Patent ID: 7364188

Claim:
An airbag comprising: a first, lateral airbag portion for being deployed in a predetermined rearward direction toward a vehicle occupant; a second, lateral airbag portion for being deployed in the predetermined rearward direction toward the vehicle occupant with the inflated first and second airbag portions being laterally spaced from each other transverse to the predetermined deployment direction; first and second inner spaces of the first and second airbag portions, respectively, for being inflated upon airbag deployment, with the inflated inner spaces being of different volumes; an open gap between the inflated first and second airbag portions that extends in the rearward direction with the laterally spaced airbag portions extending along either side thereof and which opens to the vehicle occupant, and the gap being sized so that the inflated, lateral airbag portions generally will engage corresponding left and right side upper body portions of the occupant with a central upper body portions of the occupant with a central upper body portion the occupant fitting in the open gap; a forward base end portion which receives inflation gas prior to the first and second airbag portions, and forward upper surfaces of the first and second airbag portions that are adjacent the base end portion with one of the upper surfaces being lower than the other upper surface with the airbag portions inflated.