Importance

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Abstract

Air bag device, for use on a vehicle having collision sensing means, comprises a reservoir of pressurized fluid sealed by a frangible plate and an inflatable cushion connected to the reservoir. A striking member, having a piston at one end and a conical point at the other end, is slidably mounted in a cylinder in the reservoir. Lead styphnate and a length of electrically heated nichrome wire are positioned in the cylinder adjacent the piston. If a collision occurs, the collision sensing means sends an electrical signal, through wiring passing through a hermetic seal in the reservoir, to the length of nichrome wire which ignites the lead styphnate, generating combustion gases which bear against the piston thereby rapidly driving the conical point of the striking member into the frangible plate to shatter it, releasing pressurized fluid from the reservoir into the cushion to inflate it.

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First Claim