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. 08, 2003
Filed:
Jul. 03, 2001
Eric R. McFarland, Mesa, AZ (US);
Darin P. Mika, Mesa, AZ (US);
TRW Inc., Lyndhurst, OH (US);
Abstract
An inflator ( ) includes a housing ( ). A first inflation fluid source ( ) in the housing ( ) is actuatable to effect flow of inflation fluid to inflate an inflatable device. A first actuatable initiator ( ) in the housing ( ), when energized, effects actuation of the first inflation fluid source ( ). A second inflation fluid source ( ) in the housing ( ) is actuatable to effect flow of inflation fluid to inflate the inflatable device. A second actuatable initiator ( ) in the housing ( ), when energized, effects actuation of the second inflation fluid source ( ). The housing ( ) has a fluid passage ( ) for directing flow of inflation fluid out of the housing ( ) to the inflatable device. The housing ( ) deforms due to the pressure of inflation fluid in the housing upon actuation of one or both of the inflation fluid sources ( ). The flow area of the fluid passage ( ) increases due to deformation of the housing ( ) and varies in accordance with the pressure of inflation fluid in the housing.