Patent ID: 7192055

Claim:
An inflator comprising: an elongated outer housing having an interior and a plurality of orifices to enable fluid communication between the outer housing interior and an exterior of the outer housing, all of the orifices of the plurality of outer housing orifice extending substantially collineary along the outer housing, the plurality of outer housing orifices opening from the outer housing interior toward a first side of the inflator; an elongated inner housing positioned in the outer housing interior, the inner housing having an interior and a plurality of orifices to enable fluid communication between the inner housing interior and an exterior of the inner housing, all of the orifices of the plurality of inner housing orifices extending substantially collinearly along the inner housing, the plurality of inner housing orifices opening from the inner housing interior toward a second side of the inflator, a quantity of a gas generant composition extending along at least a portion of the interior of the inner housing, the gas generant composition having a length and a substantially “C”-shaped cross-section with a slot extending along the length of the gas generant composition; and an igniter operatively coupled to the gas generant composition, thereby initiating combustion of the gas generant composition upon activation of the inflator, wherein the inner housing includes a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and an aperture formed in the inner housing first end; the outer housing includes a first end proximate the inner housing first end, a second end proximate the inner housing second end, and an aperture formed in the outer housing first end; and a filter is positioned intermediate the inner housing first end aperture and the outer housing first end aperture for filtering combustion products generated by combustion of the gas generant composition whereby, subsequent to activation of the inflator, inflation gases generated by combustion of the gas generant composition flow from the inner housing first end aperture through the second filter to exit the outer housing first end aperture.