Flexible airbag inflator
First Claim
1. An airbag inflator, comprising:
- a housing having a first and second end, said housing comprising corrugated material;
a first end cap attached to a first end of said housing;
a second end cap attached to a second end of said housing;
combustible material positioned within the housing, said material capable of generating inflation fluid upon ignition; and
an initiator in communication with the combustible material, for initiating a combustible reaction within the housing.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A flexible inflator provides enhanced features to an inflatable airbag restraint such as flexibility to facilitate installation in the tight spaces along the sides of a vehicle. The flexible inflator may include a housing with first and second ends made of corrugated metal. End caps are attached to each end of the cylindrical housing to form a pressure vessel. Combustible material, capable of generating inflation fluid, is positioned within a membrane inside the housing. An initiator is in communication with the combustible material, for initiating a combustible reaction within the housing. The housing is surrounded by a steel wire over-braid. The corrugated steel housing can be readily pierced without leaving a burr to damage the environmental seal. The corrugation also provides a plenum allowing gasses to readily flow from around the inflation fluid generant.
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Citations
43 Claims
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1. An airbag inflator, comprising:
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a housing having a first and second end, said housing comprising corrugated material;
a first end cap attached to a first end of said housing;
a second end cap attached to a second end of said housing;
combustible material positioned within the housing, said material capable of generating inflation fluid upon ignition; and
an initiator in communication with the combustible material, for initiating a combustible reaction within the housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. An airbag inflator, comprising:
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a flexible housing having a first and second end, said housing comprising corrugated metal, the corrugated housing being perforated with exit ports, thereby allowing inflation fluid within the housing to escape from the housing at a predetermined rate;
a first end cap attached to a first end of said housing;
a second end cap attached to a second end of said housing;
a membrane positioned within the housing, said membrane defining a combustion chamber;
combustible material positioned within the membrane, said material capable of generating inflation fluid upon ignition;
a covering positioned about the housing, said covering having a first end attached to the first cap and a second end attached to a second cap and an initiator in communication with the combustible material, for initiating a combustible reaction within the housing. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. An airbag inflator, comprising:
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a flexible housing having a first and second end, said housing comprising corrugated steel and defining distal peak portions and proximal valley portions, the distal peak portions being perforated with exit ports, thereby allowing inflation fluid to escape from the housing at a predetermined rate;
a first end cap attached to a first end of said housing;
a second end cap attached to a second end of said housing, the housing, first end cap, and second end cap forming a pressure vessel;
a membrane positioned within, and detached from, the housing, said membrane defining a combustion chamber;
combustible material positioned within the membrane, said material capable of generating inflation fluid upon ignition;
a wire mesh covering positioned about the housing, said covering having a first end attached to the first cap and a second end attached to a second cap and an initiator in communication with the combustible material, for initiating a combustible reaction within the housing.
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Specification