Tether Clip Segmentation for Curtain Airbag Deployment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing tether clip design integrates the tether portion and engagement retention portions, leading to increased load on the tether portion, stress concentration, and reduced deformability, which hinders the effective deployment of the curtain airbag and complicates attachment and detachment due to restricted space and uneven load distribution.
Innovation Solution
The tether clip design separates the tether portion and engagement retention portions, allowing independent deformation and reducing the load on the tether portion, with a straight portion and curved portion configuration that varies smoothly in cross-section, and includes clearances and rounded edges to distribute load effectively and prevent stress concentration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the tether portion and engagement retention portions are joined integrally at the junction portion, then the structure is simplified and manufacturing is easier, but the load on the tether portion base increases and stress concentration occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The tether clip is divided into separate components: the tether portion and the engagement retention portions are no longer joined integrally but are positioned independently with clearances between them. This segmentation allows each component to deform independently, preventing stress concentration at a junction portion while distributing loads more effectively throughout the structure.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the tether portion and engagement retention portions are joined integrally, then structural stability is improved, but deformability is reduced and garnish opening is hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The structure transitions from a rigid integral connection to a dynamic configuration where the tether portion and engagement retention portions can move and deform independently relative to each other. The clearances allow the engagement retention portions to deform laterally to facilitate garnish opening while the tether portion maintains its structural integrity, achieving both stability and deformability.
3Ease of operation
If the tether portion is made longer to increase garnish opening space, then garnish deployment is improved, but the tether portion interferes with the housing portion inner wall surfaces increasing sliding resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The engagement retention portions are positioned laterally outward from the tether portion in the first direction, creating clearances that provide additional spatial dimension for deformation. This lateral positioning allows the engagement retention portions to move independently without interfering with the housing portion inner wall surfaces, enabling greater garnish opening without increased sliding resistance.
4Manufacturing precision
If the posts of the tether portion have the same width as the garnish stopper hole, then precise fitting is achieved, but load distribution becomes uneven and rupture risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The clearances between the tether portion and engagement retention portions create localized regions that allow for load distribution. The engagement retention portions can deform independently to distribute lateral loads away from the tether portion base, while the posts maintain their precise fitting dimensions for the garnish stopper hole, achieving both precision and reliability.
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 reduces the risk of tether portion rupture, enhances the flexibility of both components, improves the detachability of the garnish, and facilitates easier deployment and assembly by distributing load more evenly and reducing stress concentration, thereby ensuring effective deployment of the curtain airbag.
Implementation Method 1
The engagement retention portions 40 are elastically deformable in the first direction D1
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A tether clip (10) includes: a seat portion (50); a tether portion (20) standing on the seat portion (50); an anchor portion (30) connecting to one end portion of the tether portion (20) that is opposite to the other end portion thereof; an engagement retention portion (40) located at each of both sides of the tether portion (20) and standing on the seat portion (50) on the same side as the tether portion (20); and an independence facilitation structure (c) provided between the tether portion (20) and each of the engagement retention portions (40) and configured to facilitate independent movement of the engagement retention portions (40) and the tether portion (20) when the tether clip (10) receives load in a first direction parallel to the seat portion (50) and orthogonal to a direction of a line that connects the engagement retention portions (40) provided at the both sides of the tether portion (20) and is parallel to the seat portion (50).