Side Airbag Attachment Structure with Localized Guide Portion
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing side airbag attachment structures are heavy due to large and extensive guide portions that extend to cover the entire airbag device, necessitating a reduction in weight while maintaining effective deployment and inflation guidance.
Innovation Solution
An attachment structure with a support portion, attachment portion, and a guide portion that corresponds to a part of the airbag, allowing the guide portion to be smaller and more efficient, with the guide portion positioned to correct abnormal deployments and inflate the airbag towards the seat outer side, utilizing a sheet metal design with a curved support and inclined guide surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the guide portion is provided so as to correspond to the entire airbag, then the airbag deployment guidance is comprehensive, but the weight of the attachment member increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide portion is segmented to correspond only to a specific part of the airbag rather than the entire airbag, dividing the guidance function into localized zones that reduce material requirements while maintaining effective deployment control
Solution Approach 2:
The guide portion is concentrated in a specific local region where it is most needed for airbag deployment guidance, rather than uniformly distributed across the entire airbag area, optimizing the balance between guidance effectiveness and weight reduction
2Reliability
If the inclined wall is made large to cover the entire side airbag device, then the airbag guidance is effective, but the structural weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The inclined wall structure is segmented into a guide portion that is localized to specific regions rather than extending across the entire airbag device, reducing the overall structural weight while maintaining guidance effectiveness in critical areas
Solution Approach 2:
The guide portion is provided for only a part of the airbag rather than the entire airbag, applying partial action that is sufficient to achieve the desired airbag deployment guidance without the excess weight of full-coverage structure
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 reduces the weight of the attachment member, ensures proper airbag deployment and inflation direction, and prevents airbag inflation into abnormal regions, enhancing protection and reducing the risk of injury from misdeployment.
Implementation Method 1
an airbag to be deployed and inflated on a side of an occupant seated on a seat in a vehicle interior under pressure of a gas supplied from an inflator
Implementation Method 2
the inclined wall has an inclined portion (guide portion) that is inclined toward a seat outer side, and the deployed and inflated airbag is guided to the seat outer side by the inclined portion
Data Source
AI summary
An attachment structure, for a side airbag device including an airbag that is to be deployed and inflated on a side of an occupant seated on a seat in a vehicle interior under pressure of a gas supplied from an inflator, includes an attachment member via which the airbag is attached inside the seat. The attachment member includes a support portion that supports the airbag before the airbag is deployed and inflated, an attachment portion that is attached inside the seat, and a guide portion that guides the airbag to a seat outer side at a time when the airbag is deployed and inflated. The guide portion is provided so as to correspond to a part of the airbag supported by the support portion.