Curtain airbag with package maintaining structure

An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle, comprising:

• an airbag module including a curtain airbag in a packaged condition in which the curtain airbag is placed in a rolled and/or folded configuration for installation along a roof rail in a vehicle, the curtain airbag being configured to be inflated and deployed along a side structure of the vehicle;
• a package maintaining structure installed in the curtain airbag while in the packaged condition, the package maintaining structure being configured to distort the rolled and/or folded configuration of the curtain airbag from within the curtain airbag to enforce a shape of the airbag module;
• wherein the curtain airbag comprises a channel for receiving the package maintaining structure, the channel extending along a lower edge portion of the curtain airbag and comprising an opening that provides access to the channel for installing the package maintaining structure in the channel, the opening having an outward tapered configuration and being angled upward with respect to a length of the channel.