Patent ID: 7121582

Claim:
An apparatus for inflating an inflatable device, the apparatus comprising: a first chamber defined by a side wall and an end cap secured to the side wall, the first chamber containing a fluid effective to inflate the inflatable device; a chamber opener actuatable to open the first chamber; a flow control element secured to the end cap and including at least one fluid flow conduit having a discharge end where at least a portion of a discharge from the chamber opener can be transmitted; at least one first chamber exit opening wherethrough at least a portion of the fluid contained in the first chamber can be discharged from the first chamber; a burst disk including a first sealing portion normally blocking flow out of the fluid flow conduit through said discharge end, the first sealing portion being rupturable by said chamber opener, said burst disk including a second sealing portion normally preventing flow out of the first chamber through the at least one exit opening, the second sealing portion being rupturable to permit flow out of the first chamber through the at least one exit opening, the flow control element comprising a support portion around which the burst disk is deformed by fluid pressure in the chamber; and a diffuser assembly including at least one exit port for directing gaseous inflation medium discharged from the first chamber to the inflatable device.