US4424914A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Air bag explosive device
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1982-06-24
•
Granted: 1984-01-10
•
Expires: 2002-06-24
Abstract
Abstract A completely separable seal for a container opening having a throat with a restriction therein including a casing, an explosive charge in the casing, a projectile tethered to the casing, the projectile including a thin completely separable peripheral diaphragm for closing the container throat having upper and lower surfaces, the charge mounted against the upper surface, means on the seal for engaging the throat restriction when the charge has been fired to subsequently limit downward thrust of the projectile into the container after separation of the diaphragm from the container throat to thus permit the projectile to reverse direction as the upward explosive forces overcome the downward explosive forces to thus propel the casing and tethered projectile from the container throat thus opening the container. The invention includes the complete closure for the container as well as the method of opening the rupturable sealed aperture.
Inventors
- 👤 Milton F. Brown, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 14:13
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/02; B60R21/16; B60R21/26; B60R21/268; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/1624; Y10T137/1632; Y10T137/1647
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 57
Claim 1
Independent Claim
125 words
The method of opening a shearable sealed aperture, comprising the steps of: (a) positioning an explosive charge between a seal and a casing; (b) tethering said casing to said seal; (c) exploding said charge against said seal to produce exploding gases having both upward and downward components; (d) driving said seal downwardly with said downward exploding gases to drive at least a portion of said seal downwardly in said aperture a distance sufficient to completely shear said seal from said aperture; and, (e) limiting the downward displacement of said seal by means of said tethered casing while permitting said upward exploding gases to increase in pressure on said seal and thereby causing said tethered casing and seal to move upwardly and out of said aperture.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
125 words
The method of opening a shearable sealed aperture, comprising the steps of: (a) positioning an explosive charge between a seal and a casing; (b) tethering said casing to said seal; (c) exploding said charge against said seal to produce exploding gases having both upward and downward components; (d) driving said seal downwardly with said downward exploding gases to drive at least a portion of said seal downwardly in said aperture a distance sufficient to completely shear said seal from said aperture; and, (e) limiting the downward displacement of said seal by means of said tethered casing while permitting said upward exploding gases to increase in pressure on said seal and thereby causing said tethered casing and seal to move upwardly and out of said aperture.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 and including the steps of: (a) maintaining a portion of said seal against downward movement.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 2 including the steps of: (a) catching said seal after it has cleared said aperture.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 and including the steps of: (a) preventing lateral expansion of the exploding gases in said aperture.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
148 words
The method of opening and quickly releasing pressurized gases in a first pressurized vessel having a shearable sealed aperture, comprising the steps of: (a) positioning an explosive charge between a seal and a casing; (b) tethering said casing to said seal; (c) exploding said charge against said seal to produce exploding gases having both upward and downward components; (d) driving said seal downwardly with said downward exploding gases to drive at least a portion of said seal downwardly in said aperture a distance sufficient to completely shear said seal from said aperture; (e) limiting the downward displacement of said seal by means of said tethered casing while permitting said upward exploding gases to increase in pressure on said seal and thereby causing said tethered casing and seal to move upwardly and out of said aperture; and, (f) subsequently rapidly releasing pressurized fluid from said vessel through said aperture.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
148 words
The method of opening and quickly releasing pressurized gases in a first pressurized vessel having a shearable sealed aperture, comprising the steps of: (a) positioning an explosive charge between a seal and a casing; (b) tethering said casing to said seal; (c) exploding said charge against said seal to produce exploding gases having both upward and downward components; (d) driving said seal downwardly with said downward exploding gases to drive at least a portion of said seal downwardly in said aperture a distance sufficient to completely shear said seal from said aperture; (e) limiting the downward displacement of said seal by means of said tethered casing while permitting said upward exploding gases to increase in pressure on said seal and thereby causing said tethered casing and seal to move upwardly and out of said aperture; and, (f) subsequently rapidly releasing pressurized fluid from said vessel through said aperture.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 5 and including the steps of: (a) providing a wide aperture in said pressurized vessel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 6 and including the steps of: (a) releasing said pressurized fluid into a second vessel for the purpose of pressurizing said second vessel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 7 and including the step of: (a) inflating said second vessel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 8 and including the step of: (a) releasing a large volume of high pressure fluid in said first vessel into said second vessel in substantially a fraction of a second to inflate said second vessel in substantially a fraction of a second.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
132 words
A completely separable seal for a container opening having a throat with a restriction therein including: (a) a casing; (b) an explosive charge in said casing; (c) a projectile tethered to said casing; (d) said projectile including a thin completely separable peripheral diaphragm for closing said container throat having upper and lower surfaces; (e) said charge mounted against said upper surface; (f) means on said seal for engaging said throat restriction when said charge has been fired to subsequently limit downward thrust of said projectile into said container after complete separation of said diaphragm from said container throat to thus permit said projectile to reverse direction as the upward explosive forces overcome the downward explosive forces to thus propel the casing and tethered projectile from the container throat thus opening the container.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
132 words
A completely separable seal for a container opening having a throat with a restriction therein including: (a) a casing; (b) an explosive charge in said casing; (c) a projectile tethered to said casing; (d) said projectile including a thin completely separable peripheral diaphragm for closing said container throat having upper and lower surfaces; (e) said charge mounted against said upper surface; (f) means on said seal for engaging said throat restriction when said charge has been fired to subsequently limit downward thrust of said projectile into said container after complete separation of said diaphragm from said container throat to thus permit said projectile to reverse direction as the upward explosive forces overcome the downward explosive forces to thus propel the casing and tethered projectile from the container throat thus opening the container.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
A completely separable seal as in claim 10 and wherein: (a) said casing includes a flange for engaging said throat restriction.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
A completely separable seal as in claim 10 and wherein: (a) said projectile includes means for engaging said throat restriction.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
A completely separable seal as in claim 11 and wherein: (a) said casing includes a pair of thin concentric walls for receiving said charge.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
A completely separable seal as in claim 12 and wherein: (a) said casing includes a pair of thin parallel walls for receiving said charge.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
A completely separable seal as in claim 10 and wherein: (a) said casing includes a charge firing means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
37 words
A completely separable seal as in claim 10 and wherein: (a) said projectile includes a stud extending through said casing; and, (b) said stud includes means for engaging said casing for tethering said projectile to said casing.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
A completely separable seal as in claim 16 and wherein: (a) said means for engaging said casing includes a threaded member.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
A completely separable seal as in claim 17 and wherein: (a) said stud includes container filling means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
A completely separable seal as in claim 18 and wherein: (a) said container filling means includes a central passageway in said threaded member.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
A completely separable seal as in claim 10 and wherein: (a) said projectile includes a thickened central portion adjacent said peripheral diaphragm.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
29 words
A completely separable seal as in claim 10 and wherein: (a) said projectile includes a main body portion; and, (b) said diaphragm is removable from said main body portion.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
A completely separable seal as in claim 21 and wherein: (a) said main body portion includes threaded means for securing said diaphragm thereto.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
18 words
A completely separable seal as in claim 17 and wherein: (a) said threaded member includes a holding screw.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
18 words
A completely separable seal as in claim 17 and wherein: (a) said threaded member includes a holding nut.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
18 words
A completely separable seal as in claim 17 and including: (a) plurality of studs extending through said casing.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
18 words
A completely separable seal as in claim 10 and wherein: (a) said casing and said projectile are circular.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
18 words
A completely separable seal as in claim 10 and wherein: (a) said casing and said projectile are rectangular.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
22 words
A completely separable seal as in claim 15 and including: (a) a plurality of said charge firing mechanisms spaced from each other.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
164 words
A rapid pressure release closure for a container having an opening therein including: (a) a sleeve secured in said opening; (b) said sleeve including a throat having upper and lower portions and a restriction therein; (c) a completely separable seal mounted in said throat; (d) said seal including a casing; (e) an explosive charge in said casing; (f) a projectile tethered to said casing; (g) said projectile including a thin completely separable peripheral diaphragm for closing said container throat having upper and lower surfaces; (h) said charge mounted against said upper surface; and, (i) means on said seal for engaging said throat restriction when said charge has been fired to subsequently limit downward thrust of said projectile into said container after complete separation of said diaphragm from said container throat to thus permit said projectile to reverse direction as the upward explosive forces overcome the downward explosive forces to thus propel the casing and tethered projectile from the container throat thus opening the container.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
164 words
A rapid pressure release closure for a container having an opening therein including: (a) a sleeve secured in said opening; (b) said sleeve including a throat having upper and lower portions and a restriction therein; (c) a completely separable seal mounted in said throat; (d) said seal including a casing; (e) an explosive charge in said casing; (f) a projectile tethered to said casing; (g) said projectile including a thin completely separable peripheral diaphragm for closing said container throat having upper and lower surfaces; (h) said charge mounted against said upper surface; and, (i) means on said seal for engaging said throat restriction when said charge has been fired to subsequently limit downward thrust of said projectile into said container after complete separation of said diaphragm from said container throat to thus permit said projectile to reverse direction as the upward explosive forces overcome the downward explosive forces to thus propel the casing and tethered projectile from the container throat thus opening the container.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
22 words
A rapid pressure release closure as in claim 29 and wherein: (a) said restriction is in the upper portion of said throat.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
22 words
A rapid pressure release closure as in claim 29 and wherein: (a) said restriction is in the lower portion of said throat.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
22 words
A rapid pressure release closure as in claim 29 and wherein: (a) said casing includes a flange for engaging said throat restriction.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
21 words
A rapid pressure release closure as in claim 29 and wherein: (a) said projectile includes means for engaging said throat restriction.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
25 words
A rapid pressure release closure as in claim 32 and wherein: (a) said casing includes a pair of thin concentric walls for receiving the charge.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
25 words
A rapid pressure release closure as in claim 33 and wherein: (a) said casing includes a pair of thin concentric walls for receiving the charge.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
19 words
A rapid pressure release closure as in claim 29 and wherein: (a) said casing includes a charge firing mechanism.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
38 words
A rapid pressure release closure as in claim 29 and wherein: (a) said projectile includes a stud extending through said casing; and, (b) said stud includes means for engaging said casing for tethering said projectile to said casing.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
22 words
A rapid pressure release closure as in claim 37 and wherein: (a) said means for engaging said casing includes a threaded member.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
18 words
A rapid pressure release closure as in claim 38 and wherein: (a) said stud includes container filling means.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
24 words
A rapid pressure release closure as in claim 39 and wherein: (a) said container filling means includes a central passageway in said threaded member.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
23 words
A rapid pressure release closure as in claim 29 and wherein: (a) said projectile includes a thickened central portion adjacent said peripheral diaphragm.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
30 words
A rapid pressure release closure as in claim 29 and wherein: (a) said projectile includes a main body portion; and, (b) said diaphragm is removable from said main body portion.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
24 words
A rapid pressure release closure as in claim 42 and wherein: (a) said main body portion includes threaded means for securing said diaphragm thereto.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
19 words
A rapid pressure release closure as in claim 38 and wherein: (a) said threaded member includes a holding screw.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
19 words
A rapid pressure release closure as in claim 38 and wherein: (a) said threaded member includes a holding nut.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
19 words
A rapid pressure release closure as in claim 37 and including: (a) plurality of studs extending through said casing.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
19 words
A rapid pressure release closure as in claim 29 and wherein: (a) said casing and said projectile are circular.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
19 words
A rapid pressure release closure as in claim 29 and wherein: (a) said casing and said projectile are rectangular.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
23 words
A rapid pressure release closure as in claim 36 and including: (a) a plurality of said charge firing mechanisms spaced from each other.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
28 words
A rapid pressure release closure as in claim 42 and including: (a) a second sleeve in said first mentioned sleeve for securing said removable diaphragm to said throat.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
31 words
A rapid pressure release closure as in claim 29 and wherein: (a) a said sleeve includes a gas diffuser cap having top and side walls for catching said casing and projectile.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
21 words
A rapid pressure release closure as in claim 51 and wherein: (a) said diffuser cap is threadedly secured to said sleeve.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
32 words
A rapid pressure release closure as in claim 52 and wherein: (a) said diffuser cap is closed at the top wall and includes port means in said side wall for venting gases.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4077423A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-01-09 | 1987-07-11 | 1988-01-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-01-09 | 1991-07-11 | 1992-01-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-01-09 | 1995-07-11 | 1996-01-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |