In one aspect, an apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle includes a frontal curtain airbag. The airbag has overlying panels that are interconnected. The airbag is deployable a deployed condition in which the airbag spans across a width of a windshield opening of the vehicle. A restraining panel is separate from and extends widthwise over the panels of the airbag. The restraining panel is connected to the airbag and has a width configured to cause opposing end portions of the deployed airbag to be bent toward one another and into a curved configuration. Pressurization in the deploying airbag tensions the restraining panel widthwise. The tensioned restraining panel maintains the bend in the deploying airbag so that an effective airbag depth is measured between the restraining panel and the airbag.

In one aspect, an apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle includes a frontal curtain airbag. The airbag has overlying panels that are interconnected. The airbag is deployable a deployed condition in which the airbag spans across a width of a windshield opening of the vehicle. A restraining panel is separate from and extends widthwise over the panels of the airbag. The restraining panel is connected to the airbag and has a width configured to cause opposing end portions of the deployed airbag to be bent toward one another and into a curved configuration. Pressurization in the deploying airbag tensions the restraining panel widthwise. The tensioned restraining panel maintains the bend in the deploying airbag so that an effective airbag depth is measured between the restraining panel and the airbag.

A tether actuation unit includes an actuator configured to form a connection with a tether that is releasable in response to actuation of the actuator, and a housing configured to receive the actuator. The housing includes a tether channel configured to allow the tether to extend therethrough. The tether channel includes sidewalls configured to receive and engage the tether along a portion of its length when the tether extends at an angle from the housing. The sidewalls of the tether channel are configured to limit movement of the tether in response to airbag deployment in order to limit tension applied to the actuator by the tether to a predetermined range of non-orthogonal directions with respect to a central axis of the actuator.

A tether actuation unit includes an actuator configured to form a connection with a tether that is releasable in response to actuation of the actuator, and a housing configured to receive the actuator. The housing includes a tether channel configured to allow the tether to extend therethrough. The tether channel includes sidewalls configured to receive and engage the tether along a portion of its length when the tether extends at an angle from the housing. The sidewalls of the tether channel are configured to limit movement of the tether in response to airbag deployment in order to limit tension applied to the actuator by the tether to a predetermined range of non-orthogonal directions with respect to a central axis of the actuator.

Provide an airbag device for a vehicle with a simple structure having improved occupant restraint performance and improved safety.

The airbag cushion includes a gas discharge section, a first tether, and a chamber having an occupant side panel and a steering wheel side panel. The first tether includes a first end directly or indirectly connected to the occupant side panel and second ends connected to the steering wheel side panel. The edge of the gas discharge section can be pulled into the chamber by the taut first tether and the area of the gas discharge section opening with the edge of the gas discharge section pulled into the chamber is smaller than when the first tether is relaxed.

Provide an airbag device for a vehicle with a simple structure having improved occupant restraint performance and improved safety.

The airbag cushion includes a gas discharge section, a first tether, and a chamber having an occupant side panel and a steering wheel side panel. The first tether includes a first end directly or indirectly connected to the occupant side panel and second ends connected to the steering wheel side panel. The edge of the gas discharge section can be pulled into the chamber by the taut first tether and the area of the gas discharge section opening with the edge of the gas discharge section pulled into the chamber is smaller than when the first tether is relaxed.

An occupant protection system for protecting a vehicle occupant sitting in a seat includes a seatbelt that includes a lap belt for arresting the pelvis of the occupant, and an airbag that is stored in the lap belt. The airbag as deployed includes a main inflatable portion for protecting an upper body of the occupant, and a head protecting portion that is located in a vicinity of an upper end of the main inflatable portion for protecting a head of the occupant. The head protecting portion includes a front inflatable portion for covering a front side of the head, and a pair of side inflatable portions that extend rearward from left and right ends of the front inflatable portion for covering sides of the head. Each of the side inflatable portions is configured to be deployed in such a manner that a space is formed between itself and the head.

An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle includes an airbag configured to be mounted on a vehicle steering wheel. The airbag includes an inflatable main chamber configured to cover the steering wheel, and an inflatable lateral chamber configured to cover a vehicle A-pillar. The apparatus also includes a tether actuation unit and a tether connected to the tether actuation unit and to a portion of the airbag that helps define the lateral chamber. The tether actuation unit has an unactuated condition maintaining a connection with the tether that restricts deployment of the lateral chamber. The tether actuation unit also has an actuated condition releasing its connection with the tether and causing the lateral chamber to fully deploy.

A side airbag that is to be inflated and deployed to a side of an occupant, includes: a first chamber that is positioned in an upper portion and is to be inflated to a side of a shoulder part of the occupant; and a second chamber that is on a lower side of the first chamber, and a thickness regulating member for reducing an inflation thickness is provided at an upper portion of a front portion of the second chamber.

In a vehicle occupant protection system a first tether is permanently fastened to a front panel of the airbag and is detachably fixed to an actuator unit on the module side. A second tether is arranged on the module side and is connected to the first tether, wherein in an extension of the second tether there is provided a decoupling arrangement which is located in the flow of forces between the second tether and the first tether only when the actuator unit is activated. In order to protect the vehicle occupant, when a vehicle seat is in a first sitting position, an airbag of the airbag module is filled with a first smaller volume and, in response to a height of the vehicle occupant sitting in the vehicle seat, a venting device is opened or closed. When the vehicle seat is in a second sitting position, the airbag is filled with a second larger volume and the venting device is opened.