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:
Jun. 22, 1999
Filed:
Jun. 09, 1995
George W Goetz, Rochester Hills, MI (US);
TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc., Lyndhurst, OH (US);
Abstract
An apparatus (10) for inflating an air bag includes a container (12) having a chamber (16) for holding a noble gas and an oxidizer gas under pressure. A body (20) of an ignitable material comprising a non-metallic nitrogen containing compound is disposed in the container (12). Upon ignition of the body (20) of ignitable material, combustion products, including heat, are generated. The combustion products then mix with, and heat, the noble gas and the oxidizer gas. The body (20) of ignitable material undergoes further combustion upon exposure to the oxidizer gas to yield an inflation fluid comprising the noble gas and any unreacted oxidizer gas. The inflation fluid flows from the container (12) through openings (28) in the end wall of the container (12) into a diffuser (36). The inflation fluid exits the diffuser (36) and inflates an air bag connected with the diffuser (36).