Patent ID: 8186714

Claim:
An inflatable airbag assembly, comprising: an airbag housing having a vent aperture; a vent panel coupled to the airbag housing, wherein the vent panel covers the vent aperture of the airbag housing; and an inflatable airbag coupled to the vent panel, wherein the inflatable airbag has a vent aperture, wherein the vent panel aligns the inflatable airbag vent aperture and the airbag housing vent aperture and wherein in a packaged configuration, the vent panel retains the vent apertures in the aligned configuration, and wherein during initial inflatable airbag deployment, the vent panel continues to retain the inflatable airbag vent aperture and the airbag housing vent aperture in the aligned configuration, and wherein during inflatable airbag deployment with obstruction, the vent panel continues to retain the inflatable airbag vent aperture and the airbag housing vent aperture in the aligned configuration, and wherein during inflatable airbag deployment without obstruction, the vent panel ceases to retain the inflatable airbag vent aperture and the airbag housing vent aperture in the aligned configuration.