Patent ID: 6371517
Filing Date: 2002-04-16
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
An air bag module for restraint of an occupant in a vehicle, the air bag module comprising:an air bag cushion; an inflator being activatable to discharge inflator gas for inflating the air bag cushion, the inflator having at least one discharge vent port through which the inflator gas is discharged; a cushion retainer disposed about the inflator, the cushion retainer having at least one first opening formed therein in fluid communication with the at least one discharge vent port; and a slide mechanism having a slide member disposed about at least a portion of the cushion retainer, the slide member having at least one second opening, the slide mechanism including at least one tether having a first end and an opposing second end, the first end being attached to the slide member, the second end being attached to a rear surface of the air bag cushion, wherein during inflation of the air bag cushion, the inflator gas flows according to a first fluid flow path into the air bag cushion until the air bag cushion reaches a predetermined pressure at which time the at least one tether is tightened causing the slide mechanism to rotate until the at least one first and second openings fluidly communicate with each other and define a second fluid flow path in which the heated inflator gas is expelled out of the air bag module away from the air bag cushion.