Front rail mounted airbag

A method of employing an airbag system mounted in a forward corner of a motor vehicle to generate a lateral force against an offset rigid barrier to push the motor vehicle away from the barrier and thereby redirect impact energy by lateral movement of the motor vehicle, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

• providing a motor vehicle front rail having a forward projecting distal end;
• providing a front side panel body having an exterior and interior surface;
• attaching an airbag proximate the distal end of the front rail, the airbag having a stowed condition and an inflated condition, wherein the airbag in the inflated condition defines a triangular configuration defined in by an angular leading edge corresponding to a hypotenuse of the triangular configuration and a rearward end corresponding to a base of the triangular configuration, wherein the angular leading edge of the airbag is disposed proximate the interior surface of the front side panel when in the inflated condition;
• equipping the airbag with an inflator operationally coupled with the airbag responsive to electrical actuation for inflating the airbag with a gas;
• providing an impact detection sensor for generating a signal upon an impact event;
• and
• providing a controller for processing the signal generated by the detection sensor;
• electrically actuating the inflator upon a predetermined impact severity to the forward corner of the motor vehicle;
• and
• presenting the angular leading edge of the airbag in the inflated condition to act through the front side body panel against the offset rigid barrier so as to generate a lateral force against the offset rigid barrier to push the motor vehicle away from the barrier and thereby redirect impact energy by lateral movement of the motor vehicle.