Variable profile air bag restraint

摘要

An air bag assembly for cushioning restraint of an occupant in a vehicle during an impact event. The air bag assembly includes an inflator activatable to discharge inflation gas upon the occurrence of predetermined vehicle conditions and an air bag cushion in fluid communication with the inflator such that upon discharge of inflation gas from the inflator the air bag cushion is inflated to a deployed state from a location of deployment in substantially opposing relation to the occupant. One or more profile restraining tether elements extend from locations on the air bag cushion to a releasable anchor structure so as to shorten the operative length of the profile restraining tether elements. An actuation mechanism activatable in response to a signal from a sensor measuring occupant conditions is used to release the tether elements from the releasable anchor thereby extending the operative profile of the air bag cushion upon the occurrence of predetermined occupant conditions.