Patent ID: 7494151

Claim:
An airbag apparatus comprising: a casing having walls defining a chamber, the chamber having an inner end and an opposite airbag deployment end; an airbag folded within and attached to the casing, the airbag including an interior inflatable chamber, wherein a boundary wall of the inflatable chamber includes a front face adapted to contact and cushion a vehicle occupant and a control section integrally connected to the front face; a gas generator for providing gas to the chamber to inflate the airbag; and at least one vent opening in one wall of the casing through which a portion of the gas can escape from the chamber, wherein a first portion of the control section extends along said one wall and has a control opening registered with the vent opening when the airbag is uninflated or partially inflated such that gas can escape from the casing through the registered openings, and wherein the first portion of the control section moves over said one wall as the airbag becomes fully inflated to move the control opening out of registry with the vent opening so that the control section covers the vent opening to substantially block the escape of gas therethrough.