Granted Patent B2

US 7,441,797 · App. 11/151,566 · Granted Oct 28, 2008

Abstract

Claims (37)

1. A vehicle seat assembly, comprising:

a cushion assembly having a frame, a cushion, and a trim cover arrangement, the trim cover arrangement comprising:

a trim cover disposed proximate the cushion, the trim cover having an end portion and a retaining feature disposed proximate the end portion, the retaining feature having first and second hook portions;

a bolster frame disposed proximate the frame and having an aperture; and

an air bag module disposed proximate the bolster frame, the air bag module and the bolster frame cooperating to define a gap;

wherein the air bag module further comprises a housing having an indented portion; and

wherein the air bag module does not extend through the bolster frame to secure the air bag module, the retaining feature is disposed in the gap to secure the trim cover arrangement, the first hook portion is disposed proximate the aperture, and the second hook portion is disposed proximate the indented portion to secure the trim cover arrangement.

2. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the air bag module further comprises an exterior panel that forms an exterior surface of the seat assembly, the exterior panel being adapted to open to facilitate deployment of an air bag.

3. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 2 wherein the exterior panel further comprises a seam portion that disengages in response to force exerted by the air bag when the air bag is inflated.

4. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the air bag module further comprises a housing having an extension portion that extends from the housing, the extension portion cooperating with the bolster frame to hold the retaining feature in the gap.

5. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 4 wherein the housing further comprises a side panel and the retaining feature contacts the extension portion and the side panel.

6. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the aperture extends through the bolster frame.

7. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the indented portion is located at a corner of the housing.

8. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the retaining feature contacts the housing and the bolster frame.

9. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1 wherein bolster frame is disposed proximate the trim cover.

10. A vehicle seat assembly, comprising:

a frame;

a bolster frame disposed proximate the frame, the bolster frame having first and second portions;

an air bag module disposed proximate the bolster frame, the air bag module cooperating with the first portion to define a first gap and cooperating with the second portion to define a second gap, wherein the air bag module does not extend through the bolster frame to secure the air bag module;

a first trim cover arrangement having a first retaining feature disposed proximate an end portion of a first trim cover; and

a second trim cover arrangement having a second retaining feature disposed proximate an end portion of a second trim cover;

wherein the first retaining feature is disposed in the first gap to secure the first trim cover arrangement and the second retaining feature is disposed in the second gap to secure the second trim cover arrangement.

11. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 10 wherein the second trim cover arrangement further comprises a bracket disposed proximate a second end portion for securing the second trim cover arrangement to the frame.

12. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 10 further comprising a back panel disposed proximate the second trim cover arrangement.

13. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 10 wherein a portion of the second trim cover disposed between the end portion and a second end portion disposed opposite the end portion is supported by the bolster frame and forms an exterior seat surface.

14. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 10 wherein the bolster frame further comprises first and second apertures for receiving the first and second retaining features, respectively.

15. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 10 wherein the air bag module further comprises a housing having first and second indented portions disposed proximate the first and second retaining features, respectively.

16. A vehicle seat assembly, comprising:

a frame;

a bolster frame disposed proximate the frame, the bolster frame having a side portion;

an air bag module disposed proximate the bolster frame, the air bag module cooperating with the side portion to define a gap and including an extension portion disposed adjacent to the gap; and

a trim cover arrangement having a retaining feature disposed proximate an end portion of a trim cover;

wherein the retaining feature is disposed in the gap and exerts force directly on the extension portion to secure the trim cover arrangement.

17. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 16 wherein the retaining feature contacts the bolster frame and the trim cover contacts the air bag module.

18. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 16 wherein the retaining feature contacts the air bag module and the trim cover contacts the bolster frame.

19. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 16 wherein the retaining feature contacts the air bag module and the bolster frame and the trim cover contacts the bolster frame.

20. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 16 wherein the retaining feature and the trim cover both contact the air bag module and the bolster frame.

Assignments (9)