Abstract: A filter for use in safety air bags as employed in vehicles and the like comprises one or more compressed grooved wires, wherein the wire or wires have an outer diameter of about 0.010 to 0.050 inches and the grooves have a depth in the range of 0.001 to about 0.005 inches. A plurality of grooves, preferable about 10-14, of about 0.018 diameter stainless steel wire, having a depth of about 0.001 inches to about 0.0025 inches, are equally spaced about the periphery of the wire, which is cylindrical. The pitch of the groove spacing may differ for different implementations. The wire outer surface between grooves may have a radius, preferably about 0.0025 inches in a wire of about 0.018 inches diameter. A stainless steel wire is preferred, but other wire metals may be used according to a given implementation.

Abstract: A filter for use in safety air bags as employed in vehicles and the like comprises one or more compressed grooved wires, wherein the wire or wires have an outer diameter of about 0.010 to 0.050 inches and the grooves have a depth in the range of 0.001 to about 0.005 inches. A plurality of grooves, preferable about 10-14, of about 0.018 diameter stainless steel wire, having a depth of about 0.001 inches to about 0.0025 inches, are equally spaced about the periphery of the wire, which is cylindrical. The pitch of the groove spacing may differ for different implementations. The wire outer surface between grooves may have a radius, preferably about 0.0025 inches in a wire of about 0.018 inches diameter. A stainless steel wire is preferred, but other wire metals may be used according to a given implementation.