Patent ID: 6773030
Filing Date: 2004-08-10
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
A vehicle occupant protection apparatus comprising:an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device having a deflated condition and an inflated condition, said device having a vent panel defining a first vent opening for enabling flow of inflation fluid out of said device; a vent strap having a second vent opening movable relative to said first vent opening; said vent strap having opposite first and second ends that are fixed when said protection device is in the deflated condition; said vent strap having slack due to the length of said strap being greater than the distance between the locations where its opposite ends are fixed; one of said ends of said vent strap moving as said protection device is inflated to remove said slack and move said second vent opening relative to said first vent opening; an actuatable holding mechanism for holding said one of said ends of said vent strap and, for when actuated, releasing said one of said ends of said vent strap to permit movement of said one of said ends of said vent strap; and a sensor means for sensing a condition requiring actuation of said holding mechanism to permit movement of said one of said ends of said vent strap.