Side-Flap Airbag Structure for Occupant Head Containment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing safety airbags fail to ensure occupants remain within the protection region during collisions, leading to potential injuries from hitting other vehicle structures due to head and chest displacement.
Innovation Solution
A safety airbag design featuring side flaps that extend to form a recessed portion to accommodate the head, with a gas generator at the front and a drawstring for control, made from a single piece of fabric to provide support and maintain the occupant within the protection area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional airbag is used without side flaps, then the structure is simple and manufacturing cost is low, but the occupant's head and chest can slide off during collision, reducing protection reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag is divided into distinct functional segments: a main body portion and separate first and second side flaps. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function - the main body provides primary cushioning while the side flaps prevent lateral sliding of the occupant's head and chest, thereby improving protection reliability without significantly complicating the overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The side flaps extend from the main body portion toward the occupant, creating a three-dimensional recessed portion that actively engages with the occupant's head and chest. This dimensional extension adds lateral containment capability, preventing sliding movements that would otherwise compromise protection effectiveness.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If side flaps are added to the airbag, then the recessed portion can accommodate the occupant's head to improve safety, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag is divided into distinct functional segments: a main body portion and separate first and second side flaps. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function - the main body provides primary cushioning while the side flaps prevent lateral sliding of the occupant's head and chest, thereby improving protection reliability without significantly complicating the overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The side flaps extend from the main body portion toward the occupant, creating a three-dimensional recessed portion that actively engages with the occupant's head and chest. This dimensional extension adds lateral containment capability, preventing sliding movements that would otherwise compromise protection effectiveness.
3Reliability
If the airbag is made from multiple pieces of fabric, then each part can be optimized for its function, but manufacturing cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag is constructed from a single piece of fabric that is continuously formed into the main body portion and side flaps. This merging approach eliminates the need for separate components and complex assembly operations, reducing manufacturing cost and complexity while maintaining the functional integrity and protection reliability of the design.
Solution Approach 2:
The single piece of fabric serves multiple functions simultaneously - forming the main body portion for cushioning and the side flaps for lateral containment. This multi-functionality approach reduces the number of components needed, simplifying manufacturing while achieving comprehensive occupant protection.
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
Ensures the occupant remains within the airbag's protection region, reducing the risk of traumatic head/brain injuries from rapid rotation and achieving high reliability and safety with a simple structure and low manufacturing costs.
Implementation Method 1
a gas generator of a safety airbag receives a signal transmitted by means of a wire harness connected to the gas generator so as to ignite a propellant. Then, gas generated by the burning propellant rapidly inflates a stowed air bag
Data Source
AI summary
A safety airbag having an air bag, the air bag configured with an inflated state and a stowed state, and including a main body portion and a first side flap and a second side flap connected to two sides of the main body portion. The first side flap and the second side flap extend from the main body portion towards an occupant when the air bag is in the inflated state such that the head of the occupant is accommodated in a recessed portion between the first side flap and the second side flap. The first side flap includes a first inner side surface and a first outer side surface. The second side flap includes a second inner side surface and a second outer side surface.