Tether guided inflatable sail panel

摘要

A side curtain airbag to be deployed downward along an inner side surface of a passenger compartment of a vehicle can include at least one expandible chamber having an inflatable curtain portion and an inflatable sail portion extending forwardly from a foremost anchor point of the curtain portion with respect to the vehicle, and a tether attached to the expandible chamber at one end and attachable to a structural pillar of the vehicle at an opposite end for guiding a direction of expansion of the sail portion during inflation. A method for folding a side curtain airbag can include forming an expandible chamber from an inflatable curtain portion and an inflatable sail portion, positioning the sail portion to be overlying the inboard side of the curtain portion with a Z-shaped fold portion, and locating the inboard side of the chamber facing inboard when in a stowed position.