Patent ID: 7677596

Claim:
An apparatus for assisting and guiding deployment of a side airbag through a deployment seam of a seat cover for a vehicle seat having a seat back frame comprising: an airbag assembly connectable to a support portion of a seat back frame and including a side airbag and an inflator, the side airbag operably connected to the inflator for inflation through a deployment seam in a seat cover to be installed on the vehicle seat to at least partially enclose the seat back frame; an intensifier pocket having an inboard panel and an outboard panel, the inboard panel extending between an interior surface of padding for the vehicle seat and the airbag assembly, each panel having a first peripheral portion connected to opposite edges of the deployment seam in the seat cover to be forced open during inflation of the side airbag, each panel having at least one second peripheral portion extending inwardly toward the seat back frame within the vehicle seat from the deployment seam, the inboard and outboard panels connected to one another along the second peripheral portion, and each panel having a third peripheral portion spaced from the first peripheral portion by the second peripheral portion, the third peripheral portion defining an opening in the pocket of sufficient size to allow the pocket to be positioned over the airbag assembly and support portion of the seat back frame, each panel having at least one sleeve formed along the third peripheral portion, wherein the sleeve of each panel is formed continuously along the entire length of the third peripheral portion of each panel; and a single elongate support rod having a first end releasably connected to the seat back frame of the vehicle seat at a first location and a second end releasably connected to the seat back frame of the vehicle seat at a second location spaced vertically above or below the first location, the support rod disposed through the at least one sleeve formed along the third peripheral portion of each panel for closing and anchoring the opening in the pocket along the third peripheral portion of each panel.