Inflatable vehicle occupant safety device in case of side impacts

摘要

The apparatus comprises an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint which, when inflated, helps protect a vehicle occupant in the event of a side impact to the vehicle of a magnitude sufficient to require protection of the vehicle occupant, the inflatable restraint having a deflated condition and an inflated condition. There is an inflator for, when actuated, supplying inflation fluid to the inflatable restraint to inflate the inflatable restraint from the deflated condition to the inflated condition. The inflatable restraint has a body portion and having an inflation fluid directing channel portion extending into the body portion, the body portion of the inflatable restraint having inner and outer end portions. The channel portion of the inflatable restraint is connected with the inflator to receive inflation fluid from the inflator, the channel portion having a terminal outlet which is disposed intermediate the inner and outer end portions of the body portion. The channel portion directs inflation fluid to flow in a first direction from the inflator to the terminal outlet of the channel portion and into the body portion to inflate the body portion.