Dual chamber side airbag apparatus and method

A method for controlling inflation gas flow into a cushion of an airbag module for protecting an occupant of a vehicle from impact, the cushion comprising a divider that defines a first chamber and a second chamber, the airbag module further comprising an inflator that produces inflation gas in response to receipt of an activation signal and a housing shaped to retain the inflator at any of a plurality of positions, the method comprising:

• establishing a first desired pressure to which the first chamber is to be inflated and a second desired pressure to which the second chamber is to be inflated;
• determining which position of a plurality of positions of the inflator with respect to the housing will most nearly provide the first and second pressures;
• and
• installing inflator at the determined position within the housing.

A method for assembling an airbag module for protecting an occupant of a vehicle from impact, the airbag module comprising a cushion, an inflator, and a housing, the cushion comprising an outer wall and a divider that defines a first chamber and a second chamber within the cushion and an opening formed in the outer wall in communication with the second chamber, the cushion having a mounting region that traverses the divider, the divider comprising an end adjoining the mounting region, the end having an insertion surface and a resting surface, the method comprising:

• inserting the inflator into the housing;
• inserting the housing and the inflator into the mounting region such that the housing is in contact with the outer wall and the insertion surface;
• and
• rotating the housing and the inflator into alignment with the mounting region such that the housing is in contact with the outer wall and the resting surface to substantially prevent gas flow between the first and second chambers, outside the housing.