Patent ID: 9676364
Date: 2017-06-13
CPC Classifications: B60R

Claim:
1. An airbag assembly comprising: an airbag cushion comprising one or more panels that define an inflatable chamber into which inflation gas can be received to inflate the airbag cushion; a first vent in a first panel of the one or more panels of the airbag cushion, the first vent comprising a first aperture defined through the first panel; a sheer tether coupled to the first vent, the sheer tether to be drawn taut by expansion of the airbag cushion during inflation to configure the first vent in a first venting state; a peel tether releasably coupled to the sheer tether, the peel tether to be drawn taut as the airbag cushion continues to expand after the sheer tether is drawn taut; and a releasable coupling to releasably couple the peel tether to the sheer tether, the releasable coupling configured to resist a sheer force transverse to the first panel to maintain the sheer tether drawn taut, the sheer force produced by expansion of the airbag drawing the sheer tether taut, the releasable coupling further configured to release in response to a peel force transverse to the sheer force, the peel force produced by expansion of the airbag drawing the peel tether taut, wherein the release of the releasable coupling causes the sheer tether to slacken and the first vent to transition from the first venting state to a second state, and wherein the first vent is configured to transition from the second state to a third state upon pressurization in the inflatable chamber exceeding a threshold, wherein the third state is a venting state with a lower venting capacity than a venting capacity of the first venting state.