Patent ID: 7735860

Claim:
An apparatus comprising: an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device having an inflatable volume; and an inflator for providing inflation fluid for inflating the protection device, the inflator comprising an inflation fluid chamber and an inflation fluid control structure, the control structure being coaxially aligned with the inflation fluid chamber and defining an axial end portion of the inflator, the control structure having a portion positioned within the inflatable volume and a portion positioned outside the inflatable volume, the control structure comprising: discharge openings located in the portion positioned within the inflatable volume for directing inflation fluid into the inflatable volume of the protection device; vent openings located in the portion positioned outside the inflatable volume for venting inflation fluid outside the inflatable volume; a vent member positioned between the discharge openings and the vent openings, the vent member being actuatable from an open condition permitting inflation flow through the vent openings to a closed condition blocking inflation fluid flow through the vent openings; and a tether for actuating the vent member, the tether having a first end connected to the protection device and a second end connected to the vent member.