Igniter for use in a protecting device for vehicle occupants

Abstract

An igniter ( 10 ) for use in a protecting device for vehicle occupants comprises a member selected from the group of a base body ( 12 ) and a base body ( 12 ) surrounded by a base body ring ( 42 ), as well as contact pins ( 32 ) received in the base body ( 12 ), a sleeve ( 14 ) adjoining the base body ( 12 ) or the base body ring ( 42 ) and for receiving an ignition charge ( 16 ), and a cover ( 22 ) closing the sleeve ( 14 ). The base body ( 12 ) and the sleeve ( 14 ), or the base body ring ( 42 ) and the sleeve ( 14 ), are made in one piece with each other.

1 . An igniter ( 10 ) for use in a protecting device for vehicle occupants, comprising a member selected from the group of a base body ( 12 ) and a base body ( 12 ) surrounded by a base body ring ( 42 ), and further comprising contact pins ( 32 ) received in the base body ( 12 ), a sleeve ( 14 ) adjoining the base body ( 12 ) or the base body ring ( 42 ) and for receiving an ignition charge ( 16 ), and a cover ( 22 ) closing the sleeve ( 14 ), characterized in that the base body ( 12 ) and the sleeve ( 14 ) or the base body ring ( 42 ) and the sleeve ( 14 ) are made in one piece with each other.  
     
     
         2 . The igniter according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the base body ( 12 ) and the sleeve ( 14 ) are formed together in one piece from plastic, resin or another material for electrical insulation.  
     
     
         3 . The igniter according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the base body ( 12 ) is formed from glass and is surrounded by a base body ring ( 42 ), and in that the base body ring ( 42 ) and the sleeve ( 14 ) are formed together in one piece from metal.  
     
     
         4 . The igniter according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the cover ( 22 ) is received in an axial end of the sleeve ( 14 ).  
     
     
         5 . The igniter according to  claim 4 , characterized in that the cover ( 22 ) has an edge-surrounding shoulder ( 30 ) which directly adjoins the axial end of the sleeve ( 14 ) and is connected therewith.  
     
     
         6 . The igniter according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the ignition charge ( 16 ) comprises at least one primary ignition composition ( 18 ).  
     
     
         7 . The igniter according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the contact pins ( 32 ) are connected to an ignition bridge ( 34 ) which is in contact with the ignition charge ( 16 ).  
     
     
         8 . The igniter according to  claim 7 , characterized in that the ignition bridge ( 34 ) is a resistance bridge, a spark bridge or a semiconductor bridge.  
     
     
         9 . The igniter according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the contact pins ( 32 ) have at least one curved section ( 36 ) in the base body ( 12 ).