Inflatable curtain airbag with central strap

摘要

A side curtain airbag for a motor vehicle is provided with a frangible restraining strap 8 for delaying inflation of a central portion 1 of the airbag and deflecting gas into adjacent elongate portions 2, 3 in the initial stages of deployment. The arrangement assists in protecting the head of an out-of position occupant by enabling the inflating elongate portions 2, 3 to push the head away from the vehicle's side window. The restraining strap may be made from a plastics material and may be perforated to allow greater expansion in one direction than the other.