Active venting apparatus and method for airbag systems

A method for providing impact protection for an occupant of a vehicle with an airbag module comprising a cushion having an inflatable protection zone in gaseous communication with a flexible venting tube, the flexible venting tube having an exit port configured to permit gas to escape from the inflatable protection zone via the flexible venting tube, the airbag module further comprising a closure mechanism for controlling gas flow through the flexible venting tube, the method comprising:

• inflating the cushion;
• and
• actuating the closure mechanism to reduce restriction of gas flow through the exit port of the flexible venting tube to permit gas to escape from the inflatable protection zone of the cushion via the flexible venting tube, wherein actuating the closure mechanism comprises moving the closure mechanism from a closed configuration, in which the closure mechanism grips the flexible venting tube to keep the flexible venting tube substantially flat to restrict gas flow through the exit port, to an open configuration, in which the closure mechanism at least partially releases the flexible venting tube to permit increased gas flow through the exit port wherein actuating the closure mechanism further comprises transmitting an activation signal to the closure mechanism to ignite a pyrotechnic.

A method for actuating a closure mechanism to control venting from an inflatable protection zone of an airbag module via a flexible venting tube in gaseous communication with the inflatable protection zone, the closure mechanism comprising a fastener, the method comprising:

• transmitting an activation signal to ignite a pyrotechnic;
• and
• unfastening the fastener in response to ignition of the pyrotechnic to decrease restriction of gas flow through an exit port of the flexible venting tube.