Patent ID: 6588795
Filing Date: 2003-07-08
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
A vehicle occupant protection apparatus comprising:an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device having a deflated condition and an inflated condition for helping to protect a vehicle occupant; an inflator actuatable to provide inflation fluid to inflate said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device; a retainer connected with said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device for retaining said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device in said apparatus; one of said inflator and said retainer being movable between a first condition blocking venting of inflation fluid from said apparatus and a second condition venting inflation fluid from said apparatus; an electrically energizable mechanism to release said one of said inflator and said retainer for movement from the first condition to the second condition to vent inflation fluid from said apparatus; and vehicle electric circuitry including a sensor for sensing at least one occupant condition or vehicle condition and a controller responsive to said sensor for controlling said electrically energizable mechanism.