Active venting inflator device
First Claim
1. In an inflator device for inflating an inflatable cushion of an inflatable cushion restraint system, the inflator device including a supply of gas generant material disposed within a sealed chamber and an initiator device in reaction initiation combination with the supply of gas generant material, the improvement comprising:
- a venting orifice connecting the chamber to an ambient environment; and
a rupturable seal sealing the venting orifice, wherein upon reaction initiation of the gas generant material, the rupturable seal ruptures to vent the chamber to the ambient environment.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An inflator device for inflating an inflatable cushion of an inflatable cushion restraint system. The inflator device includes a supply of gas generant material disposed within a sealed chamber, and an initiator device in reaction initiation combination with the supply of gas generant material. A venting orifice connects the chamber to the surrounding ambient environment, and a rupturable seal seals the venting orifice. Upon reaction initiation of the gas generant material to produce inflation gas, the rupturable seal ruptures to vent the chamber to the ambient environment. A valve assembly can be disposed adjacent the venting orifice. A moveable valve piston, in combination with an actuator device, can block the venting orifice as needed to close the venting orifice and stop inflation gas venting. An optional tether release mechanism can be used in combination with the valve assembly to release a cushion tether upon closing of the venting orifice.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. In an inflator device for inflating an inflatable cushion of an inflatable cushion restraint system, the inflator device including a supply of gas generant material disposed within a sealed chamber and an initiator device in reaction initiation combination with the supply of gas generant material, the improvement comprising:
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a venting orifice connecting the chamber to an ambient environment; and a rupturable seal sealing the venting orifice, wherein upon reaction initiation of the gas generant material, the rupturable seal ruptures to vent the chamber to the ambient environment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An inflator device for inflating an inflatable cushion of an inflatable cushion restraint system, the inflator device comprising:
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a housing at least in part defining a chamber; a supply of gas generant material disposed at least partially within the chamber; an initiator device in reaction initiation combination with the supply of gas generant material; the housing including an outlet orifice in inflation combination with the inflatable cushion; the housing including a venting orifice connecting the chamber to an ambient environment; and a rupturable seal sealing each of the outlet orifice and the venting orifice. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An inflator device for inflating an inflatable cushion of an inflatable cushion restraint system, the inflator device comprising:
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a housing including a first housing wall and a second housing wall and at least in part defining a chamber; a supply of gas generant material disposed at least partially within the chamber; an initiator device in reaction initiation combination with the supply of gas generant material; an outlet orifice in the first housing wall and in inflation combination with the inflatable cushion; a venting orifice in the second housing wall connecting the chamber to an ambient environment; a rupturable seal sealing each of the outlet orifice and the venting orifice; a valve assembly disposed adjacent the venting orifice, the valve assembly including a valve passageway aligned with the venting orifice, a valve piston moveable within the valve passageway, a valve initiator device disposed at an end of the valve passageway opposite the venting, and a valve venting channel, wherein upon actuation, the valve initiator device produces a reaction product that moves the valve piston to at least partially block the venting orifice; and a tether release mechanism comprising a tether release chamber and a tether piston moveable within the tether release chamber, the tether release chamber including a chamber side wall including an inlet opening in discharge alignment with the valve venting channel and a piston opening in a chamber end wall adjacent the chamber side wall, the tether piston including a piston rod extending through the piston opening for retaining a tether connected to the inflatable cushion.
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Specification