Expandable section for inflatable curtains

An inflatable curtain for protecting the occupants of a vehicle during a collision, comprising:

• an inflatable portion comprising:
• a first inflation chamber comprising a first plurality of inflatable cells, the first inflation chamber having a first span length;
• a second inflation chamber comprising a second plurality of inflatable cells, the second inflation chamber having a second span length, the second inflation chamber being separated from the first inflation chamber by a separation length;
• and
• an inflation inlet for communication with an inflator;
• and
• a non-inflatable portion comprising an expandable section disposed between the first inflation chamber and the second inflation chamber, wherein deployment of the inflatable curtain causes the first and second inflation chambers to contract horizontally so that the first and second span lengths decrease, and wherein deployment of the inflatable curtain also causes the expandable section to expand horizontally so that the separation length increases, so that the total length of the inflatable curtain remains substantially unchanged during deployment.