Abstract: A three piece bag construction for an air bag cushion adapted to be deployed in the event of a collision has reduced stress at corners of the mouth. An elongated central main panel 10 totally surrounds the two side panels 12 and 14 and has end portions which form a transition section leading from the mouth 16 to the interior of the cushion. No part of the side panels 12 or 14 extends to the mouth 16. Seams extending from the four corners of the bag mouth 16 through the mouth/attach area to the side panels 52 and 54 found in traditional bags where high stress occurs, are not used in the present invention. A novel rod and rod pocket assembly facilitates attachment of the cushion to a conventional module.

Abstract: An inflatable air bag for cushioning restraint of an occupant in a motor vehicle is fabricated from a single pattern piece cut from a thin, strong, lightweight, flat segment of flexible sheet material by sewing or seaming along cut edges of the pattern in a designated sequence to provide an air bag having a shape when fully inflated, providing a maximum effective cushioning surface for engaging the vehicle occupant. The single pattern piece is symmetrical with respect to bisecting longitudinal and transverse central axes and includes central portion forming a large, occupant engaging surface area, pairs of side edge portions at opposite ends of the central portion forming opposite side walls of the inflated air bag and pairs of throat portions at opposite ends of the longitudinal central axis for forming an inlet throat of the air bag for receiving inflation gas.