Patent ID: 7093854

Claim:
A vehicle occupant safety apparatus comprising: an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device for, when inflated, helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle; at least one tether for helping to control the shape of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device when said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device is inflating; an inflation fluid source having two modes of operation, in the first mode of operation, said inflation fluid source is activated to provide inflation fluid to increase an inflation fluid pressure in said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device to a first inflation fluid pressure, in the second mode of operation, said inflation fluid source is activated to provide inflation fluid to increase said inflation fluid pressure in said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device to a second inflation fluid pressure that is higher than said first inflation fluid pressure, said tether remaining intact in response to said first inflation fluid pressure in said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said tether also remaining intact as said inflation pressure increases above said first inflation fluid pressure toward said second inflation fluid pressure; said tether releasing in response to said inflation fluid pressure in said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device reaching said second inflation fluid pressure.