Abstract: An airbag assembly in a vehicle including at least one structural support is provided that includes an airbag configured to inflate and an airbag deployment guide. The airbag deployment guide includes a deformable headliner operably associated with the airbag, wherein the deformable headliner is configured to deform based upon an applied force from the inflating airbag and at least one tunable connector operably connecting the deformable headliner to the at least one structural support of the vehicle, wherein the at least one tunable connector is configured to reduce a deformation of the deformable headliner when the inflating airbag contacts the deformable headliner until a threshold force applied to the deformable headliner and the tunable connector by the at least one inflating airbag is exceeded.

Abstract: A pillar trim is provided for an inflatable restraint mounted to a pillar of a motor vehicle. The pillar trim includes a body fixedly mounted to the pillar and a plurality of energy absorbing ribs spaced relative to one another along the body and disposed adjacent to the pillar when the pillar trim is mounted thereto. The energy absorbing ribs are spaced from the pillar to form a packaging space for the inflatable restraint to be stowed therein. The pillar trim also includes a notch extending through the energy absorbing ribs and into the body to deflect and bend to form a desired exit opening in the body when the inflatable restraint is inflated to allow the inflatable restraint to deploy therethrough.

Abstract: An inflatable restraint module for an automotive vehicle has a module housing longitudinally mounted adjacent a roof rail with an inflatable restraint mounted therein for movement from a stowed position to an inflated position along an interior of the vehicle body side. The module housing has a flap member, deployable by inflation of the inflatable restraint, to operatively force a headliner assembly over a pillar trim piece and to route the inflatable restraint past the pillar trim.