Patent ID: 7607728

Claim:
A passenger constraining apparatus for an automobile, the passenger constraining apparatus comprising: a seat pan having a flat, supporting portion; a seat cushion of a cushioning material and supported on the seat pan for cushioned support of an occupant seated thereon; a lower surface portion of the seat cushion that is supported by the flat, supporting portion of the seat pan so that with an occupant seated on the seat cushion, the seat cushion lower surface portion takes on a generally flat configuration; a gas generator; an airbag having the gas generator therein and being disposed between the lower surface portion of the seat cushion and the flat supporting portion of the seat pan and having a predetermined footprint in, non-inflated configuration thereof in which the non-inflated airbag is generally flat along an area thereof surrounding the gas generator therein; a protective member of a low-friction material, having a flexible, non-rigid construction and being disposed between the airbag and the seat cushion or between the airbag and the seat pan; and a large, airbag facing surface of the flexible protective member arranged so that with the protective member attached to the seat cushion or seat pan, an airbag engaging portion of the large, airbag facing surface takes on the generally flat configuration of the generally flat, non-inflated airbag in engagement therewith in the area of the non-inflated airbag surrounding the gas generator with an occupant seated on the seat cushion, and the large, airbag facing surface is sized so that the airbag facing surface completely overlaps the predetermined footprint of the non-inflated airbag and the airbag engaging portion thereof is in engagement with the non-inflated airbag across and along the entire footprint thereof and reduces friction between the seat cushion and non-inflated airbag or between the seat pan and non-inflated airbag, respectively, when downward force is applied to the seat cushion by the occupant seated thereon.