Air bag inflator with composite stored gas container
First Claim
1. An apparatus for inflating a vehicle occupant restraint such as an air bag, said apparatus comprising:
- containing means for containing an inflation fluid under pressure, said containing means comprising a liner and a composite material encasing said liner;
an inflation fluid under pressure in said containing means for, when released from said containing means, inflating the vehicle occupant restraint;
directing means for directing said inflation fluid, when released from said containing means, to the vehicle occupant restraint to inflate the vehicle occupant restraint; and
opener means for opening said containing means by rupturing said composite material and said liner to release said inflation fluid from said containing means, said opener means producing liner fragments;
said composite material comprising means for inhibiting separation of the liner fragments from said containing means.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus (10) for inflating a vehicle occupant restraint such as an air bag (32) includes a container (30). The container (30) includes a liner (96) and a composite material (100) encasing the liner (96). A gas (94) is stored under pressure in the container (30) and, when released from the container, inflates the vehicle occupant restraint (32). The apparatus (10) includes opener means (180) for opening the container (30) by rupturing the composite material (100) and the liner (96) to release the gas (94) from the container (30). The liner, when ruptured, produces liner fragments (200). The composite material (100) inhibits separation of the liner fragments (200) from the container (30).
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An apparatus for inflating a vehicle occupant restraint such as an air bag, said apparatus comprising:
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containing means for containing an inflation fluid under pressure, said containing means comprising a liner and a composite material encasing said liner; an inflation fluid under pressure in said containing means for, when released from said containing means, inflating the vehicle occupant restraint; directing means for directing said inflation fluid, when released from said containing means, to the vehicle occupant restraint to inflate the vehicle occupant restraint; and opener means for opening said containing means by rupturing said composite material and said liner to release said inflation fluid from said containing means, said opener means producing liner fragments; said composite material comprising means for inhibiting separation of the liner fragments from said containing means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of inflating a vehicle occupant restraint such as an air bag, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing an inflation fluid under pressure in a chamber defined by a container including a liner encased by a composite material; opening the container by rupturing the composite material and the liner to release the inflation fluid from the container, said opening step producing liner fragments; inhibiting separation of the liner fragments from the container; and directing the flow of inflation fluid from the container into the vehicle occupant restraint to inflate the vehicle occupant restraint. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification