Multi-chamber airbag with pinch valve

An airbag assembly comprising:

• a housing configured to be mounted in a vehicle at a first position;
• an inflator;
• and
• an airbag cushion that comprises:
• a first cushion portion that defines a first inflatable chamber that is configured to receive inflation gas from the inflator to expand the first cushion portion from a compact state to a deployed state, wherein the first cushion portion is configured to deploy from the housing, and wherein the first cushion portion is configured to receive a torso of a vehicle occupant when the vehicle occupant moves from a vehicle occupant position primarily in a forward direction relative to the vehicle, wherein the first cushion portion is configured to deploy from the housing in a first direction toward the vehicle occupant position;
• a second cushion portion connected to the first cushion portion, wherein the second cushion portion defines a second inflatable chamber that is configured to receive inflation gas from the first inflatable chamber to expand the second cushion portion from a compact state to a deployed state to cover a region of the vehicle that is at a second position, wherein the second position is spaced laterally from the first position, wherein the second cushion portion is configured to expand away from the first cushion portion in a second direction, wherein the second cushion portion is configured to receive a head of the vehicle occupant when the vehicle occupant moves from the vehicle occupant position in a direction that is oblique relative to the forward direction and includes a component in the second direction;
• and
• a conduit in fluid communication with the second inflatable chamber to permit flow of inflation gas into the second inflatable chamber, wherein the conduit is configured to be closed by expansion of the first cushion portion as the first inflatable chamber inflates.

An airbag comprising:

• a first cushion portion that defines a first inflatable chamber that is configured to receive inflation gas from an inflator to expand the first cushion portion from a compact state to a deployed state;
• a second cushion portion that defines a second inflatable chamber that is configured to receive inflation gas generated by the inflator to expand the second cushion portion from a compact state to a deployed state;
• and
• a conduit in fluid communication with the second inflatable chamber that, when open, permits inflation gas to flow into the second inflatable chamber and that is configured to be closed by expansion of the first cushion portion as the first inflatable chamber inflates;
• wherein the conduit is disposed outside the first inflatable chamber of the first cushion portion at a position where, upon deployment of the airbag, the conduit is between a portion of the first inflatable cushion and a portion of a vehicle in which the airbag is utilized, such that expansion of the first cushion portion during inflation causes pressure on the conduit against the portion of the vehicle to close the conduit.