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. 19, 2002
Filed:
Jun. 22, 2000
Ernst M. Faigle, Dryden, MI (US);
Alexander Heilig, Waldstetten, DE;
Other;
Abstract
A vehicle occupant protection apparatus ( ) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device ( ) having a deflated condition and an inflated condition for helping to protect the vehicle occupant. An inflation fluid source ( ) is actuatable to provide inflation fluid to inflate the inflatable device ( ). A housing ( ) directs inflation fluid under pressure from the inflation fluid source ( ) toward the inflatable device ( ) upon actuation of the inflation fluid source ( ). The housing ( ) has an opening ( ) for enabling flow of inflation fluid out of the housing ( ) and away from the inflatable device ( ). A door ( ) is movable between a closed condition closing the opening ( ) and an open condition enabling flow of inflation fluid out of the housing ( ) through the opening ( ). An energizable mechanism ( ) retains the door ( ) in the closed condition and, when energized, enables movement of the door ( ) from the closed condition to the open condition in response to fluid pressure in the housing ( ). The energizable mechanism ( ) comprises an electromagnet ( ).