Side gas bag restraint system

A side gas bag restraint system for protecting an occupant in a motor vehicle having a seat with a back rest and side windows, said system comprising:

• a gas bag having a large area for covering at least a part of the side window of the vehicle, said gas bag comprising:
• a non-inflatable section;
• at least one inflatable restraint chamber having an inflated state for providing said gas bag in front of and above the back rest of the vehicle to restrain a head of the occupant;
• inflatable tensioning chambers;
• and
• a gas generator;
• said inflatable tensioning chambers being connected with said at least one inflatable restraint chamber by said non-inflatable section;
• said at least one inflatable restraint chamber being connected with at least two of said inflatable tensioning chambers, said tensioning chambers being connected in series with regard to gas flow and being arranged in succession along a lower edge of said gas bag, said tensioning chambers having constrictions between tensioning chambers;
• said non-inflatable section, constructed so as to have a large area, being tightened between said chambers and the vehicle when said gas bag is inflated;
• a quantity of inflation gas from said gas generator, volumes of said chambers, and flow connections between said chambers being coordinated such that at least one tensioning chamber is not fully inflated by said gas generator during and immediately after actuation of said gas generator.

A side gas bag restraint system for protecting an occupant in a vehicle, the vehicle having a seat with a back rest and a side window, said system comprising a gas bag for covering at least a part of the side window of the vehicle, said gas bag including:

• a non-inflatable section;
• at least one inflatable restraint chamber having an inflated state, said restraint chamber being provided in front of and above the back rest to restrain a head of the occupant;
• and
• inflatable tensioning chambers having constrictions between them,
• said restraint chamber being connected with said tensioning chambers, said tensioning chambers being connected in series with regard to gas flow and arranged in succession along a lower edge of said gas bag, said non-inflatable section being tightened between said restraint chamber and tensioning chambers when said gas bag is inflated.

A side gas bag restraint system for protecting an occupant in a vehicle, the vehicle having a seat with a back rest and a side window, said system comprising a gas bag for covering at least a part of the side window of the vehicle, said gas bag including:

• a non-inflatable section;
• at least one inflatable restraint chamber having an inflated state, said restraint chamber being provided in front of and above the back rest to restrain a head of the occupant;
• and
• inflatable tensioning chambers having constrictions between them,
• said restraint chamber being connected with said tensioning chambers, said tensioning chambers being connected in series with regard to gas flow and arranged in succession, said non-inflatable section being tightened between said restraint and tensioning chambers when said gas bag is inflated,
• at least one of said tensioning chambers being not fully inflated during and immediately after inflation of said gas bag.

A side gas bag restraint system for protecting an occupant in a vehicle, the vehicle having a seat with a back rest and a side window, said system comprising a gas bag for covering at least a part of the side window of the vehicle, said gas bag including:

• a non-inflatable section;
• at least one inflatable restraint chamber having an inflated state, said restraint chamber being provided in front of and above the back rest to restrain a head of the occupant;
• and
• inflatable tensioning chambers having constrictions between them,
• said restraint chamber being connected with said tensioning chambers, said tensioning chambers being connected in series with regard to gas flow and arranged in succession, said non-inflatable section being tightened between said restraint and tensioning chambers when said gas bag is inflated,
• said non-inflatable section, in said inflated state, covering substantially an entire region of the side window that is not covered by both the restraint chamber and the tensioning chambers.