Patent ID: 8172261

Claim:
An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle, said apparatus comprising: an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device; an inflation fluid source actuatable to provide inflation fluid for inflating the protection device; a structure for supporting the protection device in the vehicle, the structure comprising a vent opening for venting inflation fluid from the protection device; a vent member connectable to the structure to block inflation fluid flow through the vent opening; actuatable means for detaching the vent member from the structure and moving the vent member away from the vent opening to permit inflation fluid flow through the vent opening; and a flexible elongated member having a first end connected to the vent member and a second end connected to the structure, the second end of the flexible elongated member being connected to the structure by a fastener that also secures a retainer to the structure, the retainer being for securing the protection device to the structure, the flexible elongated member tethering the vent member to the structure after the vent member is detached from the structure.