Side air bag module

1. A side impact restraint system ( 20 ) for restraining an occupant comprising:

an air bag of sufficient length to extend from a seat surface to at least a shoulder of the occupant, the air bag ( 22 ), upon inflation, of sufficient height to extend from a vehicle to a location generally adjacent the shoulder of the occupant when seated such that the inflated air bag will lie between the occupant and a side portion of the vehicle;

the air bag ( 22 ) including a main panel having a center fold line and a first panel part and a second panel part ( 24 a , 24 b ) lying on either side of the fold line, the main panel including an insertion aperture ( 44 ) generally symmetrically aligned with the center fold line and configured to receive an inflator at a mounting region proximate an interior of the air bag generally along the center fold line of the air bag; and

an internal tether ( 30 ) for forming at least one bridge between predetermined regions of each of the first panel part and second panel part such that upon inflation of the air bag these regions are spaced from one another by the internal tether to create a pair of inflatable volumes ( 36 , 38 ), said internal tether being coupled to portions of the air bag to form an acute angled surface with respect to an intersection of the first panel part and second panel part, the tether extending downwardly in a generally planar manner, from the location of the mounting region for the inflator.

2. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein the internal tether defines an opening ( 46 ) in an end thereof, the end oriented toward the mounting region for the inflator in the air bag.

3. The system as defined in claim 2 further comprising an inflator ( 60 ) abutting the opening and extending above and below the end of the tether, the inflator adjacent to and parallel to the center fold line.

4. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein opposing edges of the bridge are secured to a corresponding first panel part and second panel part along a corresponding sewn seam.

5. The system as defined in claim 4 wherein the sewn seam of one edge of the bridge in the first panel part is generally in alignment with the sewn seam of the other edge of the bridge in the second panel part.

6. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein the tether is straight.

7. The system according to claim 1 including first and second tabs, initially separate from both the first and second panel part, each tab secured to a respective first and second panel part and located on an opposing side of and adjacent to the insertion aperture, each tab configured to enclose the insertion aperture after the inflator is in the air bag.

8. A side impact restraint system ( 20 ) comprising:

an air bag of sufficient length to extend from a seat surface to at least a shoulder of an occupant, the air bag ( 22 ), upon inflation, of sufficient height to extend from a vehicle seat cushion to a location generally adjacent the shoulder of the occupant when seated such that the inflated air bag will lie between the occupant and a side portion of the vehicle;

the air bag ( 22 ) formed of a single panel folded along a centerline ( 23 ) to form first and second panels ( 24 a , 24 b ) of material that are joined together to create a pair of inflatable volumes ( 36 , 38 ), the panel configured to define an insertion aperture generally along the centerline, to receive an inflator and an exit aperture through which a portion of the inflator may extend, the exit aperture spaced from the insertion aperture, the insertion aperture generally cutting through the centerline, and an internal tether ( 30 ) disposed at an acute angle between 45 and 65 degrees between each volume, for forming at least one bridge 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 the tether, the first inflatable volume being placed below the ribs of the occupant, the tether extending downwardly generally from an area of the insertion aperture toward an opposing portion of the air bag.

9. The system ( 20 ) according to claim 8 wherein the internal tether defines an opening ( 46 ) in an end thereof, the end oriented toward the insertion aperture, wherein with an inflator in the insertion aperture a portion of the inflator is adjacent the opening.

10. The system ( 20 ) according to claim 8 wherein the internal tether includes opposing long sides and opposing ends, and wherein the tether is secured to a corresponding first and second panel along a respective side of the tether.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein the insertion aperture cuts through the centerline.

12. The system according to claim 8 including first and second tabs, initially separate from both the first and second panel parts, each tab secured to a respective one of the first panel part and second panel part and located on an opposing side of and adjacent to the insertion aperture, each tab configured to enclose the insertion aperture after the inflator is in the air bag.

13. A side impact restraint system for restraining an occupant comprising:

an air bag of sufficient length to extend from a seat surface to at least a shoulder of the occupant, the air bag, upon inflation, of sufficient height to extend from a vehicle to a location generally adjacent the shoulder of the occupant when seated such that the inflated air bag will lie between the occupant and a side portion of the vehicle;

the air bag including a main panel having a center fold line and a first panel part and a second panel part lying on either side of the fold line, the main panel including an insertion aperture that generally cuts through the center fold line configured to receive an inflator at a mounting region proximate an interior of the air bag generally along the center fold line of the air bag; and

an internal tether for forming at least one bridge between predetermined regions of each of a first panel part and second panel part such that upon inflation of the air bag these regions are spaced from one another by the internal tether to create a pair of inflatable volumes.

14. The system according to claim 13 including first and second tabs, initially separate from both the first and second panel part, each tab secured to a respective first and second panel part and located on an opposing side of and adjacent to the insertion aperture, each tab configured to enclose the insertion aperture after the inflator is in the air bag.

15. The system according to claim 14 wherein each first and second tab includes a like number of openings through which an inflator bracket part extends.

16. The system according to claim 15 wherein the first tab is sewn along a respective side thereon to the first panel part and wherein the second tab is sewn along a respective side thereon to the second panel part.

17. The system according to claim 13 wherein the internal tether ( 30 ) is positioned below the abdomen of an adult occupant.

18. The system as defined in claim 17 wherein the internal tether defines an opening ( 48 ) therein to allow inflation gas to flow thereacross.

19. The system as defined in claim 18 further comprising the inflator ( 60 ) partially disposed within the opening.