Patent ID: 7347446

Claim:
An occupant restraint apparatus installed on a vehicle having a window defined between first and second pillar portions, comprising: an airbag provided with a plurality of cells and folded to be housed on an upper part of the window, said airbag being inflatable downward to cover an interior side of the window by introducing an inflating gas thereinto; a guide rail extending along the first pillar portion; a guide block engaged with the guide rail to be guided downward; a stopper mechanism by which the guide block is engaged with the guide rail so as to allow a downward movement of the guide block and to restrict an upward movement thereof; and a hauling device provided in a vicinity of a peripheral part of the window so as to be connected to a flexible end portion connecting material which is extended from the airbag; wherein a portion on a lower edge of the airbag, which is disposed in a vicinity of the first pillar portion when the airbag is deployed, is connected to the guide block through a block connecting material, an end portion in the lower edge of the airbag, which is disposed in a vicinity of a lower portion of the second pillar portion when the airbag is deployed, is connected to the end portion connecting material; wherein, the guide block is moved downward so that the block connecting material moves downward and the hauling device is activated to haul the end portion connecting material, when the airbag is deployed, whereby a tension is generated along a longitudinal direction in the lower edge of the airbag between connection portions connected to the block connecting material and the end portion connecting material, respectively when the airbag has been fully inflated; and wherein the guide rail is located within the first pillar portion, and the block connecting material, which connects the guide block and one of the connection portions of the airbag, includes two wires that protrude from front and rear sides of the guide block when the bag deploys.