Air bag inflator
First Claim
1. A vehicle occupant safety apparatus for mounting for rotation with a vehicle steering wheel having a steering axis, said apparatus comprising:
- an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint which is inflatable into a position to help protect a driver of the vehicle;
means for mounting said inflatable restraint for rotation with the vehicle steering wheel;
an inflator for providing inflation fluid to said inflatable restraint to inflate said inflatable restraint; and
means for mounting said inflator for rotation with the vehicle steering wheel;
said inflator comprising a housing defining first and second chambers and an inflation fluid source in each one of said chambers for providing inflation fluid to inflate said inflatable restraint;
each one of said first and second chambers having a respective non-radial linear axis, said axis of said first chamber extending parallel to and being spaced apart from said axis of said second chamber, said axis of said first chamber being axially coextensive with and being not collinear with said axis of said second chamber, said means for mounting comprising means for mounting said inflator for rotation with the vehicle steering wheel with said axes of said chambers extending transverse to the steering axis of the vehicle steering wheel.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An air bag module (12) is mounted for rotation with a vehicle steering wheel (14) which has a steering axis (90). The module (12) includes an inflator (10) having separately actuatable first and second stages (40, 40a). The stages (40, 40a) include, respectively, first and second chambers (60, 60a) and an inflation fluid source (120, 120a) in each chamber for providing inflation fluid to inflate an air bag (16). An axis (58) of the first chamber (60) extends parallel to and is spaced apart from an axis (58a) of the second chamber (60a). The axes (58, 58a) of the chambers (60, 60a) extend transverse to the steering axis (90) on opposite sides of the steering axis.
29 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A vehicle occupant safety apparatus for mounting for rotation with a vehicle steering wheel having a steering axis, said apparatus comprising:
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an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint which is inflatable into a position to help protect a driver of the vehicle; means for mounting said inflatable restraint for rotation with the vehicle steering wheel; an inflator for providing inflation fluid to said inflatable restraint to inflate said inflatable restraint; and means for mounting said inflator for rotation with the vehicle steering wheel; said inflator comprising a housing defining first and second chambers and an inflation fluid source in each one of said chambers for providing inflation fluid to inflate said inflatable restraint; each one of said first and second chambers having a respective non-radial linear axis, said axis of said first chamber extending parallel to and being spaced apart from said axis of said second chamber, said axis of said first chamber being axially coextensive with and being not collinear with said axis of said second chamber, said means for mounting comprising means for mounting said inflator for rotation with the vehicle steering wheel with said axes of said chambers extending transverse to the steering axis of the vehicle steering wheel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A vehicle occupant safety apparatus for mounting for rotation with a vehicle steering wheel having a steering axis and for providing inflation fluid for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint into a position to help protect a driver of the vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
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first and second separately actuatable stages; said first stage comprising (i) a first tubular housing having parallel cylindrical outer and inner side surfaces defining a first chamber and (ii) a first source of inflation fluid for inflating said inflatable restraint, said first chamber having a linear longitudinal central axis extending parallel to said outer and inner side surfaces; said second stage comprising (i) a second tubular housing having parallel cylindrical outer and inner side surfaces defining a second chamber and (ii) a second source of inflation fluid for inflating said inflatable restraint, said second chamber having a linear longitudinal central axis extending parallel to said outer and inner side surfaces; said longitudinal central axis of said first chamber extending parallel to said longitudinal central axis of said second chamber; and means for mounting said inflator for rotation with the vehicle steering wheel with said central axes of said chambers extending transverse to the steering axis of the vehicle steering wheel. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification