Apparatus and method for providing extended inflator output

1. An inflation device for an airbag module, the inflation device comprising:

a first chamber and a second chamber, the first chamber having a first volume of inflation gas and the second chamber having a second volume of inflation gas;

a first inflation opening for allowing the first volume of inflation gas to pass therethrough and a first sealing member, the first sealing member sealing the first inflation opening;

a second inflation opening for allowing the second volume of inflation gas to pass therethrough and a second sealing member, the second sealing member sealing the second inflation opening, the second inflation opening being substantially smaller than the first inflation opening;

a conduit member for providing fluid communication with the first inflation opening and the second inflation opening;

an initiator for removing a portion of the first sealing member from the first inflation opening; and

a puncture device disposed within the conduit member, the puncture device being configured to remove a portion of the second sealing member when the portion of the first sealing member is removed from the first sealing opening, wherein the first volume of inflation gas flows from the first volume at a first flow rate and the second volume of inflation gas flows from the second volume at a second flow rate, the second flow rate being smaller than the first flow rate, wherein the second inflation gas flows from the second volume for a period of time longer than the first volume flows from the first volume.

2. The inflation device as in claim 1 , wherein the first volume of inflation gas comprises helium and the second volume of inflation gas comprises argon.

3. The inflation device as in claim 1 , wherein the first volume of inflation gas is selected from the group comprising helium, argon, carbon dioxide, nitrogen and mixtures thereof and the second volume of inflation gas is selected from the group comprising helium, argon, carbon dioxide, nitrogen and mixtures thereof.

4. The inflation device as in claim 1 , wherein the puncture device is a planar member disposed in a facing space relationship with respect to the first inflation opening, the planar member having a tip portion positioned in a facing space relationship with respect to the second sealing member and the planar member being moveably secured within the conduit member such that the first flow rate will cause the tip portion to rupture the second sealing member.

5. The inflation device as in claim 4 , wherein the planar member is fixedly secured to an inner surface of the conduit member at one end.

6. The inflation device as in claim 5 , further, comprising a diffuser tube in fluid communication with the conduit member, the diffuser tube being configured to provide the first volume of inflation gas and the second volume of inflation gas to an inflatable cushion.

7. The inflation device as in claim 1 , wherein the first chamber is laterally disposed from the second chamber.

8. The inflation device as in claim 1 wherein the puncture device is a projectile slidably received within the conduit member, wherein the projectile further comprises a tip portion positioned in a facing space relationship with respect to the second sealing member, wherein the first flow rate will cause the tip portion to rupture the second sealing member.

9. The inflation device as in claim 8 , wherein the projectile further comprises a fluid passageway disposed therein, the fluid passageway providing fluid communication between conduit member and the second chamber.

10. An airbag module, comprising:

an inflation device for inflating an inflatable cushion of the airbag module, the inflation device comprising:

a first chamber and a second chamber, the first chamber having a first volume of inflation gas and the second chamber having a second volume of inflation gas;

a first inflation opening for allowing the first volume of inflation gas to Pass therethrough and a first sealing member, the first sealing member sealing the first inflation opening;

a second inflation opening for allowing the second volume of inflation gas to pass therethrough and a second sealing member, the second sealing member sealing the second inflation opening;

a diffuser tube for providing fluid communication with the first inflation opening, the second inflation opening and the inflatable cushion;

an initiator for removing a portion of the first sealing member from the first inflation opening; and

a puncture device moveably disposed within the diffuser tube, the puncture device further comprising a tip portion being configured to remove a portion of the second sealing member when the portion of the first sealing member is removed from the first sealing opening, wherein the first volume of inflation gas flows from the first volume at a first flow rate and the second volume of inflation gas flows from the second volume at a second flow rate, the second flow rate being smaller than the first flow rate, wherein the second inflation gas flows from the second volume for a period of time longer than the first volume flows from the first volume and wherein the first flow rate generates a force to cause the tip portion of the puncture device to remove the portion of the second sealing member.

11. The airbag module as in claim 10 , wherein the first volume of inflation gas comprises helium and the second volume of inflation gas comprises argon.

12. The airbag module as in claim 10 , wherein the first volume of inflation gas is selected from the group comprising helium, argon, carbon dioxide, nitrogen and mixtures thereof and the second volume of inflation gas is selected from the group comprising helium, argon, carbon dioxide, nitrogen and mixtures thereof.

13. The airbag module as in claim 10 , wherein the puncture device is a planar member disposed in a facing space relationship with respect to the first inflation opening.

14. The airbag module as in claim 13 , wherein the planner member is fixedly secured to an inner surface of the diffuser tube at one end.

15. The airbag module as in claim 10 , wherein the first chamber is laterally disposed from the second chamber.

16. The airbag module as in claim 10 , wherein the puncture device is a projectile slidably received within the conduit member.

17. The airbag module as in claim 16 , wherein the projectile further comprises a fluid passageway disposed therein, the fluid passageway providing fluid communication between diffuser tube and the second chamber.

18. The airbag module as in claim 17 , wherein the airbag module is a side airbag module.

19. A method of providing extended inflation output to an inflatable cushion of an airbag module, the method comprising:

supplying a first volume of inflation gas from a first inflation chamber through a first inflation opening at a first flow rate;

supplying a second volume of inflation gas from a second inflation chamber through a second inflation opening at a second flow rate;

wherein the first flow rate will generate a force for causing a puncture device to remove a portion of a scaling member from the second inflation opening only after the first inflation opening has been opened, the puncture device being moveably received within a conduit providing fluid communication between the first volume of inflation gas and second volume of inflation gas.

20. The method as in claim 19 , wherein the first volume of inflation gas is selected from the group comprising helium, argon, carbon dioxide, nitrogen and mixtures thereof and the second volume of inflation gas is selected from the group comprising helium, argon, carbon dioxide, nitrogen and mixtures thereof.

21. The method as in claim 19 , wherein the puncture device is a planar member disposed in a facing space relationship with respect to the first inflation opening and the planar member further comprises a tip portion disposed in a facing space relationship with respect to the second inflation opening.

22. The method as in claim 21 , wherein the planar member is fixedly secured to an inner surface of the conduit at one end.

23. The method as in claim 19 , wherein the puncture device is a projectile slidably received within the conduit.

24. The method as in claim 23 , wherein the projectile further comprises a fluid passageway disposed therein, the fluid passageway providing fluid communication between conduit and the second chamber and the airbag module is a side airbag module.