Airbag module

1. 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 first and second panels include a peripheral portion and an interior portion;

wherein a portion of each interior portion is a covered portion;

wherein a portion outside of each covered portion of a respective interior portion of the first and second panels is connected together to thereby limit inflation of a portion of the inflatable chamber;

wherein the airbag is configured so that the connection between the interior portions is released during inflation of the airbag in order to permit an increase in volume of the inflatable chamber; and

wherein the connection between the interior portions of the first and second panels includes a plurality of stitched seams that are each configured to extend from a first end in an upper portion of the inflatable chamber that is central to a width of the inflatable chamber and abutting or extending from an upper and outer edge of the airbag to a second end at about a mid-height portion of the inflatable chamber that is forward along the width of the inflatable chamber.

2. The airbag module of claim 1 , wherein the a plurality of stitched seams are parallel to one another.

3. The airbag module of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of stitched seams are configured to release the interior portions of the first and second panels at different times during inflation of the airbag.

4. The airbag module of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of stitched seams are non-linear to one another.

5. The airbag module of claim 1 , wherein the connection between the interior portions of the first and second panels is located in the upper portion of the inflatable chamber so that upon initiation of the inflator and prior to release of the connection between the interior portions of the first and second panels inflation of the upper portion of the inflatable chamber is limited while inflation of a lower portion of the inflatable chamber is unabated.

6. The airbag module of claim 5 , wherein the connection between the interior portions of the first and second panels that is located in the upper portion of the inflatable chamber extends in length to a central portion of the inflatable chamber.

7. 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 first and second panels include a peripheral portion and an interior portion;

wherein the interior portions of the first and second panels are stitched together along a pluality of seams to thereby limit the inflation of a portion of the inflatable chamber;

wherein the plurality of seams do not intersect with the peripheral portions of the first and second panels;

wherein the seams are configured to tear apart during inflation of the airbag in order to allow the interior portions of the first and second panels to separate and thereby permit further inflation of the portion of the inflatable chamber; and

wherein each of the plurality of seams is configured to extend from a first end in an upper portion of the inflatable chamber that is central to a width of the inflatable chamber and abutting or extending from an upper and outer edge of the airbag to a second end at about a mid-height portion of the inflatable chamber that is forward along the width of the inflatable chamber.

8. The airbag module of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of seams are separated by an offset distance that remains constant along the lengths between any two seams.

9. The airbag module of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of seams are separated by an offset distance that varies along the lengths between any two seams.

10. The airbag module of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of seams arc non-linearly configured.

11. An airbag module comprising:

an inflatable airbag;

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 first and second panels include a peripheral portion and an interior portion having a covered portion;

wherein the airbag includes a tear mechanism including a plurality of stitched seams provided outside of the covered portions connecting the interior portions of the first and second panels together to thereby limit the inflation of a portion of the inflatable chamber;

wherein the plurality of stitched seams are configured to release the connection between the interior portions of the first and second panels during inflation of the airbag in order to permit further inflation of the portion of the inflatable chamber; and

wherein each of the plurality of stitched seams is configured to extend from a first end in an upper portion of the inflatable chamber that is central to a width of the inflatable chamber and abutting or extending from an upper and outer edge of the airbag to a second end at about a mid-height portion of the inflatable chamber that is forward along the width of the inflatable chamber.