A vehicle occupant protection expandable bladder may comprise an initial expandable chamber, an occupant restraining expandable chamber and a releasable connection that is configured to connect the occupant restraining expandable chamber to the initial expandable chamber or to a vehicle. The vehicle occupant protection expandable bladder may be configured to be expanded from a stowed state to a deployed state in a vehicle. The deployed state may comprise a first phase in which gas flow from the initial expandable chamber to the occupant restraining expandable chamber is at least substantially restricted and a second phase in which gas flow from the initial expandable chamber to the occupant restraining chamber is unrestricted. The releasable connection may be configured to release the connection in the deployed state.

A vehicle occupant protection expandable bladder may comprise an initial expandable chamber, an occupant restraining expandable chamber and a releasable connection that is configured to connect the occupant restraining expandable chamber to the initial expandable chamber or to a vehicle. The vehicle occupant protection expandable bladder may be configured to be expanded from a stowed state to a deployed state in a vehicle. The deployed state may comprise a first phase in which gas flow from the initial expandable chamber to the occupant restraining expandable chamber is at least substantially restricted and a second phase in which gas flow from the initial expandable chamber to the occupant restraining chamber is unrestricted. The releasable connection may be configured to release the connection in the deployed state.

A roof airbag for a vehicle longitudinally extends along a length between first and second longitudinal ends and laterally extends along a width between first and second lateral sides. An inlet for receiving inflation gases is provided at the first longitudinal end. A plenum is in fluid communication with the inlet for receiving the inflation gases from the inlet. The roof airbag includes a plurality of primary inflatable chambers, each primary inflatable chamber in fluid communication with the plenum to receive inflation gases from the plenum. A plurality of secondary inflatable chambers is in indirect fluid communication with the plenum to receive inflation gases indirectly from the plenum through the plurality of primary inflatable chambers. The primary inflatable chambers of the plurality of primary inflatable chambers are arranged to first drive deployment of the airbag and subsequently inflate the second inflatable chambers of the plurality of second inflatable chambers to tension the airbag in the lateral direction. The primary and secondary inflatable chambers cooperate to provide a barrier between occupants of the vehicle and the roof frame.

A roof airbag for a vehicle longitudinally extends along a length between first and second longitudinal ends and laterally extends along a width between first and second lateral sides. An inlet for receiving inflation gases is provided at the first longitudinal end. A plenum is in fluid communication with the inlet for receiving the inflation gases from the inlet. The roof airbag includes a plurality of primary inflatable chambers, each primary inflatable chamber in fluid communication with the plenum to receive inflation gases from the plenum. A plurality of secondary inflatable chambers is in indirect fluid communication with the plenum to receive inflation gases indirectly from the plenum through the plurality of primary inflatable chambers. The primary inflatable chambers of the plurality of primary inflatable chambers are arranged to first drive deployment of the airbag and subsequently inflate the second inflatable chambers of the plurality of second inflatable chambers to tension the airbag in the lateral direction. The primary and secondary inflatable chambers cooperate to provide a barrier between occupants of the vehicle and the roof frame.

A restraint system for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle having a roof and a cabin with a seat for the occupant includes an airbag mounted to the vehicle roof. The airbag has a stored condition and is inflatable to a deployed condition having a front-facing occupant receiving portion and an opposite rear-facing portion facing away from the occupant. The airbag has one or more connections with the vehicle roof, with the airbag and the connections being configured such that the roof serves as a reaction surface for supporting the airbag against movement in response to a forward moving occupant impacting the occupant receiving portion. The system is non-reliant on the rear-facing portion of the airbag engaging and using vehicle structure as a reaction surface for supporting the airbag against movement in response to the impacting occupant.

A restraint system for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle having a roof and a cabin with a seat for the occupant includes an airbag mounted to the vehicle roof. The airbag has a stored condition and is inflatable to a deployed condition having a front-facing occupant receiving portion and an opposite rear-facing portion facing away from the occupant. The airbag has one or more connections with the vehicle roof, with the airbag and the connections being configured such that the roof serves as a reaction surface for supporting the airbag against movement in response to a forward moving occupant impacting the occupant receiving portion. The system is non-reliant on the rear-facing portion of the airbag engaging and using vehicle structure as a reaction surface for supporting the airbag against movement in response to the impacting occupant.

A guide assembly for a roof airbag arrangement of a vehicle includes a guide member, at least a first sliding member and a locking member. The first sliding member is carried by the guide member and translatable relative to the guide member along a translation axis. The locking member is carried by the guide member and is operable in a first position to permit the first sliding member to translate past the locking member in a first direction and operable in a second position to prevent translation of the first sliding member past the locking member in a second direction. The second direction being opposite to the first direction.

A guide assembly for a roof airbag arrangement of a vehicle includes a guide member, at least a first sliding member and a locking member. The first sliding member is carried by the guide member and translatable relative to the guide member along a translation axis. The locking member is carried by the guide member and is operable in a first position to permit the first sliding member to translate past the locking member in a first direction and operable in a second position to prevent translation of the first sliding member past the locking member in a second direction. The second direction being opposite to the first direction.

An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle having a roof and a cabin with a seat for the occupant includes an airbag configured to be deployed from a roof of the vehicle. The airbag includes a front panel configured to face the occupant and a rear panel configured to face away from the occupant. An external tether has ends connected to the rear panel on an exterior of the airbag. The external tether has a length measured between the ends that is shorter than the length of the rear panel extending between the connections of the external tether to the rear panel so as to cause the airbag to have a curved portion when inflated and deployed, the curved portion facing convexly toward the occupant. In one example configuration, the curved portion can be configured to receive the occupants head and to unbend in response to receiving the occupants head, wherein the unbending causes the front panel to crumple and form creases. The configuration of the external tether, position of the external tether on the rear panel, and connections of the external tether to the rear panel can be configured to position the curved portion to receive the occupants head and to control the formation and location of the creases on the front panel.

An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle having a roof and a cabin with a seat for the occupant includes an airbag configured to be deployed from a roof of the vehicle. The airbag includes a front panel configured to face the occupant and a rear panel configured to face away from the occupant. An external tether has ends connected to the rear panel on an exterior of the airbag. The external tether has a length measured between the ends that is shorter than the length of the rear panel extending between the connections of the external tether to the rear panel so as to cause the airbag to have a curved portion when inflated and deployed, the curved portion facing convexly toward the occupant. In one example configuration, the curved portion can be configured to receive the occupants head and to unbend in response to receiving the occupants head, wherein the unbending causes the front panel to crumple and form creases. The configuration of the external tether, position of the external tether on the rear panel, and connections of the external tether to the rear panel can be configured to position the curved portion to receive the occupants head and to control the formation and location of the creases on the front panel.