Patent ID: 7431335

Claim:
An inflator for use in an inflatable vehicle occupant protection system comprising: a pressure vessel comprising a first end and a second end, and an opening therein; a rupturable seal positioned to seal the opening in the pressure vessel; a quantity of substantially unreactive pressurized gas stored in the pressure vessel; an igniter secured to the pressure vessel and in fluid communication with an interior of the pressure vessel; a perforated gas generant enclosure positioned in the interior of the pressure vessel, the enclosure comprising a length, a third end, a fourth end, and defining an interior cavity, the third end being positioned to enable fluid communication between the igniter and the interior cavity, the fourth end abutting the seal, the perforated enclosure enabling fluid communication between the pressurized gas and the interior cavity, said enclosure remaining at the same pressure as the pressurized gas prior to inflator actuation; and a quantity of a gas generant composition contained in the interior cavity and extending along the length of the enclosure; wherein upon inflator actuation, said rupturable seal is ruptured by an increase in pressure within the pressure vessel.