Patent ID: 6932385

Claim:
An air bag safety system for cushioning restraint of a vehicle occupant during an impact event, the safety system comprising: a variable depth inflatable air bag cushion adapted to be selectively inflatable to one of a first depth and at least a second depth greater than the first depth; a gas emitting inflator disposed within a walled housing, wherein said walled housing includes at least one vent opening; and a displaceable vent blocking cover element of substantially pliable material supported at a surface of said walled housing, wherein the cover element is adjustable from a first operative position relative to the vent opening when the air bag cushion is inflated to said first depth and to at least a second different operative position relative to the vent opening when the air bag cushion is inflated to said second depth so as to vary emission of inflation gas through said at least one vent opening in a predefined manner based upon the depth of inflation of the air bag cushion, wherein the cover element is operatively attached to at least one elongate tensioning stray extending in operative relation between the cover element and a shape defining tethering element operatively connected to a surface of the air bag cushion.