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:
Sep. 08, 1998
Filed:
Aug. 07, 1996
Paul S Headley, Mesa, AZ (US);
TRW Inc., Lyndhurst, OH (US);
Abstract
An apparatus (24) for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (22) comprises a container (40) which defines a chamber (42) for material which effects inflation of the protection device. The container (40) includes an opening (60) of a flow area through which fluid flows to inflate the protection device (22). A rupturable closure (64) blocks fluid flow through the opening (60) in the container (40). A first actuatable initiator (164), upon actuation, effects the rupture of the closure (64). A member (120) is movable from a first position in which the flow of fluid through the opening (60) is unrestricted when the closure (64) is ruptured. The member (120) is movable to a second position in which fluid flow through the opening (60) is restricted by a portion of the member to reduce the flow area of the opening. A second actuatable initiator (162), upon actuation, moves the member (120) from the first position to the second position and effects the rupture of the closure (64).