Patent ID: 7549674

Claim:
An airbag device for use with a vehicle seat, the airbag device comprising: an airbag for being disposed below the seat and having a length for extending laterally across the seat and an elongate, hollow internal space having a generally cylindrical configuration; a gas generator disposed in the airbag and having an elongate configuration arranged in the airbag to extend lengthwise along the length of the airbag, the gas generator including gas ports spaced along the length of the gas generator that discharge gas therefrom for inflating the elongate, hollow internal space of the airbag; an internal panel attached in the airbag internal space to extend along the length thereof forming one chamber in the airbag in which the gas generator is disposed and at least one other chamber in the airbag and constructed to distribute gas flow so that the airbag is inflated along the length thereof at substantially the same time; end portions of the inflated airbag along the length thereof that have a substantially symmetrical configuration relative to each other so that the end portions are inflated to project upwardly together in an even manner for pushing both sides of the seat upwardly substantially equally by the evenly inflated airbag end portions; communication openings between the airbag chambers spaced along the length of the airbag to distribute gas flow from the one chamber to the other chamber along the airbag length at substantially the same time so that end portions of the airbag are evenly inflated; and opposite sides of the internal panel connected to diametrically opposite portions of the airbag with the opposite internal sides defining a predetermined panel width therebetween that is sized to be smaller than a widthwise, diametrical distance across the generally cylindrical, airbag internal space between the diametrical opposite portions thereof, to restrict separation of the diametrical portions upon airbag inflation for reducing size of the inflated airbag therebetween.