Abstract: An air bag comprising at least one inflatable portion; a connecting portion located above the inflatable portion; a mounting rod connected to the connecting portion, the mounting rod adapted to be connected to a cooperating part of a vehicle. In another embodiment of the invention, the air bag includes a plurality of inflatable portions and a center uninflatable portion. The various inflatable portions are interconnected by a manifold or central passage.

Abstract: An air bag for side impact protection system comprising: an air bag (50) having an inflatable first chamber (50a) formed of two joined-together first (52a) and second (52b) panels of material, the first chamber including a forward part (26) and an opposite rear part (60); an inflator (26) for generating inflation gas to inflate the air bag, the inflator including exit ports (26a) which channel the inflation gas into the first chamber in a determinable direction; the air bag further including a flow diverter (70, 90) positioned to receive inflation gas and to divert at least a component of the inflation gas to flow generally perpendicular to the first direction. In one embodiment the flow diverter is formed as an open topped tube; in another embodiment; the flow diverter includes a plurality of vent openings in the side of the tube. In a third embodiment of the invention the diverter is formed by a permeable sack of material.

Abstract: A side impact or rollover protection restraint system (20) comprising: an air bag of sufficient length to extend between two pillars of a vehicle, the air bag (22), upon inflation, is of sufficient height to extend from proximate a roof rail (38) of the vehicle to a location generally adjacent the upper torso of a seated occupant such that the inflated air bag will lie between the occupant and a side portion of the vehicle; the system (20) further including a flexible tube (70) having a plurality of distributed openings (72) thereacross to distribute inflation gas to the air bag means (60) for inflating the air bag.

Abstract: A side impact or rollover protection restraint system (20) comprising: an air bag of sufficient length to extend between two pillars of a vehicle, the air bag (22), upon inflation, is of sufficient height to extend from proximate a roof rail (38) of the vehicle to a location generally adjacent the upper torso of a seated occupant such that the inflated air bag will lie between the occupant and a side portion of the vehicle; the system (20) further including a flexible tube (70) having a plurality of distributed openings (72) thereacross to distribute inflation gas to the air bag means (60) for inflating the air bag.

Abstract: A force-directing air bag deployment system comprising:a seat (20) having at least one forwardly extending wing (27), the seat (20) covered by a covering material (50), the covering material (50) defining at least one seam which runs vertically along a forward edge of the wing (27), the covering material (50) comprising an outboard side panel (50a) and an inboard side panel (50b) joined at the seam (26);a first reinforcement panel (60) positioned adjacent the outboard side panel 50a and joined to the panels (50a, 50b) at the seam (26);a second reinforcement panel (61) adjacent the inboard side panel (50d) and joined to the outboard panel (50a), the inboard panel (50b) and the first reinforcement panel (60) at the seam (26);the first and second reinforcement panels having respective end portions, each of the end portions are joined together by connectors (94,95) thereby forming the first and second reinforcement panels into a general loop configuration which when subjected to tensile forces, focuses reaction f

Abstract: A retainer assembly (22) for supporting an air bag inflator (24), the retainer assembly comprising: a hollow body (40), through which the inflator (24) is inserted, having a first end (28) and a second end (32), the second end including a first member for securing a cooperating second end of the inflator (36), the first end cooperating with a corresponding first end of inflator to provide a friction fit between the two components which acts to reroute gas through the retainer vent notch (46).