Inflator system
First Claim
1. An inflator module for inflating an airbag with gas, comprising:
- an elongate housing including a bottom wall, a top wall defining an opening through which gas flows to inflate the airbag and side walls connected to said bottom and top walls to thereby define a reaction chamber between said bottom wall, said top wall and said side walls; and
propellant extending longitudinally in said housing and generating gas when burning, said propellant being spaced apart from said top wall to define an unoccupied subchamber between said top wall and said propellant, said subchamber being a portion of said reaction chamber.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Inflator module for inflating an airbag with gas including an elongate housing, an elongate block of propellant arranged in the housing and generating gas when burning and preferably, igniter material arranged on the propellant. The igniter material is substantially coextensive with the propellant in a longitudinal direction such that upon ignition of the igniter material, the propellant begins to burn across its entire length. This is beneficial as the pressure generated by the gas may be substantially uniform provided the propellant is uniformly distributed and homogeneous. The igniter material may be arranged on portions of the propellant not in contact with the housing such that the propellant is completely enclosed by the housing and igniter material, i.e., not exposed to the ambient atmosphere.
105 Citations
52 Claims
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1. An inflator module for inflating an airbag with gas, comprising:
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an elongate housing including a bottom wall, a top wall defining an opening through which gas flows to inflate the airbag and side walls connected to said bottom and top walls to thereby define a reaction chamber between said bottom wall, said top wall and said side walls; and
propellant extending longitudinally in said housing and generating gas when burning, said propellant being spaced apart from said top wall to define an unoccupied subchamber between said top wall and said propellant, said subchamber being a portion of said reaction chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An inflator system arranged in a vehicle for inflating an airbag, comprising:
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an elongate housing including a bottom wall, a top wall defining an opening through which gas flows to inflate the airbag and side walls connected to said bottom and top walls to thereby define a reaction chamber between said bottom wall, said top wall and said side walls;
an elongate mass of propellant; and
a layer of igniter material coated on said propellant and being substantially coextensive with said propellant in a longitudinal direction such that upon ignition of said igniter material, said propellant begins to burn across its entire length, said igniter material layer being spaced apart from said top wall to define an unoccupied subchamber between said top wall and said igniter material layer, said subchamber being a portion of said reaction chamber.
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16. In a vehicle having a passenger compartment, an airbag module to protect an occupant in the passenger compartment in the event of a crash of the vehicle, the module comprising:
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an airbag housing;
at least one airbag situated in said airbag housing;
an inflator module arranged in said airbag housing for inflating said at least one airbag, said inflator module comprising an elongate inflator housing including a bottom wall, a top wall defining an opening through which gas flows to inflate said at least one airbag and side walls connected to said bottom and top walls to thereby define a reaction chamber between said bottom wall, said top wall and said side walls and propellant extending longitudinally in said inflator housing and generating gas when burning, said propellant being spaced apart from said top wall to define an unoccupied subchamber between said top wall and said propellant, said subchamber being a portion of said reaction chamber;
an initiator for initiating said inflator module to produce gas in response to the crash of the vehicle; and
a cover for releasably retaining said at least one airbag in said airbag housing. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. In a vehicle having a passenger compartment, an airbag module to protect an occupant in the passenger compartment in the event of a crash of the vehicle, the module comprising:
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an airbag housing;
at least one airbag situated in said airbag housing;
an inflator system arranged in said airbag housing for inflating said at least one airbag, said inflator system comprising an elongate housing including a bottom wall, a top wall defining an opening through which gas flows to inflate said at least one airbag and side walls connected to said bottom and top walls to thereby define a reaction chamber between said bottom wall, said top wall and said side walls;
an elongate mass of propellant; and
a layer of igniter material coated on said propellant and being substantially coextensive with said propellant in a longitudinal direction such that upon ignition of said igniter material, said propellant begins to burn across its entire length, said igniter material layer being spaced apart from said top wall to define an unoccupied subchamber between said top wall and said igniter material layer, said subchamber being a portion of said reaction chamber;
an initiator for initiating said inflator system to produce gas in response to the crash of the vehicle; and
a cover for releasably retaining said at least one airbag in said airbag housing.
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29. A vehicle including a front, a rear and left and right sides and having a longitudinal direction parallel to the left and right sides, comprising:
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an airbag module arranged along one of the left and right sides of the vehicle and including an airbag housing oriented in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle;
at least one airbag situated in said airbag housing and arranged to inflate along one of the left and right sides of the vehicle;
an inflator module arranged in said airbag housing for inflating said at least one airbag, said inflator module comprising an elongate inflator housing including a bottom wall, a top wall defining an opening through which gas flows to inflate said at least one airbag and side walls connected to said bottom and top walls to thereby define a reaction chamber between said bottom wall, said top wall and said side walls, and propellant arranged in said inflator housing and generating gas when burning, said propellant being oriented in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, said propellant being spaced apart from said top wall to define an unoccupied subchamber between said top wall and said propellant, said subchamber being a portion of said reaction chamber;
an initiator for initiating said inflator module to produce gas in response to the crash of the vehicle, and a cover for releasably retaining said at least one airbag in said airbag housing. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A vehicle including a front, a rear and left and right sides and having a longitudinal direction parallel to the left and right sides, comprising:
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an airbag module arranged along one of the left and right sides of the vehicle and including an airbag housing oriented in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle;
at least one airbag situated in said airbag housing and arranged to inflate along one of the left and right sides of the vehicle;
an inflator system arranged in said airbag housing for inflating said at least one airbag, said inflator system comprising an elongate inflator housing including a bottom wall, a top wall defining an opening through which gas flows to inflate said at least one airbag and side walls connected to said bottom and top walls to thereby define a reaction chamber between said bottom wall, said top wall and said side walls and propellant oriented in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, said propellant being spaced apart from said top wall to define an unoccupied subchamber between said top wall and said propellant, said subchamber being a portion of said reaction chamber;
an initiator for initiating said inflator system to produce gas in response to the crash of the vehicle; and
a cover for releasably retaining said at least one airbag in said airbag housing. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 51)
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39. An inflator module for inflating an airbag with gas, comprising:
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an elongate housing including an elongate bottom wall, a top wall having an opening through which gas flows to inflate the airbag, a pair of opposed longitudinally extending walls connected to said bottom and top walls and opposed lateral end walls connected to said bottom and top walls to thereby define a reaction chamber between said bottom wall, said top wall, said longitudinally extending walls and said lateral walls; and
propellant arranged in said reaction chamber and generating gas when burning, said propellant being arranged along substantially the entire length of said longitudinally extending walls, said propellant being spaced apart from said top wail to define an unoccupied subchamber between said top wall and said propellant, said subchamber being a portion of said reaction chamber. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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48. An inflator module for inflating an airbag with gas, comprising:
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an elongate housing; and
propellant extending longitudinally in said housing and generating gas when burning;
said housing including a top wall having an opening through which gas flows to inflate the airbag and a bottom wall opposite said top wall, said propellant being affixed to said bottom wall and being arranged to burn in a direction toward said bottom wall, said propellant being spaced apart from said top wall to define an unoccupied chamber between said top wall and said propellant.
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49. An inflator module for inflating an airbag with gas, comprising:
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an elongate housing;
propellant extending longitudinally in said housing and generating gas when burning; and
igniter material arranged on portions of said propellant not in contact with said housing such that said propellant is completely enclosed by said housing and said igniter material, said housing including a top wall having an opening through which gas flows to inflate the airbag and a bottom wall opposite said top wall, said propellant being affixed to said bottom wall and said igniter material being arranged between said propellant and said top wall such that upon ignition of said igniter material, said propellant burns in a direction toward said bottom wall, said igniter material being spaced apart from said top wall to define an unoccupied chamber between said top wall and said igniter material.
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50. An inflator module for inflating an airbag with gas, comprising:
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an elongate housing including a bottom wall, a top wall having an opening through which gas flows to inflate the airbag, a pair of opposed longitudinally extending walls connected to said bottom wall and opposed lateral end walls connected to said bottom wall to thereby define a reaction chamber between said bottom wall, said top wall, said longitudinally extending walls and said lateral walls; and
propellant arranged in said reaction chamber and generating gas when burning, said propellant being arranged along substantially the entire length of said longitudinally extending walls;
said propellant being spaced apart from said top wall to define an unoccupied chamber between said top wall and said propellant,said propellant being affixed to said bottom wall and being arranged to burn in a direction toward said bottom wall.
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52. An inflator module for inflating an airbag with gas, comprising:
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an elongate housing including an elongate bottom wall, a pair of opposed longitudinally extending walls connected to said bottom wall and opposed lateral end walls connected to said bottom wall to thereby define a reaction chamber between said bottom wall, said longitudinally extending walls and said lateral walls, said housing including an opening opposite said bottom wall through which gas flows to inflate the airbag;
propellant arranged in said reaction chamber and generating gas when burning, said propellant being arranged along substantially the entire length of said longitudinally extending walls; and
an elongate screen arranged adjacent said opening and opposite said propellant such that a chamber is defined in said housing between said screen and said propellant.
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Specification