Patent ID: 7316417

Claim:
An inflator device comprising: a pressure vessel extending along a longitudinal axis, the pressure vessel forming an elongated gas storage chamber having contents including a supply of stored pressurized gas; a gas exit opening formed at a first end of the elongated gas storage chamber; a rupturable closure element normally covering the gas exit opening; and an initiator assembly including an initiator cover mounted to a sidewall of the pressure vessel at a first end portion of the pressure vessel, at least a portion of the initiator cover extending radially inwardly into the elongated gas storage chamber toward the longitudinal axis, the initiator assembly also including an initiator positioned within the initiator cover, the initiator producing a discharge effective to rupture the closure element to allow flow of at least a portion of the gas storage chamber contents through the gas exit opening; a first radial aperture formed in the initiator cover, the first radial aperture positioned at a direct discharge distance with respect to the closure element to focus the initiator discharge at the closure element to rupture the closure element.