Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
172 words
An air bag inflation assembly (10), comprising: gas generating means (12) for producing an inflation gas; and a bag (16) operatively associated with said means for filling said bag with said inflation gas, said bag including: a front wall (18) formed of flexible material and having a peripheral edge (22); intermediate wall means (24) formed of a flexible material and having a peripheral edge (28) connected to said front wall, said front wall and said intermediate wall means together defining a first volume (32) which may be inflated by said gas, said intermediate wall means being frangible upon said inflation gas within said volume reaching a predetermined pressure; and a rear wall (36) formed of flexible material and having a peripheral edge (40) connected to said front wall, said front wall and said rear wall together defining a second volume (42), greater than said first, which may be inflated by said gas upon rupture of said intermediate wall means due to said inflation gas within said first volume reaching said predetermined pressure.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
35 words
An assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said intermediate wall means (24) includes a line (54) of weakened strength, said line being a closed geometric shape in proximity to said gas generating means (12).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
76 words
An assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein said intermediate wall means includes an intermediate wall (24) formed of flexible material and having a peripheral edge (28) permanently secured to said peripheral edge (22) of said front wall (18), an opening (34) operatively associated with said gas generating means (12), said opening being releasably secured to said rear wall (36), said releasable securement being broken upon said first volume (32) being subjected to said predetermined pressure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
An assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein each of said intermediate and rear walls (24, 36) includes at least one vent (48, 50) in proximity to each other to define an associated vent pair, and wherein at least one said vent pair is releasably secured together.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
An assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said intermediate wall means (24) includes a line (58) of weakened strength, said line being a closed geometric shape in proximity to said peripheral edge (28) of said intermediate wall means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
63 words
An assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein said intermediate wall means includes an intermediate wall (24) formed of flexible material and having a peripheral edge (28) releasably secured to said rear wall (36) to thereby be connected to said front wall via said rear wall, said releasable securement (58) being broken upon said first volume (32) being subjected to said predetermined pressure.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
An assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein said intermediate wall (24) further includes a centrally located opening (34), said opening being substantially aligned with an inlet (44) in said rear wall (36), said inlet being operatively associated with said gas generating means (12).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
An assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said intermediate wall means (24) includes a line (52) of weakened strength, said line being a closed geometric shape intermediate said gas generating means (12) and said peripheral edge (28) of the intermediate wall.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
67 words
An assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein said intermediate wall means includes an intermediate wall (24) formed of flexible material and having a peripheral edge (28) permanently secured to said front wall (18) and a central section (34) permanently operatively associated with said gas generating means (12), said line (52) of weakened strength being broken upon said first volume (32) being subjected to said predetermined pressure.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
An assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein said intermediate wall (24) further includes a centrally located opening (34), said opening being substantially aligned with an inlet (44) in said rear wall (36) and said opening and said inlet being permanently secured to said gas generating means (12).