Patent ID: 8407968

Claim:
A method for packaging an inflatable airbag assembly, comprising the steps of: providing an inflatable airbag having a throat portion, wherein a wrapper and a deployment flap are coupled to the throat portion, such that a portion of the deployment flap is located between the wrapper and the inflatable airbag; providing an inflatable airbag housing that is coupled to the inflatable airbag at the throat portion of the inflatable airbag; folding the inflatable airbag into the inflatable airbag housing; making a first accordion-fold in the deployment flap toward the throat portion of the inflatable airbag, wherein the first accordion-fold is at a predetermined distance from a throat-proximal edge of the deployment flap, making a second accordion-fold in an opposite direction of the first accordion-fold, wherein the second accordion-fold is at a predetermined distance from the first accordion-fold, folding the accordion-folded deployment flap after making the second accordion-fold; placing the folded and accordion-folded deployment flap within the inflatable airbag housing on top of the folded inflatable airbag, such that during inflatable airbag deployment the deployment flap deploys in front of the inflatable airbag; wrapping a free end of the wrapper around the folded and accordion-folded deployment flap; and, coupling the wrapper to the inflatable airbag housing such that the inflatable airbag and deployment flap are retained within the inflatable airbag housing.