Zodiac Automotive US Inc.

David M Shilliday

Kevin Fitzgerald

Gregory J Scaven

Gregory Alan Mowry

Gregory Brian Grace

John F Bartell

Lih-Sheng Kang

Greg Scaven

Inflatable devices principally for vehicle occupant protection are addressed. Included among the devices are curtains or other cushions () with braided portions () along their lower edges () designed to form semi-rigid members when deployed. Unlike commercially-available vehicle curtains, inflation occurs from the bottom (where the semi-rigid member is formed) upward. The devices additionally optionally may include inflatable nodes () within the curtains () or otherwise extending from the cushions.

Inflatable cushioning device

An inflator includes a distributed charge to be distributed within an inflatable component of an inflatable system and a housing. The housing includes a combustion chamber and a gas storage chamber. The combustion chamber includes an initiator and a gas propellant. The gas storage chamber includes an inert gas at a high pressure. The housing also includes a gas nozzle. The distributed charge is connected to the housing through the gas nozzle. The distributed charge may be mechanically joined to the housing by a ferrule. Upon receiving an electrical signal from a crash sensor or other activator, the initiator ignites the gas propellant in the combustion chamber. The hot gas and hot particles from the burning gas propellant and the initiator flow into the gas storage chamber and heat the compressed inert gas in the gas storage chamber. The heated, compressed gas in the gas storage chamber flows through the gas nozzle and ignites the distributed charge. Combustion of the distributed charge generates a high volume of gas and inflates an inflatable component of an inflatable system.

Distributed charge inflator system

An inflatable system includes an inflatable component and an distributed charge inflator disposed in the inflatable component. The distributed charge inflator includes a first charge for generating inflating gas and a housing body connected to the first charge. The housing body includes an initiator and a second charge that has relatively long burn time. Upon receiving a signal from a sensor, the initiator ignites the first charge and the second charge simultaneously. The first charge inflates the inflatable component and the second charge sustains the inflation of the inflatable component.

An inflatable system includes a first charge distributed within an inflatable component and a housing body connected to the first charge including a second charge and an initiator. Upon receiving a signal from a sensor, the initiator ignites the first charge and the second charge simultaneously. The first charge inflates the inflatable component and the second charge sustains the inflation.

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Phoenix, AZ, United States of America

David M Shilliday