Patent ID: 7011232

Claim:
An inflator for inflating a pneumatic protective article or gear, comprising: a gas-containing bottle with a sealing cap applied thereto, an inflator housing, a striking member contained in said inflator housing and capable of moving lengthwise therein, and provided at a first end thereof with a protruding piercing pin ( 16 ) adapted to make a hole in said sealing cap of the gas-containing bottle, a coil compression spring contained in said inflator housing and adapted to urge said striking member at a second end thereof, opposite to said first end carrying the piercing pin, and to drive said striking member against the sealing cap of the gas-containing bottle, a gas outlet port provided in a wall of said inflator housing for permitting the gas contained in said gas-containing bottle to flow from said inflator into the pneumatic protective article or gear, holding means associated with said inflator and co-operating with said striking member in order to releasably hold it in a cocked condition against the action of said coil compression spring, actuation means associated with said inflator and adapted to release said holding means, and control means associated with said actuation means and adapted to operate said inflator by causing said actuation means to release said holding means, characterized in that: said piercing pin comprises a point forming portion having the shape of a substantially obliquely truncated circular cylinder which is adapted to pierce the sealing cap, and a base forming portion having the shape of a substantially truncated cone which is adapted to dish out the edge of the hole made in the sealing cap by the point forming portion of the piercing pin so as to avoid said piercing pin from remaining stuck inside the bole made in the sealing cap, said holding means is formed of a pair of jaws adapted to firmly hold the striking member in a cocked condition against the action of said coil compression spring, said actuation means is formed of a removable key member which is inserted between the pair of jaws in order to keep said pair of jaws in a closed condition for firmly holding the striking member and to permit said pair of jaws to be brought in an open condition for releasing said striking member upon removal of said key member, and said control means is formed of a cord connected to the removable key member.