Seatback-Mounted Rear Airbag Positioning With Stabilizing Attachments
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing airbag assemblies mounted to a vehicle seatback may fail to effectively protect occupants seated rearward of a front seat due to improper positioning and movement during deployment, leading to potential injuries from impact with vehicle structures or other components.
Innovation Solution
The airbag assembly is designed with a housing integrated into the seatback, featuring a burst seam for deployment and attachments to stabilize the airbag, preventing oscillation and ensuring consistent positioning to cushion the occupant during a collision.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the airbag is mounted to the seatback without stabilization attachments, then the device complexity is reduced, but the airbag oscillates and moves during deployment causing improper positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag is pre-positioned within the housing structure before deployment, with upper and lower attachments predetermined at specific locations. This preliminary positioning ensures that when the airbag deploys, it maintains proper alignment with the occupant and does not oscillate or move to improper positions, resolving the stability issue without requiring complex active control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing structure serves as an intermediary element between the airbag and the seatback. The housing contains the airbag in a predetermined position and provides structural support through upper and lower attachments, mediating the connection to prevent airbag oscillation while maintaining a relatively simple overall design.
2Device complexity
If the airbag is positioned without predictable placement relative to the occupant, then the device complexity is reduced, but the protection reliability decreases due to potential impact with vehicle structures
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag system is designed with predetermined positioning features including upper and lower attachments fixed at specific locations within the housing. This preliminary configuration ensures that when the airbag deploys, it achieves reliable and predictable positioning relative to the occupant, preventing harmful impacts with vehicle structures while avoiding complex active positioning mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention specifies particular geometric parameters for the airbag positioning system, including the locations of upper and lower attachments and the dimensions of the housing. By carefully selecting these parameters, the system achieves reliable airbag placement that protects occupants without requiring complex control systems.
3Ease of manufacture
If the airbag housing is integrated into the seatback without attachments, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the airbag oscillation increases during deployment
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag is pre-positioned within the housing with upper and lower attachments configured at predetermined locations before final assembly. This preliminary configuration ensures stable airbag deployment without oscillation while maintaining ease of manufacture, as the attachments are integrated into the housing structure rather than requiring separate complex mounting mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing structure combines multiple functions: it contains the airbag, provides structural support through upper and lower attachments, and integrates with the seatback. By merging these functions into a single integrated component, the system achieves stable airbag positioning without requiring additional separate attachments that would complicate manufacturing.
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 provides predictable and reliable protection by maintaining the airbag's position relative to the occupant, reducing the risk of secondary injuries from impact with vehicle structures.
Implementation Method 1
An inflatable airbag assembly may be mounted within a vehicle and deploy during a collision event
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2C
Figure 3A~3C
AI summary
A seatback-mounted rear airbag assembly (100) is disclosed wherein the airbag assembly is mounted forward of an occupant of a rearward vehicle seating position and disposed at least partially within a seatback (24) of a vehicle seating position forward of the occupant. The airbag assembly is disposed partially within the seatback and partially within a headrest whereby a lower attachment (146) and an upper attachment (150) of an inflatable airbag cushion (140) couple the inflatable airbag cushion at multiple points to properly disposed the inflatable airbag cushion forward of the occupant.