Airbag with tethered slit

An airbag apparatus comprising:

• an airbag having a front panel and a base end;
• a cutout in the front panel;
• a slit member having an outer perimeter attached to an inner perimeter of the cutout, the slit member having a predetermined length, width and depth, the slit member being defined by a first panel having first and second edges and a second panel having third and fourth edges, the first edge of the first panel is attached to a portion of the inner perimeter of the cutout, the third edge of the second panel is attached to the second edge of the first panel and the fourth edge of the second panel is attached to another portion of the inner perimeter of the cutout, whereby the outer perimeter of the slit member is defined by the first edge of the first panel and the fourth edge of the second panel;
• a first tether being attached between a backside of the slit member at the second edge of the first panel and the third edge of the second panel, the first tether also being attached at an inner surface of the airbag opposing the backside of the slit member and maintaining the predetermined depth of the slit member;
• a second tether attached between the first edge of the first panel and an inner surface of the airbag opposing the backside of the slit member and maintaining a predetermined width of the slit member;
• and
• a third tether attached between the fourth edge of the second panel and an inner surface of the airbag opposing a backside of the slit member and maintaining is predetermined width of the slit member.