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:
Jan. 04, 2000
Filed:
Mar. 31, 1998
Timothy A Swann, Mesa, AZ (US);
Bryan W Shirk, Mesa, AZ (US);
Dean M Esterberg, Tempe, AZ (US);
Ahmad K Al-Amin, Higley, AZ (US);
Roy D Van Wynsberghe, Mesa, AZ (US);
Vincent J Mramor, Gilbert, AZ (US);
TRW Inc., Lyndhurst, OH (US);
Abstract
An apparatus (10) for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (36) includes a container (12) defining a chamber (14) for storing a quantity of inflation fluid (78) under pressure. First and second outlet passages (60, 62) in the container (12) can each direct flow of fluid (78) out of the chamber (14) to the inflatable device (36) for inflating the inflatable device. The first outlet passage (60) has a first flow area. The second outlet passage (62) has a second flow area less than the flow area of the first outlet passage (60). A first burst disk (70) on the container (12) blocks the first outlet passage (60). A second burst disk (72) on the container (12) blocks the second outlet passage (62). The apparatus (10) includes means (80) for rupturing the first burst disk (70) to direct flow of fluid out of the chamber (14) through the first outlet passage (60) without rupturing the second burst disk (72). The apparatus (10) also includes means (82) for rupturing the second burst disk to direct flow of fluid out of the chamber through the second outlet passage (62) without rupturing the first burst disk.