Actuatable fastener for air bag module vent

A vehicle occupant protection apparatus comprising:

• an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device having a deflated condition and an inflated condition for helping to protect a vehicle occupant;
• an inflation fluid source actuatable to provide inflation fluid to inflate said protection device from the deflated condition to the inflated condition;
• a housing for directing inflation fluid from said inflation fluid source toward said protection device upon actuation of said inflation fluid source;
• a vent opening in said housing for selectively venting inflation fluid from said housing;
• a member movable between a closed position blocking venting of inflation fluid from said housing and an open position enabling venting of inflation fluid from said housing;
• an actuatable fastener for holding said member in the closed position, said actuatable fastener comprising an air bag inflator initiator;
• and
• a sealing member for helping to block flow of combustion products of said initiator out of said fastener.

A vehicle occupant protection apparatus comprising:

• an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device having a deflated condition and an inflated condition for helping to protect a vehicle occupant;
• an inflation fluid source actuatable to provide inflation fluid to inflate said protection device from the deflated condition to the inflated condition;
• a housing for directing inflation fluid from said inflation fluid source toward said protection device upon actuation of said inflation fluid source;
• a vent opening in said housing for selectively venting inflation fluid from said housing;
• a member movable between a closed position blocking venting of inflation fluid from said housing and an open position enabling venting of inflation fluid from said housing;
• and
• an actuatable fastener for holding said member in the closed position, said actuatable fastener comprising an air bag inflator initiator,
• said bolt comprising a retainer crimped on said initiator, said bolt including said initiator being screwed into said nut.

A vehicle occupant protection apparatus comprising:

• an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device having a deflated condition and an inflated condition for helping to protect a vehicle occupant;
• an inflation fluid source actuatable to provide inflation fluid to inflate said protection device from the deflated condition to the inflated condition;
• a housing for directing inflation fluid from said inflation fluid source toward said protection device upon actuation of said inflation fluid source;
• a vent opening in said housing for selectively venting inflation fluid from said housing;
• a member movable between a closed position blocking venting of inflation fluid from said housing and an open position enabling venting of inflation fluid from said housing;
• a flash cup for helping to block visibility of combustion products of said initiator by an occupant of the vehicle;
• and
• an actuatable fastener for holding said member in the closed position, said actuatable fastener comprising an air bag inflator initiator,
• said flash cup comprising a member movable within said fastener from a first position to a second position in sealing engagement with a portion of said fastener, said member, when moving from the first position to the second position, causing rupturing of a portion of said fastener.

A vehicle occupant protection apparatus comprising:

• an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device having a deflated condition and an inflated condition for helping to protect a vehicle occupant;
• an inflation fluid source actuatable to provide inflation fluid to inflate said protection device from the deflated condition to the inflated condition;
• a housing for directing inflation fluid from said inflation fluid source toward said protection device upon actuation of said inflation fluid source;
• a vent opening in said housing for selectively venting inflation fluid from said housing;
• a member movable between a closed position blocking venting of inflation fluid from said housing and an open position enabling venting of inflation fluid from said housing;
• a flash cup for helping to block visibility of combustion products of said initiator by an occupant of the vehicle;
• and
• an actuatable fastener for holding said member in the closed position, said actuatable fastener comprising an air bag inflator initiator,
• said flash cup comprising a member movable within said fastener from a first position to a second position in sealing engagement with a portion of said fastener, said member, when moving from the first position to the second position, causing rupturing of a portion of said fastener,
• said opening being a vent opening in a housing of said apparatus.

A vehicle occupant protection apparatus comprising:

• an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device having a deflated condition and an inflated condition for helping to protect a vehicle occupant;
• an inflation fluid source actuatable to provide inflation fluid to inflate said protection device from the deflated condition to the inflated condition;
• a housing for directing inflation fluid from said inflation fluid source toward said protection device upon actuation of said inflation fluid source;
• a vent opening in said housing for selectively venting inflation fluid from said housing;
• a member movable between a closed position blocking venting of inflation fluid from said housing and an open position enabling venting of inflation fluid from said housing;
• and
• an actuatable fastener for holding said member in the closed position, said actuatable fastener comprising an air bag inflator initiator, a bolt, and a nut,
• said bolt comprising a retainer crimped on said initiator, said bolt including said initiator being screwed into said nut.

A vehicle occupant protection apparatus comprising:

• an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device having a deflated condition and an inflated condition for helping to protect a vehicle occupant;
• an inflation fluid source actuatable to provide inflation fluid to inflate said protection device from the deflated condition to the inflated condition;
• a housing for directing inflation fluid from said Inflation fluid source toward said protection device upon actuation of said inflation fluid source;
• a vent opening in said housing for selectively venting inflation fluid from said housing;
• a member movable between a closed position blocking venting of inflation fluid from said housing and an open position enabling venting of inflation fluid from said housing;
• and
• an actuatable fastener for holding said member in the closed position, said actuatable fastener comprising an air bag inflator initiator,
• said one of said movable member and said housing having a threaded portion, said nut of said fastener being screwed into said threaded portion to secure said fastener to said movable member.

A vehicle occupant protection apparatus comprising:

• an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device having a deflated condition and an inflated condition for helping to protect a vehicle occupant;
• an inflation fluid source actuatable to provide inflation fluid to inflate said protection device from the deflated condition to the inflated condition;
• a housing for directing inflation fluid from said inflation fluid source toward said protection device upon actuation of said inflation fluid source;
• a vent opening in said housing for selectively venting inflation fluid from said housing;
• a member movable between a closed position blocking venting of inflation fluid from said housing and an open position enabling venting of inflation fluid from said housing;
• and
• an actuatable fastener for holding said member in the closed position, said actuatable fastener comprising an air bag inflator initiator, a bolt, and a nut,
• one of said member and said housing having a threaded portion, said nut of said fastener being screwed into said threaded portion to secure said fastener to said movable member.

A vehicle occupant protection apparatus comprising:

• an actuatable fastener having an air bag inflator initiator;
• and
• a flash cup for helping to block visibility of combustion products of said initiator by an occupant of the vehicle,
• said flash cup comprising a member movable within said fastener from a first position to a second position in sealing engagement with a portion of said fastener, said member when moving from the first position to the second position causing rupturing of a portion of said fastener, and further comprising a sealing member for helping to block flow of combustion products of said initiator out of said fastener.