Patent ID: 8191926

Claim:
An inflatable airbag assembly, comprising: an airbag housing having a vent aperture; and an inflatable airbag coupled to the airbag housing, wherein the inflatable airbag has a vent aperture that is at least partially aligned with the vent aperture in the airbag housing; and, an inflator in fluid communication with the inflatable airbag, wherein the inflator is configured to be activated by a vehicle sensor; and, a vent panel coupled to the airbag at a first location on an upper portion of the vent panel, wherein in a packaged configuration, the vent panel covers the vent aperture in the inflatable airbag, and wherein the vent panel is located between the inflatable airbag vent aperture and the housing vent aperture, and wherein during initial inflatable airbag deployment, inflation gas causes at least a portion of the vent panel to be pushed away from the inflatable airbag vent aperture such that the vent panel is pushed partially through the vent aperture in the airbag housing to enable inflation gas to exit the inflatable airbag assembly via the vent apertures in the inflatable airbag and the housing, and wherein during inflatable airbag deployment with obstruction, the vent panel continues to be pushed away from the inflatable airbag vent aperture and partially through the vent aperture in the airbag housing, such that inflation gas continues to exit the inflatable airbag assembly via the apertures in the inflatable airbag and the housing, and wherein during inflatable airbag deployment without obstruction, the vent panel is pulled back through the housing vent aperture and pressed against a portion of the housing such that an amount inflation gas exiting the inflatable airbag assembly is reduced.