A dual stage inflator a dual stage inflator for an inflatable vehicle safety device includes a housing defining a first chamber containing a first gas generant material. An ignitor cup is disposed in the first chamber and defines an interior containing an ignitor material. A first ignitor device extends into the interior of the ignitor cup. A combustion cup and a lid are disposed in the first chamber and cooperate to define a second chamber containing a second gas generant material. The combustion cup includes a cup sidewall extending between a first axial end and a second axial end. The first axial end is an open end. The lid is normally in a closed position relative to the combustion cup to close the open end of the combustion cup and is moveable away from the combustion cup in response to an increase of pressure within the combustion cup for venting combustion gas out of the combustion cup. A second ignitor device extends into the combustion cup and closes the second axial end of the combustion cup. The combustion cup includes a first axially extending portion adjacent the first axial end having a first outer diameter and a second axially extending portion adjacent the second axial end having a second outer diameter greater than the first outer diameter. The lid includes a lid sidewall extending in an axial direction and radially overlapping at least a portion of the combustion cup including the first outer diameter.

For example, even when an occupant is seated offset in a left-right direction, an airbag is reliably expanded and deployed. An airbag device contains: an airbag that protects at least a side portion of a shoulder region, upper arm region, and chest region of an occupant seated on a vehicle seat; and an inflator that supplies gas to the airbag. The airbag has a pair of side part protection chambers that are housed on at least both left and right sides of the vehicle seat. The side part protection chambers, when expanded and deployed, expand and deploy forward independently from both left and right sides of the vehicle seat. A pair of the inflators are provided to allow gas to be supplied to each side part protection chamber, and the ignition timing of the inflators can be controlled separately.

For example, even when an occupant is seated offset in a left-right direction, an airbag is reliably expanded and deployed. An airbag device contains: an airbag that protects at least a side portion of a shoulder region, upper arm region, and chest region of an occupant seated on a vehicle seat; and an inflator that supplies gas to the airbag. The airbag has a pair of side part protection chambers that are housed on at least both left and right sides of the vehicle seat. The side part protection chambers, when expanded and deployed, expand and deploy forward independently from both left and right sides of the vehicle seat. A pair of the inflators are provided to allow gas to be supplied to each side part protection chamber, and the ignition timing of the inflators can be controlled separately.

A vehicle occupant re-straining device, comprising an air bag inflated and deployed on both sides of a vehicle occupant; tension cloth housed so as to extend from the inside of the seat back of a seat into a seat cushion; an angle detection means for detecting the reclining angle of the seat back; and an inner pressure control means for controlling, depending on the reclining angle, pressure in the air bag at the time of inflation and deployment thereof, wherein the tension cloth is deployed on the sides of the seat when the surface material of the seat is broken open by the inflation and deployment of the air bag, thereby holding the surfaces of the air bag, which are located on the opposite sides of the vehicle occupant, and wherein the inner pressure control means reduces pressure in the air bag.

A vehicle occupant re-straining device, comprising an air bag inflated and deployed on both sides of a vehicle occupant; tension cloth housed so as to extend from the inside of the seat back of a seat into a seat cushion; an angle detection means for detecting the reclining angle of the seat back; and an inner pressure control means for controlling, depending on the reclining angle, pressure in the air bag at the time of inflation and deployment thereof, wherein the tension cloth is deployed on the sides of the seat when the surface material of the seat is broken open by the inflation and deployment of the air bag, thereby holding the surfaces of the air bag, which are located on the opposite sides of the vehicle occupant, and wherein the inner pressure control means reduces pressure in the air bag.

A dual stage inflator for an inflatable vehicle safety device including a housing defining a first chamber. The first chamber contains a first gas generant material. An ignitor cup is disposed in the first chamber and defines an interior containing an ignitor material. A first ignitor device extends into the interior of the ignitor cup. A combustion cup and a lid disposed in the first chamber cooperate to define a second chamber containing a second gas generant material. The combustion cup includes a cup sidewall and an open end. The lid is normally in a closed position relative to the cup sidewall to close the open end of the combustion cup and is moveable away from the cup sidewall in response to an increase of pressure within the combustion cup for venting combustion gas out of the combustion cup. A second ignitor device extends into the combustion cup. At least one of the lid and the cup sidewall includes an axially elongated venting geometry that is gradually revealed in response to movement of the lid away from the cup sidewall.

A restraint system includes a first seat and a second seat spaced from each other along a cross-vehicle axis. An airbag is supported by the first seat and is inflatable towards the second seat. The airbag includes an upper portion having a top surface and a lower portion having a bottom surface facing in an opposite direction than the top surface. An external tether is releasably engaged with the first seat. The external tether is connected to the top surface and the bottom surface.

A method of controlling an airbag inflator, may include determining, when an occupant is accommodated on a seat, whether the weight of the occupant is in which of first to fourth weight ranges sequentially allocated by a controller, performing a first logic for operating an inflator at the lowest one of three intensities by the controller when it is determined that the weight of the occupant is in the lightest first weight range, and performing a second logic for operating the inflator at the intermediate intensity or a third logic for operating the inflator at the highest intensity by the controller, according to conditions such as a position of a seat, a state of operation of a recliner, a collision condition, a collision pulse, and wearing of a belt, when it is determined that the weight of the occupant is in the third or fourth weight range.

A gas generator including a housing, an igniter disposed inside the housing, a combustion chamber accommodating the igniter, a gas discharge port provided in the housing, and a filter having a cylindrical shape and disposed between the combustion chamber and the gas discharge port. The filter is positioned inside the housing such that a portion of at least one end surface of two end surfaces in an axial direction of the filter is supported by contact, an outer area positioned outward in a radial direction of the portion that is supported by contact is adjacent to a predetermined space, and a predetermined outer peripheral area of an outer peripheral surface of the filter near the at least one end surface is supported by contact. According to such a configuration, it is possible to suppress a short path of combustion gas in a gas generator equipped with a filter.

A gas generator including a first igniter, a second igniter, a partition wall that partitions inside a housing into a first space that contains a first gas generating agent and a second space that contains a second gas generating agent, and an inner cylindrical member that houses the first igniter and includes a communication portion at a first end portion, the gas generator further including a closing member that closes a third space that is formed between an inner wall surface of the inner cylindrical member and an outer wall surface of the fixing portion and that connects the communication portion with the first space, the closing member being inhibited from deforming due to pressure from a side of the first space and allowing deformation due to pressure from a side of the third space that negates a closed state between the first space and the third space.