Patent ID: 6409213
Filing Date: 2002-06-25
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
An air bag module for restraint of an occupant in vehicle, the air bag module comprising:an air bag cushion having a rear surface; 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 module housing having at least one first vent opening formed therein, the inflator being disposed within the module housing and the air bag cushion being retained to the module housing, the module housing having a slot formed therein; a slide mechanism having a slide member disposed within the module housing proximate the at least one first vent opening, the slide mechanism having a slide vent opening; at least one tether having a first end and an opposing second end; and a retaining member being attached to the first end of the at least one tether, the retaining member for releasably retaining the slide member in a closed position where the slide vent opening and the at least one first vent opening are not in fluid communication, the second end being attached to the 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 retaining member to be disengaged from the slide mechanism permitting movement of the slide member so that the at least one first vent opening and the slide vent opening fluidly communicate with each other permitting the inflator gas to be expelled out of the air bag module housing away from the air bag cushion.