Abstract: An inflator assembly inflates a vehicle occupant restraint. The inflator assembly includes a container in which gas is stored under pressure. An ignitable material is disposed within the container. An actuator assembly is provided to release the stored gas from the container and to ignite the ignitable material. The actuator assembly includes a pyrotechnic charge of ignitable material which burns to move a piston to rupture a portion of the container. A passage through the piston conducts a flow of combustion products resulting from ignition of the pyrotechnic charge of ignitable material to ignite the ignitable material within the container. During burning of the ignitable material, the gas in the container is heated to increase the fluid pressure in the container.

Abstract: An igniter assembly for a vehicle occupant safety apparatus includes an ignitable material, a plurality of primer elements, and a single impact member. A housing having a hermetic seal contains the ignitable material, the primer elements, and the impact member. The ignitable material initiates burning of a combustible material in the safety apparatus when the ignitable material is ignited. The primer elements are actuatable to ignite the ignitable material in response to the application of force against the primer elements. The impact member is movable to apply force against the primer element to actuate the primer elements in response to an impact force applied to the housing.

Abstract: An igniter assembly for a vehicle occupant safety apparatus comprises an ignitable material, a primer element, and a firing pin member. The ignitable material initiates burning of a combustible material in the safety apparatus when the ignitable material is ignited. The firing pin member is movable to actuate the primer element by penetrating the primer element and moving into contact with an ignitable primer material in the primer element. The primer element ignites the ignitable material when actuated by the firing pin member. A housing containing the ignitable material, the primer element and the firing pin member has a hermetic seal. The housing also has openable means for exposing the combustible material to the ignitable material when the ignitable material is ignited.