Patent ID: 8684403

Claim:
An airbag assembly comprising: a housing; an inflatable airbag disposed within the housing; a vent formed in the airbag, a flap attached to an exterior of the airbag that covers the vent, the flap being selectively actuatable to open the vent; and a tether exterior to the airbag having a first end fixed to the flap and a second end detachably fixed to the housing, wherein the vent is opened by the tether when the airbag deploys and the second end of the tether remains fixed to the housing to allow the first end of the tether to pull the flap away from the vent; and the vent remains closed when the airbag deploys and the second end of the tether is detached from the housing to prevent the first end of the tether from pulling the flap away from the vent; and wherein the tether is detachable from the housing by a tether detachment device including a movable blade positioned adjacent the housing that is operable to cut the tether.