Apparatus for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint
First Claim
1. Apparatus for use in inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint, said apparatus comprising:
- a body of ignitable gas generating material which, when ignited, generates a volume of gas for inflating the vehicle occupant restraint, said body of said gas generating material having a surface portion defining a cavity in said body of said gas generating material; and
means for enhancing ignition of said body of said gas generating material, said ignition enhancing means including a body of pyrotechnic material which is more readily ignitable than said gas generating material and which, when ignited, produces and emits combustion products which ignite said body of said gas generating material, said body of said pyrotechnic material being located in said cavity;
said cavity having a width and a depth, said body of said pyrotechnic material being a plug of said pyrotechnic material which extends entirely across said width of said cavity;
said surface portion of said body of said gas generating material includes a first inner surface extending along said depth of said cavity and a second inner surface extending across said width of said cavity.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for use in inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint (12) comprises a grain (110) of ignitable gas generating material which, when ignited, generates gas for inflating the vehicle occupant restraint (12). The grain (110) of gas generating material has a surface portion defining a cavity (124) in the grain (110). The apparatus further includes a plug (160) of pyrotechnic material which is more readily ignitable than the gas generating material. The plug (160) of pyrotechnic material, when ignited, produces and emits combustion products which ignite the grain (110) of gas generating material. The plug (160) of pyrotechnic material is located in the cavity (124) in the grain (110) of gas generating material.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. 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 a volume of gas for inflating the vehicle occupant restraint, said body of said gas generating material having a surface portion defining a cavity in said body of said gas generating material; and means for enhancing ignition of said body of said gas generating material, said ignition enhancing means including a body of pyrotechnic material which is more readily ignitable than said gas generating material and which, when ignited, produces and emits combustion products which ignite said body of said gas generating material, said body of said pyrotechnic material being located in said cavity; said cavity having a width and a depth, said body of said pyrotechnic material being a plug of said pyrotechnic material which extends entirely across said width of said cavity; said surface portion of said body of said gas generating material includes a first inner surface extending along said depth of said cavity and a second inner surface extending across said width of said cavity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. Apparatus for use in inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint, said apparatus comprising:
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an elongated cylindrical body of gas generating material which, when ignited, generates a volume of gas for inflating the vehicle occupant restraint, said elongated cylindrical body of said gas generating material having a longitudinal central axis and comprising a plurality of separate cylindrical bodies of said gas generating material, each of said separate cylindrical bodies of said gas generating material being centered on said axis and having first and second opposite side surfaces transverse to said axis, each of said separate cylindrical bodies of said gas generating material further having an inner surface portion defining a cavity which is open at its respective first side surface, said inner surface portion having a first inner surface defining a depth of said cavity and a second inner surface defining a width of said cavity; a plurality of bodies of pyrotechnic material which is more readily ignitable than and enhances the ignition of said gas generating material, each of said bodies of said pyrotechnic material being located in a respective one of said cavities in said separate cylindrical bodies of said gas generating material; and igniter means for igniting said bodies of said pyrotechnic material contained circumferentially within said elongated cylindrical body of said gas generating material, said igniter means including an actuatable igniter device located adjacent to one end of said elongated cylindrical body of said gas generating material. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification