Apparatus for inflating a side curtain
First Claim
1. A vehicle occupant safety apparatus comprising:
- an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;
a container for storing gas under pressure, said container having an outlet;
a mechanism for opening said container to release said gas to flow from said outlet at supersonic speed;
a pyrotechnic material which is ignitable to generate gas for helping to inflate said inflatable device, said pyrotechnic material being ignitable in response to being impacted by said gas flowing from said outlet at supersonic speed; and
a conduit directing at least a first portion of said gas flowing from said outlet to said pyrotechnic material to ignite said pyrotechnic material.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle occupant safety apparatus (10) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (20) and a container (32) for storing gas (36) under pressure. The container (32) has an outlet (38). The apparatus (10) includes a mechanism (42) for opening the container (32) to release the gas (36) to flow from the outlet (38) at supersonic speed. The apparatus (10) also includes a pyrotechnic material (70) which is ignitable to generate gas for helping to inflate the inflatable device (20). The pyrotechnic material (70) is ignitable in response to being impacted by the gas (36) flowing from the outlet (38) at supersonic speed. The apparatus (10) further includes a conduit (50) directing at least a first portion of the gas (36) flowing from the container (32) to the pyrotechnic material (70) to ignite the pyrotechnic material.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A vehicle occupant safety apparatus comprising:
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an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;
a container for storing gas under pressure, said container having an outlet;
a mechanism for opening said container to release said gas to flow from said outlet at supersonic speed;
a pyrotechnic material which is ignitable to generate gas for helping to inflate said inflatable device, said pyrotechnic material being ignitable in response to being impacted by said gas flowing from said outlet at supersonic speed; and
a conduit directing at least a first portion of said gas flowing from said outlet to said pyrotechnic material to ignite said pyrotechnic material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method comprising the steps of:
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providing an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;
storing gas under pressure in a container having an outlet;
opening the container to release the gas to flow from the outlet at supersonic speed;
providing a pyrotechnic material which is ignitable to generate gas for helping to inflate the inflatable device, the pyrotechnic material being ignitable in response to being impacted by the gas flowing from the outlet at supersonic speed; and
directing at least a portion of the gas flowing from the outlet to the pyrotechnic material to ignite the pyrotechnic material. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
providing a conduit that extends between the container outlet and the pyrotechnic material; and
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creating a shock wave that travels along said conduit and impacts said pyrotechnic material to ignite said pyrotechnic material.
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11. A method as set forth in claim 10 wherein said step of providing a conduit comprises the step of providing a conduit having openings located inside the inflatable device for directing a second portion of the gas flowing from the container into the inflatable device to inflate the inflatable device.
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12. A method as set forth in claim 9 further comprising the step of directing gas generated by ignition of said pyrotechnic material into the inflatable device to help inflate the inflatable device.
Specification