Head Rest Airbag Stabilization via Upper Deploying Portion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing occupant protection systems face challenges in stabilizing the deployment behavior of head rest airbags, especially when the capacity of the airbag is increased, leading to instability during side impacts and the need for additional airbag configurations like curtain airbags.
Innovation Solution
The proposed occupant protection system includes a first airbag for frontal impacts and a second airbag with lateral inflating portions and an upper deploying portion that covers the head from both sides, supported by the vehicle seat, which stabilizes deployment by connecting upper and side edge portions, and optional frame ducts to prevent interference, allowing for stable inflation and deployment without a front inflating portion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the capacity of the head rest airbag is increased to provide better side impact protection, then the protective capability is improved, but the deployment behavior becomes unstable
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag is divided into multiple functional portions: a head protecting portion for side impacts, a frontal protecting portion for frontal impacts, and an upper deploying portion that connects these portions. This segmentation allows each portion to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining stable deployment overall.
Solution Approach 2:
The airbag deployment is extended into the vehicle vertical direction by adding the upper deploying portion located in the upper portion of the vehicle seat. This three-dimensional deployment configuration provides stable structural support while enabling the airbag to cover the entire head from multiple directions.
2Device complexity
If a single airbag is used in the head rest to simplify the system, then the device complexity is reduced, but additional airbag configurations like curtain airbags are needed to achieve stable deployment
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple airbag functions are merged into a single head rest airbag unit. The airbag simultaneously provides side impact protection (head protecting portion), frontal impact protection (frontal protecting portion), and stable deployment support (upper deploying portion), eliminating the need for separate curtain airbags or other additional airbag configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The head rest airbag is designed as a multi-functional device that can protect against both side impacts and frontal impacts, and provide stable deployment through its upper deploying portion. This universal design allows a single airbag system to perform multiple protective functions that would traditionally require separate airbag systems.
3Ease of manufacture
If the airbag inflates from the sides of the head rest without proper structural support, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the deployment behavior cannot be stabilized
Solution Approach 1:
The upper deploying portion is pre-configured in the upper portion of the vehicle seat to provide structural support before the airbag deployment occurs. This preliminary structural arrangement ensures that when the airbag inflates, it follows a stable and predictable deployment path, maintaining both manufacturing simplicity and deployment 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
This configuration effectively protects the head from various crashes by stabilizing the airbag deployment, reducing the need for additional airbag systems like curtain airbags and ensuring reliable side impact protection with increased airbag capacity.
Implementation Method 1
a first airbag that is housed in a section of a vehicle body located in front of an occupant in the vehicle forward and rearward direction and receives a supply of gas to become inflated and deployed
Implementation Method 2
vehicle vertical direction upper edge portions of the pair of lateral inflating portions and vehicle width direction side edge portions of the upper deploying portion are connected to each other from their rear end side to their front end side
Data Source
AI summary
An occupant protection system including: a first airbag; and a second airbag, wherein the second airbag has a pair of lateral inflating portions which cover the entire head of the occupant from both sides in the vehicle width direction and an upper deploying portion which covers the head of the occupant from the upper side in the vehicle vertical direction, the pair of lateral inflating portions and the upper deploying portion are each supported in back in the vehicle forward and rearward direction by the vehicle seat, and in the inflated and deployed state of the second airbag, vehicle vertical direction upper edge portions of the pair of lateral inflating portions and vehicle width direction side edge portions of the upper deploying portion are connected to each other from their rear end side to their front end side in the vehicle forward and rearward direction.