Inverted Triangular Airbag for Dashboard Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional front seat passenger airbags require a larger volume and more expensive, heavier inflators due to their size, which is not the case for driver airbags, necessitating a reduction in volume to accommodate smaller inflators similar to those used for drivers.
Innovation Solution
The airbag is designed with an inverted triangular shape in its inflated state, wider on the upper side near the occupant and narrower on the lower side, formed from side panels and an inflator interface panel, which spreads its contact area with the dashboard upon impact, allowing for a smaller inflator and potentially the same type used for driver airbags.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the airbag is made larger to provide adequate protection for front seat passengers, then the protective effect is improved, but the volume and weight of the inflator increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag is divided into multiple functional zones with different shapes: an upper inverted triangular portion for occupant contact and protection, and a lower portion for dashboard contact and energy absorption. This segmentation allows each zone to be optimized for its specific function, reducing the overall volume needed while maintaining protective effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The airbag utilizes the third dimension by creating an inverted triangular cross-section in the vertical plane, wider at the top near the occupant and narrower at the bottom near the dashboard. This dimensional approach allows the airbag to provide adequate protection volume while reducing overall material requirements and inflator size compared to a conventional uniformly sized bag.
2Weight of moving object
If the airbag volume is reduced to use smaller inflators, then the inflator cost and weight are reduced, but the protective capability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
Different portions of the airbag are given different geometric qualities: the upper portion has an inverted triangular shape that expands outward to maximize contact area with the occupant's chest and head, while the lower portion tapers to contact the dashboard. This local differentiation ensures that protection is concentrated where most needed while minimizing overall volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The airbag is designed to dynamically change its contact area with the dashboard during deployment. As the bag inflates, the lower portion spreads out to increase dashboard contact, distributing the impact force and energy absorption across a larger area, which enhances protective capability despite reduced overall volume.
3Loss of energy
If the airbag is designed to spread contact area with the dashboard, then energy absorption is improved, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag employs asymmetric geometry with an inverted triangular cross-section that is wider at the top and narrower at the bottom. This asymmetric shape naturally directs the inflation force to spread the lower portion against the dashboard, increasing contact area and energy absorption capability without requiring additional mechanical components or complex structural elements.
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 reduces the airbag's volume, enabling the use of smaller inflators while providing effective energy absorption and delayed restraint to the occupant, minimizing neck injury risks by allowing greater head movement before full engagement.
Implementation Method 1
The present application relates particularly to a dashboard - mounted airbag for a front seat passenger of a motor vehicle. Such a passenger airbag normally must be significantly larger than a corresponding airbag for a driver of the vehicle, because a driver airbag is normally mounted in the hub of the steering wheel and thus much closer to the individual for which it is intended than the passenger airbag mounted in the dashboard.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1C
Figure 2A~2C
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
In an airbag arrangement for a front seat passenger in a motor vehicle, an airbag 10 which is mounted, in its stowed condition, in the dashboard 18 of the vehicle, the airbag 10 is so configured that it its inflated, deployed condition in which it is interposed between, the dashboard and the front seat passenger, the inflated bag is wider on its upper side, over an impact region 24C nearer the front seat passenger, than on its lower side adjacent the dashboard, and is narrower at its end adjacent the vehicle dashboard than at its end nearer to the front seat passenger.