Rotatable Armrest Airbag Restraint for Vehicle Occupant Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional airbag systems in vehicles do not effectively protect occupants from secondary impacts and loose objects within the cabin during collisions, and they do not prevent submarining, which can lead to increased injury risks.
Innovation Solution
A seat design incorporating rotatable armrests with integrated airbags that deploy and inflate to cushion occupants, using a dual inflator system and a controller to coordinate the deployment of armrests and airbags in response to impacts, providing comprehensive protection regardless of seat orientation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional airbag systems are used in fixed positions, then the system structure is simple, but they cannot effectively protect occupants from secondary impacts and loose objects during collisions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the armrest portions rotatable between a stowed position and a deployed position. Upon impact detection, the armrest portions rotate to deploy outward to cushion occupants from secondary impacts and loose objects. This dynamic positioning resolves the contradiction by enabling the system to adapt its configuration for enhanced protection while maintaining a simple stowed appearance during normal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the seat into multiple functional components: fixed back armrest portions and rotatable front armrest portions with integrated airbags. This segmentation allows the front armrest portions to independently deploy for protection while the back portions remain fixed, resolving the contradiction by providing enhanced protection capabilities without requiring complete system redesign.
2Ease of operation
If traditional seatbelts are used, then the restraint system is simple, but they restrict occupant freedom of movement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces static seatbelts with dynamic airbag-based restraint. The airbags remain dormant during normal operation, allowing occupants complete freedom of movement. Upon impact detection, the airbags inflate rapidly to provide restraint, resolving the contradiction by offering unrestricted movement during normal use while maintaining reliable restraint capability when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state of the restraint system from compressed (normal operation) to inflated (impact response). The airbags transition from a compact, non-restrictive state to an expanded, restraining state, resolving the contradiction by providing freedom of movement during normal operation while delivering reliable restraint during collisions through parameter change.
3Reliability
If airbags are deployed without coordinating armrest deployment, then the response time is fast, but the protection effectiveness is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by coordinating armrest deployment to occur simultaneously with or immediately before airbag inflation. The control system triggers both the rotatable armrest portions and the airbags upon impact detection, ensuring the armrests are in position to cushion occupants before the airbags fully inflate. This preliminary coordination resolves the contradiction by maximizing protection effectiveness without significant time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the armrest deployment mechanism with the airbag inflation system into a single coordinated response. Both functions are triggered by the same impact detection signal and operate together as an integrated restraint system, resolving the contradiction by achieving simultaneous deployment that maximizes protection while minimizing coordination time.
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 seat design enhances occupant safety by deploying airbags to prevent secondary impacts and submarining, reducing injury risks through controlled deployment of armrests and airbags, which can replace traditional seatbelts and offer greater freedom of movement.
Implementation Method 1
In the event of an impact, an inflator activates and provides inflation medium to the airbags, and the airbags pressurize and act as cushions for occupants during the impact
Implementation Method 2
a gas-expansion chamber may be enclosed by the piston head and the piston cylinder, and the inflator may be disposed in the gas-expansion chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A seat includes a seatback, two armrest portions, and two airbags. Each armrest portion is rotatably coupled to the seatback about a generally vertical axis from a stowed position elongated in a forward direction to a deployed position extending in front of the seatback. Each airbag is fixed to one of the armrest portions and inflatable to an inflated position in which one of the airbags is disposed in front of the other of the airbags relative to the seatback.