An air-bag in the form of an inflatable curtain has a plurality of zones each provided with vertically extending cells defined by seams. Uninflatable regions are provided, the uninflatable regions being provided with oval apertures. On deployment of the inflatable curtain, the oval apertures will distend to become circular, enabling the uninflated region effectively to stretch to moderate the tension generated between two anchoring points connected by straps to the lower edge of the air-bag.
An airbag having an array of slits formed therein between its two attachment points, each slit seamed to be impermeable to the inflation medium. The slits are oriented to be perpendicular to a line defined by these two attachment points. The slits may be in offset rows and are each longer than the distance between the rows to allow the airbag to be significantly expanded by pulling in opposite directions on its attachment points. The airbag thus made can, when expanded, be folded to fit into a housing running along the roofline of a vehicle. Upon inflation and forcing itself from the housing, it will contract sharply, increasing its tension between attachment points and serving to both cushion and restrain passengers against lateral impact.
