Abstract: A side impact or rollover protection restraint system (20) comprising: an air bag of sufficient length to extend from a first (30) pillar to at least a second pillar (34) of the vehicle, the air bag (22), upon inflation, is of sufficient height to extend from proximate a roof rail (38) of the vehicle to a location generally adjacent the shoulder of a 50th percentile sized seated occupant such that the inflated air bag will lie between the occupant and a side portion of the vehicle; the air bag including a first and a second panel of material that are joined together to create at least one inflatable volume (101a,b) and a plurality of internal tethers or separators for forming corresponding bridges between predetermined regions of each of the first and second panel such that upon inflation of the air bag these regions are spaced from one another by an internal tether.

Abstract: A safety apparatus including an air bag (20). The air bag includes a first (22) and second (24) panel of flexible, impermeable material, each panel having a respective peripheral edge (23,25). The first and second panels are joined together along a structural first joint (110), which extends along a substantial portion of the peripheral edges to define an inflatable chamber (26) therebetween. The first joint (110) is subject to a peel load as the first and second panels are urged apart as the chamber is inflated. The apparatus also includes inlet means (32, 44) for communicating inflation gas into the chamber. A pressure barrier (100) is located within the chamber, for preventing inflation gas from bearing against the first joint. In the preferred embodiment, the pressure barrier is not subject to the peel load as is the first joint.

Abstract: An air bag comprising at least one inflatable portion; a connecting portion located above the inflatable portion; a mounting rod connected to the connecting portion, the mounting rod adapted to be connected to a cooperating part of a vehicle. In another embodiment of the invention, the air bag includes a plurality of inflatable portions and a center uninflatable portion. The various inflatable portions are interconnected by a manifold or central passage.

Abstract: An air bag for side impact protection system comprising: an air bag (50) having an inflatable first chamber (50a) formed of two joined-together first (52a) and second (52b) panels of material, the first chamber including a forward part (26) and an opposite rear part (60); an inflator (26) for generating inflation gas to inflate the air bag, the inflator including exit ports (26a) which channel the inflation gas into the first chamber in a determinable direction; the air bag further including a flow diverter (70, 90) positioned to receive inflation gas and to divert at least a component of the inflation gas to flow generally perpendicular to the first direction. In one embodiment the flow diverter is formed as an open topped tube; in another embodiment; the flow diverter includes a plurality of vent openings in the side of the tube. In a third embodiment of the invention the diverter is formed by a permeable sack of material.

Abstract: A side impact or rollover air bag for protecting a vehicle occupant during an accident, comprising: an inflatable cushion which upon inflation is positioned between the occupant and an adjacent portion of a vehicle to protect the occupant, the cushion including first and second sides, a top and bottom; inflatable tube, positioned adjacent the cushion, for extending the cushion to its full vertical length prior to the full forward inflation of the cushion by inflation gas.

Abstract: A side impact or rollover protection restraint system (20) comprising: an air bag of sufficient length to extend between two pillars of a vehicle, the air bag (22), upon inflation, is of sufficient height to extend from proximate a roof rail (38) of the vehicle to a location generally adjacent the upper torso of a seated occupant such that the inflated air bag will lie between the occupant and a side portion of the vehicle; the system (20) further including a flexible tube (70) having a plurality of distributed openings (72) thereacross to distribute inflation gas to the air bag means (60) for inflating the air bag.

Abstract: An inflatable cushion (100,100a) includes a first panel (22a) and a second panel (22b) attached together along a peripheral joint. The joint (30) is subjected to a shearing or peeling load upon inflation of the cushion tending to separate the panels. Each of the first and second panels includes a first layer (24) of flexible structural material and a second (26) bondable layer. A reinforcement (50) is provided to prevent the joint (30) from separating. The reinforcement includes first (52a) and second (52b) strips of material, each having a structural layer (24a) and a bondable layer (26a). The first and second strips are sewn together at a seam (56a) to retard separation of the strips. The seam (56a) separates each of the strips into two portions. The structural layers of the strips face each other and the bondable layers of the strips face outwardly abutting a corresponding bondable layer of one of the first and second panels.

Abstract: A side impact or rollover protection restraint system (20) comprising: an air bag of sufficient length to extend between two pillars of a vehicle, the air bag (22), upon inflation, is of sufficient height to extend from proximate a roof rail (38) of the vehicle to a location generally adjacent the upper torso of a seated occupant such that the inflated air bag will lie between the occupant and a side portion of the vehicle; the system (20) further including a flexible tube (70) having a plurality of distributed openings (72) thereacross to distribute inflation gas to the air bag means (60) for inflating the air bag.

Abstract: A side impact crash protection and rollover system comprising: a web guide attachable to a pillar of a vehicle; a seat belt system having a shoulder belt portion supported by and extending from the web guide, the shoulder belt portion adapted to be secured about a seated occupant; an air bag assembly including an air bag initially stored in an uninflated or folded condition adjacent the web guide and when inflated is positioned adjacent the pillar, the air bag including a first channel for receiving a portion of the shoulder belt portion.

Abstract: An air bag (24) and method of folding an air bag (24) to protect an occupant during a side impact collision, the air bag being part of an air bag module (23) fitted within an outboard portion of a vehicle seat, the method including the step of folding the air bag (24) into a compact configuration such that when inflation gas is communicated into the air bag a resultant momentum vector, of the unfolding air bag sections, is directed forward of the seat and laterally away from a location of a seated occupant.