Abstract: A power drive attachment for a pedal cycle includes a drive motor mounted on the frame of the cycle. An output drive sprocket is mounted on the motor in close vicinity to the chain ring, wherein the drive chain is captured between the drive sprocket and the chain ring. Means pivotally mount the drive motor and sprocket on the cycle frame for increasing the tension on the drive chain and for accommodating irregularities in the alignment between the drive sprocket and the drive chain. In another embodiment, a power drive attachment includes a drive motor mounted on the frame of the cycle. An output drive sprocket is mounted on the motor for engaging an unoccupied portion of the chain ring. The drive sprocket includes roller tooth means for engaging a section of the chain ring or rear sprocket which is not communicating with the drive chain, to drive the cycle.

Abstract: A gas generating inflator assembly for a vehicle safety restraint system including an inflator housing having two walls, an inner wall and an outer wall. The inner and outer walls form a combustion chamber therebetween. A filter pack is disposed within the combustion chamber along an inner diameter of the outer wall. Gas generant is also disposed within the combustion chamber. An internal structure is disposed within the combustion chamber for diffusing the ignitor blast and retaining slag produced by the ignited gas generant. The internal structure is spaced from the filter pack and the inner wall such that a portion of the gas generant is located between the internal structure and the inner wall and another portion of the gas generant is located between the internal structure and the filtration pack.

Abstract: A driver side inflator housing for a vehicle safety system which includes a base which is stamped from a thin sheet of aluminum The base includes a central axis, a plurality of stamped concentric rings extending upwardly from a bottom of the base and spaced from the central axis. An interface attachment flange is provided for mounting the inflator, and a squib pocket extending about the central axis of the base is capable of holding the squib of the gas generating inflator. The concentric rings, attachment flange and squib pocket are all formed during the stamping of the base; thus excessive machining is not required. Only minor machining is necessary to complete the base. The base of the present invention is designed to reduce the overall inflator cost, while maintaining the processing capability and quality of current bases.

Abstract: A carrying device removably attachable to a beverage bottle or other container. The device includes a first u-shaped base member which is slid over the neck of the bottle. A second closure member is removably fastenable with the base member to encircle the neck of the bottle therebetween. Each of the base and the closure members include a slot for accommodating a carrying strap, handle or the like, for supporting the bottle or container. In another embodiment, the device comprises a pair of symmetrical clips slid over the neck of the bottle in opposing directions to encircle the neck of the bottle therebetween. Each of the clips include a slot for receiving a carrying strap, handle or the like, which both supports the bottle or container and secures the clips together.

Abstract: A device for sealing a gas fill port of an inflator of a vehicle restraint system, for providing pressure release of gases during bonfire of the inflator. During normal functioning of the inflator, the device can be examined to indicate the amount of compressed gas present in the inflator at the time of deployment. In one embodiment, a seal seals the fill port of the inflator. The seal is made of a material which melts at or just below auto-ignition temperature of the inflator during bonfire to allow the gases to vent from the inflator chamber, thereby preventing the inflator from experiencing extremely high internal pressures. Another embodiment of the device seals the fill port of the inflator and also acts as a tell-tale device, whereupon examination of the device after deployment, the amount of gas present in the inflator at the time of functioning can be determined.

Abstract: A cover and housing assembly for a module of a vehicle safety restraint system including a cover having a pairs of doors. Each of the doors has an upper edge and a lower edge, joined by a seam of frangible material. An extruded housing includes a pair of sidewalls, each of the sidewalls having a free edge extending along a length thereof. A plurality of attachment segments are formed integrally with and spaced along a length of each of the doors, so as to form an open section between respective pairs of attachment segments. A plurality of attachment portions are formed integrally with and spaced along a length of each of the sidewalls so as to form a recessed section between respective pairs of attachment portions. Upon assembly of the cover and housing, each of the attachment segments of the doors is received within a respective recessed section of the housing and each of the attachment portions of the housing is received within a respective open section of the cover.

Abstract: An inflator of a vehicle safety restraint system includes a housing having a reservoir of liquid propellant. A combustion chamber is disposed in the housing in communication with the liquid propellant reservoir. A regenerative piston is movably disposed within the housing for separating the liquid propellant reservoir and the combustion chamber. The piston head includes a plurality of injection ports for delivering the liquid propellant to the combustion chamber in a controlled manner. A pressure relieving bore, normally sealed by the piston stem, is disposed in the housing for relieving pressure in the liquid propellant reservoir. Decomposition or combustion within the propellant storage reservoir will move the piston to open the pressure relief bore which depressurizes the liquid propellant and prevents rupture and fragmentation of the inflator.

Abstract: A low pressure sensing device for sensing pressure changes in a pressurized gas storage bottle of an inflater. At least one wire is wrapped around the vessel to sense the expansion or contraction of the vessel due to pressure changes in the vessel. The wire has a first end and a second end. The first end of the wire is secured to the vessel and the remainder of the wire is free to move circumferentially relative to the vessel in response to the expansion and contraction of the vessel. This relative movement can be monitored to determine if a pressure change has occurred in the vessel.

Abstract: A retention system for securing an electrical accessory, such as an electrical connector, to a reaction canister of an inflatable restraint assembly. The reaction canister comprises a trough-shaped body extruded from a continuous length of material and includes at least one screw retaining groove formed integrally with the body during the extrusion thereof. A retention clip includes a pair of legs interconnected by a bridge. Each of the legs has opposed ends. One of the ends of each of the legs mates with the screw retaining groove to attach the clip to the reaction canister. The other end of each of the legs form a cavity for receiving the electrical connector and securing the same to the reaction canister. In another embodiment, the retention clip mates with an attachment feature, separate from the screw retaining groove, and which is also formed integrally with the body during extrusion.

Abstract: An inflatable cushion is attached to the housing of an air bag module by securing a cushion retainer to the inflatable cushion by sliding the retainer into a throat of the cushion. The retainer and cushion assembly is then slid into a pair of channels disposed along a length of the module housing to secure the cushion to the housing. The retainer is a horseshoe-shaped structure having a first and second leg. An end plate attached to the housing includes a pair of slots for receiving the ends of the retainer legs to further secure the retainer and cushion to the housing.

Abstract: An inflator socket pin collar which includes integral electrostatic discharge protection for an initiator of an air bag inflator. The collar includes a body having first and second opposed ends. An upper chamber is disposed in the first end and a lower chamber disposed in the second end. The second chamber is capable of receiving the electrical connector of the vehicle. An insert is located in the first chamber. The insert includes a pair of socket pins for connecting the initiator to an electrical connector of a vehicle. A metal oxide varistor is disposed in the insert for protecting the initiator from electrostatic discharge. The initiator is supported by the collar and pins of the initiator mate with the socket pins of the insert.

Abstract: A temperature compensating low pressure sensor for verifying loss of gas from an inflator of a vehicle restraint safety system. The sensor includes a housing and a pressure diaphragm in communication with the fluid in the inflator. A temperature sensitive bimetallic thermostat is disposed within the housing. The thermostat expands with relation to a change in temperature of the fluid at the same rate as the pressure diaphragm. A retainer in communication with the pressure diaphragm is movably disposed in the housing. A stack of spring washers is disposed between the retainer and the thermostat for counteracting the pressure of the fluid acting upon the diaphragm. A contact arm in contact with the thermostat moves with the retainer.

Abstract: A reaction canister assembly for use in an inflatable airbag module system comprises a reaction canister housing having at least one open side and an inflator chamber. An inflator is disposed in the inflator chamber and includes a plurality of perforations or ports for passing excess gas generated within the inflator into the canister housing. At least one endplate partially closes the open side of the canister to leave an excess gas outlet passage at the open side of the housing. At least one overflow channel extends along a length of the housing for filtering and cooling the excess gas generated by the inflator. The excess gas passes through the ports of the inflator into the overflow channels and is discharged through the excess gas outlet passage at the open side of the housing.

Abstract: A fastenerless air bag module attachment assembly for securing a molded plastic cover to a module housing. The housing includes a trough-shaped body having opposed ends, and a top and bottom wall. An end plate is attached to each opposed sides of the body. The cover has a front face and top, bottom and opposed side legs extending therefrom. Two separate attachment features are provided to secure the cover to the housing. First, the top and bottom cover legs each include an integral attachment, for example, a projection, which slides into a channel disposed integrally in the top and bottom walls of the housing. Secondly, the housing end plates each include a pair of protruding tabs formed integrally therewith. The tabs extend through openings provided in the cover side legs when the housing and cover are assembled. One side leg of the cover is hingedly connected to the front face of the cover to permit assembly.

Abstract: A dispensing apparatus including at least one package having a bottom and at least one opening. A plurality of wrapped articles are disposed within the package. Each of the wrapped articles have a first and second end. A pull-tab is attached to the first end of each of the wrapped articles. An elongated tab having opposed ends is attached at one end to the second end of one of each of the wrapped articles and the other end of each of the elongated tabs is attached to the bottom of the package, wherein when the pull-tab is pulled outwardly the respective article unwraps and is dispensed through the opening of the package. The dispenser, therefore, is capable of delivering and unwrapping an article to the user in a convenient, easy, economical manner.

Abstract: A method and system for monitoring a concentration of volatile organic constituents in a test sample. A sparging vessel separates a volatile organic constituent sample from the test sample. A dryer dries the constituent sample to remove any vapor therein by mixing the constituent sample with a drying agent. A sorbent trap adsorbs the volatile constituents from the drying agent and concentrates the purged constituents. A microprocessor controlled director valve selectively directs the constituent sample from the dryer to the sorbent trap and from the sorbent trap to an organic vapor detector for determining the concentration of volatile constituents and for generating an electrical signal proportional to the total concentration of the volatile constituents in the sample.

Abstract: A dispenser, containing sealed or wrapped articles, which dispenses and simultaneously unseals or unwraps the articles as the user pulls a pull-tab on one face of the article's wrapper while an elongated tab connects the wrapper's other face to the dispenser's surface. The dispenser, therefore, is capable of delivering and unwrapping an article to the user in a convenient, facile yet economical manner as the user pulls the article from the dispenser.