Patent ID: 8662531

Claim:
A vehicle seat assembly comprising: a frame having a support portion; a seat pad adjacent the frame, the seat pad having a main body portion for supporting an occupant, the main body portion having an outboard surface facing the frame, the frame cooperating with the outboard surface to form an air bag assembly space; a trim cover extending over at least a part of the seat pad, the trim cover having a release seam adjacent the seat pad; an air bag assembly connected to and mounted on the support portion of the frame in the air bag assembly space and within the trim cover in a spaced relationship from the release seam, the air bag assembly being disposed between the support portion of the frame and the main body portion of the seat pad such that the air bag assembly is disposed inboard of the support portion of the frame, the air bag assembly including an inflator and a folded air bag that is inflatable by the inflator to unfold and project outwardly from the seat assembly through the release seam of the trim cover; and an air bag guide including a guide panel made of flexible material, the guide panel having a first end adjacent the air bag assembly and a second end adjacent the release seam, the guide panel being disposed between the outboard surface of the main body portion of the seat ad and the support portion of the frame.