Patent ID: 7481453

Claim:
A method for inflating an airbag in a vehicle to protect an occupant in the event of a crash involving the vehicle, comprising: arranging an inflator having a propellant in the vehicle; igniting the propellant after determination of a crash involving the vehicle to generate gas therefrom; directing the gas into an airbag to cause the airbag to deploy; forming at least one variable gas flow port to enable a variable flow of gas into the airbag during deployment, the at least one variable gas flow port being formed in a flow path of the generated gas between a location at which the gas is generated and the airbag or being formed at a location between a location where the inflator is attached to a supporting base and the airbag; and controlling pressure in the airbag based on the occupant by varying the at least one variable gas flow port and thereby providing for a controlled pressure in the airbag.