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:
Nov. 17, 2009
Filed:
Apr. 25, 2006
Eric J. Eckelberg, Macomb, MI (US);
Eric J. Eckelberg, Macomb, MI (US);
TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc., Washington, MI (US);
Abstract
An apparatus () for helping to protect an occupant () of a vehicle () includes a housing () and an air bag () supported by the housing. An inflator () is supported by the housing (). The inflator () includes a first stage () including at least one first outlet passage () and a second stage () including at least one second outlet passage (). The first and second outlet passages (and) are provided for discharging inflation fluid into the air bag (). An anchor () is secured to the inflator () and at least partially blocks inflation fluid flow through the second outlet passage (). The anchor () is configured to disconnect from the inflator () in response to inflation fluid discharged through the second outlet passage () when the second stage () is actuated. At least one tether () has a first end () connected to the air bag () and a second end () secured to the anchor ().