Airbag module and method of restraining a vehicle occupant with such an airbag module

A method of restraining a vehicle occupant comprising the following steps:

• a) activation of a gas generator (10) of a vehicle occupant restraint system in case of a restraint event, whereupon said gas generator (10) feeds gas into an airbag chamber (28) via at least one first outflow opening (18);
• b) checking said vehicle occupant position on the basis of sensor data at a prescribed first point in time;
• c) activation of an actuator unit (36) if said vehicle occupant is in a position that is unsuitable for a restraint, as a result of which a second outflow opening (20) as well as a traction element (50) are released and a pressure reduction takes place mainly as a result of venting gas into an environment through said second outflow opening (20);
• d) assessment of an impact momentum of said vehicle occupant against said airbag based on sensor data at a prescribed second point in time;
• e) activation of said actuator unit (36) if said actuator unit (36) was not yet activated in Step c) and if said anticipated impact momentum of said vehicle occupant lies below a predefined limit value, as a result of which said second outflow opening (20) and traction element (50) are released and a pressure reduction in said airbag (22) takes place mainly as a result of releasing said traction element (50).