Abstract: An airbag module for protecting an occupant of a vehicle seat. The module includes an inflatable airbag and an inflator. The airbag is stored in the vehicle seat prior to deployment and includes inboard and outboard inflatable chambers separated by a gap at a forward portion of the airbag. The airbag is configured to deploy into a position along side of the vehicle seat and the occupant.

Abstract: A side airbag assembly for protecting an occupant of a vehicle seat. The assembly includes an inflatable cushion, wherein the cushion is stored in a compact arrangement. An inflator is provided for supplying inflation gas for the cushion. The inflator and cushion are secured in position by a mounting bracket connected to a frame of the vehicle seat. A cover for covering a back surface of the vehicle seat is included and the cover includes a rear facing surface and a first side facing surface. The cover is connected to the mounting bracket.

Abstract: An airbag module for protecting an occupant of a vehicle seat. The module includes an inflatable airbag and an inflator. The airbag is stored in the vehicle seat prior to deployment and includes inboard and outboard inflatable chambers separated by a gap at a forward portion of the airbag. The airbag is configured to deploy into a position along side of the vehicle seat and the occupant.

Abstract: A side airbag assembly for protecting an occupant of a vehicle seat. The assembly includes an inflatable cushion, wherein the cushion is stored in a compact arrangement. An inflator is provided for supplying inflation gas for the cushion. The inflator and cushion are secured in position by a mounting bracket connected to a frame of the vehicle seat. A cover for covering a back surface of the vehicle seat is included and the cover includes a rear facing surface and a first side facing surface. The cover is connected to the mounting bracket.

Abstract: An airbag device configured to deploy along an interior side of a passenger compartment of a vehicle may include a gas generator and an inflatable airbag. The inflatable airbag may include a plurality of inflatable chambers configured to be inflated by the gas generator. A first inflatable chamber may be tethered to at least a second inflatable chamber by a connection member. The airbag may be configured so that when the airbag is inflated the connection member restrains the separation of the first and second inflatable chambers and forces at least one of the inflatable chambers inboard so that the plurality of inflatable chambers form a convex profile along a plane perpendicular to the side of the passenger compartment.

Abstract: An airbag module for a motor vehicle includes an inflatable airbag cushion, an inflator, and a flow director. The inflatable airbag cushion includes one or more panels that form an inflatable portion. The inflator is configured to provide inflation gas for inflating the airbag cushion upon deployment. The flow director is configured to direct inflation gas into the inflatable portion. The inflatable portion includes a first inflatable region and a second inflatable region. The flow director is configured to direct the inflation gas directly into the first inflatable region. The first inflatable region and the second inflatable region are in fluidic communication, and a check valve permits the inflation gas to flow from the first inflatable region to the second inflatable region and prevents the inflation gas from flowing from the second inflatable region to the first inflatable region.

Abstract: An airbag module including an inflatable airbag cushion having a first panel and a second panel interconnected by a seam, an inflator for inflating the airbag cushion, and a support having a first end and a second end. The first end is coupled to the first panel at a first joint without the use of stitching and the second end is coupled to the second panel at a second joint without the use of stitching. The first and second joints are provided between the seam and an inflatable chamber formed by the first and second panels.

Abstract: An airbag module including an inflatable airbag cushion having a first panel and a second panel interconnected by a seam, an inflator for inflating the airbag cushion, and a support having a first end and a second end. The first end is coupled to the first panel at a first joint without the use of stitching and the second end is coupled to the second panel at a second joint without the use of stitching. The first and second joints are provided between the seam and an inflatable chamber formed by the first and second panels.

Abstract: An airbag device configured to deploy along an interior side of a passenger compartment of a vehicle may include a gas generator and an inflatable airbag. The inflatable airbag may include a plurality of inflatable chambers configured to be inflated by the gas generator. A first inflatable chamber may be tethered to at least a second inflatable chamber by a connection member. The airbag may be configured so that when the airbag is inflated the connection member restrains the separation of the first and second inflatable chambers and forces at least one of the inflatable chambers inboard so that the plurality of inflatable chambers form a convex profile along a plane perpendicular to the side of the passenger compartment.

Abstract: An airbag module comprising an inflatable airbag; and an inflator configured to provide gas to inflate the airbag; wherein the airbag comprises first and second panels positioned on opposite sides of an inflatable chamber; wherein each of the panels include a peripheral portion and an interior portion; wherein a portion of the interior portion is a covered portion; wherein a portion outside of the covered portion of the interior portions of the first and second panels are connected together to thereby limit the inflation of a portion of the inflatable chamber; and wherein the airbag is configured so that the connection between the interior portions of the first and second panels is released during inflation of the airbag in order to permit an increase in the volume of the inflatable chamber.

Abstract: An airbag is provided which includes at least one fabric panel and a structural seam. The structural seam includes an adhesive but does not include stitching. Such stitching tends to weaken the fabric of airbags and causes a higher denier fabric with higher strength to be used to offset the loss in strength, but this in turn produces an airbag of greater weight due to the high denier fabric. By providing an airbag with a structural seam provided by an adhesive without stitching, an airbag may be lighter and may be inflated in less time.

Abstract: A side airbag extends along a side of an interior roof of a vehicle and is configured to restrain a head of a vehicle occupant when the airbag is deployed. The airbag includes an inboard panel, an outboard panel, and one or more seams configured to join the inboard panel and the outboard panel. The at least one or more seams include first seam portions and second seam portions. The first seam portions are subject to higher stress than the second seam portions when the airbag inflates. The first seam portions are reinforced by sewing or by at least one bead of energy absorbent sealant or adhesive.

Abstract: An airbag system for a vehicle includes an inflatable rear curtain airbag configured to deploy adjacent a rear window positioned between rear pillars in the vehicle, a housing for the rear curtain airbag, and an inflator to inflate the rear curtain airbag. The housing, rear curtain airbag, and inflator are mounted to a roof of the vehicle. The rear curtain airbag is configured to deploy to prevent ejection of an occupant out of the rear window and to prevent objects intruding through the rear window from contacting an occupant.

Abstract: A multi-chambered airbag is sewn in a flat or 2-D state. The airbag includes a first fabric panel, a second fabric panel of a shape similar to the first fabric panel and coupled to at least a portion of a periphery of the first fabric panel, and a separator panel coupled to the first and second fabric panels. The separator panel forms two or more interior chambers in the airbag. The separator panel includes a venting mechanism to temporarily block the flow of inflation gases into one or more chambers in the airbag or to the outside.

Abstract: An airbag is provided which includes at least one fabric panel and a structural seam. The structural seam includes an adhesive but does not include stitching. Such stitching tends to weaken the fabric of airbags and causes a higher denier fabric with higher strength to be used to offset the loss in strength, but this in turn produces an airbag of greater weight due to the high denier fabric. By providing an airbag with a structural seam provided by an adhesive without stitching, an airbag may be lighter and may be inflated in less time.

Abstract: An airbag is provided. The airbag is configured to extend longitudinally along a side of a vehicle and includes a first section configured to inflate in a longitudinal and vertical direction, a second section coupled to the first section and configured to inflate in a longitudinal and vertical direction, an inlet for receiving inflation gas from an inflator, tabs positioned at the top of the airbag for attaching the airbag to a ceiling of the vehicle and chambers positioned between the tabs along the top of the airbag, wherein the chambers stabilize the airbag during deployment.

Abstract: An airbag module comprising an inflatable airbag; and an inflator configured to provide gas to inflate the airbag; wherein the airbag comprises first and second panels positioned on opposite sides of an inflatable chamber; wherein each of the panels include a peripheral portion and an interior portion; wherein a portion of the interior portion is a covered portion; wherein a portion outside of the covered portion of the interior portions of the first and second panels are connected together to thereby limit the inflation of a portion of the inflatable chamber; and wherein the airbag is configured so that the connection between the interior portions of the first and second panels is released during inflation of the airbag in order to permit an increase in the volume of the inflatable chamber.

Abstract: A side airbag extends along a side of an interior roof of a vehicle and is configured to restrain a head of a vehicle occupant when the airbag is deployed. The airbag includes an inboard panel, an outboard panel, and one or more seams configured to join the inboard panel and the outboard panel. The at least one or more seams include first seam portions and second seam portions. The first seam portions are subject to higher stress than the second seam portions when the airbag inflates. The first seam portions are reinforced by sewing or by at least one bead of energy absorbent sealant or adhesive.

Abstract: An airbag system for a vehicle includes an inflatable rear curtain airbag configured to deploy adjacent a rear window positioned between rear pillars in the vehicle, a housing for the rear curtain airbag, and an inflator to inflate the rear curtain airbag. The housing, rear curtain airbag, and inflator are mounted to a roof of the vehicle. The rear curtain airbag is configured to deploy to prevent ejection of an occupant out of the rear window and to prevent objects intruding through the rear window from contacting an occupant.

Abstract: An airbag is provided. The airbag is configured to extend longitudinally along a side of a vehicle and includes a first section configured to inflate in a longitudinal and vertical direction, a second section coupled to the first section and configured to inflate in a longitudinal and vertical direction, an inlet for receiving inflation gas from an inflator, tabs positioned at the top of the airbag for attaching the airbag to a ceiling of the vehicle and chambers positioned between the tabs along the top of the airbag, wherein the chambers stabilize the airbag during deployment.