Asymmetric side airbag for improved head and neck protection

An occupant safety system for a vehicle comprising:

• a seat;
• a side airbag having an inflated condition wherein the side airbag is positioned between the seat and an interior side wall of the vehicle, the side airbag comprising:
• an outboard panel having a perimeter edge and a first vertical length;
• and
• an inboard panel having a perimeter edge and a second vertical length shorter than the first vertical length, the inboard and outboard panels joined to one another around their respective perimeter edges to form an enclosed volume such that when in the inflated condition the shorter vertical length of the inboard panel causes the airbag to curve toward the seat;
• and
• an inflator providing gasses to inflate the side airbag.

A method of making a side airbag comprising the steps of:

• forming an inboard panel having a perimeter edge and a first vertical length;
• forming an outboard panel having a perimeter edge a second vertical length greater than the first vertical length;
• and
• joining the inboard panel and the outboard panel to one another around their respective perimeter edges of to form an enclosed volume, such that when the side airbag is inflated a mid-thickness line of the side airbag is concave towards the inboard panel.