Patent ID: 7637531

Claim:
A vehicle seat side air bag assembly comprising: a vehicle seat having a frame, a cushion mounted on the seat frame and a trim cover that covers the cushion and has an air bag deployment seam; an air bag module mounted on the seat frame and having an inflator and an air bag that is inflated by the inflator to open the deployment seam of the trim cover and extend outwardly therethrough to provide vehicle seat occupant protection; and an air bag guide that is a separate component from the air bag module and that is made of a synthetic plastic and has an inner end that is secured to the seat frame, the air bag guide including a tubular portion that extends from its inner end adjacent the air bag module toward the trim cover, and the tubular portion of the air bag guide having an unsecured outer open end that extends alongside and contacts the cushion and that is located adjacent the deployment seam of the trim cover to guide the air bag upon its inflation to the trim cover deployment seam.