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:
Apr. 09, 2002
Filed:
Sep. 16, 1999
Ernst M. Faigle, Dryden, MI (US);
John M. Gaiser, Washington, MI (US);
TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc., Lyndhurst, OH (US);
Abstract
An apparatus ( ) for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device ( ) includes a container ( ) and a refrigerant under pressure in the container ( ) in a liquid state. The container ( ) is openable to enable the refrigerant to flow out of the container into the inflatable device ( ). At least a portion of the refrigerant that flows from the container ( ) vaporizes to a gaseous state to help inflate the inflatable device ( ). The apparatus ( ) includes an aspiration passage ( ) enabling aspiration of ambient air into the inflatable device ( ) with the refrigerant to help inflate the inflatable device. At least a portion of the refrigerant that flows from the container ( ) is located in the inflatable device ( ) in a liquid state. That portion of the refrigerant thereafter changes from the liquid state to the gaseous state while in the inflatable device to help maintain the inflatable device in the inflated condition.