Abstract: An air bag cushion deployable from a location along the roof rail portion of a vehicle frame in substantially curtain-like fashion across the side of the vehicle interior over an expansive area adjacent to an occupant to be protected. The air bag cushion is of a partially segmented construction including a main body portion deployable downwardly away from the roof rail and an expansible upper portion expansible between the header portion of the roof rail and the head of an adjacently seated vehicle occupant. The main body portion and the inflatable upper portion of the air bag cushion are attachable to the roof rail structure along a common line of attachment. The inflatable upper portion and the main body portion of the air bag cushion may be inflated by a common source of inflation gas so as to utilize a single common inflator.

Abstract: An inflatable restraint assembly including an inflatable curtain structure deployable from a storage position adjacent the roof rail of the vehicle above the doors so as to extend downwardly over an area within the vehicle interior adjacent to an occupant to be protected. The inflatable curtain structure is operatively connected to one or more variable length tethering elements extending between the inflatable curtain structure and an anchoring structure adjacent the lateral end of the curtain structure so as to apply a generally horizontal force component along the length of the inflatable curtain structure. As the inflatable curtain structure is deployed downwardly from the storage location, the operative length of the tethering element is shortened in the horizontal direction thereby enhancing tension along the length of the inflatable curtain structure.

Abstract: An air bag cushion deployable from a location along the roof rail the vehicle interior over an expansive area adjacent to an occupant to be protected. The air bag cushion is of a partially segmented construction including a main body portion deployable downwardly away from the roof rail and an expansible upper portion expansible between the header portion of the roof rail and the head of an adjacently seated vehicle occupant. The main body portion and the inflatable upper portion of the air bag cushion are attachable to the roof rail structure along a common line of attachment. The inflatable upper portion and the main body portion of the air bag cushion may be inflated by a common source of inflation gas so as to utilize a single common inflator.