Air bag inflator
First Claim
1. Apparatus for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint comprising:
- a housing defining a chamber having an opening at one end;
inflator parts disposed in said chamber including gas generating material for, when ignited, generating gas for inflating the occupant restraint;
a closure member engageable with said housing for closing said opening of said chamber, said closure member being movable relative to said housing from a first condition in which said closure member is spaced apart from said housing and said chamber is open to a second condition in which said closure member is engaged with said housing and closes the opening of said chamber; and
a retainer disposed in said chamber adjacent said opening, said retainer having a first part interlocking with a second part on said housing when said closure member is in the first condition to block movement of said retainer and of said inflator parts relative to said housing toward said opening of said chamber when said closure member is in the first condition.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An air bag inflator (10) includes a housing (12) open at one end. Inflator parts including gas generating material (70) are disposed in the housing (12). A retainer assembly (138) in the housing has a first part (170) expanded outwardly into interlocking engagement with a part (30) of the housing wall (14) adjacent the opening (24). This blocks movement of the retainer assembly (138) relative to the housing (12) toward the open end (24) of the housing (12). An end cap (90) is screwed into the open end (24) of the housing (12) after the retainer (140) is positioned in and interlocked with the housing (12). The retainer (140) is disposed intermediate the end cap (90) and the gas generating material (70). Because retainer (140) is disposed between the gas generating material (70) and a body of auto ignition material (122) in the end cap (90), a nozzle ( 150) is formed in the retainer (140) to direct auto ignition combustion products toward the gas generating material (70).
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. Apparatus for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint comprising:
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a housing defining a chamber having an opening at one end; inflator parts disposed in said chamber including gas generating material for, when ignited, generating gas for inflating the occupant restraint; a closure member engageable with said housing for closing said opening of said chamber, said closure member being movable relative to said housing from a first condition in which said closure member is spaced apart from said housing and said chamber is open to a second condition in which said closure member is engaged with said housing and closes the opening of said chamber; and a retainer disposed in said chamber adjacent said opening, said retainer having a first part interlocking with a second part on said housing when said closure member is in the first condition to block movement of said retainer and of said inflator parts relative to said housing toward said opening of said chamber when said closure member is in the first condition. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. Apparatus for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint comprising:
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a housing defining a chamber having an opening at one end; gas generating material disposed in said chamber in said housing for, when ignited, generating gas for inflating the occupant restraint; means for inhibiting movement of said gas generating material within said housing during assembly comprising a retainer disposed in said chamber adjacent said opening, said retainer having a first part interlocking with a second part on said housing to block movement of said retainer relative to said housing toward said open end during assembly; and a closure member closing said opening of said chamber when said retainer is in said chamber and having surface means for engaging said retainer and for holding said first part spaced away from said second part. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. Apparatus for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint comprising:
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a housing defining a cheer having an opening at one end; a closure mender closing said opening; gas generating material in said chamber in said housing for, when ignited, generating gas for inflating the occupant restraint; a retainer disposed in said chamber in said housing intermediate said closure member and said gas generating material, said retainer having means for inhibiting movement of said gas generating material in said housing; and a body of auto ignition material disposed in said housing, said auto ignition material having an ignition temperature below the ignition temperature of said gas generating material, said retainer being disposed intermediate said body of auto ignition material and said gas generating material; said retainer having nozzle means for establishing fluid communication between said auto ignition material and said gas generating material and for directing products of combustion of said auto ignition material toward said gas generating material to ignite said gas generating material upon ignition of said auto ignition material. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of assembling an inflator for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint, said method including the steps of:
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providing a housing defining a chamber having an opening at one end and having a locking surface disposed adjacent the opening; inserting inflator parts including gas generating material into the chamber in the housing; moving a retainer assembly axially inward into the chamber in the housing until the retainer assembly contacts the gas generating material and a portion of the retainer assembly is adjacent the locking surface of the housing; expanding the portion of the retainer assembly outward into interlocking engagement with the locking surface of the housing; and
thenconnecting an end cap with the housing to close the opening in the chamber. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification