US Patent 7134691 Air bag cushion including break-away tethers

An automotive air bag assembly including a tethering element providing shape definition across the air bag. The tethering element may be seamed to itself or to other tethering elements by an attachment seam to reduce the effective operative length of the tethering element and to move the axis of rotation for the air bag rearward. The attachment seam is adapted to separate upon development of adequate pressures within the air bag.