Side impact airbag module

1. An airbag module for protecting an occupant of a vehicle seat, comprising:

an inflatable airbag;

an inflator configured to produce inflation gas for inflating the airbag;

wherein the airbag is stored in the vehicle seat prior to deployment;

wherein the airbag includes inboard and outboard inflatable chambers separated by a gap at a forward portion of the airbag;

wherein the airbag is configured to deploy into a position along a side of the vehicle seat and the occupant;

wherein the airbag includes a single main panel forming the boundary of the inboard and outboard inflatable chambers, and wherein the main panel includes projecting wing portions that form the sides of the gap when the airbag is assembled; and

wherein the main panel includes symmetrical portions forming an outer face of the inboard and outboard chambers and the aft portion of the airbag.

2. The airbag module of claim 1 , wherein the inboard and outboard chambers are fluidly connected at the aft portion of the airbag.

3. The airbag module of claim 1 , wherein the airbag includes a pair of internal tethers; and wherein each of the tethers is positioned to extend from the aft portion of the airbag to the portion of the main panel forming the outer face of one of the inboard and outboard chambers.

4. The airbag module of claim 3 , wherein the internal tethers are formed by a single fabric panel.

5. An occupant protection apparatus for protecting an occupant of a passenger compartment of a vehicle from a side impact involving the vehicle, the apparatus comprising

an inflator and an airbag, wherein the airbag includes inboard and outboard inflatable chambers separated by a gap; and

wherein the airbag is configured to deploy forwardly into a position between the occupant and an interior side of the passenger compartment of the vehicle; and

wherein the airbag is formed by a single main panel that is folded to form symmetrical half portions and wherein each of the half portions includes a wing portion that projects outwardly from a perimeter of the panel and wherein when the airbag is assembled each wing portion forms a side of the gap.

6. The occupant protection apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the airbag includes a pair of internal tethers that extend from a rear portion of the airbag toward the inboard and outboard inflatable chambers.

7. The occupant protection apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the tethers are formed by a single fabric panel.

8. The occupant protection apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the airbag includes at least one vent opening located in one of the inboard and outboard chambers, wherein the vent opening is positioned to allow inflation gas produced by the inflator to escape through the vent opening into the gap.

9. The occupant protection apparatus of claim 5 , wherein perimeter portions of the main panel are connected together.

10. The occupant protection apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising a tether panel that is positioned in the interior of the airbag and extends to the perimeter of the main panel at the base of the gap.

11. The occupant protection apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the tether panel includes two ends and wherein both ends of the tether panel are connected to the perimeter of the main panel at the base of the gap.

12. The occupant protection apparatus of claim 11 , wherein an intermediate portion of the tether panel is connected to the main panel approximate the inflator.

13. The occupant protection apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the airbag includes at least one vent opening located in a wing portion.

14. The occupant protection apparatus of claim 13 , wherein each lobe of the airbag includes a vent opening located in facing surfaces of the main panel so that air escaping the airbag through the vent openings enters the gap between the lobes.

15. The occupant protection apparatus of claim 5 , wherein each of the wing portions is folded inwardly and connected to a corresponding wing portion located in the other half portion to thereby form the gap.

16. An airbag module for protecting an occupant of a vehicle seat, comprising:

an airbag including an inner lobe and an outer lobe separated by a gap;

an inflator for providing gas to inflate the airbag;

wherein the airbag includes an internal tether extending from a position proximate the inflator to the base of the gap;

and wherein the exterior of the airbag including the inner and outer lobes is formed by a single panel; and wherein the airbag is formed by a single main panel that is folded to form symmetrical half portions and wherein each of the half portions include a projecting wing portion that forms a side of the gap so that the volume of the inner and outer lobes are approximately the same when the airbag is fully inflated.

17. The airbag module of claim 16 , wherein the tether is formed by a single panel including two ends and wherein both ends of the tether are connected to the perimeter of the main panel at the base of the gap and wherein an intermediate portion of the tether is connected to the main panel approximate the inflator.