Patent ID: 7658407

Claim:
A safety system comprising an air bag configured to have at least one inflatable volume or chamber, an inlet through which inflation gas enters the inflatable volume, the air bag including at least one exit port or vent which when in an open state permits inflation gas to exit the volume or chamber, the exit port or vent located in a selected region of the air bag, a vent closure mechanism which has a movable flap located inside the chamber and secured to an internal surface or panel of the air bag and movable to close the exit port or vent by tension created in a tether which is part of the vent closure mechanism; as the air bag inflates, the tether has one end operatively secured to an external surface or panel of the air bag, the tether which passes through a slit or opening internally onto the chamber near or proximate to the exit port or vent and extending across the exit port or vent to a second end operatively secured to the flap vent closure mechanism, the tether including a medial portion slidably guided across the surface or panel of the air bag.