Patent ID: 7458603

Claim:
A vehicle seat component comprising: a frame for mounting on an associated vehicle on which the vehicle seat component is to be used; a seat pad mounted by the frame and having a side extremity; a trim cover extending over the seat pad and having an air bag release seam adjacent the side extremity of the seat pad; an air bag module mounted on the frame within the trim cover in a spaced relationship from its air bag release seam, and the air bag module including an inflator and an air bag that is inflated by the inflator to project outwardly from the seat component through the air bag release seam of the trim cover; an air bag guide including an inner panel and an outer panel that are each made of flexible material and have outer and inner extremities with their outer extremities located adjacent the air bag release seam, the flexible inner and outer panels extending alongside each other from their outer extremities to the air bag module and thence respectively inwardly and outwardly thereof, the outer extremity of the flexible inner panel being secured to the trim cover adjacent the release seam, and the outer extremity of the flexible outer panel being free from attachment to the trim cover and having a curved shape extending around the seat pad adjacent the release seam and thence away from the release seam alongside the trim cover to provide a guide flap; and a connection for securing the inner extremities of the flexible inner and outer panels to the frame.