Patent ID: 8272664

Claim:
An airbag assembly, comprising: an inflatable airbag cushion in a folded configuration comprising a plurality of folds and a top surface that is directed towards a cover when the inflatable airbag cushion is deployed; an extension flap, wherein the extension flap comprises a free end and an attached end that are opposite from each other, wherein the extension flap is at least partially wrapped around the inflatable airbag cushion before deployment of the inflatable airbag cushion, wherein the extension flap is configured to protect the inflatable airbag cushion during deployment, wherein the extension flap is positioned such that, during deployment, the attached end remains attached at a location that enables the extension flap to be positioned below the inflatable airbag cushion in a passenger compartment of a vehicle during deployment, wherein the extension flap is configured such that the free end is unattached before deployment of the inflatable airbag cushion and remains unattached during deployment of the inflatable airbag cushion, wherein the extension flap is configured not to rupture during deployment; and, a lateral flap coupled adjacent to the inflatable airbag cushion and, in the undeployed state, at least partially wrapped around the folded inflatable airbag cushion but not the extension flap, wherein, in the undeployed state, the free end of the extension flap and a plurality of folds of the extension flap are positioned over the top surface of the folded inflatable airbag cushion and over a portion of the lateral flap that is configured to rupture such that the portion of the lateral flap that is configured to rupture is disposed between the top surface of the folded inflatable airbag cushion and the plurality of folds of the extension flap, wherein the airbag cushion, the extension flap and the lateral flap are positioned and configured such that, during inflatable airbag cushion deployment, the extension flap does not retard the timing for full deployment of the inflatable airbag cushion, and whereby, during deployment of the inflatable airbag cushion, the extension flap deploys in front of the inflatable airbag cushion due to the position of the free end of the extension flap and the folds of the extension flap, in the undeployed state, over a portion of the lateral flap that is configured to rupture and over the top surface of the folded inflatable airbag cushion.