Seat-Integrated Side Airbag Fastening Layout for Stable Deployment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing side airbags, including middle airbags, face challenges in achieving quick, safe, and stable positioning during inflation and restraint, often requiring complex and costly anchor straps or positioning means for secure attachment to the vehicle seat.
Innovation Solution
A side airbag design featuring at least three fastening points integrated into the fabric cut, with specific arrangements to ensure optimal positioning and stabilization, eliminating the need for separate anchor straps, by placing fastening points in non-inflatable areas of the airbag, allowing for easy adaptation to the vehicle seat frame and facilitating manufacture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If anchor straps or positioning means are attached to the outside of the airbag, then the airbag can be positioned and stabilized during inflation and restraint, but the manufacturing process becomes complicated and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the fastening points directly into the airbag cushion structure by incorporating them into the fabric cut pattern. This merging of the positioning function into the main airbag body eliminates the need for separate anchor straps or positioning means, thereby simplifying manufacturing while maintaining positioning stability during inflation and restraint
2Ease of manufacture
If fastening points are integrated into the fabric cut, then manufacturing is simplified and cost is reduced, but the airbag may lack sufficient positioning capability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by strategically positioning fastening points at specific locations on the airbag cushion - namely in the upper area at a distance from each other in the vehicle seat transverse direction. This localized placement of fastening points in non-inflatable areas provides sufficient positioning capability while keeping the overall design simple and manufacturable
3Reliability
If the airbag is positioned close to the vehicle occupant, then protection effectiveness is improved, but the airbag may be harder to stabilize during inflation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-positioning the fastening points in the fabric cut before inflation occurs. The fastening points are arranged in the upper area of the airbag at a distance from each other in the vehicle seat transverse direction, which allows the airbag to be securely attached to the vehicle seat frame before deployment, ensuring both close positioning to the occupant and stability during 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
This design enables effective and stable positioning and stabilization of the side airbag during inflation and restraint, preventing occupant collision and over-oscillation, while simplifying the manufacturing process by integrating fastening points within the airbag's fabric cut.
Implementation Method 1
at least one gas cushion, the at least one gas cushion being formed of the at least one fabric cut
Data Source
AI summary
The invention describes a side airbag (2) of a vehicle occupant restraint system (10) provided to be mounted on a vehicle seat (4) and having at least one fabric cut (6, 7) and one gas cushion (8), wherein the side airbag (2) includes at least three fastening points (12, 14, 16) for mounting on the vehicle seat (4), in particular on a vehicle seat frame, wherein at least a first fastening point (12) and a second fastening point (14) are arranged in the at least one fabric cut (6, 7), wherein the first and second fastening points (12, 14) are arranged, in a condition mounted on the vehicle seat (4), in an upper area of the side airbag (2) and in a vehicle seat transverse direction (Q) are arranged at a distance (a) from each other. The invention also describes a vehicle occupant restraint system (10) comprising a seat-integrated airbag module (30) and a vehicle seat (4) comprising a seat-integrated airbag module (30) each of which comprises a side airbag (2) of this type.