Inflation assembly with extended filling capability
First Claim
1. An inflation assembly effective for supplying a quantity of inflation gas to at least one associated inflatable restraint device, the inflation assembly comprising:
- a first chamber containing supply of a first reactant material effective, upon reaction, to produce first reaction products at least including a quantity of gas and a quantity of heat;
a first initiator in reaction initiating discharge communication with at least a portion of the supply of the first reactant material contained within the first chamber, the first initiator effective upon actuation to initiate reaction of at least a portion of the supply of the first reactant material contained within the first chamber, a diffuser chamber having a first end and a second end, the diffuser chamber in gas flow communication through the first end with the first chamber upon actuation of the first initiator, the diffuser chamber effective to discharge gas into the at least one associated inflatable restraint device, at least one gas treatment element at least in part disposed within the diffuser chamber, the at least one gas treatment element effective for treating gas being discharged into the at least one associated inflatable restraint device, a second chamber having contents including a supply of at least one gas source material, the second chamber closed in a static state with the supply of the at least one gas source material compressed therewithin, the second chamber openable upon actuation thereof whereby at least a portion of the second chamber contents are in gas flow communication through the second end with the diffuser chamber and the at least one gas treatment element disposed therewithin, and a chamber opener effective upon actuation of the inflation assembly to open the second chamber and to release at least a portion of the second chamber contents into gas flow communication with the diffuser chamber and the at least one gas treatment element disposed therewithin.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Inflation assemblies, associated inflation assembly combinations and methods for inflating an inflatable restraint device and which assemblies, combination and methods employ a gas treatment element to effectively treat gas being discharged into an associated inflatable restraint device from either of at least two chambers, e.g., a hot gas-producing chamber and a cold gas-supplying chamber, such that heat is effectively conveyed to the cold gas such as to result in the desirable expansion thereof and the dissipation of residual heat from the gas treatment element.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. An inflation assembly effective for supplying a quantity of inflation gas to at least one associated inflatable restraint device, the inflation assembly comprising:
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a first chamber containing supply of a first reactant material effective, upon reaction, to produce first reaction products at least including a quantity of gas and a quantity of heat;
a first initiator in reaction initiating discharge communication with at least a portion of the supply of the first reactant material contained within the first chamber, the first initiator effective upon actuation to initiate reaction of at least a portion of the supply of the first reactant material contained within the first chamber, a diffuser chamber having a first end and a second end, the diffuser chamber in gas flow communication through the first end with the first chamber upon actuation of the first initiator, the diffuser chamber effective to discharge gas into the at least one associated inflatable restraint device, at least one gas treatment element at least in part disposed within the diffuser chamber, the at least one gas treatment element effective for treating gas being discharged into the at least one associated inflatable restraint device, a second chamber having contents including a supply of at least one gas source material, the second chamber closed in a static state with the supply of the at least one gas source material compressed therewithin, the second chamber openable upon actuation thereof whereby at least a portion of the second chamber contents are in gas flow communication through the second end with the diffuser chamber and the at least one gas treatment element disposed therewithin, and a chamber opener effective upon actuation of the inflation assembly to open the second chamber and to release at least a portion of the second chamber contents into gas flow communication with the diffuser chamber and the at least one gas treatment element disposed therewithin. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An inflation assembly effective for supplying a quantity of inflation gas to at least one associated inflatable restraint device, the inflation assembly comprising:
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a first chamber containing supply of at least one pyrotechnic gas generant material effective, upon reaction, to produce first reaction products at least including a quantity of gas and a quantity of heat;
a first initiator in reaction initiating discharge communication with at least a portion of the supply of the at least one pyrotechnic gas generant material contained within the first chamber, the first initiator effective upon actuation to initiate reaction of at least a portion of the supply of the at least one pyrotechnic gas generant material contained within the first chamber, a diffuser chamber having a first end and a second end, the diffuser chamber in gas flow communication through the first end with the first chamber upon actuation of the first initiator, the diffuser chamber effective to discharge gas into the at least one associated inflatable restraint device, at least one gas treatment element at least in part disposed within the diffuser chamber, the at least one gas treatment element effective for treating gas being discharged into the at least one associated inflatable restraint device, a second chamber, in a static state, having contents including a supply of at least one compressed gas, the second chamber having at least one opening closed in a static state by means of at least one seal, and a chamber opener effective upon actuation of the inflation assembly to open the second chamber and to release at least a portion of the gas source material into gas flow communication through the second end with the diffuser chamber and the at least one gas treatment element disposed therewithin. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An assembly for supplying inflation gas to an inflatable restraint device, the assembly comprising:
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a diffuser chamber having at least one discharge opening effective to discharge gas into the inflatable restraint device, the diffuser chamber having first and second ends with a pyrotechnic inflator device disposed at the first end and a stored gas chamber disposed at the second end, the pyrotechnic inflator device including a first chamber containing supply of at least one pyrotechnic gas generant material effective, upon reaction, to produce first reaction products at least including a quantity of gas and a quantity of heat, the pyrotechnic inflator device also including an initiator in reaction initiating discharge communication with at least a portion of the supply of the at least one pyrotechnic gas generant material contained within the first chamber, the first initiator effective upon actuation to initiate reaction of at least a portion of the supply of the at least one pyrotechnic gas generant material contained within the first chamber, the stored gas chamber, in a static state, having contents including a supply of at least one stored compressed gas, and at least one gas treatment element at least in part disposed within the diffuser chamber, the at least one gas treatment element effective for treating gas being discharged into the inflatable restraint device, a chamber opener at least in part disposed between the at least one gas treatment element and the stored gas chamber, the chamber opener effective upon actuation of the inflation assembly to open the second chamber and to release at least a portion of the stored gas chamber contents into gas flow communication with the diffuser chamber and the at least one gas treatment element disposed therewithin. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification