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:
Jul. 11, 2006
Filed:
Dec. 16, 2004
David M. Mccormick, St. Clair Shores, MI (US);
David M. McCormick, St. Clair Shores, MI (US);
Automotive Systems Laboratory, Inc., Armada, MI (US);
Abstract
An inflator () for a vehicle occupant restraint system. The inflator () includes a housing () having apertures () formed therealong to enable fluid communication between an interior of the housing () and an exterior of the housing. A first baffle () is positioned in the housing interior. The baffle () is spaced apart from the housing () to define a fluid channel () therebetween in communication with the housing apertures (). The baffle () includes a first opening () for fluid communication between an interior of the baffle () and the fluid channel (), and an open end portion for fluid communication between the baffle interior and the baffle exterior. A spacer () positioned in the housing interior cavity defines an enclosure () and includes an aperture () formed therein for fluid communication between the enclosure () and the open end portion of the baffle. A gas generant () is positioned within the spacer enclosure (). The gas generant () may be a smokeless gas generant composition. An initiator () is coupled to the housing () for initiating combustion of the gas generant () upon activation of the inflator. The inflator () provides a continuous, tortuous fluid path through the fluid channel () for cooling inflation gases. In addition, the use of a smokeless gas generant composition allows the inflator () to operate without the need for a filter to remove particulate materials from the inflation gas.