The present invention provides a small, high-output gas generator for an air bag. A filter 30 is disposed between a first gas generator 11 and a second gas generator 21. Gas discharged from the first gas generator 11 and gas discharged from the second gas generator 21 pass through the same filter 30, and are then discharged from a second gas discharge port 36 to inflate the air bag.

Apparatus for use in passenger inflatable air-bag safety systems for preventing activation of an activator inflator from causing premature activation of any inflator not yet activated by system programming. The apparatus includes structure for isolating the pressure releasing construction from shock waves created when an inflator is activated and takes the form of mechanical barriers that isolate each inflator release structure from exposure to shock waves.

A vehicle occupant safety apparatus (10) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (20) and a container (32) for storing gas (36) under pressure. The container (32) has an outlet (38). The apparatus (10) includes a mechanism (42) for opening the container (32) to release the gas (36) to flow from the outlet (38) at supersonic speed. The apparatus (10) also includes a pyrotechnic material (70) which is ignitable to generate gas for helping to inflate the inflatable device (20). The pyrotechnic material (70) is ignitable in response to being impacted by the gas (36) flowing from the outlet (38) at supersonic speed. The apparatus (10) further includes a conduit (50) directing at least a first portion of the gas (36) flowing from the container (32) to the pyrotechnic material (70) to ignite the pyrotechnic material.

A dual-stage air bag module for a passenger seat capable of easily controlling and changing gas pressures to be provided into an air cushion, and also implementing a miniaturization and a lightweight of the air bag module. The first and second inflators, which are controlled by a control unit, are arranged in a diagonal direction to each other within a housing. The first and second inflators are generally inflators for a driver seat air bag modules mounted in a steering wheel. The retainer is fixed in the state that a portion thereof is received in the upper portion of the housing in order to fix the cushion holder assembled with the air cushion within the housing. The retainer is coupled through a predetermined coupling member to the housing with the first and second inflators. Therefore, in accordance with the present invention, it is possible to properly change capacities of the first and second inflators and use various specifications of the first and second inflators, thereby facilitating control of gas pressures provided into the air cushion by the inflators and decreasing an air bag module in its size and weight, by adopting the inflator for a driver seat air bag having a relatively small capability as an inflator for a passenger seat air bag.

A multiple sensor controlled vehicle airbag deployment system, the system having from one to a plurality of airbags, each airbag with multiple inflation cartridges, each cartridge with a conductive strip whereby the CPU of the system determines not only the number of cartridges to be fired per airbag, based upon multiple informational sensors, but also whether or not the correct number of cartridges fired, the system firing more cartridges if not, each airbag further comprised of more cartridges than needed for any single collision event, thereby protecting in more than one collision.