Inflator assembly for a vehicle occupant protection device

摘要

An apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle (12) comprises a vehicle occupant protection device (14) that is inflatable between a part (16) of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant. The apparatus (10) also comprises an inflation fluid source (24) that is actuatable to direct into the vehicle occupant protection device (14) both gas for initially inflating the vehicle occupant protection device and materials (82, 124) for forming a low-density closed cell foam material in the vehicle occupant protection device. The closed cell foam material assists in maintaining the vehicle occupant protection device (14) in an inflated condition.