Side airbag cushion and method of manufacture

Abstract

An inflatable having: an inflatable portion, the inflatable portion partially surrounding an area when the inflatable portion is inflated; a non-inflatable member secured to the inflatable portion and positioned in the area; and a retentive pocket formed by the non-inflatable member, the retentive pocket having a periphery bounded on at least one side by the non-inflatable member and a peripheral portion of the non-inflatable member being configured to vary a length of the peripheral portion of the non-inflatable member such that a recessed area is formed in the retentive pocket.

1 . An inflatable cushion for deployment along an interior side of a vehicle, comprising:
 an inflatable portion, the inflatable portion partially surrounding an area when the inflatable portion is inflated;   a non-inflatable member secured to the inflatable portion and positioned in the area; and   a retentive pocket formed by the non-inflatable member, the retentive pocket having a periphery bounded on at least one side by the non-inflatable member and a peripheral portion of the non-inflatable member being configured to vary a length of the peripheral portion of the non-inflatable member such that a recessed area is formed in the retentive pocket, the recessed area being disposed within the periphery of the retentive pocket; and   wherein the area is defined by a first perimeter, the first perimeter being further defined by an edge of the inflatable cushion and a gap defined by the edge of the inflatable cushion defining a portion of the first perimeter; and a tether is secured to the edge of the inflatable cushion defining the portion of the first perimeter, the tether traversing the gap and providing a limit to a size of the gap when the inflatable cushion is inflated and the non-inflatable member has a second perimeter, the second perimeter being larger than the first perimeter, the second perimeter being further defined by a first edge portion and a second edge portion, the first edge portion traversing the gap and the second edge portion is secured to the non-inflatable member such that the tether is at least partially enclosed in the non-inflatable member.   
     
     
         2 . The inflatable cushion as in  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the second edge portion of the non-inflatable member is secured to the edge of the inflatable cushion. 
     
     
         3 . An inflatable cushion for deployment along an interior side of a vehicle, comprising:
 an inflatable portion, the inflatable portion surrounding an area, wherein no portion of the inflatable portion is disposed in the area, the area being defined by a perimeter;   a non-inflatable member secured to the inflatable portion and positioned in the area, the non-inflatable member being defined by a perimeter and wherein the non-inflatable member does not have any tear seams and wherein the perimeter of the non-inflatable member is greater than the perimeter of the area;   a retentive pocket formed by the non-inflatable member and the inflatable cushion, the retentive pocket having a periphery partially bounded by the inflatable portion and the non-inflatable member being configured such that a recessed area is formed in the retentive pocket, the recessed area being disposed within the periphery of the retentive pocket; and   wherein the area is defined by a perimeter, the perimeter having an edge portion bounded by a lower edge portion of the inflatable portion, the lower edge portion of the inflatable portion being constrained to limit a lateral expansion of the lower edge portion of the inflatable portion.   
     
     
         4 . An inflatable cushion for deployment along an interior side of a vehicle, comprising:
 an inflatable portion, the inflatable portion surrounding an area, wherein no portion of the inflatable portion is disposed in the area, the area being defined by a perimeter;   a non-inflatable member secured to the inflatable portion and positioned in the area, the non-inflatable member being defined by a perimeter and wherein the non-inflatable member does not have any tear seams and wherein the perimeter of the non-inflatable member is greater than the perimeter of the area;   a retentive pocket formed by the non-inflatable member and the inflatable cushion, the retentive pocket having a periphery partially bounded by the inflatable portion and the non-inflatable member being configured such that a recessed area is formed in the retentive pocket, the recessed area being disposed within the periphery of the retentive pocket; and   wherein the lower edge portion of the inflatable portion is a tubular member and the tubular member has portions stitched together in an alternating fashion to limit an expanded size of the tubular member when the inflatable cushion is inflated.