Abstract: A vehicle occupant restraint system comprises an inflatable knee airbag (10). The knee airbag (10) includes an airbag sheath (12) and at least one vent hole (18) formed therein. The vent hole (18) is arranged in the upper half of the knee airbag (10) and is provided on a side of the knee airbag (10) facing away from the vehicle occupant which in the operating position of the knee airbag (10) is directly opposed to a fixed component (28) in the vehicle interior.

Abstract: A system for protecting an occupant positioned in a seat of a vehicle. The system includes a gas emitting device positioned adjacent to an occupant of a vehicle. The system also may include a controller configured to control the activation of the gas emitting device. A sensor configured to detect the vertical acceleration of the vehicle, may be included. The controller may be configured to receive a signal from the sensor and activate the gas emitting device when the signal from the sensor is indicative of a condition where the vertical acceleration of the vehicle exceeds a predetermined threshold. When activated, the gas emitting device may be configured to emit gas toward the legs of the occupant so that the force of the emitted gas directly forces the legs of the occupant to move.

Abstract: An airbag in which no choking occurs and which can be rapidly deployed. A cushion section of the airbag internally accommodates a cylinder-type inflator that includes an insertion hole for inserting the inflator from an outside to an inside, and a diffuser into which the inflator is inserted, and a diffuser having a tubular portion obtained by folding back a section of cloth to form symmetrical portions with an upper base formed by the folded back part and a lower base formed by adjacent ends of the symmetrical portions. The cushion section is folded back at both lateral sides of the along first folding lines that are substantially orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the diffuser.

Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a seat frame, a first air-bag unit and a second air-bag unit. The seat frame is at least partially covered by a padding material and substantially covered by a cover. The first air-bag unit includes a first air-bag mounted within an outboard side of the seat, and substantially covered by the cover. The second air-bag unit includes a second air-bag mounted within the outboard side of the seat and substantially covered by the cover. The first air-bag is configured to inflate and burst through the cover, when activated, and to bear against an occupant of the seat sitting in a normal position in the seat, thereby exerting a pushing force against the occupant in an inboard direction. The second air-bag is configured to inflate and burst through the cover when activated, and to occupy a position between an occupant of the seat and an exterior side wall of the vehicle.

Abstract: An airbag (11) by which, when a vehicle (20) including two seats arranged in a vehicle width direction is subjected to a side collision, an occupant (P10, P11) sitting in a seat (22L, 22R) at the opposite side of the collision is restricted from moving to the collision side. The airbag (11) has, in the maximally-expanded status, an outline shape seen from the front side of the vehicle. This outline shape has: an airbag upper part (11U) that forms a part equal to or higher than a position corresponding to a shoulder of a seat back (25L, 23R) and that protects the neck and head for example of the occupant (P10, P11); and an airbag lower part (11D) that forms a part equal to or lower than a position corresponding to a shoulder of the seat back (25L, 23R) and that protects the shoulder and arm for example of the occupant (P10, P11). The airbag (11) is configured to have an entire shape that has the inner outline of the occupant (P10, P11) in the vehicle width direction.

Abstract: In an airbag inflatable inside a seating portion of a vehicle's seat, the design flexibility, in terms of shape and height, of the airbag in an inflated state is increased. An airbag device (1) includes an airbag (10) and an inflator (2). The airbag (10) is disposed inside a seating portion of a seat and is inflated under a seated occupant. The inflator (2) generates gas to inflate and deploy the airbag (10). The airbag (10) includes an upper base fabric piece (11), a lower base fabric piece (12), and a pair of side base fabric pieces (13), which are joined to one another and form an air chamber (14) therein. The pair of side base fabric pieces (13) are disposed at part of side portions between the upper base fabric piece (11) and the lower base fabric piece (12) and define the shape of the air chamber (14) in an inflated state.

Abstract: An active bolster is integrated within a seat for a transportation vehicle by covering an inner inflatable bladder with an outer cushion layer to provide a seating support surface. Seating loads are borne on the support surface from the weight of an occupant by elastic deformation of the bladder. When a vehicle crash event is detected, at least a portion of the bladder is inflated to extend a seat surface to protect the occupant. Size and weight of the seat are reduced as a result of the bladder contributing significantly to the normal cushioning of the seat in everyday usage.

Abstract: An airbag apparatus mountable in front of a seat of a vehicle and including an airbag is disclosed. The airbag is deployable between a member of a vehicle body structure and knees of a vehicle occupant. The airbag includes a bag body formed by connecting peripheral edges of a vehicle body side wall and an occupant side wall, an outer connecting element that is located on an outer face of the vehicle body side wall and connected to the vehicle body side wall by two joints arranged away from each other in an up and down direction at deployment for reducing a length in an up and down direction of the vehicle body side wall, and a plurality of thin regions that are arranged between the two joints of the outer connecting element to the vehicle body side wall on the bag body. The thin regions are arranged generally along a left and right direction in a mutually separate fashion and help bend the airbag at deployment.

Abstract: A knee airbag module for restraining an occupant seated in the interior compartment of a vehicle. The module includes an inflatable airbag cushion configured to deploy to a location forward of the legs of the seated occupant, and an inflator to supply inflation gas for inflating the cushion. The module further includes a housing configured to couple to the vehicle and a cover connected to the housing. The housing includes a base, a forward side wall and a rearward side wall, which together with the cover form a compartment for housing the airbag cushion prior to deployment, as well as the inflator. A portion of the rearward side wall is inclined to guide the deploying airbag cushion in an oblique direction when breaching the housing.

Abstract: An airbag system is configured to fulfill its role on a saddle-ride type vehicle even when the vehicle collides with a side of a vehicle moving in a generally perpendicular direction. An embodiment of the airbag system includes an airbag which is configured to the inflated and fully upward from the vehicle front of a rider. The airbag includes a head part opposite to a rider's head during inflation and deployment, and a neck part which rises upward from the vehicle and toward the head part. The neck part has a width in a direction of vehicle width which is narrower than that of the head part. The neck part includes neckings curved inward in the direction of the vehicle width.

Abstract: A knee airbag (100) which is deployed between the vehicle occupants and a vehicle structure (2) and a gas generator (4) for filling the knee airbag (100) with inflating gas, wherein the knee airbag (100) has a base chamber (10) which is filled first with inflating gas, and at least one further upper chamber (20, 30) which receives the inflating gas conducted through the base chamber (10). A flow obstacle (12, 23) for the inflating gas is arranged between the base chamber (10) and the one or more upper chambers (20, 30). The one or more upper chambers (20, 30) is rolled up or collapsed and is secured in the rolled-up or collapsed state, the securing (21, 22) being designed in such a manner that it fails when a predetermined degree of filling of the base chamber (10) is reached.

Abstract: An inflatable curtain airbag is secured along an upper edge to a body structure of the motor vehicle and deploys downwardly when inflated. Prior to deployment, the lower edge of the curtain is not tethered to the vehicle body. When nearly or fully deployed, the lower edge of the curtain engages an adjacent part of the motor vehicle so as to form a virtual tether therebetween resisting relative movement between the curtain and the adjacent part.

Abstract: The protective suit is for use by persons engaged in various potentially hazardous activities, but is particularly well adapted for wear by motorcyclists and others engaged in motorsports activities. The suit is equipped with airbags that differ from conventional automotive airbags in that the present airbags deflate more slowly to protect the wearer of the suit over a few seconds in an accident. The suit is also equipped with warning lights that are actuated in the event of an accident. The suit is electronically connected to a belt having various electronic systems capable of monitoring the condition of the motor vehicle and the wearer of the suit through sensors in the vehicle and suit. The suit is further electronically connected to the vehicle, the vehicle having a lockout system that prevents the vehicle from being started until the suit, belt, and helmet are properly connected and operable.

Abstract: A knee air bag mounting system is provided that includes an air bag mount for a heavy truck-type vehicle. Such an air bag mount includes a front wall having an air bag aperture therein adapted for passage of an air bag module of the knee air bag system. The air bag mount also includes a first side wall extending away from the front wall, a second side wall extending away from the front wall in opposed-spaced relation to the first side wall, a top wall extending away from the front wall, and a bottom wall extending away from the front wall. A bracket structure is disposed within an interior space of the air bag mount and configured to provide a connection point for the air bag module. Each of the first and second side walls and top and bottom walls are free from direct connection to one another.

Abstract: A knee airbag assembly is operable to restrain at least one leg of an occupant of a vehicle. The assembly includes an inflator, a housing, and an airbag that moves between a stowed state and a deployed state. The inflator is operable to selectively inflate the airbag to move the airbag from the stowed state to the deployed state. The airbag is housed within the housing in the stowed state, and the airbag extends from the housing in the deployed state. The airbag defines a package width when in the stowed state, and the airbag defines a deployed width when in the deployed state. A ratio of the package width to the deployed width is between approximately 0.8 and 1.0.

Abstract: A system for a vehicle may include an interior component, such as a seat assembly, for example, disposed in a passenger compartment of the vehicle. The interior component may include an expandable member that may be at least partially exposed to the passenger compartment. The expandable member may expand in response to an impact event from an undeployed state to a fully deployed state without breaking a seam of the expandable member.

Abstract: An exemplary airbag case includes a floor that is configured to receive an airbag module, a wall extending away from the floor, and a plurality of reinforcement features each extending without interruption from the floor to the wall.

Abstract: A seat cushion airbag device mountable to a vehicle seat that includes: a seat section including a seat cushion supported by a support section; and a blower duct having an outlet provided below the seat cushion so as to allow air-conditioning air to be ejected upward. The cushion airbag device includes an airbag, at least a part of which is inflated with an inflating fluid such that a seat surface of the seat section is bulged out. The airbag includes a folded portion. Before the airbag is inflated with the inflating fluid, the airbag is disposed at a position on a front side of the outlet while the folded portion is folded such that the outlet is exposed from the airbag. When the airbag is inflated, the folded portion is deployed so as to extend to a position on a rear side of the outlet.

Abstract: A motor vehicle passenger restraint airbag with a first side wall and a second side wall which encloses a gas-filled compartment and at least one catch strap which extends through the gas-filled compartment from the first side wall to the second side wall. In order to facilitate production, each side wall has at least two sections connected to each other, whereby each of the sections is part of a one-piece blank each of which has two sections of which a first section is a section of the first wall and a second section is a section of the second side wall. At least one of the blanks has a third section which connects the first and second section to each other and which forms the catch strap.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fabric for an airbag, and a production method thereof. More particularly, the present invention relates to a polyester fabric which includes a high-strength, high-elongation and low-modulus polyester yarn to show excellent toughness and energy absorbing performance after high-humidity heat treatment for a long period of time, a production method thereof, and an airbag for an automobile including the same. The polyester fabric includes a polyester yarn having a fineness of 300 to 700 denier to optimize and maintain the tear strength and seam strength indices in the warp and weft directions within the predetermined range under high temperature and high humidity for a long time, thereby minimizing the impact applied to a passenger and protecting the passenger with safety.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a double-layered fabric including separated two fabric layers which are simultaneously woven by an OPW (one piece woven) method. Specifically, the present invention relates to a gas-inflatable double-layered fabric including a double patterned weave comprised of separated top and bottom fabric layers which are simultaneously woven and have different patterns each other, a preparation method thereof, and an airbag including the same.

Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a projected member that is accommodated in a seat back, and that is projected and deployed above the seat back when inflated by a gas supply; a lateral deployment member whose upper end side is connected to the projected member, whose lower end side is connected to a front end side of a seat cushion, and that is accommodated in a lateral side of the seat cushion and a lateral side of the seat back; and a tension support member whose one end side is supported by the seat back in a portion separated from the lateral deployment member in a seat width direction and whose other end side is connected to an upper end side of the lateral deployment member or the projected member.

Abstract: A seat cushion airbag device mountable to a vehicle seat, includes an airbag includes an inflation portion including an upper fabric portion and a lower fabric portion joined to form a bag shape. The inflation portion is inflated between a support portion and a seat cushion of the vehicle seat by an inflating fluid supplied in response to an impact applied to the vehicle from a front side, such that a seat surface of the seat portion bulges, thereby suppressing a forward movement of an object to be restrained on the seat portion. The airbag further includes a restriction member which extends in a front-rear direction of the vehicle seat within the inflation portion and which bridges the upper fabric portion and the lower fabric portion to restrict an inflated thickness of the inflation portion in the upper-lower direction.

Abstract: A vehicle seat air bag assembly (17) has an air bag module (18) including an inflator (38), an air bag (40) and a soft housing (44) enclosing the inflator and air bag. An eternal rigid deflector sleeve (50) receives an inner extremity (46) of the air bag module (18) and ensures air bag movement toward a deployment location (34) of the seat during inflation. The rigid deflector sleeve (50) may be made from metal, a synthetic resin and may have open ends (52), closed ends (54) or one open end (52) and one closed end (54).

Abstract: An exemplary airbag case includes a floor that is configured to receive an airbag module, a wall extending away from the floor, and a plurality of reinforcement features each extending without interruption from the floor to the wall.

Abstract: Disclosed is a curtain bag that can obtain a necessary inflated state in a short period of time without applying excessive localized force to a peripheral joining section or an inner joining section, and that is improved in the ability to suppress the ejection of passengers out from a vehicle specifically by a lateral collision. A portion of the curtain bag and/or the peripheral edge is shaped so as to snag the bottom sill of a window, and the inner joining section of the region that contacts the section below the bottom sill of the window is shaped with a plurality of dots and/or given an expandable form across effectively the entire surface and/or given a form that has increased bending stiffness.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a knee airbag cushion includes (a) preparing a panel having first and second panel surface parts and a virtual central line interposed between the first and second panel surface parts and is configured such that a distance from the virtual central line to the first panel surface part is different from a distance from the virtual central line to the second panel surface part, (b) folding the first panel surface part, (c) connecting portions of the first and second panel surface parts to each other, (d) folding an area of the virtual central line in the folding direction, and (e) forming a third sewing line to connect the first panel surface part to the second panel surface part.

Abstract: A frontal airbag has a first section, a second section, and a third section, the second section being in fluid communication with both the first and the third section. The first, second and third sections form a triangular structure upon inflation of the airbag. A gas generator is attached to the first section and in fluid communication with the first section. An end portion on the third section remote from the second sections attached to the first section in an area between the gas generator and the second section. Two side tethers attached to the first section and to one of the second and third sections or near transitional bend between the second and third section provide resistance against flattening of the airbag after inflation. The first section and the third section are directly attached to each other by a seam, by an adhesive, or by lamination.

Abstract: A folded airbag for a motor vehicle, which can be inflated in case of a crash, having a first rolled folding created by rolling up a first airbag section, and a second rolled folding created by rolling up a second airbag section. The spatial directions, along which the two airbag sections are rolled up to form a rolled folding are oriented at an angle to each other.

Abstract: An active bolster for a vehicle is provided, wherein the bolster comprises an expansible hollow interior that is inflatable and is self-supporting in both an inflated and in an uninflated position. The bolster has an inflator module for inflating the expansible hollow interior. The bolster has an inner wall for projecting inwardly into the vehicle and away from the side of the vehicle on inflation of the expansible hollow interior. The bolster may have a relatively non-expansible component located between a first expansible chamber and a second expansible chamber. The bolster may comprise an outer wall having an attachment portion for attaching the outer wall to a portion of the side of the vehicle.

Abstract: A pair of right-and-left center pillars, a pair of right-and-left roof side rails, and an inflator provided on the inside, in a vehicle width direction, of the roof side rails and capable of supplying a gas pressure to an airbag are provided. A roof reinforcing member which extends in the vehicle width direction over respective upper end portions of the center pillars or respective nearby portions to upper ends of the center pillars is provided, which includes a front concave portion and a rear concave portion which are concaved downward respectively. The inflator is arranged such that at least a portion of the inflator overlaps with the roof reinforcing member, and a depth of the rear concave portion overlapping with the inflator is shallower than that of the front concave portion positioned nearer the center pillars.

Abstract: A protection device comprising an inflatable member and one or more structures is described. The inflatable member comprises a first wall and a second wall that form an internal chamber. The one or more structures are housed in the internal chamber, and each structure in the one or more structures comprises a first mesh and a second mesh connected by a plurality of tie members. Methods for manufacturing such a protection device are also described.

Abstract: A frontal center curtain airbag for a vehicle may include a pair of housing frames spaced from each other in forward and rearward directions to cross the vehicle in a widthwise direction of the vehicle, a plurality of connecting frames connecting upper ends and opposite side ends of the spaced housing frames in forward and rearward directions to form an installation space together with the housing frames, an airbag cushion installed in the installation space and surrounded by the housing frames and the connecting frames, and an airbag door coupled to lower ends of the housing frames and the connecting frames to close a lower end of the installation space.

Abstract: An airbag device having an airbag that can be inflated and deployed by inflating gas; a gas generator that supplies the inflating gas to the inside of the airbag; a housing that accommodates the airbag in a folded state; and a cloth-like deployment restricting member that is fixed at one end to the housing and that encloses part of the folded airbag. A deployment non-restricted portion of the airbag deploys upward, the deployment non-restricted portion not being enclosed by the deployment restricting member, and a deployment restricted portion, which is enclosed by the deployment restricting member, is deployed afterward.

Abstract: An inflatable side airbag has an inflatable duct for the delivery of inflation gas. The inflatable duct of the inflatable side airbag provides for rapid deployment of a multi-chamber air bag while controlling the rate of inflation and the relative pressure of the chambers. The inflatable duct allows a single inflator to inflate a high pressure pelvis chamber and a lower pressure thorax chamber while preventing fluid communication between the two chambers upon completion of inflation.

Abstract: An internal deployable vehicle panel assembly includes an inner panel, an outer panel and a deployable energy absorber. The inner panel includes a first mounting structure that movably couples the inner panel to a vehicle component to move between a closed position to cover an access opening to a vehicle storage compartment and an open position to reveal the access opening. The outer panel includes a second mounting structure that is removably coupled to a third mounting structure of the inner panel. The deployable energy absorber is disposed between the inner and outer panels in an undeployed state. The deployable energy absorber is free from fixed attachment to the outer panel and energizable to a deployed state in which the deployable energy absorber separates the outer panel from the inner panel and displaces the outer panel away from the inner panel.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a knee airbag cushion includes (a) preparing a panel having first and second panel surface parts and a virtual central line interposed between the first and second panel surface parts and is configured such that a distance from the virtual central line to the first panel surface part is different from a distance from the virtual central line to the second panel surface part, (b) folding the first panel surface part, (c) connecting portions of the first and second panel surface parts to each other, (d) folding an area of the virtual central line in the folding direction, and (e) forming a third sewing line to connect the first panel surface part to the second panel surface part.

Abstract: A side airbag apparatus may include a main chamber that is provided on a side of a seat and aligned toward a door to be deployed theretoward when a vehicle collides, to protect a passenger from a side directional collision, an auxiliary chamber that is connected to a rear part of the main chamber to be fluid-communicated to each other, wherein the auxiliary chamber is provided on a side of the main chamber toward the inside of the seat to push the passenger toward the inside of the seat when the auxiliary chamber is deployed, and a volume control tether provided in the rear part of the main chamber, wherein both ends of the volume control tether are fixed to facing-inner walls of the main chamber, respectively to restrict a deployment width of the rear part of the main chamber.

Abstract: A relatively small capacity of airbag apparatus can be used by relatively shortening the distance between locations on which a passenger and the airbag apparatus are mounted to more effectively prevent a head and a neck of the passenger from being damaged through a discriminated supporting action of an upper body and a head part of the passenger while reducing a weight and a price of the airbag apparatus and the airbag apparatus can be easily standardized by configuration the airbag apparatus regardless of the shapes of a crash pad and a wind shield glass.

Abstract: A roof airbag device includes an outer cushion and an inner cushion. The outer cushion includes a left wing part and a right wing part, which are oppositely disposed about the passenger's head, an upper cushion part connecting the left and right wing parts, and an outlet hole through which an inflation gas from an inflator is transferred. The inner cushion is disposed between the left and right wing parts, and has an inlet hole through which the inflation gas is supplied, and a discharge hole through which the inflation gas is discharged.

Abstract: An airbag and an airbag device allowing the airbag to stably stand by itself are provided. The airbag is usually folded and embedded in an instrument panel, and in an emergency, a gas is supplied to inflate and expand the airbag between a windshield and a passenger. Also, the airbag includes a front inflation portion inflating toward a windshield side, and a back inflation portion inflating toward a passenger side. The front inflation portion includes a bottom portion pressed against a surface of the instrument panel at a time of an inflation and expansion; and a front face portion which projects to the windshield side in a projecting shape.

Abstract: A seat cushion airbag apparatus is applied to a vehicle seat having a seat portion. The seat portion has a seat cushion that is supported from below by a support portion of a seat frame. The apparatus raises a seat face of the vehicle seat, thereby restraining an object on the seat face to prevent the object from moving forward. The apparatus includes an airbag, an inflation fluid generator, and a contact preventing member. The airbag is arranged between the support portion and the cushion. The inflation fluid generator supplies inflation fluid for inflating the airbag, thereby raising the seat face. The contact preventing member is arranged between the support portion and the airbag. A part of the contact preventing member that is in the vicinity of the support portion is flexible. The contact preventing member prevents the airbag from contacting the support portion when the airbag is inflated.

Abstract: A center curtain air bag apparatus for a vehicle efficiently protects a rear seat passenger with an air bag cushion that is deployed during a car collision accident.

Abstract: An active bolster has an expandable inner wall including a bay having first and second opposing ends and a central bowl. An expandable outer wall overlies the inner wall to provide a main cavity therebetween. An inflator is mounted within the bay having an outlet nozzle with a plurality of outlet passages for radially discharging an inflation gas against the bay and the outer wall in response to inflate the main cavity during a crash. The inner wall of the central bowl includes a plurality of first dispersion ribs substantially parallel with one another and following arcuate paths to provide at least one gas channel with opposite ends emptying from the central bowl into the main cavity. The outer wall includes a plurality of second dispersion ribs oriented to channel inflation gas from the central bowl toward the outer peripheral edges.

Abstract: A saddle-type vehicle equipped with an airbag apparatus in which an increase in the number of component parts can be restrained. A motorcycle is a vehicle in which seat rails are included in a rear portion of a body frame with a rider seat having a front end portion upwardly inclined towards the front side of the vehicle that is mounted on the seat rails. An airbag module accommodating an airbag therein and fixed by an airbag mounting stay extending upwardly from the body frame and is disposed on the front side of the rider seat. A seat hook for holding the front end portion of the rider seat extends from the airbag module or from the airbag mounting stay.

Abstract: A vehicle airbag arrangement comprises a deployable airbag having a packed state and a deployed state, and a gas generator adapted to supply gas to deploy the airbag from the packed state to the deployed state. At least during initial deployment of the airbag, the gas generator may emit a gas flow substantially in a pre-selected direction. When the airbag is in the packed state, a portion of the airbag forms a starting pocket comprising two panels with an intermediate apex which extend substantially parallel to the pre-selected direction, the starting pocket positioned with the intermediate apex aligned with the pre-selected direction, such that the starting pocket, during the initial deployment of the airbag, initially receives the gas flow, thereby deploying the starting pocket in the pre-selected direction. Such an airbag arrangement may be included in a vehicle seat. A corresponding method of packing an airbag may achieve the airbag arrangement.

Abstract: An airbag (18) made of metal is disposed between an edge portion (12a) of a windshield (12) of a vehicle and an outer panel (16), projecting toward an outside of a vehicle body beyond the edge portion (12a), of a front pillar (15). Thus, it is possible to install the airbag device without making large design changes to the existing structure of the vehicle body, and to prevent the external appearance from being deteriorated by the installation of the airbag device. Further, once the airbag (18) made of metal is deployed, the airbag does not shrink. Thus, it is possible not only to reduce the weight and costs by employing an inflator (19) with a smaller volume, but also to cause the airbag to exert a stable shock absorbing capability irrespective of the difference in the timing of the collision of a pedestrian. Further, a part of the airbag (18) is a garnish part (18a) forming an outer surface of the vehicle body in cooperation with the outer panel (16).

Abstract: An active bolster for automotive crash protection has front and back walls with their outer peripheral edges sealed together to provide a bladder chamber therebetween. A gas source supplies an expansion gas to inflate the bladder chamber during a crash. The back wall has a pleated section comprising a plurality of generally-parallel rows of generally-circumferential pleats that unfold during inflation. The unfolding of the pleats controls a deployment trajectory of the front wall, and the pleats have an undulating transverse curve length corresponding to a maximum trajectory of the front wall. The pleated section further comprises a plurality of transverse ribs joining adjacent pleats in selected locations to reduced the unfolding during inflation to provide a modified deployment trajectory.

Abstract: An active bolster for an automotive vehicle has an inner wall and an outer wall joined around a substantially closed perimeter to form an inflatable bladder. An inflator couples an inflation gas into the inflatable bladder in response to a crash event of the vehicle. The inner wall has an inner vessel region with a substantially-planar portion and an outer pleated region with a plurality of circumferential pleats, wherein each pleat has an inward edge and an outward edge. Adjacent pleats are continuous so that the inward edge of an outer pleat is shared as the outward edge of an inner pleat. The pleat edges have a stepped spacing from the outer wall that progressively decreases from an innermost edge to an outermost outward edge, whereby adjacent pleats unfold during inflation such that an inner pleat is unfolding with a substantially uniform pressure when an outer pleat begins to unfold.

Abstract: An inflatable bolster for use in a passenger compartment of a vehicle comprises a hollow body having a first wall having a central area and a circumferential area surrounding the central area, a second wall opposite the first wall, and an air chamber formed between the first and second walls. The inflatable bolster also comprises an inflator for injecting a pressurized fluid into the air chamber which is mounted to the hollow body. The inflatable bolster also comprises a plurality of concentric extension pleats formed in the first wall. The extension pleats extend around a major part of the circumferential area. The extension pleats contact the second wall at a plurality of contact points which are distributed across the second wall. The plurality of contact points is sufficient in number to at least partially suppress audible vibration of the second wall.