Headrest Airbag Guide Structure for Narrow Window Clearance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In seat-mounted airbag devices, the deployment of the airbag can be hindered when the clearance between the window and the occupant's head is narrow, leading to potential delays or the airbag getting caught on the head during deployment, especially in frontal collisions.
Innovation Solution
The airbag device incorporates a guide member, such as a cloth or a protruding portion of the side portion's front wall, that interposes between the airbag and the occupant's head before deployment, ensuring smooth deployment by creating a clearance and reducing the risk of the airbag getting caught, while also being integrated into the headrest to minimize manufacturing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the airbag is housed to be folded in a bellows shape with high deployment speed, then the deployment speed of the airbag is improved, but the airbag may get caught on the head of the occupant during deployment
Solution Approach 1:
The guide member protrudes from the side portion of the headrest before the airbag deploys, creating a preliminary protective barrier. This preliminary action ensures that when the airbag deploys at high speed, the guide member is already in position to prevent the airbag from getting caught on the occupant's head, thus resolving the contradiction between high deployment speed and safety
Solution Approach 2:
The guide member acts as an intermediary element between the airbag and the occupant's head. It protrudes from the side portion and creates a physical barrier that guides the airbag's deployment path, preventing direct contact between the rapidly deploying airbag and the occupant's head, thereby enabling high-speed deployment without safety risks
2Adaptability or versatility
If the airbag is deployed forward through a narrow clearance between the window and the occupant's head, then the airbag can provide protection in this configuration, but the deployment becomes difficult and may be delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The guide member serves as a mediator that facilitates airbag deployment through narrow clearances. By protruding from the side portion, it creates a guided path that allows the airbag to navigate the tight space between the window and the occupant's head without getting caught or delayed, thus maintaining both adaptability to narrow clearances and deployment reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The guide member is positioned specifically at the side portion of the headrest where the narrow clearance exists. This localized placement provides targeted assistance exactly where the deployment difficulty occurs, enabling reliable deployment through narrow clearances without affecting other areas of the airbag system
3Ease of operation
If a separate guide member is provided, then the deployment smoothness is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide member is merged with the side portion of the headrest, forming an integrated structure. This combining approach maintains the deployment smoothness benefits of having a guide member while eliminating the need for separate manufacturing and assembly processes, thus reducing manufacturing costs while preserving operational effectiveness
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 solution allows for smooth deployment of the airbag even in narrow clearances, reducing the risk of injury to the occupant and lowering manufacturing costs by integrating the guide member into the headrest design.
Implementation Method 1
an inflator that is operated when a vehicle collision is detected or predicted and ejects gas
Data Source
AI summary
A seat-mounted airbag device includes an inflator, an airbag body, and a guide member. The airbag body includes a front-rear chamber and a tip chamber. The front-rear chamber is deployed forward of a seat through a clearance between a window and a head of an occupant from a side portion of a headrest on a window side by gas ejected from the inflator and disposed between the window and the head of the occupant. The tip chamber is deployed inward in a seat width direction from an end portion of the front-rear chamber on a seat front side and disposed forward of a face of the occupant on the seat front side. The guide member protrudes from the side portion prior to deployment of the airbag body and is interposed between the airbag body and the head of the occupant.