Patent ID: 6962364

Claim:
A curtain air bag assembly comprising: an inflatable air bag in a stored condition having a fluid inlet configured to communicate with a source of inflation gas and a plurality of inflatable compartments, the fluid inlet configured to direct inflation gas into the air bag in a predetermined direction, the air bag having an inboard side that faces a vehicle occupant and an outboard side that faces adjacent side structure of a vehicle when the air bag is inflated; and a distribution tube disposed in the air bag, the distribution tube having a conical portion in fluid communication with the fluid inlet, the conical portion configured to reduce the pressure of inflation gas communicated from the fluid inlet and direct the distribution of inflation gas along the air bag in the predetermined direction, the distribution tube further configured to distribute inflation gas to the inflatable compartments of the air bag, the distribution tube being wrapped about the inboard side of the air bag when the air bag is in the stored condition, and in a manner such that the distribution tube unwraps from the inboard side of the air bag and is positioned between the inboard side of the air bag and the adjacent side structure of the vehicle as inflation gas is being initially communicated to the distribution tube.