Abstract: An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle includes a curtain airbag having a packaged condition in which the curtain airbag is rolled and/or folded for installation in the vehicle. The curtain airbag is configured to inflate and deploy between the occupant and a side structure of the vehicle. A deployment wrap includes a sheet of material configured as a loop to extend around the curtain airbag in the packaged condition. The deployment wrap is configured to undergo tension in response to inflation of the curtain airbag. The tension acts on the curtain airbag to help control the initial deployment of the curtain airbag. The deployment wrap is rolled up along its length, forming a roll that takes up the material of the deployment wrap and causes the deployment wrap to constrict around the curtain airbag.

Abstract: An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle includes a curtain airbag having a packaged condition in which the curtain airbag is rolled and/or folded for installation in the vehicle. The curtain airbag is configured to inflate and deploy between the occupant and a side structure of the vehicle. A deployment wrap includes a sheet of material configured as a loop to extend around the curtain airbag in the packaged condition. The deployment wrap is configured to undergo tension in response to inflation of the curtain airbag. The tension acts on the curtain airbag to help control the initial deployment of the curtain airbag. The deployment wrap is rolled up along its length, forming a roll that takes up the material of the deployment wrap and causes the deployment wrap to constrict around the curtain airbag.

Abstract: A roof rail airbag assembly for a vehicle includes a roof rail in a vehicle frame, a roof rail airbag including a main airbag body and an airbag retaining tab extending from the main airbag body, a roof rail airbag fastener capturing the airbag retaining tab between the fastener and the roof rail, and a bolt extending through the roof rail airbag fastener, through the airbag retaining tab and extending into the roof rail. The roof rail airbag fastener includes a bolt passthrough opening and a separating tab extending from an inwardly facing surface of the fastener and positioned between the bolt passthrough opening and the main airbag body.

Abstract: A vehicle airbag system includes an airbag having a stiffened portion and an inflatable portion connected to the stiffened portion. A pocket is formed in the stiffened portion between first and second sewn seams. The pocket has a closed end wall defining a first end of the pocket and a pocket entrance defining a second end of the pocket. An elongated spline is disposed in the pocket through the pocket entrance, the spline when fully received in the pocket resisting torsional motion of the vehicle airbag system in an inflatable portion non-deployed condition.

Abstract: An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device inflatable between a vehicle surface and the vehicle occupant. The protection device includes a front panel having a portion presented toward the occupant when the protection device is in an inflated condition. A vent includes at least one opening for releasing inflation fluid from the protection device and has an actuated condition and a non-actuated condition. A tether has a first segment connected to the vent and the front panel of the protection device for actuating the vent and a second segment connected to the front panel and a rear portion of the protection device. Tear stitching connects portions of the second segment of the tether to form a slackened portion of the tether. The tear stitching remains intact such that the first segment is slackened and the vent in the non-actuated condition in response to initial deployment of the protection device below a predetermined degree.

Abstract: An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device inflatable between a vehicle surface and the vehicle occupant. The protection device includes a front panel having a portion presented toward the occupant when the protection device is in an inflated condition. A vent includes at least one opening for releasing inflation fluid from the protection device and has an actuated condition and a non-actuated condition. A tether has a first segment connected to the vent and the front panel of the protection device for actuating the vent and a second segment connected to the front panel and a rear portion of the protection device. Tear stitching connects portions of the second segment of the tether to form a slackened portion of the tether. The tear stitching remains intact such that the first segment is slackened and the vent in the non-actuated condition in response to initial deployment of the protection device below a predetermined degree.