Patent ID: 8480124

Claim:
A side impact system for protection of an occupant of a vehicle of the type including a side airbag adapted to be inflated by gas from an inflator, wherein when inflated the side airbag positions beside the occupant, the side impact system comprising: a vehicle seat bolster forming a seat bolster cavity; an inflatable side airbag stored in a deflated condition, the side airbag including: at least one side panel forming an exterior of the side airbag, the side panel having an outer portion defining an outer chamber; and a tube panel disposed within the side panel and joined to a seat bolster portion of the side panel, the tube panel defining a seat bolster chamber and having at least one opening to allow gas to flow from the seat bolster chamber to the outer chamber, wherein the tube panel, the seat bolster portion of the side panel, and the seat bolster chamber remain substantially within the seat bolster cavity when inflated and the tube panel having an outer edge substantially adjacent to an outer edge of the seat bolster cavity, the seat bolster portion of the side panel contacting an inner side of the seat bolster cavity when the side airbag is inflated; an inflator operable to provide gas to the seat bolster chamber and the outer chamber.