Inflatable vehicle occupant restraint including sewn panels

Apparatus comprising:

• an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint comprising a first fabric panel portion, a second fabric panel portion, and means for defining a seam at which said first and second panel portions are fastened to each other;
• said first panel portion comprising a plurality of woven threads that extend longitudinally from said seam in a first direction when said restraint is inflated, said second panel portion comprising a plurality of woven threads that extend longitudinally from said seam in a second direction when said restraint is inflated;
• said means for defining a seam including a folded part of said first panel portion which comprises two lapped plies of said first panel portion, and a folded part of said second panel portion which comprises two lapped plies of said second panel portion, said folded parts of said first and second panel portions overlapping each other so as to define a double-lapped part of said seam which comprises said lapped plies of said first and second panel portions;
• said means for defining a seam further including first and second rows of stitches, said first row of stitches fastening said lapped plies of said first and second panel portions to each other at said double-lapped part of said seam, said second row of stitches being spaced from said first row of stitches in said first direction and fastening said two lapped plies of said first panel portion only to each other.