Patent ID: 7810839

Claim:
A side airbag for an automotive vehicle comprising: an inflatable cushion ( 11 ) that can be inflated with the gas produced by a generator when a collision occurs, including at least one venting opening ( 17 ) and being configured to be deployed between a vehicle occupant and the vehicle body, a venting regulation device formed by a part made of a flexible material ( 21 ) joined to the inflatable cushion ( 11 ) such that it can completely or partially close or free said venting opening ( 17 ), preventing or allowing the outlet of gas, and a tension belt ( 23 ) joined by one part to said part made of a flexible material ( 21 ) and by another part to the inflatable cushion ( 11 ), the geometric configurations of said tension belt ( 23 ) and said part made of a flexible material ( 21 ) being determined such that the degree of closing/freeing of the venting opening ( 17 ) varies according to the width of the inflatable cushion ( 11 ) during different deployment phases during the collision, the venting opening ( 17 ) being closed in the initial and end phases and freed in the intermediate phase in which the inflatable cushion ( 11 ) reaches its maximum width when entering into contact with the vehicle occupant, wherein the part made of a flexible material ( 21 ) is initially joined to the inflatable cushion ( 11 ) such that it completely closes the venting opening ( 17 ), and includes means ( 25 , 27 ) for allowing the formation therein of a breaking line when tension is applied thereof by means of the tension belt ( 23 ).