Patent ID: 7828106

Claim:
An exterior deployed air bag system for an automotive vehicle having a roof, the air bag system comprising: an air bag assembly that is attached to the vehicle below the roof, the air bag assembly having an air bag that is stored in an uninflated condition in a housing, and wherein the air bag assembly further includes an inflator that is operatively connected to the air bag to selectively inflate the air bag; wherein the roof defines an access opening and the air bag assembly is attached to the roof at the access opening; a closure member that has a closed position in which the closure member closes the access opening and an open position in which the closure member opens the access opening; a sensor generates an actuation signal in response to sensing that the vehicle is at substantial risk of rolling onto the roof; a controller receives the actuation signal and actuates the inflator to supply a volume of gas to the air bag, wherein the air bag opens the closure member, passes through the access opening and expands outside of the roof wherein the vehicle further comprises a right side assembly and a left side assembly and wherein right and left weld seam areas are provided between the roof and each of the right side assembly and left side assembly, and wherein the access opening is disposed in at least one of the weld seams.