Hinged Vehicle Side Panel for Airbag Impact Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle interior panels do not effectively distribute impact forces from airbags during collision events, potentially increasing the risk of injury to vehicle occupants.
Innovation Solution
An interior panel for a vehicle comprising a first plate, a second plate, and a hinge, where the first plate is configured to pivot from a closed position to an opened position in response to airbag deployment, and both plates include force-distributing pads with ribs to reduce impact forces on occupants.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a traditional rigid interior panel is used, then the structural strength is maintained, but the impact forces on occupants during collision are concentrated and increased
Solution Approach 1:
The interior panel is segmented into a first plate and a second plate connected by a hinge, allowing the structure to divide and redirect impact forces through rotational movement rather than concentrating them at a single point
Solution Approach 2:
The panel incorporates force-distributing pads that change the physical parameters of force transmission by distributing impact forces across a larger area, reducing the concentration of harmful forces on occupants while maintaining overall structural integrity
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the interior panel is made fully rigid to maintain structural integrity, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but the ability to distribute impact forces is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The panel is divided into multiple segments (first plate and second plate) connected by a hinge, creating a mechanism that can distribute forces while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure that can be manufactured as an integrated component
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge acts as an intermediary element between the first and second plates, enabling force distribution through controlled movement while maintaining structural connectivity and simplifying the overall design compared to more complex active safety systems
3Object-affected harmful factors
If force-distributing pads are added to the interior panel, then occupant safety is improved during collision, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The force-distributing pads are merged with the first and second plates through integral formation via injection molding, creating a unified component that combines structural and safety functions while simplifying the manufacturing process by eliminating separate assembly steps
Data Source
AI summary
An interior panel for a vehicle includes a first plate, a second plate, and a hinge extending between and interconnecting the first plate and the second plate. The hinge establishes a plate pivot axis about which the first plate is configured to pivot from a closed position to an opened position.