US Patent 7380815 Lower side piller passenger inflatable safety restraint assembly

An inflatable safety restraint assembly for a vehicle having a front instrument panel and a side pillar. The inflatable safety restraint assembly includes an inflator device and a gas flow control structure connected in gas flow communication to the inflator device to receive inflation gas supplied by the inflator device. The inflatable safety restraint assembly also includes an airbag cushion that is connected in gas flow communication to the gas flow control structure. Upon activation of the inflator device, initial deployment of the airbag cushion occurs from a lower portion of the side pillar. The initial deployment of the airbag cushion occurs in a cross-vehicle direction toward a longitudinal centerline of the vehicle.