Patent ID: 8439397

Claim:
An airbag comprising a body portion, a non-inflatable support member having a proximal end and a distal end, and a tether having a support-member-end and an airbag-end, wherein: the proximal end of the non-inflatable support member is hingedly affixed to the body portion of the airbag; and the support-member-end of the tether is affixed to the distal end of the non-inflatable support member and the airbag-end of the tether is affixed to the body portion of the airbag, thereby tethering the distal end of the non-inflatable support member to the airbag, wherein: when the airbag is in a pre-deployment state, the non-inflatable support member is folded over the body portion in a pre-deployment position, in which the distal end of the non-inflatable support member does not extend beyond a perimeter of the airbag; and as the airbag fills with gas when deployed, the airbag expands and creates tension in the tether, which is translated to the distal end of the non-inflatable support member, thereby pulling the non-inflatable support member to a deployed position that extends beyond the perimeter of the airbag.