Abstract: An apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle includes a housing (20) including a vent opening (70). An air bag (14) is inflatable to deploy away from the housing (20). An inflation fluid source (26) provides inflation fluid for inflating the air bag (14). A vent member (80) has a closed condition blocking inflation fluid flow through the vent opening (70) and an open condition permitting inflation fluid flow through the vent opening. A first tether (114) is configured to release the vent member (80) for movement from the closed condition when the air bag (14) has deployed a first distance away from the housing (20). A second tether (140) is configured to place the vent member (80) in the closed condition when the air bag (14) has deployed a second distance away from the housing (20), the second distance being farther away from the housing than the first distance.

Abstract: A vehicle occupant protection apparatus (800) includes an inflatable occupant protection device (802) and a vent opening (876) through which inflation fluid may flow. The vehicle occupant protection apparatus (800) also includes a retainer (910) to which the protection device (802) is secured. A vent member (890) is movable relative to the vent opening (876) for controlling a flow of inflation fluid through the vent opening (876). A tether (990) is movable in response to inflation of the protection device (802) beyond a predetermined distance for moving the vent member (824). A tether guide member (940) is located on the retainer (910) for guiding the tether (990).