Vehicle Seat Side Airbag Inflation Width Expansion

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing vehicle seat side airbag configuration with a gas generating device attached to the inside of the outer side frame in the vehicle-width direction faces challenges in deploying the side airbag effectively towards the vehicle cabin side portion during a side collision, leading to a temporary decrease in occupant restraint performance.

Innovation Solution

The vehicle seat incorporates a side airbag device with an inflation width expansion portion that allows the side airbag to inflate and deploy more extensively outside the outer side frame, utilizing a gas introduction port and additional chambers to enhance deployment towards the vehicle cabin side, thereby improving initial occupant restraint performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If the gas generating device is attached to the inside of the outer side frame and introduces gas in the forward direction, then the side airbag can be deployed toward the vehicle front side, but the side airbag is less likely to inflate toward the vehicle cabin side portion, resulting in delayed reaction force application

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeployment speed toward vehicle front sideVSAvoiddelayed occupant restraint performance

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating an inflation width expansion portion with different dimensions at different locations of the side airbag. Specifically, the inflation width outside the outer side frame is made larger than inside, allowing the external chamber to expand more vigorously toward the vehicle cabin side and provide earlier reaction force, while the internal chamber maintains forward deployment capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The side airbag is segmented into an internal chamber and an external chamber separated by a partition wall. The gas generating device is divided into a first gas generating device for the internal chamber and a second gas generating device for the external chamber. This segmentation allows each chamber to be optimized for different deployment directions and functions, with the external chamber specifically designed to expand toward the vehicle cabin side portion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Device complexity

If the gas generating device is positioned inside the outer side frame, then the device complexity is reduced, but the inflation width of the side airbag outside the outer side frame is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegas generating device configurationVSAvoidinflation width outside outer side frame

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSArea of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extends the side airbag deployment into the vehicle-width dimension by creating an external chamber that protrudes outward from the outer side frame. This dimensional extension allows the airbag to achieve greater inflation width outside the frame without increasing the complexity of the gas generating device configuration, as the external chamber is simply an extended portion of the airbag structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 enhanced deployment of the side airbag ensures a faster and more effective reaction force application from both the outer side frame and vehicle cabin side, significantly improving the initial occupant restraint performance by ensuring the side airbag can deploy and react more efficiently during a collision.

Implementation Method 1

a gas generating device attached to an inner side of an outer side frame in a vehicle-width direction... a side airbag which inflates and deploys to expand over the outer side frame from a vehicle front side of the outer side frame in the vehicle-width direction by receiving gas from the gas generating device

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGas generation and inflation:

Data Source

PatentUS10668887B2Vehicle seat with side airbag device

Publication Date: 2020.06.02 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK

AI summary

A vehicle seat with a side airbag device includes: a gas generating device attached to an inner side of an outer side frame in a vehicle-width direction, which is disposed in a side portion on an outside of a seat back in the vehicle-width direction; a side airbag which inflates and deploys to expand over the outer side frame from a vehicle front side of the outer side frame in the vehicle-width direction by receiving gas from the gas generating device accommodated in the side airbag; and an inflation width expansion portion which is provided in the side airbag and causes an inflation width of the side airbag in the vehicle-width direction to be greater outside a side surface provided on an outside of the outer side frame in the vehicle-width direction than inside the side surface.