VARIABLE PROFILE AIR BAG RESTRAINT

An air bag assembly for cushioning restraint of an occupant (14) in a vehicle (10) during an impact event. The air bag assembly includes an inflator (40, 40'; 140, 140') activatable to discharge inflation gas upon the occurrence of predetermined vehicle conditions and an air bag cushion (20, 20', 120, 120') in fluid communication with the inflator (40, 40', 140, 140') such that upon discharge of inflation gas from the inflator (40, 40', 140, 140') the air bag cushion (20, 20', 120, 120') is inflated to deployed state from a location of deployment in substantially opposing relation to the occupant (14). One or more profile restraining tether elements (30, 30', 130, 130') extend from locations on the air bag cushion to an anchor structure (48, 48', 148, 148') so as to shorten the operative length of the profile restraining tether elements (30, 30', 130, 130'). An actuation mechanism (36, 36', 136) activatable in response to a signal from a sensor (22, 24, 26, 27) measuring occupant conditions is used to release the tether elements (30, 30', 130, 130') from the anchor structure (48, 48', 148, 148') thereby extending the operative profile of the air bag cushion (20, 20', 120, 120') upon the occurrence of predetermined occupant conditions.