Inflator assembly
First Claim
1. Apparatus for use in inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint, said apparatus comprising:
- gas generating means for generating gas to inflate the inflatable vehicle occupant restraint, said gas generating means including a body of gas generating material which, when ignited, generates said gas, said body of gas generating material having an initial surface portion; and
igniter means for igniting said body of gas generating material, said igniter means being actuatable in a first stage and in a second stage;
said igniter means igniting said body of gas generating material at a first ignitable surface area of said body of gas generating material when said igniter means is actuated in said first stage, said first ignitable surface area including said initial surface portion of said body of gas generating material;
said igniter means including means for forming cracks in said body of ignitable gas generating material when said igniter means is actuated in said second stage, said cracks containing newly exposed surface portions of said body of gas generating material;
said igniter means igniting said body of gas generating material at a second ignitable surface area of said body of gas generating material when said igniter means is actuated in said second stage, said second ignitable surface area including said initial surface portion, said second ignitable surface area further including said newly exposed surface portions and thus being larger than said first ignitable surface area.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus (10) for use in inflating an air bag (12) includes an ignitable body (110) of gas generating material and an igniter (206). The body (110) of gas generating material, when ignited, generates gas for inflating the air bag (12). The body (110) of gas generating material has an outer surface area (132). The igniter (206) contains a first output charge (230) and a second output charge (232). When the first and second output charges (230) and (232) are ignited sequentially, the body (110) of gas generating material is ignited at a first ignitable surface area including the outer surface area (132). When the first and second output charges (230 and 232) are ignited simultaneously, the body (110) of gas generating material is ignited at a second ignitable surface area in addition to the first ignitable surface area.
44 Citations
6 Claims
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1. Apparatus for use in inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint, said apparatus comprising:
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gas generating means for generating gas to inflate the inflatable vehicle occupant restraint, said gas generating means including a body of gas generating material which, when ignited, generates said gas, said body of gas generating material having an initial surface portion; and igniter means for igniting said body of gas generating material, said igniter means being actuatable in a first stage and in a second stage; said igniter means igniting said body of gas generating material at a first ignitable surface area of said body of gas generating material when said igniter means is actuated in said first stage, said first ignitable surface area including said initial surface portion of said body of gas generating material; said igniter means including means for forming cracks in said body of ignitable gas generating material when said igniter means is actuated in said second stage, said cracks containing newly exposed surface portions of said body of gas generating material; said igniter means igniting said body of gas generating material at a second ignitable surface area of said body of gas generating material when said igniter means is actuated in said second stage, said second ignitable surface area including said initial surface portion, said second ignitable surface area further including said newly exposed surface portions and thus being larger than said first ignitable surface area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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Specification