Patent ID: 8267423

Claim:
An airbag module for use in a vehicle to restrain an occupant of the vehicle in a side impact type collision, comprising: an inflator configured to generate gas; and an airbag coupled to the inflator and configured to deploy upon receiving gas from the inflator, the airbag comprising: a main chamber extending along a side of an interior of the vehicle and configured to restrain a head of a vehicle occupant when the airbag is deployed, the main chamber comprising an inboard panel and an outboard panel joined together by seams, the seams comprising first seam portions and second seam portions, the first seam portions being subject to higher stress than the second seam portions when the airbag inflates, the first seam portions being reinforced by a reinforced portion including at least one bead of energy absorbent sealant or adhesive in contact with both the inboard panel and the outboard panel to thereby join the panels together, wherein the main chamber includes an inflation zone proximate to the inflator, wherein pressure in the inflation zone is higher than pressure in other portions of the main chamber during an initial stage of deployment of the airbag; wherein the main chamber includes a high pressure zone located in an upper portion of the airbag, wherein pressure in the high pressure zone is higher than pressure in a lower portion of the airbag during inflow of gas into the main chamber from the inflator, wherein the high pressure zone includes the inflation zone, and wherein the first seam portions and the reinforced portion are located only in the high pressure zone, and wherein the second seam portions are unreinforced.