Method and apparatus for restraining a vehicle occupant

摘要

An inflatable air bag (10) inflates to restrain a vehicle occupant (13) during a vehicle collision. The air bag has an opening (16) for venting inflation fluid from the interior (14) of the air bag. A panel (20) lies on an outer surface (40) of the air bag and is fixedly secured to the outer surface of the air bag. The panel comprises a single continuous piece of elastic material overlying at least a part of the opening. The elastic material is stretchable from an unstretched condition in which a central portion (36) of the elastic material blocks at least a part of the opening to a stretched condition in which the central portion of the elastic material is stretched and moved away from the opening to unblock the opening. When the opening is unblocked, inflation fluid is vented through the opening.