in its inflated state it will be appreciated that the airbag 6 also fits within the housing 50 when it is folded and undeployed a restraint cover and or door neither illustrated is generally placed over the undeployed airbag 6 when it is within the inflation module and stored either within the steering column or the dashboard of a vehicle this configuration also illustrates another possible and preferred design for the inventive airbag 6 the airbag 6 comprises two body panel sections 30 32 which are connected by a single substantially straight seam 34 again however a single seam and single piece airbag is merely a preferred embodiment of the inventive system and airbag the most important component of the invention is the pocket into which the inflator can assembly is disposed within both the folded and inflated airbag the materials of construction from which the individual body panel sections 10 12 end panels 14 16 and rectilinear separator panel 18 are formed may be either similar or dissimilar from one another each of these panels may be formed from a number of materials including by way of example only and not limitation woven fabrics knitted fabrics non woven fabrics films and combinations thereof woven fabrics may be preferred with woven fabrics formed of tightly woven construction such as plain or panama weave constructions being particularly preferred such woven fabrics may be formed from yams of polyester polyamides such as nylon 6 and nylon 6 6 or other.