Patent ID: 7195274

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 connected to the trim cover 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; a first connector that secures the air bag module to a portion of the frame with the flexible inner panel extending along an inward side of the air bag module with its inner extremity secured by the first connector between the air bag module and the frame; the flexible outer panel extending alongside an outward side of the air bag module with a portion of the seat pad that extending outwardly thereof and inwardly of the trim panel; a second connector that secures the inner extremity of the flexible outer panel to the frame; and a third connector that secures the trim cover to the frame.