Inflator for vehicle protection apparatus
First Claim
1. A method of inflating an air bag, the method comprising:
- fully inflating an air bag from gas stored within a first volume;
maintaining the full inflation of the air bag for a time from gas stored within a second volume by passing the gas from the second volume to the first volume.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A pressurized container includes a vessel defining a chamber therein. A housing that is connected to the vessel defines an outlet that is fluidly separated from the chamber by a closure member. A moveable member may be seated within and form a seal with the housing and abut the closure member. Activation of an initiator propels the moveable member through the closure member, thereby fluidly connecting the chamber and the outlet. The pressurized container might include an obstruction partially blocking an outlet path and another initiator that breaks the obstruction when activated, thereby further opening the outlet path. The pressurized container might include a main path fluidly connected to the outlet, a first secondary path that connects the main path to the chamber, and a second secondary path that also connects the main path to the chamber. If the pressurized container includes two secondary paths, a first closure member can fluidly separate the outlet from the chamber of the vessel along the first secondary path, and a second closure member can fluidly separate the outlet from the chamber of the vessel along the second secondary path. Also, the chamber might include a first portion and a second portion, wherein an isolator member substantially fluidly separates the first portion and the second portion.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of inflating an air bag, the method comprising:
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fully inflating an air bag from gas stored within a first volume;
maintaining the full inflation of the air bag for a time from gas stored within a second volume by passing the gas from the second volume to the first volume. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of inflating an air bag, the method comprising:
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fully inflating an air bag from gas stored within a first portion of a pressurized container separated from a second portion of the pressurized container by an isolator member having a passage therethrough;
maintaining the full inflation of the air bag for a time from gas stored within the second portion of the container by passing the gas within the second portion through the passage into the first portion of the container. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of inflating an air bag, the method comprising:
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fully inflating an air bag from a gas mixture having at least two gases stored in a first volume; and
maintaining the full inflation of the air bag for a time from the gas mixture stored within a second volume separate from, but in fluid communication with, the first volume. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification