Patent ID: 7318602

Claim:
A closure mechanism for controlling venting from an inflatable protection zone of an airbag module via a flexible venting tube in gaseous communication with the inflatable protection zone, the closure mechanism comprising: an anchoring member; and a fastener coupled to the anchoring member to compress the flexible venting tube, thereby restricting gas flow through an exit port of the flexible venting tube, wherein the fastener is configured to unfasten in response to receipt of an activation signal to decrease restriction of gas flow through the exit port, wherein the fastener comprises a bolt having a head and a shank, wherein the head separates from the shank in response to ignition of a pyrotechnic, wherein ignition occurs after an activation signal has been provided via ignition wires that pass through the shank, wherein the bolt further comprises a neck disposed between the head and the shank, wherein the bolt further comprises one or more fracture lines, wherein the bolt fractures along the fracture lines proximate the neck.