Inflator for vehicle protection apparatus
First Claim
1. A method of inflating an air bag using an air bag inflator, the method comprising:
- providing a first volume of gas comprising mainly helium;
providing a second volume of gas comprising at least helium and a second gas different from helium;
inflating an air bag associated with the first volume of gas to its substantially full volume with at least a portion of the gas from the first volume of gas;
substantially maintaining the substantially full volume inflation of the air bag for a time with at least a portion of the gas from the second volume of gas also associated with the air bag.
3 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. 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. Gas released from the first portion initially inflates an air bag associated with the pressurized container and gas released from the second portion maintains the inflation of the air bag for a time.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. A method of inflating an air bag using an air bag inflator, the method comprising:
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providing a first volume of gas comprising mainly helium; providing a second volume of gas comprising at least helium and a second gas different from helium; inflating an air bag associated with the first volume of gas to its substantially full volume with at least a portion of the gas from the first volume of gas; substantially maintaining the substantially full volume inflation of the air bag for a time with at least a portion of the gas from the second volume of gas also associated with the air bag. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of inflating an air bag using a cold gas inflator, the method comprising:
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providing a cold gas inflator having a first volume containing at least one pressurized gas, and a second volume containing a gas mixture having at least a first pressurized gas and a second pressurized gas different from the first pressurized gas; inflating an air bag associated with the cold gas inflator to its substantially full volume with unheated gas stored within the first volume; substantially maintaining the substantially full volume inflation of the air bag for a time with the first and second different pressurized unheated gases stored within the second volume. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of inflating an air bag using a cold gas inflator, the method comprising:
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inflating an air bag to substantially its full volume from a first gas mixture comprising mainly helium stored in a first volume of a cold gas inflator; and substantially maintaining the full volume inflation of the air bag for a time from a second gas mixture stored within a second volume, the second gas mixture comprising helium and argon. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method of inflating an air bag using an air bag inflator, the method comprising:
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providing a first volume of gas comprising mainly helium; providing a second volume of gas comprising at least a gas that is different from helium; inflating an air bag associated with the first volume of gas to its substantially full volume with at least a portion of the gas from the first volume of gas; substantially maintaining the substantially full volume inflation of the air bag for a time with at least a portion of the gas from the second volume of gas also associated with the air bag. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification