Abstract:
A vehicle seat includes an airbag and a concentrator strap that facilitates simplified assembly and enhanced airbag performance. The concentrator strap includes an attachment feature that cooperates with a corresponding feature of the seat frame in a manner that reduces cost, cycle time, and assembly errors. The concentrator strap extends over the airbag module and into an attachment opening, where an attachment tab engages the seat frame. The concentrator strap can be pre-attached to a seat cover and extended to engage the seat frame after the seat cover is partially installed over the seat frame, as the attachment tab can be configured for engagement without the need for special tools.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The invention relates generally to vehicle airbags and vehicle interior trim coverings for airbags and, more particularly, to incorporating airbags into vehicle seats. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Vehicle seats equipped with airbags are typically configured so that the airbag deploys from beneath a seat cover at a predictable location, such as at a tear seam formed in the seat cover. The airbag may be located near relatively pliable materials, such as a compressible foam cushion material and/or a high-elongation polymer-based seat cover material. These types of materials can absorb some of the airbag inflation energy in the initial stages of airbag deployment and impair the function of the tear seam if the inflation energy is not properly managed. For example, the foam cushion may compress or the seat cover may stretch so that seat cover tearing is delayed or prevented. High tensile strength materials, sometimes referred to as concentrator materials, can be included on or around the airbag to help direct the inflation energy to the desired tearing location. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    In accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention there is provided a vehicle seat that includes a seat frame, a seat cover disposed over the seat frame, an airbag module, and a concentrator strap extending between the airbag module and the seat cover. The seat frame includes a frame member having an inner side, an opposite outer side, and an attachment opening extending between the inner side and the outer side. The airbag module includes an inflatable airbag located between the seat frame and the seat cover. The concentrator strap has an end that extends into the attachment opening and an attachment tab at said end that engages the inner side of the frame member at the attachment opening. 
         [0004]    In some embodiments, the seat cover includes a tear seam, and the concentrator strap has a second end attached to the seat cover at the tear seam. 
         [0005]    The concentrator strap may include a layer of concentrator material coupled with the attachment tab at a hinge joint. The layer of concentrator material and the attachment tab may be sewn together to form a hinge joint. And in some embodiments, the layer of concentrator material is in tension. 
         [0006]    In some embodiments, the attachment tab includes a face that engages the inner side of the frame member, and a hinge joint is located along the face of the attachment tab. 
         [0007]    The attachment opening may be a fully enclosed slot. In some embodiments, each of the attachment opening and the attachment tab has a width measured in the same direction, and the width of the attachment tab is greater than the width of the attachment opening. 
         [0008]    In some embodiments, the frame member includes a shoulder at least partially circumscribing the attachment opening at the inner side, and the attachment tab engages the shoulder. 
         [0009]    The frame member may include at least one tab locator extending from and arranged along the inner side of the frame member to restrict movement of the attachment tab in a widthwise direction. 
         [0010]    In some embodiments, a foam cushion is located between the seat frame and the seat cover, and the concentrator strap extends along or through the foam cushion. In other embodiments, a foam cushion is located between the seat frame and the seat cover, and the concentrator strap does not extend along or through the foam cushion. 
         [0011]    In some embodiments, a foam cushion at least partially surrounding the airbag module is located between the seat frame and the seat cover, and the concentrator strap extends between the airbag module and the foam cushion. 
         [0012]    In some embodiments, the frame member is a seat back frame member. 
         [0013]    In accordance with one or more other embodiments of the invention there is provided a method of making the vehicle seat, including the steps of: (a) attaching an airbag module to a seat frame; (b) extending a concentrator strap having an attachment tab over the airbag module and into an attachment opening of a frame member of the seat frame so that the attachment tab engages an inner side of the frame member; and (c) disposing a seat cover over the seat frame and over the airbag module. In some embodiments, step (a) is performed before steps (b) and (c), and in other embodiments it is not. 
         [0014]    The seat cover may be an envelope cover. 
         [0015]    In some embodiments, the concentrator strap is attached to the seat cover during steps (b) and (c). 
         [0016]    The frame member may be a seat back frame member, and steps (b) and (c) together may include the steps of: (i) covering a top portion of the seat frame with the seat cover, leaving a bottom portion of the seat frame uncovered by the seat cover; (ii) subsequently extending the concentrator strap over the airbag module and into the attachment opening of the frame member so that the attachment tab engages the inner side of the frame member; and (iii) subsequently covering the bottom portion of the seat back frame with the seat cover. 
         [0017]    In some embodiments, step (b) includes the steps of: guiding the attachment tab through the attachment opening from an outer side of the frame member to the inner side of the frame member, and reorienting the attachment tab at the inner side of the frame member. 
         [0018]    It is contemplated that the various features set forth in the preceding paragraphs, in the claims and/or in the following description and drawings may be taken independently or in any combination thereof. For example, features disclosed in connection with one embodiment are applicable to all embodiments, except where there is incompatibility of features. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]    Illustrative embodiments will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein: 
           [0020]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a vehicle seat that may be equipped with an airbag module and a concentrator strap as described herein; 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of an outboard side of a seat back of the vehicle seat of  FIG. 1 , illustrating one configuration of the airbag module and the concentrator strap; 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the outboard side of a different seat back, illustrating another configuration of the airbag module and the concentrator strap; 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an exemplary frame member with the airbag module attached and the concentrator strap ready to be received by an attachment opening of the frame member; 
           [0024]      FIGS. 5( a )-5( c )  illustrate an embodiment of the concentrator strap being guided through the attachment opening to engage an inner side of the frame member; 
           [0025]      FIG. 6  is a side view of the outboard side of another example of the vehicle seat, including a foam cushion with an airbag module opening, where the concentrator strap extends over the airbag module opening; 
           [0026]      FIG. 7  is the side view of  FIG. 6 , showing the concentrator strap extending between the airbag module and the foam cushion; and 
           [0027]      FIGS. 8( a )-8( c )  illustrate an exemplary assembly process for a vehicle seat that includes the concentrator strap. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0028]    The vehicle seat described herein includes an airbag and a concentrator strap that facilitates simplified assembly and enhanced airbag performance. The concentrator strap includes an attachment feature that cooperates with a corresponding feature on the seat frame or other seat component and may eliminate the need for threaded fasteners, complex weldments or brackets, custom clip assemblies, and/or other features that add cost, assembly time, and the opportunity for mistakes in the seat manufacturing process. 
         [0029]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an illustrative seat  10 , e.g., a vehicle seat  10 , including a seat bottom  12  and a seat back  14  coupled with and extending from the seat bottom. Each of the seat bottom  12  and seat back  14  includes a seat cover  16 , also called trimming  16 , disposed over and secured to an underlying seat frame  20 . Each of the seat bottom  12  and seat back  14  may include a comfort element, such as a foam cushion or other deformable component, between the seat cover  16  and the seat frame  20 . Portions of exemplary seat frames and comfort elements are illustrated in subsequent figures. 
         [0030]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of an outboard side  18  of the seat back  14  of  FIG. 1  and depicts a portion of the seat frame  20  (e.g., the seat back frame  20 ), an airbag module  22  located within a space  24  between the seat frame  20  and the seat cover  16 , and a concentrator strap  26  extending between the airbag module  22  and the seat cover  16 . The seat frame  20  includes one or more frame members  28  that are interconnected and configured to provide the basic load-bearing structure for the seat  10 , e.g. the seat back  14 . For example, the seat frame  20  may include a pair of frame members  28  (e.g., a pair of inboard and outboard frame members) and a pair of transverse frame members connecting the frame members  28  in a generally rectangular configuration, as well as other frame members. The seat frame  20  and any of the frame members  28  may be constructed from any suitable material, such as metal (e.g., steel) or a structural composite material (e.g. a glass-reinforced polymer material). 
         [0031]    More than one frame member  28  may be formed together from a single piece of material. For example, a vertical frame member and a transverse frame member of the seat back  14  and/or other frame members may be molded together from a composite material or formed from a single metal stamping or piece of metal tubing. 
         [0032]    Each frame member  28  has an inner side  30  and an opposite outer side  32 , with the inner side  30  facing toward the interior of the seat and the outer side  32  facing away from the interior of the seat. The inner and outer sides  30 ,  32  are not necessarily flat and may included contours, such as molded or stamped contours or contours of tubular frame members. 
         [0033]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , at least one frame member  28  includes an attachment opening  34  extending between the inner side  30  and the outer side  32  of the frame member  28  for receiving and securing the concentrator strap  26  to the seat frame  20 . 
         [0034]    The airbag module  22  can be of any known type and generally includes an inflatable airbag and an inflator (not shown) that is actuated during a vehicle collision to inflate the airbag. The airbag module  22  may also include a housing  36 , which can be a hard-shell housing (e.g., an injection molded clam shell) or a softpack housing (e.g., a textile sheath). The inflatable airbag, and optionally the inflator, is stored in the housing  36 . 
         [0035]    In the illustrative example, the seat frame  20  and the concentrator strap  26  partly defines a space  24  in which the airbag module  22  is located. The airbag module  22  may be attached to the seat frame  20 , or to some other vehicle seat component, by any suitable means (e.g. fasteners). The airbag module  22  may be attached to the same frame member  28  that includes the attachment opening  34 , or to a different frame member  28 . In some embodiments, the concentrator strap  26  may at least partly secure the airbag module  22  to the seat frame  20 . 
         [0036]    The illustrated concentrator strap  26  has a first end  38  that extends into the attachment opening  34  and an attachment tab  40  at the end of the concentrator strap  26  that engages the inner side  30  of the frame member  28 . This arrangement allows the concentrator strap  26  to be placed in tension or at least with minimal or no slack, which can improve airbag deployment, as described in further detail below. 
         [0037]    In this particular example, the attachment tab  40  is generally flat and has a face  42  engaged with a shoulder  44  formed along the inner side  30  of the frame member  28  and at least partially circumscribing the attachment opening  34 . 
         [0038]    The attachment tab  40  and the attachment opening  34  each have a width measured in the same direction (W). The width of the attachment tab  40  is greater than the width of the attachment opening  34 . 
         [0039]    The frame member  28  may also include tab locators  46  arranged along the inner side  30  of the frame member  28 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , to restrict movement of the attachment tab  40  so that the attachment tab  40  cannot inadvertently pass through the attachment opening  34  to the outer side  32  of the frame member  28  and detach the concentrator strap  26  from the frame member  28 . The locators  46  may also serve as positive locating features. 
         [0040]    The concentrator strap  26  is provided to help direct airbag inflation energy toward a tear seam  48  formed in the seat cover  16 . In one embodiment, the tear seam  48  is a stitched seam joining together two portions of material of the seat cover  16  with low tensile strength thread. But the tear seam  48  can be otherwise configured to allow the seat cover  16  to split so that the airbag deploys at the desired location. 
         [0041]    The concentrator strap  26  includes one or more layers of a concentrator material  50 , which is a material having a relatively high tensile strength compared to the materials at the tear seam  48 , and a relatively low elongation compared to the material of the seat cover  16 . The concentrator material  50  functions by confining the inflatable airbag in the initial stages of inflation to prevent the inflatable airbag from contacting and/or deforming more pliable seat components, such as foam cushion  52  or the seat cover  16 , particularly made of polymer-based materials. 
         [0042]    This helps prevent loss of airbag inflation energy, which would otherwise delay tearing of the seat cover  16  at the tear seam  48 , if the seat cover was allowed to stretch, for instance. 
         [0043]    The layer(s) of concentrator material  50  is preferably a thin layer of stretch-resistant fabric (e.g. woven nylon) that is sufficiently flexible to conform to the seat components along which it is located. 
         [0044]    A second end  54  of the concentrator strap  26 , opposite to the first end  38 , is attached to the seat cover  16  at the tear seam  48  in the example of  FIG. 2 . The concentrator strap  26  may be sewn to the selvage material or free edges of the seat cover  16  at the tear seam  48 , for example. The second end  54  of the concentrator strap  26  could be attached to some other seat component instead. For example, the frame member  28  may include another attachment opening for receiving another attachment tab at the second end  54  of the concentrator strap  26 , and/or the concentrator strap  26  may include its own tear seam or weakened area located near the tear seam  48  of the seat cover  16 . 
         [0045]    The illustrated concentrator strap  26  is configured so that is does not extend along the foam cushion  52 . This may be preferable to configurations where the concentrator strap  26  extends along an outside surface of a foam cushion  52  and/or through an opening in the foam cushion, as the airbag inflation energy may be lost by foam compression, thus retarding the airbag deployment. Extending the concentrator strap  26  beneath the foam cushion  52 , between the seat frame  20  and the foam cushion  52 , requires additional effort during assembly as well. 
         [0046]    In the example of  FIG. 2 , the concentrator strap  26  is taut or in tension, but it is spaced apart from the airbag module  22 . In another embodiment, illustrated by way of example in  FIG. 3 , the concentrator strap  26  extends along and is in contact with the airbag module  22 . In the configuration of  FIG. 3 , the time delay for the airbag inflation energy to be directed toward the tear seam  48  may be minimized for shorter deployment times. 
         [0047]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the frame member  28  of the seat frame  20  with an attached airbag module  22  and an embodiment of the concentrator strap  26  extending over the airbag module  22  to be received by the attachment opening  34  of the seat frame  20 . The illustrated example of the attachment opening  34  is a slot or elongated opening. The illustrated attachment opening  34  is a full slot, meaning that it is fully surrounded by the material of the seat frame  20 . 
         [0048]    Partial slots or openings are also possible. In this example, a slotted portion  56  of the frame member  28  includes the attachment opening  34  and is formed integrally with the material of the frame member  28 , preferably from the same piece of material. 
         [0049]    In some other embodiments, the slotted portion  56  is a separately formed or assembled piece that is attached to the frame member  28 . For example, where the frame member  28  is formed from metal, certain features (e.g., shoulder  44  or locators  46  of  FIG. 2 ) may be difficult or costly to form integrally, and a molded plastic slotted portion  56  that includes the attachment opening  34  and/or other features can be provided and attached to the frame member  28  at the desired attachment location of the concentrator strap  26 . 
         [0050]    The depicted concentrator strap  26  has a width (W′) at the first end  38  that is less than a width at the second end  54 . The narrowest portion of the concentrator strap  26  may be at the first end  38  where the attachment tab  40  is attached to the concentrator material  50  such that the layer of concentrator material  50  is tapered to cover a larger portion of the airbag module  22  than if the concentrator material  50  was only as wide as its narrowest portion. 
         [0051]    In this embodiment, the concentrator strap  26  has a hinge joint  58  formed at the face  42  of the attachment tab  40  where the concentrator material  50  is coupled with the attachment tab  40 . In this particular example, the attachment tab  40  and the concentrator material  50  are sewn together to form the hinge joint  58 . In one embodiment, the attachment tab  40  is made from an unfilled thermoplastic material having a thickness sufficiently small (e.g., about 1 mm) for an industrial sewing needle to pass through the attachment tab  40  so that the concentrator material  50  and the attachment tab  40  can be sewn together. 
         [0052]    In other embodiments, the concentrator material  50  and the attachment tab  40  are adhesively attached or otherwise bonded together at the hinge joint  58 . In another example, the attachment tab  40  includes one or more openings, such as slots, formed through the thickness of the attachment tab  40  with the layer of concentrator material  50  routed through the opening(s) of the attachment tab and folded back to be sewn or otherwise attached to itself to form the hinge joint  58 . Other types of hinge joints  58  are possible, such as hinge joints  58  with more than one rotational degree of freedom. These types of hinge joints  58 , along with the illustrated hinge joint  58 , allow the attachment tab to be reoriented during and/or after the attachment tab  40  passes through the attachment opening  34  during assembly. 
         [0053]    Operation of the hinge joint  58  during assembly is illustrated in  FIGS. 5( a )-5( c ) , which depict the exemplary inner side  30  of the frame member  28 . In this example, the attachment opening  34  is a fully enclosed slot that extends between the outer side  32  of the frame member  28  to the shoulder  44  at the inner side  30  of the frame member  28 . The shoulder  44  completely circumscribes the attachment opening  34  in this example, which may be preferred to distribute the load applied to the attachment tab  40  during the airbag deployment over a relatively large area. 
         [0054]    In some embodiments, the shoulder  44  only partially circumscribes the attachment opening  34  and/or there is more than one shoulder engaged by the attachment tab  40 . Here again, the attachment tab  40  is a generally flat piece of material sized to fit through the attachment opening  34 . 
         [0055]    In  FIG. 5( a ) , the attachment tab  40  is shown passing through the attachment opening  34 , during which time there is some slack in the concentrator material  50 . A first end  60  of the attachment tab  40  is the first portion of the attachment tab  40  to pass through the attachment opening  34 . 
         [0056]    Where it is desired that the concentrator material  50  be placed in tension, or at least with minimal or no slack in the material when the concentrator strap  26  is attached to the frame member  28 , the concentrator material  50  is sized so that the hinge joint  58  cannot extend past the inner side  30  of the frame member  28 , which in this case is the shoulder  44 . The concentrator material  50  may be sized so that the hinge joint  58  does not fully reach the inner side  30  of the frame member  28  to increase the amount of tension in the concentrator material  50 . 
         [0057]    As shown in  FIG. 5( b ) , the attachment tab  40  is then tilted or rotated from the orientation of  FIG. 5( a ) , and may be pushed to one side of the attachment opening  34  as shown so that a second end  62  of the attachment tab  40 , opposite to the first end  60 , can be passed through the attachment opening  34 . 
         [0058]    As shown in  FIG. 5( c ) , the attachment tab  40  is then further pivoted about the hinge joint  58  to engage the inner side  30  of the frame member  28 , thereby tightening or removing the slack from the concentrator material  50  and closing off a majority of the attachment opening  34 . 
         [0059]    Locators  46  are in the form of ribs or bosses extending from the frame member  28  at the inner side  30  in this example. The locators  46  are advantageously situated to limit the widthwise (W) movement of the attachment tab  40  once it is engaged at the inner side  30  of the frame member  28 . 
         [0060]    This particular configuration, where a generally flat attachment tab  40  is passed through the attachment opening  34  and rotated about the hinge joint  58  by about 90 degrees to engage the inner side  30  of the frame member  28 , may be referred to as a “butterfly” clip and offers several advantages over other types of clips. 
         [0061]    For instance, a J-clip or hook-type attachment feature often requires excess concentrator material to be installed. With such hook-type attachments, up to 5-10 mm of excess material is sometimes necessary to allow the hook to extend sufficiently beyond the flange or other frame feature to which it is to be attached, since the concentrator material cannot be stretched. This can result in slack in the concentrator fabric in the assembled seat which, as noted above, can lead to slower tear seam function and/or read-through of the concentrator material at the visible surface of the seat cover where the excess material wrinkles rather than lying flat or conforming to the shape of the surrounding materials. 
         [0062]    Pocket-style concentrator elements, where the airbag module is surrounded on all sides and the bottom by concentrator material, often require up to 30 mm of excess concentrator material to allow the airbag module to easily slip into the pocket during assembly. 
         [0063]    A generally flat attachment tab  40  may also be simpler and less expensive to manufacture than an attachment clip with one or more bends. For instance, flat attachment tabs can be die cut from plastic sheet stock at high rates of speed with low associated tooling cost. The illustrated configuration is also a more robust attachment than a hook clip, as it is not easily or accidentally detached. Heavy and bulky metal brackets are also not required, as may be the case in bolt-on types of concentrator elements. Skilled artisans will recognize other advantages. 
         [0064]    Certain dimensional relationships may be useful or necessary, such as the relationship between the width of the attachment opening  34  and the width of the attachment tab  40 . In embodiments in which the hinge joint  58  is formed midway between the first end  60  and the second end  62  of the attachment tab  40  as shown, the width of the attachment opening  34  should be at least half the width of the attachment tab  40  to allow the attachment tab  40  to be reoriented at the inner side  30  of the frame member  28  as shown. The minimum required width of the attachment opening  34  may be more or less, depending on the distance between the hinge joint  58  and the second end  62  of the attachment tab  40 . The width of the attachment tab  40  should be greater than the width of the attachment opening  34  to ensure retention of the attachment tab  40  at the inner side  30  of the frame member  28 . 
         [0065]    In one embodiment, the distance (H) from the shoulder  44  to the surrounding portion of the inner side  30  of the frame member  28  (as shown in  FIG. 5( a ) ) is one half of the width of the attachment tab  40 . 
         [0066]      FIGS. 6 and 7  illustrate another example of the vehicle seat  10  equipped with the concentrator strap  26 , where a side portion of the seat cover  16  is omitted from the figures to show some of the underlying components. In this example, the a portion of the foam cushion  52  between the seat frame  20  and the seat cover  16  includes an airbag module opening  55 , and the airbag module  22  is located in the airbag module opening  55  so that the foam cushion  52  at least partially surrounds the airbag module  22 . Here, the concentrator strap  26 , in particular the second end  54  of the concentrator strap  26 , extends over and along the foam cushion  52  and over and along the airbag module  22 . In this configuration, the concentrator strap  26  can extend over the airbag module  22  and span the airbag module opening  55 , as shown for example in  FIG. 6 , so that the concentrator strap extends over and along the foam cushion  52  on both sides of the airbag module  22  to be received by the attachment opening  34 . Alternatively, the concentrator strap  26  can extend over and along the airbag module  22  and between the airbag module  22  and the foam cushion  52 , as shown for example in  FIG. 6 , where the concentrator strap  26  is routed through the airbag module opening  55  to be received by the attachment opening  34 . 
         [0067]    As described in further detail below, the disclosed concentrator strap  26  facilitates a seat assembly process in which the airbag module  22  is attached to the seat frame  20  before the seat cover  16  is disposed over the seat frame  20 . Oftentimes, where the concentrator material  50  in the form of dual straps or pocket-style concentrator components is used around the airbag module  22 , the airbag module  22  cannot be attached to the seat frame  20  until after the seat cover  16  is already at least partially installed over the seat frame  20  because a portion of the concentrator material  50  must be routed beneath the airbag module  22 , between the seat frame  20  and the airbag module  22 . Attachments elements such as fasteners and electrical wiring have to be routed through the concentrator material  50  during such assembly. 
         [0068]    The single-sided concentrator strap  26  described herein does not require that the airbag module  22  be assembled after the seat cover  16  and accompanying concentrator material  50  are present, greatly simplifying seat assembly. 
         [0069]    An example of a seat assembly process employing the single-sided concentrator strap  26  is illustrated in  FIGS. 8( a )-8( c ) . As shown in  FIG. 8( a ) , the airbag module  22  is first attached to the seat frame  20 , along with the foam cushion  52 . 
         [0070]    As shown in  FIG. 8( b ) , the seat cover  16 , inverted (i.e., inside-out), is capped over and rolled down to cover a top portion  64  of the seat frame  20  and cushion, and a lower portion  66  of the seat frame  20  and cushion remains uncovered by the seat cover  16 . 
         [0071]    The seat cover  16  is equipped with the concentrator strap  26 , as described by way of example above, which is attached to the seat cover  16  at the tear seam  48 . 
         [0072]    As shown in  FIGS. 8( a )-8( b ) , the concentrator strap  26  is at the outside of the seat cover  16  since the seat cover  16  is inverted in the figures. In this example, attachment features  68  are used to attach the seat cover  16  to the frame and/or cushion. 
         [0073]    As shown in  FIG. 8( c )  the seat cover  16  is then rolled further down over the seat frame  20  and at least a portion of the airbag module  22 . The attachment tab  40  can then be grasped by an assembly operator or equipment and inserted through the attachment opening  34  formed in the seat frame  20  to engage the inner side  30  of the associated frame member  28 . 
         [0074]    In this particular example, the seat cover  16  is an envelope cover, which is a term of art meaning that the final vertical seams are already formed in the seat cover before being disposed over the seat frame  20 —i.e. the seat cover  16  does not have a zipper, hook-and-loop fasteners, or other closures that need to be closed after the seat cover  16  is fully in place. In this case, the assembly operator can reach beneath the seat cover  16  to guide the attachment tab  40  into and through the attachment opening  34 . 
         [0075]    The simplicity and ease of assembly of the above-described butterfly clip, for example, allows for this type of blind assembly and attachment of the concentrator strap  26  since no access is necessary to the inner side  30  of the frame member  28  to route electrical wiring or to tighten mechanical fasteners, as the airbag module  22  is already attached to the seat frame  20 . Of course, it is possible to incorporate a zipper or other final closure element along a seam or edge, such as a rear edge  70  of the seat cover  16 , while still realizing many of the advantages of the described concentrator strap  26 . 
         [0076]    While described in the context of a seat back-mounted airbag, the above-described concentrator strap can be employed as part of the seat bottom in addition to or instead of the seat back, with the relevant orientation-specific language (e.g., top, bottom, vertical, etc.) modified to apply to the generally horizontal seat bottom (e.g., front, rear, horizontal, etc.). 
         [0077]    Further, while the exemplary attachment tabs shown in the figures are all in the form of generally flat, rectangular tabs inserted through a slot-shaped attachment opening, other forms are possible. For instance, the attachment tab can have any shape (e.g., rod-shaped, disc-shaped, etc.), and the attachment slot can have any shape (e.g., round, rectangular, polygonal, etc.) where the tab and slot are relatively dimensioned so that the tab can be inserted through the attachment opening and reoriented at the opposite side of the opening to engage the inner side of the frame member while spanning a portion of the opening. 
         [0078]    It is to be understood that the foregoing description is of one or more embodiments of the invention. The invention is not limited to the particular embodiment(s) disclosed herein, but rather is defined solely by the claims below. Furthermore, the statements contained in the foregoing description relate to the disclosed embodiment(s) and are not to be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention or on the definition of terms used in the claims, except where a term or phrase is expressly defined above. Various other embodiments and various changes and modifications to the disclosed embodiment(s) will become apparent to those skilled in the art. 
         [0079]    As used in this specification and claims, the terms “e.g.,” “for example,” “for instance,” “such as,” and “like,” and the verbs “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and their other verb forms, when used in conjunction with a listing of one or more components or other items, are each to be construed as open-ended, meaning that the listing is not to be considered as excluding other, additional components or items. Further, the term “electrically connected” and the variations thereof is intended to encompass both wireless electrical connections and electrical connections made via one or more wires, cables, or conductors (wired connections). Other terms are to be construed using their broadest reasonable meaning unless they are used in a context that requires a different interpretation.