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:
Mar. 20, 2007
Filed:
Nov. 12, 2004
Bruce A. Stevens, Oakland, MI (US);
Steven Maxwell-gordon Dunham, Mt. Clemens, MI (US);
Sean P. Burns, Almont, MI (US);
Eduardo L. Quioc, Westland, MI (US);
Jason Newell, LaSalle, CA;
Bruce A. Stevens, Oakland, MI (US);
Steven Maxwell-Gordon Dunham, Mt. Clemens, MI (US);
Sean P. Burns, Almont, MI (US);
Eduardo L. Quioc, Westland, MI (US);
Jason Newell, LaSalle, CA;
Automotive Systems Laboratory, Inc., Armada, MI (US);
Abstract
An airbag inflator () including an elongated outer housing () having an interior and a plurality of orifices () extending collinearly therealong to enable fluid communication between the outer housing interior and an exterior of the outer housing (). The outer housing orifice(s) () open from the outer housing interior toward a first side (F) of the inflator. An elongated inner housing () is positioned in the outer housing interior. The inner housing () has an interior and a plurality of orifices () extending collinearly therealong to enable fluid communication between the inner housing interior and an exterior of the inner housing (). The inner housing orifice(s) () open from the inner housing interior toward a second side (S) of the inflator. A quantity of a gas generant composition () extends along a portion of the interior of the inner housing (). The gas generant composition () has a substantially 'C'-shaped cross-section with a slot () extending along the length of the gas generant composition (). The gas generant slot () is oriented facing the inner housing orifice(s) (). The slotted, 'C'-shaped cross section of the gas generant () provides a greater exposed gas generant surface area than would be achievable without the slot (). This enhances the ignition and burning of the gas generant composition () upon inflator activation.