Inflator assembly
First Claim
1. An inflator assembly comprising:
- a housing formed of a first cup and a second cup, each having an inner annular wall disposed about a longitudinal axis, an outer annular wall concentric with said inner wall and a circular base, said walls and base being made integrally and said cups being disposed in a facing relationship with said inner walls being interlocked and said outer walls being interlocked to form with said bases within said housing a central cylindrical chamber and an outer annular chamber;
an initiator disposed in said central chamber;
a retaining member disposed in said outer chamber and arranged for partitioning said outer annular chamber into a first portion and a second portion, said retaining member being a ring having a first ring portion disposed normal to said axis and a second portion disposed in parallel to said axis and to said inner wall;
gas generating material disposed in said first portion; and
a gas filter media disposed in said second portion, said retaining member forming an interference fit with said first cup to retain said filter media in said first cup, said first cup being formed with an annular retainer wall of relatively short length to form said interference fit with the second ring portion of said retaining member, said retainer wall being formed on said base of said first cup coaxially with said inner wall.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An inflator includes a housing formed by two cups interlocked to provide a tamper-proof enclosure with at least one of the cups formed with indentations for grasping by a tool to facilitate assembly of the cups. In a chamber of the housing is an initiator secured in place by a snap-fit. A canister containing tablets of gas generating material is held in the chamber by an interference fit. A filter is held in place in the housing by a ring-shaped retainer member. Passages within the housing direct gases from the initiator to the canister through the filter out of the housing into an air bag with the path of travel changing direction by at least 90° to create turbulent flow for enhanced inflator gas production.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. An inflator assembly comprising:
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a housing formed of a first cup and a second cup, each having an inner annular wall disposed about a longitudinal axis, an outer annular wall concentric with said inner wall and a circular base, said walls and base being made integrally and said cups being disposed in a facing relationship with said inner walls being interlocked and said outer walls being interlocked to form with said bases within said housing a central cylindrical chamber and an outer annular chamber; an initiator disposed in said central chamber; a retaining member disposed in said outer chamber and arranged for partitioning said outer annular chamber into a first portion and a second portion, said retaining member being a ring having a first ring portion disposed normal to said axis and a second portion disposed in parallel to said axis and to said inner wall; gas generating material disposed in said first portion; and a gas filter media disposed in said second portion, said retaining member forming an interference fit with said first cup to retain said filter media in said first cup, said first cup being formed with an annular retainer wall of relatively short length to form said interference fit with the second ring portion of said retaining member, said retainer wall being formed on said base of said first cup coaxially with said inner wall. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification