Heater for air bag inflator
AssigneeTRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.
InventorErnst M. Faigle
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle safety apparatus (10) comprises an inflatable occupant protection device (12) having a deflated condition and an inflated condition for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle. The apparatus also comprises an inflator (14) for providing inflation fluid to the inflatable device (12) to inflate the inflatable device. The apparatus further comprises a heater (30) with an electrically energizable heating element (32) for controlling the temperature of the inflator (14). Preferably, an adhesive material (40) secures the heating element to the inflator. Alternatively, or additionally, the heater (30) is flexible and conforms to a surface (22) of the inflator (14).
Claims30
A vehicle safety apparatus comprising:
- an inflatable occupant protection device having a deflated condition and an inflated condition for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle;
- an inflator for providing inflation fluid to said inflatable device to inflate said inflatable device;
- a heater including an electrically energizable heating element for controlling a temperature of said inflator, and
- an adhesive material securing said heater to said inflator.
A vehicle safety apparatus comprising:
- an inflatable occupant protection device having a deflated condition and an inflated condition for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle;
- an inflator for providing inflation fluid to said inflatable device to inflate said inflatable device, said inflator having an outer surface;
- and
- a heater secured to said outer surface of said inflator, said heater including an electrically energizable heating element for controlling a temperature of said inflator, said heater being flexible and conforming to a configuration of said outer surface of said inflator.
A vehicle safety apparatus comprising:
- an inflatable occupant protection device having a deflated condition and an inflated condition for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle;
- an inflator for providing inflation fluid to said inflatable device to inflate said inflatable device;
- a heater for increasing a temperature of said inflator, said heater including an electrically energizable heating element, and
- an adhesive material securing said heater to said inflator.
A vehicle safety apparatus comprising:
- an inflatable occupant protection device having a deflated condition and an inflated condition for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle;
- an inflator for providing inflation fluid to said inflatable device to inflate said inflatable device, said inflator having an outer surface;
- and
- a heater secured to said outer surface of said inflator for increasing a temperature of said inflator, said heater including an electrically energizable heating element, said heater being flexible and conforming to a configuration of said outer surface of said inflator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.