Patent ID: 8353736

Claim:
A gas inflator capable of both automatic activation and manual activation, comprising: a housing having a front surface and a back surface, the front surface defining a first window and a second window and having a housing opening extending from said front surface to said back surface; a manual activation assembly movably secured to said housing, said manual activation assembly having a contact arm, a lanyard and a handle, said lanyard secured at a first end to said contact arm and at a second end to said handle; an automatic activation assembly secured to said housing, said automatic activation assembly having a dissolvable member and a contact member; an cylinder indicator internally disposed within said housing, said indicator having a front surface, said indicator front surface having a first area indicating “ready to use” and a second color area indicating “problem”, said cylinder indicator having a post member, said first area indicating a full gas cylinder is properly attached to said housing and said second area indicating that a detonated or empty gas cylinder is attached to said housing or that a cylinder is not attached; a push pole having a first post member and having a third area indicating a “problem”, a fourth color area indicating a “problem” and an opening disposed between the third area and the fourth area; an automatic activation assembly indicator having a fifth area indicating “ready to use” and a sixth area indicating a “problem” and movable with the movement of said cylinder indicator; a piercing assembly having a piercing end, said piercing assembly movable with the movement of said cylinder indicator; and a gas sensor having a body with an extended arm, said arm defining an internal area and having a protrusion extending within the internal area; said gas sensor adapted for attachment to a gas cylinder, the gas cylinder having a threaded end which is sealed prior to detonation; wherein prior to detonation of an attached gas cylinder, said post member of said cylinder indicator contacts said protrusion of said gas sensor assembly such that said first area of said cylinder indicator is viewable through the first window of said housing and said fifth area of said auto activation indicator is viewable through said opening of said push pole and through said second window; wherein upon detonation of an attached gas cylinder said post member breaks said protrusion such that said second area of said cylinder indicator is viewable through the window.