Abstract: An apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant (16) of a vehicle (12) comprises an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) that is inflatable from a deflated condition to an inflated condition. An inflator (32) is actuatable to provide inflation fluid to inflate the protection device (14). A retainer (70) has an opening (78) for receiving the inflator (32). The retainer (70) includes a base portion (72) and an annular wall (74) that extends transversely from the base portion (72). The annular wall (74) has a deflector portion (88) and a retaining portion (86). The deflector portion (88) is positioned radially outward from the retaining portion (86) and extends substantially orthogonal to the base portion (72) to direct inflation fluid from the inflator (32) into the protection device (14) in a direction substantially parallel to a central axis (37) of the inflator (32).

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant (16) of a vehicle (12) comprises an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) that is inflatable from a deflated condition to an inflated condition. An inflator (32) is actuatable to provide inflation fluid to inflate the protection device (14). A retainer (70) has an opening (78) for receiving the inflator (32). The retainer (70) includes a base portion (72) and an annular wall (74) that extends transversely from the base portion (72). The annular wall (74) has a deflector portion (88) and a retaining portion (86). The deflector portion (88) is positioned radially outward from the retaining portion (86) and extends substantially orthogonal to the base portion (72) to direct inflation fluid from the inflator (32) into the protection device (14) in a direction substantially parallel to a central axis (37) of the inflator (32).

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for helping to protect a vehicle occupant includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (12). An inflator (14) provides inflation fluid for inflating the protection device (12). The inflation fluid flow from the inflator (14) is transverse to a central axis (16) of the inflator. A shield (70) includes a piece of material (72) folded about the inflator (14) and having a wall portion (102) that is interposed between at least a portion of the inflator and the protection device (12) and against which inflation fluid initially exiting from the inflator at least partially impinges. The wall portion (102) has a plurality of tear seams (76) that rupture due to inflation fluid pressure acting on the shield (70) to enable the wall portion to form a plurality of flaps (80) within the protection device (12).

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for helping to protect a vehicle occupant includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (12). An inflator (14) provides inflation fluid for inflating the protection device (12). The inflation fluid flow from the inflator (14) is transverse to a central axis (16) of the inflator. A shield (70) includes a piece of material (72) folded about the inflator (14) and having a wall portion (102) that is interposed between at least a portion of the inflator and the protection device (12) and against which inflation fluid initially exiting from the inflator at least partially impinges. The wall portion (102) has a plurality of tear seams (76) that rupture due to inflation fluid pressure acting on the shield (70) to enable the wall portion to form a plurality of flaps (80) within the protection device (12).

Abstract: A simplified multi-chamber inflator 10 utilizes a housing 12 having two initiator chambers 42 and 44 respectively formed within an initiator assembly 18. The initiator assembly 18 may be formed from a one-piece component or alternatively, may be formed by coupling a first component 26 and a second component 28 in nested relationship within the housing 12. A primary propellant chamber 52 fluidly communicates with initiator chambers 42 and 44 upon actuation of inflator 10.

Abstract: A simplified multi-chamber inflator 10 utilizes a housing 12 having two initiator chambers 42 and 44 respectively formed within an initiator assembly 18. The initiator assembly 18 may be formed from a one-piece component or alternatively, may be formed by coupling a first component 26 and a second component 28 in nested relationship within the housing 12. A primary propellant chamber 52 fluidly communicates with initiator chambers 42 and 44 upon actuation of inflator 10.

Abstract: A gas generator (10) utilizes at least three segregated propellant container/combustion chambers (22, 32 and 34), each having a plurality of nonazide propellant grains (20, 36 and 38) therein, and an igniter (16) for igniting only the propellant grains (20) located within the first combustion chamber (22). The nonazide propellant produces enough heat energy to subsequently ignite the segregated propellant grains (36 and 38) by forced convection and/or heat conduction. The output inflation profile can be tailored to optimally cover a range of 10 to 90 percentile vehicle occupants.

Abstract: An air bag inflator is manufactured by sandwiching a wire mesh filter between a pair of flat elongated perforate strips of steel, thereafter rolling the sandwiched steel strips and wire mesh concomitantly to form a right circular cylindrical tube with the edge portions of the steel strips orientated in juxtaposed relation to one another, respectively; and welding the juxtaposed edge portions of the strips by a common weld that extends radially across the edge portions of both of the steel strips.