Patent ID: 8226118

Claim:
An airbag module, comprising: an inflatable airbag cushion comprising a cushion membrane which defines an interior of the inflatable airbag cushion, wherein the cushion has a front; a closeable vent comprising a vent opening in the cushion membrane and a vent cover that extends over the vent opening; and a cord that engages the vent cover, wherein the cord extends through a hole in the cushion membrane at the front of the airbag cushion such that a segment of the cord that terminates at an end is positioned outside of the airbag cushion before deployment of the airbag cushion; wherein the cord is positioned to initially maintain the vent in an open position by distending the vent cover away from the vent opening, to continue maintaining the vent in the open position upon deployment of the inflatable airbag cushion with obstruction by continuing to distend the vent cover away from the vent opening, and to transition the vent to a closed position upon deployment of the inflatable airbag cushion without obstruction due to full inflation of the inflatable airbag cushion, which pulls the cord through the hole such that the vent cover can move due to cushion membrane tension and cover the vent opening to block the exit of inflation gas out of the vent opening.