Seatback Airbag Chamber Layout for Reclined Occupant Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional airbag systems struggle to effectively protect occupants in various seating arrangements and postures, particularly when seats are reclined or separated from the vehicle door, as curtain and side airbags may not adequately cover the head or waist of occupants.
Innovation Solution
An airbag device with distinct upper and lower chamber regions, deploying in a semi-dome shape to cover the entire side of the occupant, integrated with a tether system to stabilize deployment and positioned on one side of the seatback without requiring significant frame modifications, combining the protection of side and curtain airbags.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional curtain airbags are used to protect occupants, then head protection is provided, but protection is insufficient when seats are greatly separated from the vehicle door or when occupants are in various postures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the functions of side airbags and curtain airbags into a single integrated airbag device. The airbag includes both a lower chamber region that protects the waist to shoulders (side airbag function) and an upper chamber region that protects the head and neck (curtain airbag function), providing comprehensive protection in one device that adapts to various seating arrangements
Solution Approach 2:
The airbag device is designed to perform multiple protection functions simultaneously. It can protect different body parts (waist, shoulders, head, neck) and adapt to various occupant postures and seating arrangements, making it a universal protection system that replaces the need for separate side and curtain airbags
2Ease of manufacture
If airbag is disposed on one side portion of the seatback, then easy mounting is achieved without special seat frame structure, but deployment stability must be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag is divided into distinct upper and lower chamber regions with different functional zones. The lower chamber region (side protection) and upper chamber region (head protection) are separated by a partition wall, allowing each region to deploy and function independently while maintaining overall deployment stability when mounted on one side of the seatback
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 airbag device provides comprehensive protection for occupants' heads and waists, stabilizing deployment to ensure reliable restraint across different seating positions without interfering with existing seat structures.
Implementation Method 1
an inflator stowed on a side portion of a near side of the seatback that generates inflation gas; an airbag stowed in the seatback in a rolled or folded state that is deployed by the inflation gas released from the inflator
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3
AI summary
[Problem] To provide an airbag device capable of reliably restraining and protecting an occupant regardless of a seating arrangement in the cabin or a seated posture of the occupant. [Resolution Means] The present invention is an airbag device installed in a vehicle seat having a seat cushion forming a seat surface and a seatback forming a backrest, being provided with an inflator stowed in one side portion of the seatback that generates inflation gas, and an airbag stowed in the seatback in a rolled or folded state that deploys from one side portion by the inflator releasing the inflation gas. The airbag deploys toward the front of the seatback and includes an upper chamber region for protecting at least around the head and neck of the occupant and a lower chamber region for protecting mainly from the waist to the shoulders of the occupant.