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:
May. 03, 2011
Filed:
Jan. 20, 2006
Sean P. Burns, Almont, MI (US);
Sean P. Burns, Almont, MI (US);
Automotive Systems Laboratory, Inc., Armada, MI (US);
Abstract
In accordance with the present invention, a flexible gas generator () is provided which includes a first flexible housing () defining an interior, the first housing () having an exterior surface. A first flexible, porous covering () is positioned in contact with substantially the entire exterior surface of the first housing (). The first housing () and covering () are positioned within a second flexible housing (). The first () and second () housings may be formed from polymeric or metallic tubing. A second flexible, porous covering () may be positioned to cover substantially the entire exterior surface of the second housing (). The flexible first covering () may comprise multiple layers of, for example, a braided or a mesh material. The flexible coverings () provide structural support for the housings () while cooling and filtering the generated gases. A series of plenums () may be formed between adjacent layers of the first covering and/or a series of baffles () may be positioned between the layers to direct the flow of inflation gases and to cool the gases. Use of flexible tubing and flexible coverings provides the gas generator with substantial flexibility.