Method and apparatus for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint
First Claim
1. A method of igniting a body of ignitable gas generating material which, when ignited, generates gas for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint, the body of gas generating material having an ignitable surface portion, said method comprising the steps of:
- igniting a body of pyrotechnic material which, when ignited, emits combustion products; and
igniting the body of gas generating material by dispersing said combustion products over the ignitable surface portion of the body of gas generating material;
said combustion products being dispersed by moving said body of pyrotechnic material from a first location to a second location when said body of pyrotechnic material is burning, said first and second locations being spaced from each other across the ignitable surface portion of the body of gas generating material.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus are provided for igniting a body (60) of ignitable gas generating material which generates gas for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint (12). The method includes the step of igniting a body (202) of pyrotechnic material which, when ignited, emits combustion products. The method further includes the step of igniting the body (60) of gas generating material by dispersing the combustion products over an ignitable surface portion (116) of the body (60) of gas generating material. The combustion products are dispersed by moving the body (202) of pyrotechnic material from a first location to a second location when the body (202) of pyrotechnic material is burning. The first and second locations are spaced from each other across the ignitable surface portion (116) of the body (60) of gas generating material.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method of igniting a body of ignitable gas generating material which, when ignited, generates gas for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint, the body of gas generating material having an ignitable surface portion, said method comprising the steps of:
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igniting a body of pyrotechnic material which, when ignited, emits combustion products; and igniting the body of gas generating material by dispersing said combustion products over the ignitable surface portion of the body of gas generating material; said combustion products being dispersed by moving said body of pyrotechnic material from a first location to a second location when said body of pyrotechnic material is burning, said first and second locations being spaced from each other across the ignitable surface portion of the body of gas generating material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. Apparatus for igniting a body of ignitable gas generating material which, when ignited, generates gas for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint, the body of gas generating material having an ignitable surface portion, said apparatus comprising:
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a body of pyrotechnic material which, when ignited, emits combustion products; and igniter means for igniting said body of pyrotechnic material and for igniting the body of gas generating material by dispersing said combustion products over the ignitable surface portion of the body of gas generating material; said igniter means dispersing said combustion products by moving said body of pyrotechnic material from a first location to a second location when said body of pyrotechnic material is burning, said first and second locations being spaced from each other across the ignitable surface portion of the body of gas generating material. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. Apparatus for use in inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint, said apparatus comprising:
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a body of ignitable gas generating material which, when ignited, generates gas for inflating the vehicle occupant restraint, said body of gas generating material having an ignitable surface portion; a body of pyrotechnic material which, when ignited, emits combustion products; and means for igniting said body of pyrotechnic material and for moving said body of pyrotechnic material from a first location to a second location when said body of pyrotechnic material is burning thereby igniting the body of gas generating material by dispersing said combustion products over said ignitable surface portion, said first and second locations being spaced from each other across said ignitable surface portion of said body of gas generating material. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification