Patent ID: 7134691

Claim:
An automotive air bag assembly comprising: an inflatable air bag cushion including a mouth portion in fluid communication with a gas emitting inflator; a first shape restricting tethering element disposed within the air bag cushion and extending across an interior portion of the air bag cushion; and at least a second shape restricting tethering element disposed within the air bag cushion and extending across an interior portion of the air bag cushion, wherein at least a portion of the second shape restricting tethering element is disposed below the first shape restricting tethering element when the air bag cushion is in a fully inflated condition and wherein the first shape restricting tethering element is releaseably attached to the second shape restricting tethering element by a break-away attachment seam such that the second shape restricting element has an operative length greater than the first shape restricting tethering element, wherein the break-away attachment seam is adapted to secure the first shape restricting tethering element to the second shape restricting tethering element at pressures within the air bag cushion below a predefined level during initial inflation of the air bag cushion and forms a pivot location to cause the air bag cushion to rotate downwardly during the initial inflation of the air bag cushion; and wherein the break-away attachment seam is adapted to separate upon the development of a pressure within the air bag cushion exceeding said predefined level following initial inflation such that the first shape restricting tethering element is disengaged from the second shape restricting tethering element at the location of the break-away attachment seam following initial inflation, and wherein said first and second shape restricting tethering elements extend longitudinally between forward and rearward attachment locations such that upon deployment of the air bag cushion said first and second shape restricting tethering elements extend substantially towards an occupant to be protected.