing the load and preventing air bag interference, featuring a through hole with an inclined edge and ribs for enhanced support and deformation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a rigid guiding wall is used to guide the air bag, then the air bag can be smoothly guided to the vehicle cabin side while bearing the inflation load, but the guiding wall cannot absorb the load of a passenger's head during small collisions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveguiding wall strengthVSAvoidcollision response adaptability

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The guiding bracket incorporates a weak portion with different mechanical properties (lower strength) at a specific location between the support portion and contact portion. This local quality differentiation allows the majority of the guiding wall to maintain high strength for supporting air bag inflation loads, while the localized weak portion provides deformation capability to absorb passenger head loads during small collisions, thus resolving the contradiction between overall strength and collision adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If the guiding bracket is designed to be deformable to absorb head load, then small collision protection is improved, but the ability to bear the load caused by air bag inflation may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecollision response adaptabilityVSAvoidguiding wall strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The guiding bracket incorporates a weak portion with different mechanical properties (lower strength) at a specific location between the support portion and contact portion. This local quality differentiation allows the majority of the guiding wall to maintain high strength for supporting air bag inflation loads, while the localized weak portion provides deformation capability to absorb passenger head loads during small collisions, thus resolving the contradiction between overall strength and collision adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If a through hole is provided in the guiding wall, then the weak portion can deform more effectively to absorb load, but the structural integrity may be reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeformation capabilityVSAvoidstructural integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The weak portion of the guiding bracket is designed with a through hole, creating a porous or hollow structure at that specific location. This porous design reduces the material cross-section at the weak portion, enabling it to deform more easily and effectively absorb passenger head loads during small collisions. The through hole is strategically positioned and sized to provide sufficient deformation capability while maintaining overall structural integrity through the surrounding material and support portions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

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 guiding bracket effectively guides the air bag during expansion while absorbing the passenger's head load during small collisions without activating the inflator, maintaining a high shock-absorbing property and preventing air bag interference, thus ensuring a safe and spacious vehicle interior.

Implementation Method 1

a weak portion deformed toward a vehicle cabin outer side by a load of a passenger's head at a collision causing no activation of the inflator is formed between the support portion of the guiding wall and the contact portion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS8960715B2Head protection device and guiding bracket

Publication Date: 2015.02.24 TOYOTA BOSHOKU KK

AI summary

A head protection device includes an air bag and a guiding bracket, and the guiding bracket includes an attachment surface that has an attachment portion attached to a body panel, a guiding wall that has a support portion for supporting the air bag, and a contact portion that is coupled to an end of the guiding wall in the vehicle cabin side and contacts a ceiling material. A weak portion deformed toward the vehicle cabin outer side by a load of a passenger's head at a collision causing no activation of an inflator is formed between the support portion of the guiding wall and the contact portion.