Occupant protection device of a motor vehicle

PURPOSE:To secure the safety of people aboard by installing a shock absorbing member for promoting the protection of riders from a car crash, in an automobile roof side part. CONSTITUTION:A slender closed hollow bag 18 is set up in a roof side part. This bag 18 is made up of the same material as usually available in an air bag, and stored in a trim 20 after being folded. A front end of this bag 18 is connected to an inflator 22 which is connected to a side projection detecting means 24, and when a side projection is detected by this detecting means 24, it is outputted to the inflator 22, operating it in a moment. Accordingly, at the time of this side projection, the inflator 22 operates, feeding the bag 18 with the operating gas and thereby this bag is instantaneously inflated.