US5626360A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Linear igniters for airbag inflators
Assignee: Autoliv ASP Inc
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Filing: 1995-02-23
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Granted: 1997-05-06
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Expires: 2015-02-23
Abstract
Abstract Igniters for use in airbag inflators are disclosed. The igniters are fabricated of consumable materials which produce essentially no solid by-products. The igniters, or parts thereof, can be formed by molding or extrusion processes. The invention also provides a consumable auto-ignition cap as part of one of the embodiments of the igniter assembly.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald R. Lauritzen
- 👤 David J. Green
- 👤 Robert D. Taylor
- 👤 Scott C. Mitson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 18:39
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/02; B60R21/16; B60R21/26; B60R21/264; B60R21/2644; C; C06; C06C; C06C9/00; F; F42; F42B; F42B3/00; F42B3/04; F42C; F42C19/00; F42C19/08; F42C19/0803; F42C19/0807; B60R2021/26029; B60R2021/26041
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 39
Claim 1
Independent Claim
43 words
An igniter for use in a vehicle airbag assembly comprising an igniter material which is maintained in its intended functional shape by a solid body of a consumable material which is essentially consumed to a non-solid phase upon ignition of the igniter material.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
43 words
An igniter for use in a vehicle airbag assembly comprising an igniter material which is maintained in its intended functional shape by a solid body of a consumable material which is essentially consumed to a non-solid phase upon ignition of the igniter material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
An igniter as defined in claim 1 wherein the shape of said solid body of consumable material comprises a hollow cylinder.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
An igniter as defined in claim 2 wherein said igniter material comprises a particulate material confined within said hollow cylinder.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
An igniter as defined in claim 1 wherein at least a portion of said solid body of consumable material is formed from a material having an auto ignition temperature in the range of 300° to 450° F.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
An igniter as defined in claim 4 wherein at least part of said consumable material is nitrocellulose.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
An igniter as defined in claim 2 wherein a deflagration cord is part of said ignition material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
An igniter as defined in claim 1 wherein said solid body of consumable material is provided as an integral solid rod, and wherein said igniter material is selected to provide an igniter with a flame propagation rate of at least 600 feet per second.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
An igniter assembly for an automotive airbag comprising an igniter shell which encompasses igniter material, wherein said shell is made of a solid material which is consumed producing essentially no solid by-products during ignition of the igniter.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
An igniter assembly for an automotive airbag comprising an igniter shell which encompasses igniter material, wherein said shell is made of a solid material which is consumed producing essentially no solid by-products during ignition of the igniter.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
An igniter assembly as defined in claim 8 wherein said igniter shell is in the shape of a hollow tube.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
An igniter assembly as defined in claim 9 wherein said igniter material is particulate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
An igniter assembly as defined in claim 8 wherein said igniter shell and said encompassed igniter material are integrally formed from the same material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
An igniter assembly as defined in claim 11 wherein said igniter shell and said igniter material are integrally formed by an extrusion process.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
An igniter assembly as defined in claim 11 wherein said igniter shell and said igniter material are integrally formed by a molding process.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
An igniter assembly as defined in claim 11 wherein said igniter material comprises material selected from the group consisting of nitrocellulose and a mixture of boron and potassium nitrate.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
An igniter assembly as defined in claim 8 wherein said solid material is comprised of compositions selected from the group consisting of nitrocellulose, paper, polyhydrocarbons and poly(hydrocarbon oxides).
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
56 words
In a gas generator for inflating automotive airbags which includes an igniter material in an igniter tube, a gas generating composition surrounding said tube, and means to initiate ignition of said igniter material, the improvement which comprises providing said igniter tube from an organic composition which is consumable producing essentially no solid by-products during said ignition.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
56 words
In a gas generator for inflating automotive airbags which includes an igniter material in an igniter tube, a gas generating composition surrounding said tube, and means to initiate ignition of said igniter material, the improvement which comprises providing said igniter tube from an organic composition which is consumable producing essentially no solid by-products during said ignition.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
In a gas generator as defined in claim 16, providing said igniter tube as a linear igniter tube produced by extruding said organic composition.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
In a gas generator as defined in claim 16, providing said igniter tube as a linear igniter tube produced by molding said organic composition.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
A gas generator as defined in claim 16, wherein said igniter tube comprises a nitrocellulose composition.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
37 words
A gas generator as defined in claim 16, wherein a consumable cap comprising an organic material which will auto-ignite at a temperature in the range of 300° to 450° F. encloses one end of said igniter tube.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
A gas generator as defined in claim 16, wherein said igniter tube is formed from a mixture of igniter material and a binder.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
A gas generator as defined in claim 16, wherein said igniter tube comprises a solid rod formed by extrusion of said igniter material.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
14 words
A gas generator as defined in claim 22, wherein said igniter material comprises nitrocellulose.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
53 words
An igniter assembly for a vehicle airbag restraint system comprising: (a) a shell of a solid material, (b) an igniter material effectively shaped by said shell, and (c) a cap sealing one end of the shell, said cap being fabricated from a material which has an auto-ignition temperature between 300° and 450° F.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
53 words
An igniter assembly for a vehicle airbag restraint system comprising: (a) a shell of a solid material, (b) an igniter material effectively shaped by said shell, and (c) a cap sealing one end of the shell, said cap being fabricated from a material which has an auto-ignition temperature between 300° and 450° F.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
37 words
The igniter assembly of claim 24 wherein at least one of said shell (a) or said cap (c) is fabricated from a material which is fully consumed producing essentially no solid by-products when the assembly is ignited.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
12 words
The igniter assembly of claim 25, wherein said cap (c) comprises nitrocellulose.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
19 words
The igniter assembly of claim 26, wherein said cap (c) has an auto-ignition temperature of 350° to 400° F.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
25 words
The igniter assembly of claim 24, wherein said shell (a) comprises a material selected from the group consisting of nitrocellulose, paper, polyhydrocarbon and poly(hydrocarbon oxide).
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
28 words
The igniter assembly of claim 24, wherein both said shell (a) and said cap (c) are fabricated from materials which are fully consumed when the assembly is ignited.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
25 words
The igniter assembly of claim 24, wherein said shell (a) and said igniter material (b) are fabricated as a unitary body of the same material.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
15 words
The igniter assembly of claim 30, wherein said unitary body is fabricated as a molding.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
15 words
The igniter assembly of claim 30, wherein said unitary body is fabricated as an extrusion.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
67 words
The igniter assembly of claim 24, wherein said vehicle airbag restraint system includes an inflator housing containing the means for generating gas to inflate the airbag and wherein said cap (c) is shaped to cooperate with a complementary mating portion at an end of the inflator housing to hold said one end of the shell in a generally central location of said end of the inflator housing.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
19 words
An igniter as defined in claim 1, having a flame propagation rate of at least 600 feet per second.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
19 words
An igniter as defined in claim 1, having a flame propagation rate of 1000 to 1200 feet per second.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-05-05 | 2000-11-04 | 2001-05-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-05-05 | 2004-11-04 | 2005-05-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-05-05 | 2008-11-04 | 2009-05-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |