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. 01, 2003
Filed:
Apr. 10, 2001
David G. Magoteaux, Mesa, AZ (US);
TRW Inc., Lyndhurst, OH (US);
Abstract
A vehicle occupant protection apparatus ( ) includes a sensor ( ) for sensing a vehicle crash. An inflatable vehicle occupant protection device ( ) has 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 at least one burst panel ( ) attached to the housing. Initiating means ( ), when actuated, enables the at least one burst panel ( ) to detach from the housing ( ) to a condition spaced apart from the housing to enable flow of inflation fluid out of the housing through an opening ( ) in the housing.