Patent ID: 7568728

Claim:
In an inflator device for inflating an inflatable cushion of an inflatable cushion restraint system, the inflator device having an elongated cylindrical configuration and including a supply of gas generant material to produce inflation gas upon reaction initiation, the improvement comprising: a reaction housing including a reaction housing side wall, a reaction housing first end wall adjacent the side wall, and a reaction housing second end wall adjacent the side wall and opposite the reaction housing first end wall, the reaction housing defining a reaction chamber containing the supply of gas generant material; an initiator device connected to reaction housing first end wall, the initiator device in reaction initiating communication with the supply of gas generant material; the reaction housing side wall including a plurality of radially oriented chamber discharge openings, wherein upon reaction initiation of the supply of gas generant material, the inflation gas discharges from the reaction chamber through the discharge openings; an initiator diffuser disposed between the initiator device and the supply of gas generant material, the initiator diffuser including a plurality of radially oriented diffuser discharge openings disposed in discharge orientation toward the reaction housing side wall; a filter housing at least in part defining a filter chamber, at least a portion of the reaction housing and the chamber discharge openings disposed within the filter chamber; and a filter element disposed in the filter chamber and external of the reaction housing.