Air bag with variable venting

An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

• an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device inflatable between a vehicle surface and the vehicle occupant;
• a vent for releasing inflation fluid from the protection device;
• and
• a tether having a first connection with the vent and a second connection with the protection device, the second connection being positioned on the protection device such that a large occupant initially penetrates into the protection device at the location of the second connection and thereby throttles the vent due to displacement of the second connection upon initial penetration, and a small occupant initially penetrates into the protection device below the second connection and thereby does not throttle the vent due to displacement of the second connection upon initial penetration.

An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

• an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device inflatable between a vehicle surface and the vehicle occupant;
• a vent for releasing inflation fluid from the protection device, the vent comprising a vent opening with a flow area that can be adjusted to throttle inflation fluid flow through the vent;
• a tether having a first connection with the vent and a second connection with the protection device, tension on the tether throttling the vent;
• and
• a guide connected to the protection device, the tether extending through the guide, wherein the guide is positioned on the protection device to move with the protection device in response to occupant penetration into the protection device, and wherein this guide movement causes the tether to slide through the guide and thereby throttle the vent.