Patent ID: 8500164

Claim:
An airbag system, comprising: an airbag cushion including an inlet and an inflatable chamber; wherein the airbag cushion is stored in a housing; an inflator for providing inflation gas for the airbag cushion, the inflator being coupled to the housing and in fluidic communication with the inlet; and a valve panel including a first end coupled to the airbag cushion at a location generally opposite the inlet and a second end releasably coupled to a latch mechanism; wherein the latch mechanism is coupled to the housing, wherein the airbag cushion includes one or more vent apertures to allow gas to escape out of the inflatable chamber, and the valve panel includes one or more valve apertures; wherein the valve panel is disposed generally adjacent a surface of the airbag cushion, and during deployment of the airbag cushion the valve panel is configured to slide relative to the airbag cushion from a first position to a second position and, after being released by the latch mechanism, to a third position; and wherein in the first position, the airbag cushion and the valve panel each have slack, the airbag cushion having a greater amount of slack than the valve panel; and wherein in the second position, the airbag cushion has slack and the valve panel is in tension, and release of the valve panel by the latch mechanism allows the valve panel to slide relative to the airbag cushion from the second position to the third position.