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:
May. 07, 2002
Filed:
Nov. 16, 2000
George W. Goetz, Fountain Hills, MI (US);
TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc., Lyndhurst, OH (US);
Abstract
An inflator ( ) for inflating a vehicle occupant protection device ( ) comprises a vessel ( ) containing stored gas ( ) and ignitable material ( ). The vessel ( ) has a portion ( ) that provides a first opening for fluid to flow from the vessel when the pressure in the vessel reaches a predetermined pressure. The inflator ( ) also comprises an igniter ( ) for igniting the ignitable material ( ) and increasing the pressure in the vessel ( ). The inflator ( ) also comprises a control part ( ) upstream of the portion ( ) for controlling fluid flow to the first opening. The control part ( ) defines a second opening ( ) that increases in size as the pressure in the vessel ( ) increases.