Dual stage air bag inflator
First Claim
1. An apparatus for providing inflation fluid for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said apparatus comprising:
- a primary housing constructed from sheet metal by stamping;
a primary inflation fluid source in said primary housing actuatable to effect a primary flow of inflation fluid out of said primary housing to inflate the inflatable device, said primary inflation fluid source prior to actuation being in fluid communication with the inflatable device;
a secondary housing constructed from sheet metal by stamping, said secondary housing being disposed within said primary housing; and
a secondary inflation fluid source in said secondary housing actuatable to affect a secondary flow of inflation fluid to supplement the primary flow of inflation fluid,said secondary housing having a first portion that moves at least partially out of engagement with a second portion of said secondary housing when said secondary inflation fluid source is actuated.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus (12) includes a primary housing (20) constructed from sheet metal by stamping, a primary inflation fluid source (100), a secondary housing (70) constructed from sheet metal by stamping, and a secondary inflation fluid source (200). The primary inflation fluid source (100) is located in the primary housing (20) and is actuatable to effect a primary flow of inflation fluid out of the primary housing to inflate the inflatable device (14). The secondary housing (70) is disposed within the primary housing (20). The secondary inflation fluid source (200) is located in the secondary housing (70) and is actuatable to affect a secondary flow of inflation fluid to supplement the primary flow of inflation fluid. The secondary housing (70) has a first portion (77) that moves at least partially out of engagement with a second portion (74) of the secondary housing (70) when the secondary inflation fluid source is actuated.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. An apparatus for providing inflation fluid for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said apparatus comprising:
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a primary housing constructed from sheet metal by stamping; a primary inflation fluid source in said primary housing actuatable to effect a primary flow of inflation fluid out of said primary housing to inflate the inflatable device, said primary inflation fluid source prior to actuation being in fluid communication with the inflatable device; a secondary housing constructed from sheet metal by stamping, said secondary housing being disposed within said primary housing; and a secondary inflation fluid source in said secondary housing actuatable to affect a secondary flow of inflation fluid to supplement the primary flow of inflation fluid, said secondary housing having a first portion that moves at least partially out of engagement with a second portion of said secondary housing when said secondary inflation fluid source is actuated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An inflator for providing inflation fluid for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said inflator comprising:
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a primary housing having an upper wall and a lower wall opposite said upper wall, said primary housing being constructed from sheet metal by stamping; a primary inflation fluid source disposed within said primary housing actuatable to deform said primary housing to move said upper wall and said lower wall away from each other; a secondary housing constructed from sheet metal by stamping, said secondary housing being disposed within said primary housing, said secondary housing having an upper portion abutting said upper wall of said primary housing and a lower portion abutting said lower wall of said primary housing prior to actuation of said primary inflation fluid source; and a secondary inflation fluid source disposed within said secondary housing actuatable to move said upper portion of said secondary housing at least partially out of engagement with said lower portion of said secondary housing subsequent to said primary housing being deformed by said primary inflation fluid source. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification