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. 12, 2001
Filed:
Jun. 16, 1998
Ahmad K. Al-Amin, Higley, AZ (US);
Timothy A. Swann, Mesa, AZ (US);
Jess A. Cuevas, Scottsdale, AZ (US);
Bryan W. Shirk, Mesa, AZ (US);
Roy D. Van Wynsberghe, Mesa, AZ (US);
TRW Inc., Lyndhurst, OH (US);
Abstract
An apparatus (,) for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (,) comprises an inflator structure (,) defining a chamber (,) for containing a quantity of inflation fluid (,) under pressure. The inflator structure (,) has a rupturable wall portion (,) blocking fluid flow out of the chamber (,). An actuatable initiator (,) is connected with the inflator structure (,) for generating combustion products. The initiator (,) has a central axis (,). A spherical projectile (,) is supported adjacent to the initiator (,) and is movable away from the initiator under the force of the combustion products of the initiator into engagement with the wall portion (,) to rupture the wall portion. The apparatus (,) includes a focusing sleeve (,) for constraining the spherical projectile (,) to move in a predetermined direction from the initiator (,) to the wall portion (,). The focusing sleeve (,) has an axis (,) located on the axis (,) of the initiator (,).