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:
Mar. 11, 1997
Filed:
Apr. 19, 1996
Tracy S Sparks, Lapeer, MI (US);
Ernst M Faigle, Dryden, MI (US);
TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc., Lyndhurst, OH (US);
Abstract
An inflator (12) for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (36) includes a vessel (14) having a chamber (16) which holds fluid under pressure. An opening (20) to the chamber (16) is defined by an inner side surface (66, 76) of the vessel (14). A plug (18) is disposed in the opening (20) to the chamber (16) to block the opening. A passage (42) is formed in the plug (18) to direct fluid from the chamber (16) to the inflatable device (36). The plug (18) is welded to the inner side surface (66, 76) of the vessel (14) to retain the plug (18) in the vessel (14) and form a fluid tight seal between the plug (18) and the vessel (14). Preferably, a rim portion (84) of the vessel (14) is disposed outward of the weld and extends over a portion (104) of the plug (18) to help in retaining the plug (18) in the vessel. Also the side surface (66, 76) of the vessel (14) preferably tapers radially inward in a direction towards the chamber in the vessel. The plug (18) has a tapered outer side surface (90) which sealingly engages with the inner side surface (66, 76) of the vessel (14).