Wearable Airbag Single Gas Generator Regulating Element
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wearable airbag devices are either heavy and bulky due to multiple gas generators for multiple airbags or have slow inflation times with a single gas generator, leading to inadequate protection for the hip and head during falls.
Innovation Solution
A wearable airbag device with a single gas generator that uses a regulating element to control the inflation of a lower inflatable portion for the hip and an upper inflatable portion for the head, ensuring timely and adequate protection by prioritizing the inflation of the lower portion before the upper portion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple gas generators are used to protect multiple body parts, then protection coverage is improved, but device weight and bulk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple inflatable portions (lower for hip protection, upper for head protection) into a single airbag structure that is inflated by one gas generator. The gas generator discharges inflation gas that fills both portions through internal communication passages, merging the function of multiple airbags into one unified structure, thereby reducing device weight while maintaining comprehensive protection coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The single airbag structure serves multiple protective functions simultaneously. The lower inflatable portion protects the hip, while the upper inflatable portion protects the head, allowing one gas generator to provide protection for multiple body parts through a multi-functional airbag design.
2Weight of moving object
If a single gas generator is used to inflate a large volume airbag, then device weight is reduced, but inflation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag is segmented into multiple inflatable portions (lower and upper portions) with separate inflation pathways. The gas generator discharges inflation gas that is distributed to different portions through communication passages, allowing parallel inflation of multiple sections rather than sequential filling, thereby reducing total inflation time while maintaining a compact single-generator design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces internal communication passages that create multiple three-dimensional inflation pathways within the airbag structure. This allows inflation gas to reach different portions of the airbag simultaneously through various routes, effectively distributing the inflation process across multiple dimensions and reducing the time required for complete inflation.
3Stability of the object's composition
If inflation gas is distributed evenly to all portions, then uniform inflation is achieved, but timely protection of critical areas is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements different inflation priorities for different portions of the airbag. The lower inflatable portion, which provides hip protection, is designed to inflate first through dedicated communication passages that receive inflation gas preferentially. The upper inflatable portion for head protection inflates subsequently. This local differentiation in inflation timing ensures that critical protection areas are covered in the appropriate sequence, with hip protection occurring first during the fall impact.
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 device effectively protects the hip and head during falls by ensuring the lower inflatable portion is inflated first, providing initial protection for the hip and subsequent protection for the head, even with a limited number of gas generators, enhancing safety and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a gas generator that is held by the holding body and is configured to discharge an inflation gas
Implementation Method 2
a regulating element that is configured to control a flow of the inflation gas so that the upper inflatable portion is inflated after inflation of the lower inflatable portion
Data Source
AI summary
A wearable airbag device includes a holding body adapted to be worn by a wearer, a gas generator held by the holding body, and an airbag that is held by the holding body and includes an inflatable portion which is inflatable with an inflation gas from the gas generator. The inflatable portion includes a lower inflatable portion for protecting the hip of the wearer, an upper inflatable portion for protecting the head of the wearer, and a communicating portion that is in gas communication with both of the lower inflatable portion and upper inflatable portion. A regulating element is disposed in the communicating portion so as to control a flow of inflation gas so that the upper inflatable portion is inflated after inflation of the lower inflatable portion. The gas generator is configured to deliver the inflation gas more toward the lower inflatable portion than toward the upper inflatable portion.