Patent ID: 7967333

Claim:
An inflator for an airbag of a motor vehicle, the inflator for an airbag comprising: a housing; a gas generant for producing a source of inflation gas, the gas generant including a central opening extending therethrough and defined by an internal sidewall, the gas generant disposed in the housing in a predetermined orientation such that an external longitudinal sidewall of the gas generant is spaced apart from the housing; an initiator disposed in the housing for producing a source of energy to ignite the gas generant; and a distributor disposed between the initiator and the gas generant, the distributor defining at least first and second distinct flow paths for distributing the source of energy to the gas generant, the first distinct flow path oriented relative to the gas generant to direct the source of energy to the central opening and internal sidewall of the gas generant, the second distinct flow path oriented relative to the gas generant to direct the source of energy to the external sidewall of the gas generant independent of the first distinct flow path and central opening.