Abstract: A seat-mounted side impact airbag module deployment door and a vehicle seat having such a deployment door are provided by a deployment door having a fabric outer panel, a fabric inner panel and an intermediate panel of rigid, resilient material, and in which the inner panel has spaced, parallel engagement elements held by retaining elements on the outer surface of sidewalls of a canister housing of an airbag module assembly placed in a seat recess and attached to an internal structural member of the seat. The fabric outer panel of the deployment door matches the adjacent fabric trim cover portion of the seat into which the deployment door is mounted.

Abstract: Assembly is adapted to mount on an internal structural member of a vehicle seat, the seat having a seat body formed with a recess and having a trim cover formed with a frangible opening to said recess. The invention also includes a one-piece resilient plastic deployment door anchored on the structural member and curving over a folded, inflatable airbag cushion and inflator module to comprise a rounded surface smoothly overlayable by the seat trim cover. The door has a distal edge approximately alignable with the frangible access to assist in the opening of the frangible access during deployment of the airbag cushion.

Abstract: An airbag module is installed upon a structural member, such as a seat frame, on a motor vehicle. The structural member is enclosed by padding and covered with an upholstery cover material. One or more portions of the cover material extend inwardly of the padding and enclose the module. The outer portions of the cover material are joined by a frangible seam which forms an airbag opening in a preselected location. Upon inflation, the expanding airbag is guided to the opening by a trough formed by the cover material portions.

Abstract: A side airbag deployment system having a rubber or plastic deployment cover with a tear seam therein, with the deployment cover being secured in the seat finish trim fabric at a location of the intended path of deployment of an inflatable airbag from an airbag module secured to a rigid seat frame member.

Abstract: A relatively rigid plastic sheet is molded into the foam seat pad of a motor vehicle seat where it forms part of the exterior surface of the pad. The sheet defines an airbag opening which communicates with a side-impact airbag module adjacent the pad and is positioned against an upholstery seam at a desired location on the seat. Upon actuation, the inflating bag is guided to and through the airbag opening so that the inflated bag is precisely located to provide maximum protection.