Patent ID: 7448648

Claim:
An air bag system housed within a cavity, said air bag system comprising: an inflator operable to release inflation fluid; an inflatable air bag, said air bag being inflatable upon release of inflation fluid from said inflator; an air bag housing substantially surrounding said air bag, said housing defining a vent for venting inflation fluid from said air bag; a deployment door at least partially covering said cavity, said deployment door being movable between a closed position and an open position; a vent restrictor movable between a first position and a second position, said vent restrictor at least partially blocking said vent to restrict venting of inflation fluid therethrough when in one of said first and second positions, and leaving said vent substantially open to allow inflation fluid flow therethrough when in the other of said first and second positions; and a tether extending between said vent restrictor and said deployment door, said tether thereby operatively connecting said vent restrictor to said deployment door such that movement of said deployment door from said closed position to said open position moves said vent restrictor from said first position to said second position.