Patent ID: 8398112
Filing Date: 2013-03-19
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
1. A vehicle seat assembly, comprising: a frame; a pad formed of a shaped foam polymer material, the pad defining a pocket; a air bag restraint sub-assembly being placed in the pocket and assembled to the frame, the restraint sub-assembly having a housing in which an air bag and an inflator are received, the housing having a split line that splits a wall of the housing, wherein upon inflation of the air bag by the inflator, the air bag is deployed through the split line; a trim cover assembled to the pad that substantially encloses the frame, the pad and the restraint sub-assembly, the trim cover having a tear seam that opens when the air bag is deployed; a reinforcement panel extends partially around at least one side of the housing and between the housing and the trim cover, the reinforcement panel is held in engagement with the frame by the inflator, wherein the reinforcement panel is secured to a single side of the trim cover at the tear seam, the reinforcement panel resisting elastic deformation of the trim cover when the air bag is deployed and channeling the air bag during deployment toward the tear seam; and a reinforcement layer secured to the pad adjacent to the pocket, the pocket having at least one wall extending from an outer surface of the pad and into the pocket adjacent to the restraint sub-assembly, wherein the reinforcement panel overlies the reinforcement layer and the air bag is channeled between the reinforcement panel and the reinforcement layer during deployment toward the tear seam.