Patent ID: 7290792

Claim:
A vehicle seat assembly, comprising: a trim cover defining an outside surface of the seat assembly and including a frangible portion disposed at an unbroken portion of the trim cover and extending along a length of the trim cover; an airbag assembly, including an airbag disposed at least partially within an airbag housing, and an inflator configured to supply gas to the airbag, thereby facilitating deployment of the airbag, the airbag housing including a frangible portion along a side of the airbag housing and proximate the frangible portion of the trim cover; and a reinforcing member attached to the trim cover and spanning the frangible portion of the trim cover to inhibit separation of the frangible portion of the trim cover prior to deployment of the airbag, the reinforcing member extending along at least some of the length of the frangible portion of the trim cover and being configured to separate during deployment of the airbag.