Abstract: A vehicle safety apparatus for restraining the movements of an adult and/or a child during a vehicle collision includes an inflatable air bag (18). The air bag has an upper chamber (26) for holding gas to restrain the adult and a lower chamber (28) for holding gas to restrain the child. A first gas source (22) is provided for inflating the upper chamber to a first pressure to restrain the movement of the adult. A second gas source (24) is provided for inflating the lower chamber to a second pressure which is less than the first pressure, to restrain the movement of the child. The first and second gas sources (22, 24) are simultaneously activated to inflate the upper and lower chambers.

Abstract: A modularized aspirating/venting motor vehicle passenger passive restraint assembly. A first embodiment utilizes two separate inflator units lockingly engaged within a stamped mounting plate which, in turn, is installed within an outer base plate. Both plates comprise a lower depending skirt portion defining an aperture through a lower portion of the corresponding plate. These apertures are located in substantially vertical alignment when the mounting plate is seated within the base plate. An elongated conduit permits a reciprocal fluid flow between the interior of the module and the ambient atmosphere. A first end of the conduit is inserted through the corresponding apertures in the base plate and mounting plate to a location adjacent the inflator units and secured therein by magnaforming the overlapping skirt portions into a groove on the conduit's outer surface. A second end of the conduit extends through an inner structural wall of the vehicle to a location outside of the passenger compartment.

Abstract: A linear bilateral inflator module in which the inflator component of the module has two opposed cylindrical combustion chambers mounted in a horizontal plane at either end of the inflator. These chambers are joined to and supported by a central T-shaped inflator housing containing an ignitor for initiating combustion of the propellant within the inflator. The lower leg of this central section is configured as a tubular extension which may optionally be joined to a separate conduit member adapted for permitting a reciprocal fluid flow into and out of the air bag through the inflator. The extension also serves as a point of attachment for an outer surrounding base plate assembly. A bead, located within the mouth portion of the air bag, is trapped between the inflator and the base plate during formation of the structural seal between these components such that the inflator is completely enclosed within the bag.

Abstract: An ignition material packet assembly which comprises: (1) a first cup-shaped member having an open top, formed of an engineering thermoplastic for electrically insulating a pyrotechnic material stored within the assembly, (2) a second cup-shaped member inserted at least partially within the outer plastic member and retained therein by a friction fit created therebetween such that a compression gap is formed between a corresponding base portion of the first and second cup-shaped members, wherein the second cup-shaped member has an open top and is formed of a lightweight metal; (3) a pyrotechnic material comprising a mixture of an ignition enhancing material and an autoignition material sealed within the metal cup member and (4) a metal lid member closing the open top of the inner cup member to hermetically seal the pyrotechnic material therein.

Abstract: A non-welded pyrotechnic gas-generating inflator apparatus which comprises: a domed diffuser member, open at one end; a closure plate member sealing the open end of the diffuser member, the members being sealed by magnaforming a peripheral lip portion of the diffuser member over the outer circumferential edge of the closure plate member, thereby forming an inflator housing; a sufficient amount of a combustible gas generant material within said housing to produce, upon the combustion thereof, a volume of a gaseous product sufficient to substantially inflate an automobile air bag within about 30-60 milliseconds; a combustion initiating device positioned within the housing adjacent the gas generant and a filter assembly for filtering the combustion product prior to its discharge from the inflator, the filter assembly circumferentially surrounding the gas generant within the housing.

Abstract: An airbag module comprising a pyrotechnic inflator device; an inflatable air cushion operatively associated therewith; a retainer for lockingly engaging the air cushion to the inflator and a mounting plate configured and adapted for securing the inflator, the air cushion and the retainer in operative association. A variety of inflator embodiments may be incorporated into the module assembly but each requires, along at least a portion of the housing thereof, a rounded arcuate surface configured for engagement with the retainer upon the formation of a structural seal between the mounting plate and the retainer. This structural seal is created by magnaforming a portion of the mounting plate into a corresponding open groove upon the retainer.

Abstract: A non-welded pyrotechnic gas-generating inflator apparatus which comprises: a domed diffuser member, open at one end; a closure plate member sealing the open end of the diffuser member, the members being mechanically sealed by rolling a peripheral lip portion of the diffuser member over the outer circumference edge of the closure plate member at an angle of about 180 degrees to a remaining lateral wall portion of the diffuser member, and inserting a locking ring member against a bottom surface of the closure member within the periphery of the rolled lip, the locking ring being configured to engage an inner terminal edge portion of the lip, thereby forming a sealed inflator housing; a sufficient amount of a combustible gas generant material within said housing to produce, upon the combustion thereof, a volume of a gaseous product sufficient to substantially inflate an automobile air bag within about 30-60 milliseconds; a combustion initiating device positioned within the housing adjacent the gas generant and a

Abstract: A vehicle passive restraint device comprising an air bag positioned between an occupant of the vehicle and an interior portion thereof for protecting the occupant from an impact with the interior portion in the event of a collision involving the vehicle; a generator for producing a sufficient quantity of a gaseous combustion product to inflate the air bag means in an interval occuring between the collision and the impact in order to prevent the impact; and a deflector ring positioned between the air bag and the generator for attaching the bag to the generator and extending a sufficient distance into an interior portion of the air bag for preventing hot combustion gases and particulates produced within the generator from impinging directly against an inner surface of the bag. The deflector ring is stamped from a relatively light weight material utilizing conventional stamping equipment without the necessity of subjecting the ring to any machining treatment.

Abstract: A motor vehicle modularized airbag assembly adapted for facilitating an aspirating flow of ambient atmosphere through the module and into the air bag to facilitate the inflation thereof and thereafter so as to vent the contents into the surrounding atmosphere. The assembly comprises a pyrotechnic inflator device; an inflatable air cushion in contact relation thereto; a retainer member for facilitating a locking engagement between the air cushion and the inflator and a mounting plate comprising a plurality of stepped levels for receiving the inflator, the air cushion and the retainer member in operative association, as well as a plurality of projecting members formed integral with a lower surface thereof to facilitate the aspirating and venting effect.

Abstract: A self-sealing annular filter component for operation within a housing portion of a pyrotechnic inflator device. The filter comprises: (a) first and second ring-shaped members configured to form an annular frame, at least one of the ring members being provided with at least one tab member formed integrally therewith and extending outwardly therefrom toward the other ring-shaped member to maintain a set spacing between the frame members, and (b) a plurality of filter layers supported upon the filter frame, each filter layer positioned so as to at least partially overlap a preceding underlying filter layer around the entire annular surface of the filter frame. The outer circumferential edge of the ring-shaped frame member is adapted to ensure circular line contact with an inner portion of the inflator housing.

Abstract: A motor vehicle modularized airbag assembly adapted for facilitating an aspirating flow of ambient atmosphere through the module and into the air bag to facilitate the inflation thereof and thereafter so as to vent the contents into the surrounding atmosphere. The assembly comprises a pyrotechnic inflator device; and inflatable air cushion in contact relation thereto; a retainer member for facilitating a locking engagement between the air cushion and the inflator and a mounting plate comprising a plurality of stepped levels for receiving the inflator, the air cushion and the retainer member in operative association, as well as a plurality of projecting members formed integral with a lower surface thereof to facilitate the aspirating and venting effect.