Patent ID: 7762580

Claim:
An airbag inflator system for a vehicle, comprising: an inflatable, side curtain airbag arranged to be mounted to an upper portion of a frame of a vehicle and to inflate in a generally downward direction from its mounting location to a position along a left or right side of the vehicle; said side curtain airbag, when uninflated, forming an elongate structure extending above at least a portion of a first window, at least a portion of a second window, and a pillar separating the first and second windows along the left or right side of the vehicle; a gas releasing system comprising an elongate housing operative for releasing gas which is directed from said housing to an interior of said side curtain airbag, said housing containing a system for generating gas or storing compressed gas that is released to flow into said side curtain airbag in order to inflate said side curtain airbag to protect a first occupant seated next to the first window and a second occupant seated next to the second window in the response to a detected crash involving the vehicle; and wherein said housing of said gas releasing system is spaced apart from said side curtain airbag, further comprising a tube operatively connecting said housing to said side curtain airbag and through which the released gas from said housing is directed into said side curtain airbag.