Inflator

• US 7,040,656 B2
• Filed: 06/06/2002
• Issued: 05/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Takata Corporation (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Takata Corporation (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Furusawa, Takashi, Sawa, Shoichi, Nanbu, Yuichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu, Teri Pham
• Assistant Examiner(s): Smith, Kimberly S.
• Application Number:
  US10/064,064
• Publication Number:
  US 20020185849A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,433 Days
• Field of Search: 280/741
• US Class Current: 280/741
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2612 Gas guiding means, e.g. ducts
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/261 with means other than bag structure to diffuse or guide inflation fluid
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/268 using instantaneous release of stored pressurised gas B60R21/26005 takes precedence

Abstract

To provide an inflator which can be easily manufactured in a simple manufacturing process so as not to be disassembled.

In an inflator, an orifice member 16 of a bottle 3 is provided with projections 43 formed on the periphery of the orifice member 16, extending in the axial direction thereof, and key grooves 47 formed in the periphery of the orifice member 16, extending in the axial direction thereof. A diffuser 7 is provided, in the inner periphery thereof, with guide grooves 49 for guiding the projections 43 of the orifice member 16 when the diffuser 7 and the orifice member 16 are coupled with each other, grooves 41 which mate with the projections 43 after the diffuser 7 or the orifice member 16 rotates, and key grooves 51 which associate with the key grooves 47 of the orifice member 16. Keys 45 which are inserted into the key grooves 47 and 51 and thereby prevent the orifice member 16 or the diffuser 7 from rotating are also provided. The orifice member 16 and the diffuser 7 are coupled with each other, either one of the components is rotated, and both components are thereby connected to each other.

Claims

1. An inflator comprising:

a bottle configured to be charged with a high-pressure gas;

a sealing plate positioned to seal the bottle at an orifice; and

a receiving member including a perforation structure for breaking the sealing plate,

wherein one of the receiving member and the bottle includes a projection extending partially around the periphery of the receiving member or the bottle and wherein the projection mates with a groove in the other of the receiving member or bottle when the bottle and receiving member are coupled together thereby preventing the receiving member and the bottle from moving apart; and

wherein each of the receiving member and the bottle include a key groove.

2. The inflator of claim 1, wherein when the receiving member and the bottle are coupled together, the key grooves are aligned and a key is positioned in the key groove to prevent relative rotation of the bottle and the receiving member.

3. An inflator comprising:

a bottle configured to be charged with a high-pressure gas;

a sealing plate positioned to seal the bottle at an orifice; and

a receiving member having an axial direction and including a perforation structure for breaking the sealing plate,

wherein the bottle includes

projections formed on a peripheral surface of one end of the bottle extending in a peripheral direction, and

key groove formed in the peripheral surface of the one end of the bottle, extending in the axial direction;

wherein one end of the receiving member includes

a guide groove extending in the axial direction of the receiving member located on an inner surface at one end of the receiving member, the guide groove configured to guide the projection of the bottle when the receiving member is being coupled with the end of the bottle,

grooves extending in the peripheral direction, for mating with the projections after relative rotation of the receiving member and the bottle, and

key groove positioned to align with the key groove on the bottle after relative rotation of the receiving member and the bottle rotate;

a key configured to be inserted into the key grooves for preventing relative rotation of the bottle and the receiving member; and

wherein the end of the bottle is coupled with an end of the receiving member, and

wherein the bottle and the receiving member are connected to each other by the rotation of the bottle or the receiving member.

4. The inflator of claim 3, wherein the length of the key groove formed in the peripheral surface of the bottle is at least twice the length of the key.

5. The inflator of claim 4, wherein the length of the key groove formed in the inner surface of the receiving member is substantially greater than or equal to the length of the key.

6. The inflator of claim 5, wherein the inflator is configured so that the key is completely inserted into the key groove formed in the inner surface of the receiving member after the bottle and the receiving member are assembled with each other.