INFLATABLE DEVICE

• US 3,618,981 A
• Filed: 10/31/1969
• Issued: 11/09/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Douglas A. Larson, Gerald L. Holbrook, John M. Stilson, Maurice B. Leising
• Original Assignee: Douglas A. Larson, Gerald L. Holbrook, John M. Stilson, Maurice B. Leising
• Inventors: Holbrook, Gerald L., Larson, Douglas A., Leising, Maurice B., Stilson, John M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hersh, Benjamin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pekar, John A.
• Application Number:
  US04/873,769
• Time in Patent Office: 739 Days
• Field of Search: 280/15AB 23/281 55/302,455,337 102/39 9/2A,11A,321
• US Class Current: 280/740
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2346 Soft diffusers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/26 characterised by the inflation fluid source or means to control inflation fluid flow arrangement or mounting thereof to the vehicle B60R21/20; blasting cartridges for producing gas under pressure in general F42B3/04; initiators or igniters therefor F42B3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/261 with means other than bag structure to diffuse or guide inflation fluid

Abstract

Inflatable bag device including a gas generator containing an ignitable propellant, a bag adapted to be inflated by gas released from the propellant, a trapping device for inhibiting movement of solid or molten material from the gas generator to the interior of the bag, and an expansible chamber for filtering and diffusing nongaseous matter which passes through said trapping device.

Claims

1. An inflatable device comprising an inflation means, container means for holding said inflation means, an inflatable means connected to said container means, means for releasing said inflation means from said container means for inflating said inflatable means, and confining means adjacent said container means, said container means including means for directing said inflation means into said confining means in a direction to enhance movement of said inflation means around said confining means, and movable filter means in the path of a portion of said inflation means after the latter is discharged from said confining means for filtering and altering the path of movement of said inflation means.

2. An inflatable device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said confining means comprise a generally loop-shaped chamber, and said movable means comprises screen means adapted to expand in response to release of said inflation means from said container means.

3. An inflatable device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said confining means further comprise a retaining means for inhibiting movement of said inflation means out of said chamber, said retaining means including a trough means located between said chamber and said screen means.

4. An inflatable device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said directing means comprises a plurality of vanes for directing said inflation means into said confining means in a direction to enhance movement of said inflaTion means therearound, said movable means comprising an expansible screen chamber having a first folded condition and a second expanded condition, said inflation means causing said screen chamber to expand from said first condition to said second condition.

5. An inflatable device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said container means includes a gas generator body, said inflation means including propellant in said body adapted to release gas, said propellant being discharged from said generator in a gaseous state and a nongaseous state, said directing means causing heavier masses of said propellant to move to the outside of said confining means while permitting said propellant in a gaseous state to escape from said confining means, said movable means comprising an expansible chamber located between said confining means and said inflatable means and adapted to expand in response to the deliverance of propellant thereto, said chamber comprising a filter adapted to filter the propellant as it passes from said confining means to said inflatable means.

6. An inflatable device comprising a gas generator, an inflatable bag connected to said gas generator, propellant in said gas generator adapted to release gas when ignited, said propellant being discharged from said gas generator in a gaseous and nongaseous state when initially ignited, confining means adjacent said gas generator, directing means located between said gas generator and said confining means, said directing means including a plurality of vanes for directing the propellant, both in the gaseous and nongaseous state, discharged from said gas generator into said confining means, an expansible filtering means located between said confining means and said bag, said expansible filtering means comprising a hollow screen device, at least one fold extending around the periphery thereof, said hollow screen device having a collapsed folded condition and an expanded unfolded condition.

7. An inflatable device comprising a gas generator, an inflatable bag connected to said gas generator, propellant in said gas generator adapted to release gas when ignited, said propellant being discharged from said gas generator in a gaseous and nongaseous state when initially ignited, confining means adjacent said gas generator, said confining means being generally loop-shaped, directing means located between said gas generator and said confining means, said directing means including a plurality of vanes for directing the propellant, both in the gaseous and nongaseous state, discharged from aid gas generator into said loop-shaped confining means in such a manner as to enhance movement of said propellant around said confining means, the heavier masses of propellant in a nongaseous state moving to the outside of the confining means while the lighter propellant in a gaseous state escapes therefrom, an expansible filtering means located between said confining means, and said bag, said expansible filtering means comprising a hollow screen device having a plurality of folds extending around the periphery thereof, said hollow screen device having a collapsed folded condition and an expanded unfolded condition, said propellant upon being discharged from said confining means forcing said hollow screen device from its collapsed folded condition to its expanded unfolded condition, said hollow screen device filtering the propellant and preventing ignited masses of propellant larger than the openings in said screen device from passing into said bag.

8. An inflatable device as set forth in claim 7 further including retaining means, said retaining means comprising trough means located between said confining means and said hollow screen device, said trough means having an opening therein through which propellant passing from said confining means to said hollow screen device passes.