Force directing air bag deployment pocket

摘要

A force-directing air bag deployment system comprising: a seat (20) having at least one forwardly extending wing (27), the seat (20) covered by a covering material (50), the covering material (50) defining at least one seam which runs vertically along a forward edge of the wing (27), the covering material (50) comprising an outboard side panel (50a) and an inboard side panel (50b) joined at the seam (26); a first reinforcement panel (60) positioned adjacent the outboard side panel 50a and joined to the panels (50a, 50b) at the seam (26); a second reinforcement panel (61) adjacent the inboard side panel (50d) and joined to the outboard panel (50a), the inboard panel (50b) and the first reinforcement panel (60) at the seam (26); the first and second reinforcement panels having respective end portions, each of the end portions are joined together by connectors (94,95) thereby forming the first and second reinforcement panels into a general loop configuration which when subjected to tensile forces, focuses reaction forces into the seam (26) causing the seam to separate.