Abstract: An inflatable cushion for a side of a vehicle is provided, the inflatable cushion, having at least one inflatable cell, the least one inflatable cell being defined by a first layer of cushion fabric secured to a second layer of cushion fabric; a support member secured to either the first layer or second layer of cushion fabric defining the at least one inflatable cell, the support member defining a non-inflatable portion of the inflatable cushion and wherein a portion of the support member traverses the at least one inflatable cell and is tangent to a face of the at least one inflatable cell when it is inflated such that upon inflation of the at least one inflatable cell tension is created in the support member.

Abstract: An inflatable cushion for a side of a vehicle is provided, the inflatable cushion, having at least one inflatable cell proximate to an end of an inflatable portion of the inflatable cushion, the least one inflatable cell being defined by a first layer of cushion fabric secured to a second layer of cushion fabric; a single sheet of fabric secured to either the first layer or second layer of cushion fabric defining the at least one inflatable cell, the single sheet of fabric defining a non-inflatable portion of the inflatable cushion and wherein a substantial portion of the single sheet of fabric traverses the at least one inflatable cell and is tangent to a face of the at least one inflatable cell when it is inflated such that upon inflation of the at least one inflatable cell tension is created in the single sheet of fabric.

Abstract: An inflatable having: an inflatable portion, the inflatable portion partially surrounding an area when the inflatable portion is inflated; a non-inflatable member secured to the inflatable portion and positioned in the area; and a retentive pocket formed by the non-inflatable member, the retentive pocket having a periphery bounded on at least one side by the non-inflatable member and a peripheral portion of the non-inflatable member being configured to vary a length of the peripheral portion of the non-inflatable member such that a recessed area is formed in the retentive pocket.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are directed to an inflatable cushion for deployment along an interior side of a vehicle. In one exemplary embodiment the inflatable cushion has: an inflatable portion, the inflatable portion partially surrounding an area; a non-inflatable member secured to the inflatable portion and positioned in the area; and a retentive pocket formed by the non-inflatable member and the inflatable cushion, the retentive pocket having a periphery bounded on at least one side by the non-inflatable member and the non-inflatable member being configured such that a recessed area is formed in the retentive pocket, the recessed area being disposed within the periphery of the retentive pocket.

Abstract: An inflatable cushion for a side of a vehicle is provided, the inflatable cushion having a first sheet of material; a second sheet of material, the first sheet of material being secured to the first sheet of material to define the inflatable cushion; wherein at least a portion of a peripheral edge of the inflatable cushion is defined by a seam wherein the first sheet is secured to the second sheet only by a plurality of stitches and the inflatable cushion maintains an internal pressure in a range of greater than 20 KPa and less than 50 KPa for at least 1.5 seconds during inflation of the inflatable cushion.

Abstract: An inflatable cushion for a side of a vehicle is provided, the inflatable cushion, having at least one inflatable cell proximate to an end of an inflatable portion of the inflatable cushion, the least one inflatable cell being defined by a first layer of cushion fabric secured to a second layer of cushion fabric; a single sheet of fabric secured to either the first layer or second layer of cushion fabric defining the at least one inflatable cell, the single sheet of fabric defining a non-inflatable portion of the inflatable cushion and wherein a substantial portion of the single sheet of fabric traverses the at least one inflatable cell and is tangent to a face of the at least one inflatable cell when it is inflated such that upon inflation of the at least one inflatable cell tension is created in the single sheet of fabric.

Abstract: A cover for a driver's side airbag module is provided, the cover having a central body portion with an opening disposed therein, the central body portion having a predetermined tear seam for defining a pair of deployable doors, the predetermined tear seam extending through the opening. The cover also includes a horn switch assembly inserted into the opening; and a tether secured to the horn switch assembly, the tether retaining the horn switch assembly with the cover after deployment of the pair of deployable doors along the predetermined tear seam, wherein the horn switch assembly is dislodged from the opening when the pair of deployable doors deploy along the predetermined tear seam.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are directed to an inflatable cushion for deployment along an interior side of a vehicle. In one exemplary embodiment the inflatable cushion has: an inflatable portion, the inflatable portion partially surrounding an area; a non-inflatable member secured to the inflatable portion and positioned in the area; and a retentive pocket formed by the non-inflatable member and the inflatable cushion, the retentive pocket having a periphery bounded on at least one side by the non-inflatable member and the non-inflatable member being configured such that a recessed area is formed in the retentive pocket, the recessed area being disposed within the periphery of the retentive pocket.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are directed to an inflatable cushion for deployment along an interior side of a vehicle. In one exemplary embodiment the inflatable cushion has: an inflatable portion, the inflatable portion partially surrounding an area; a non-inflatable member secured to the inflatable portion and positioned in the area; and a retentive pocket formed by the non-inflatable member and the inflatable cushion, the retentive pocket having a periphery bounded on at least one side by the non-inflatable member and the non-inflatable member being configured such that a recessed area is formed in the retentive pocket, the recessed area being disposed within the periphery of the retentive pocket.

Abstract: An inflatable cushion for a side of a vehicle, the inflatable cushion, comprising: a primary cushion chamber inflatable to a first position, the primary cushion chamber having an upper edge portion, a lower edge portion, a first end portion and a second end portion; and a secondary cushion chamber inflatable to a second position, the secondary cushion chamber having a first section and a second section, the first section extending between the upper edge portion and the lower edge portion and the second section extending from the first section towards either the first end portion or the second end portion or towards both the first end portion or the second end portion and a portion of the second section being located below the lower edge portion when the secondary cushion chamber is in the second position.

Abstract: A cover for a driver's side airbag module is provided, the cover having a central body portion with an opening disposed therein, the central body portion having a predetermined tear seam for defining a pair of deployable doors, the predetermined tear seam extending through the opening. The cover also includes a horn switch assembly inserted into the opening; and a tether secured to the horn switch assembly, the tether retaining the horn switch assembly with the cover after deployment of the pair of deployable doors along the predetermined tear seam, wherein the horn switch assembly is dislodged from the opening when the pair of deployable doors deploy along the predetermined tear seam.

Abstract: An air bag module, comprising: a housing having at least one vent opening; an inflatable cushion being stored in an un-deployed position in the housing; an inflator for inflating the inflatable cushion, the inflator being in fluid communication with the inflatable cushion and having a plurality of inflation openings for allowing an inflation gas to pass therethrough, at least one of the plurality of inflation openings being in fluid communication with the at least one vent opening; a deployable member being secured to an interior surface of the inflatable cushion at one end and a portion of the airbag module at the other end; wherein the deployable member is configured to allow venting through the at least one vent opening when the inflatable cushion is in the un-deployed position and the at least one vent opening is covered by the deployable member when the inflatable cushion inflates towards a fully deployed position.

Abstract: A system for controlling an inflation output in an inflatable cushion of an air bag module, comprising: a first sensing device, the first sensing device being an electronic sensing device configured to detect the presence of an object proximate to the air bag module, when the inflatable cushion is in an un-inflated state, the first sensing device providing a suppression signal when an object is detected within an area proximate to the air bag module; a second sensing device, the second sensing device being a mechanical sensing device configured to detect whether a leading edge of the inflatable cushion has made contact with an object prior to the leading edge reaching a predetermined distance from the air bag module during inflation of the inflatable cushion, the second sensing device being disposed within the inflatable cushion and is configured to cause the inflation output provided to the inflatable cushion to be varied when the leading edge of the inflatable cushion has made contact with an object prior t

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are directed to an inflatable cushion for deployment along an interior side of a vehicle. In one exemplary embodiment the inflatable cushion has: an inflatable portion, the inflatable portion partially surrounding an area; a non-inflatable member secured to the inflatable portion and positioned in the area; and a retentive pocket formed by the non-inflatable member and the inflatable cushion, the retentive pocket having a periphery bounded on at least one side by the non-inflatable member and the non-inflatable member being configured such that a recessed area is formed in the retentive pocket, the recessed area being disposed within the periphery of the retentive pocket.

Abstract: An inflatable cushion for a side of a vehicle, the inflatable cushion, comprising: a primary cushion chamber inflatable to a first position, the primary cushion chamber having an upper edge portion, a lower edge portion, a first end portion and a second end portion; and a secondary cushion chamber inflatable to a second position, the secondary cushion chamber having a first section and a second section, the first section extending between the upper edge portion and the lower edge portion and the second section extending from the first section towards either the first end portion or the second end portion or towards both the first end portion or the second end portion and a portion of the second section being located below the lower edge portion when the secondary cushion chamber is in the second position.

Abstract: A door for an airbag module having an inflatable cushion, the airbag module being adapted to be used in a vehicle having an instrument panel with an airbag module opening, the door having an inner surface and an outer surface adapted to match the instrument panel, comprising: a first member depending away from the inner surface of the door, the first member being movably secured to the airbag module and remains secured to the module during deployment of the inflatable cushion; a second member depending away from the inner surface of the door, the second member being received within a flange opening of the airbag module; and a plurality of latch hooks depending away from the inner surface of the door, the plurality of latch hooks being configured to engage an opening in the airbag module, wherein the first member, the second member and the plurality of latch hooks are each configured to allow movement of the door in three separate directions with respect to the airbag module and wherein the second member and t

Abstract: A door for an airbag module having a housing, an inflatable cushion, the airbag module being adapted to be used in a vehicle having an instrument panel with an airbag module opening, the door having an inner surface and an outer surface adapted to match the instrument panel, comprising: a first member depending away from the inner surface of the door, the first member being movably secured to the airbag module for relative movement therebetween and remains secured to the module during deployment of the inflatable cushion; a pair of second members depending away from the inner surface of the door, the pair of second members each having an opening for receiving a guiding member depending away from the housing; wherein the configuration of the first member and the openings of the pair of second members allows the door of the airbag module to deploy in a first direction until the first member reaches a point of maximum movement in the first direction, wherein the door continues to deploy in a second direction tha

Abstract: A deployment flap for use with an inflatable cushion is provided. The deployment flap includes a fabric or other flexible, foldable material; a plurality of securement tabs each having a weakened area; and a cover area defined in the fabric. The fabric is connectable to the inflatable cushion to cause the inflatable cushion to be biased in a selected direction upon inflation of the inflatable cushion. The cover area covers the inflatable cushion prior to inflation of the inflatable cushion. The securement tabs secure the fabric to a retainer. The weakened area releases the fabric from the retainer upon the inflation of the inflatable cushion.

Abstract: An air bag pressure control system for use in a vehicle is provided. The system comprises a housing, an inflatable cushion, and a dual stage inflator. The inflator generates a quantity of inflation gas to deploy the inflatable cushion from the housing. A vent opening is formed in the housing to selectively direct a portion of the inflation gas towards or away from the inflatable cushion. A sensing and diagnostic module detects an activation event level. A control algorithm tailors an inflation level of the inflatable cushion during deployment according to the activation event level.

Abstract: A variable tether system adapted for use in an inflatable cushion of an airbag module having a first pair of tether elements each having a first end and a second end, the first ends each being secured to inner portions of the inflatable cushion and the second ends each being secured to inner portions of the inflatable cushion, the first ends each being secured to the inflatable cushion at positions remote from the second ends and the second ends being secured to the inflatable cushion at a location closer to an inflation opening of the inflatable cushion than the first ends, wherein each of the first pair of tether elements has a portion between each of the first and second ends which is not secured to the inflatable cushion; and a second pair of tether elements each having a first side and a second side, the first side of one of said second pair of tether elements being secured to a portion of one of the first pair of tether elements and the first side of the other one of the second pair of tether elements b