The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 17, 1996
Filed:
Apr. 29, 1996
John P O'Loughlin, Mesa, AZ (US);
John D Skouson, Mesa, AZ (US);
TRW Inc., Lyndhurst, OH (US);
Abstract
An apparatus (10) for inflating an inflatable device, such as an air bag (12) for restraining a vehicle occupant, comprises a pressure vessel (40), an ignitable propellant material (154) and a cup member (150). The pressure vessel (40) defines a sealed storage chamber (44) containing inflation fluid for inflating the inflatable device. The propellant material (154) produces combustion products including heat for heating the inflation fluid in the storage chamber (44). The cup member (150) has a piston portion (290) which is movable between an unactuated position and an actuated position. The piston portion (290) of the cup member includes a plunger portion (160) which opens the pressure vessel (40) upon movement of the piston portion (290) from the unactuated position to the actuated position. The cup member (150) further has a rupturable portion (178) which holds the piston portion (290) in the unactuated position. The apparatus further includes an igniter (152) for igniting the propellant material (154) and for causing pressure to develop a thrust against the cup member (150). The thrust ruptures the rupturable portion (178) of the cup member (150) and propels the piston portion (290) from the unactuated position to the actuated position.