Back to results
US 6,273,462 B1Granted
Air bag inflator
AssigneeTRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.
InventorsErnst M. Faigle, Tracy S. Sparks, Richard J. Thompson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus (10) for inflating an inflatable device (8) includes a container (12) defining a chamber (14) containing gas. The container (12) includes a rupturable wall (24) which is rupturable when the pressure in the container reaches a predetermined level. An igniter (46) spaced from the rupturable wall (24) produces a shock wave in the gas which ruptures the rupturable wall (24) prior to the gas pressure in the container (12) reaching the predetermined level.
Claims12
An apparatus comprising:
- an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint for helping to protect a vehicle occupant in the event of a collision;
- an inflator for providing inflation fluid for inflating said vehicle occupant restraint, said inflator comprising:
- a container defining a chamber containing gas for inflating said vehicle occupant restraint, said container having a rupturable wall which is rupturable when the gas pressure in said container reaches a predetermined gas pressure and is rupturable by a shock wave, and
- and igniter for increasing the gas pressure and for producing a shock wave in said gas, said shock wave rupturing said rupturable wall prior to said gas pressure in said container reaching said predetermined gas pressure.
1 more element
An apparatus comprising:
- an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint for helping to protect a vehicle occupant in the event of a collision;
- an inflator for providing inflation fluid for inflating said vehicle occupant restraint, said inflator comprising:
- a container defining a chamber containing gas for inflating said vehicle occupant restraint, said container having a rupturable wall which is rupturable when the gas pressure in said container reaches a predetermined gas pressure and is rupturable by a shock wave, and
- a detonator for increasing the gas pressure and for producing a shock wave in said gas, said shock wave rupturing said rupturable wall prior to said gas pressure in said container reaching said predetermined gas pressure.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.