Side Airbag Head Chamber Folding Around the Shoulder Belt

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing side airbag systems do not effectively prevent abrasion on the occupant's skin during deployment, as the head chamber expands and deploys towards the side surface, and the initial deployment is impeded by the shoulder belt, compromising protection performance.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle seat with a side airbag system where the head chamber is stored in an outer roll folded state from the front end and inner roll folded state from the intermediate portion, allowing initial deployment inside the seat between the shoulder belt and head rest, and subsequent expansion outside to avoid skin abrasion, with the head chamber and body chamber configured as a single bag for efficient folding and deployment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the head chamber is deployed towards the side surface of the head to provide protection, then head protection performance is improved, but skin abrasion occurs on the occupant

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehead protection performanceVSAvoidskin abrasion

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamic deployment control by releasing foldings in a specific sequence: inner roll folding is released first to deploy the head chamber toward the inside of the seat, then outer roll folding is released to deploy toward the outside. This dynamic, staged release allows the airbag to adapt its deployment direction during the inflation process, ensuring protection while avoiding skin contact

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the head chamber is deployed toward the inside of the seat to avoid skin abrasion, then skin protection is improved, but deployment is impeded by the shoulder belt

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveskin abrasion preventionVSAvoiddeployment performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring the head chamber with specific folding patterns (inner roll folding from intermediate portion and outer roll folding from front end portion) before deployment. This pre-arranged folding structure enables the airbag to automatically navigate around the shoulder belt during inflation, ensuring smooth deployment without manual intervention or additional mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Volume of moving object

If the head chamber is stored in a compact folded state to save space, then storage efficiency is improved, but deployment complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage spaceVSAvoidfolding structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the nesting principle by implementing multiple levels of folding: the head chamber is folded into an inner roll folded state first, then further folded into an outer roll folded state. This nested folding approach compresses the airbag into a compact form for storage while maintaining a structured configuration that facilitates controlled deployment through sequential unfolding

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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

Enhances deployment performance and head protection by ensuring the head chamber expands and deploys effectively between the shoulder belt and head rest without impairing initial expansion and preventing skin abrasion during side impacts, while simplifying the folding process for storage.

Implementation Method 1

a head chamber that expands and deploys between a shoulder belt and a head by receiving supply of gas from an inflator in an event of a side impact

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGas generation and expansion:

Data Source

PatentUS11827171B2Seat for vehicle and folding method of side airbag

Publication Date: 2023.11.28 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK

AI summary

The seat for a vehicle includes a side airbag having a head chamber. The head chamber is housed along the upper frame of the seat back. The head chamber is inflated and deployed between the shoulder belt and the head upon side impact, receiving a delivery of gases from the inflator. Here, the head chamber is configured to be housed in an inner roll folded state in which the front end of the roll folding from the front end portion in the sheet longitudinal direction is wound in a roll shape so as to be wound around the sheet outside, and the front end of the roll folding from the intermediate portion is wound in a roll shape so as to be wound around the sheet inside.