Patent ID: 7819714

Claim:
A water activated inflator comprising: a gas cylinder opening device for opening a sealing mechanism of a gas cylinder, the gas cylinder opening device being disposed at least partially within a housing and being movable between a cocked position and a fired position along a first axis having a first orientation relative to the housing; a tension mechanism in mechanical communication with the housing and the gas cylinder opening device for providing a force F acting along the first axis for moving the gas cylinder opening device from the cocked position to the fired position; a plunger for holding the gas cylinder opening device in the cocked position, the plunger being disposed in the housing and movable between a first position and a second position along a second axis having a second different orientation relative to the housing; a water soluble element for holding the plunger in the first position through mechanical communication along the second axis with the plunger and the housing; a conduit for providing water to the water soluble element; a first interacting element in mechanical communication with the gas cylinder opening device and having a first interacting surface, wherein a portion of the first interacting surface is disposed at a predetermined angle other than 90 or 180 degrees to the first axis; and, a second interacting element in mechanical communication with the plunger and having a second interacting surface for interacting with the first interacting surface at the predetermined angle, such that a component F N of the force F is oriented normal to the first interacting surface when the plunger is in the first position for holding the gas cylinder opening device in the cocked position, wherein the predetermined angle is determined such that along the second axis a component F 1 of the component F N is within a predetermined range of values for ensuring structural integrity of the water soluble element in the cocked position and for ensuring movement of the plunger when a portion of the water soluble element is dissolved.