Inflatable side curtain

Apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle that has a side structure and a roof, said apparatus comprising:

• an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device that is inflatable away from the vehicle roof into a position between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device comprising overlying panels interconnected along at least a portion of a perimeter of said panels to define an inflatable volume of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;
• and
• an inflation fluid source that provides inflation fluid for inflating said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;
• said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, when inflated, having front and rear portions spaced apart horizontally along said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device including at least one connection within said perimeter at which said overlying panels are interconnected, said at least one connection defining inflatable chambers extending between said front and rear portions, said front and rear portions being adapted to inflate more rapidly away from the vehicle roof than said chambers.

Apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle that has a side structure and a roof, said apparatus comprising:

• an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device inflatable away from the vehicle roof from a stored position to a deployed position wherein said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device is positioned between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant;
• and
• an inflation fluid source that provides inflation fluid for inflating said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;
• said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, when inflated, having a perimeter and front and rear portions spaced apart horizontally along said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device including at least one connection within said perimeter defining inflatable chambers extending between said front and rear portions, said front and rear portions being adapted to inflate to said deployed position before said chambers inflate to said deployed position.

Apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle that has a side structure and a roof, said apparatus comprising:

• an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device that is inflatable away from the vehicle roof into a position between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device comprising overlying panels interconnected to help define inflatable front and rear portions spaced apart horizontally along said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device and at least two, middle chambers extending between said front and rear portions;
• and
• an inflation fluid source that provides inflation fluid for inflating said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;
• said front and rear portions being adapted to inflate away from the vehicle roof more rapidly than said at least two middle chambers when said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device is inflated.