Knee Airbag Support Strap Trajectory Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inflatable knee airbag systems may not optimally direct airbag cushion deployment, potentially leading to suboptimal protection during collision events due to inadequate control over deployment trajectory and resistance.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a support strap configured to direct the airbag cushion's deployment trajectory by resisting forward and downward movement, ensuring it deploys rearward and upward, thereby enhancing protection for vehicle occupants by restricting the throat portion's expansion and directing inflation gas into the airbag's upper and lower portions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If no support strap is used, then the airbag cushion can deploy freely in any direction, but the deployment trajectory cannot be controlled and protection effectiveness is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The support strap acts as an intermediary element between the airbag cushion and the vehicle structure. It mediates the deployment process by providing controlled resistance to forward and downward movement, thereby directing the cushion's trajectory rearward and upward without requiring complex active control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The support strap is pre-configured to provide resistance in specific directions (forward and downward) before deployment occurs. This preliminary anti-action pre-determines the deployment trajectory by opposing unwanted motion directions, ensuring the airbag cushion deploys in the desired rearward and upward direction.
2Ease of operation
If the airbag cushion is allowed to deploy without restrictions, then deployment speed is maximized, but deployment direction cannot be controlled leading to suboptimal protection
Solution Approach 1:
The support strap provides differential constraint characteristics - it offers resistance to forward and downward movement while allowing rearward and upward deployment. This local quality approach creates direction-specific control without requiring a complex multi-directional constraint system.
3Reliability
If the throat portion is allowed to expand freely, then inflation speed is maximized, but deployment trajectory cannot be controlled
Solution Approach 1:
The support strap is pre-positioned to provide preliminary resistance to the throat portion's forward and downward expansion during inflation. This preliminary anti-action guides the inflation process, ensuring that as gas fills the cushion, the throat portion expands in a controlled manner that directs overall deployment trajectory without significantly delaying inflation.
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 support strap effectively directs the airbag cushion's deployment in a controlled manner, enhancing protection for the knee and lower leg areas by preventing forward deployment and ensuring the airbag is positioned to effectively absorb impact energy.
Implementation Method 1
a support strap configured to direct the airbag cushion's deployment trajectory by resisting forward and downward movement
Implementation Method 2
an inflator configured to generate inflation gas
Data Source
AI summary
An inflatable airbag assembly, such as a knee airbag assembly, including a support strap, wherein the support strap may be secured to an inflatable airbag cushion. The support strap may be configured to direct the deployment trajectory of the airbag cushion such that the airbag cushion is deployed rearwardly and upwardly within a vehicle. The inflatable airbag assembly may be configured to prevent injury to an occupant's hip, femur, knee, and/or lower leg.