Side airbag intensifier pocket

A method of assembling an airbag in a vehicle seat comprising:

• connecting an airbag assembly to a support portion of a seat back frame of a vehicle seat;
• attaching an outer end of an intensifier pocket to opposite sides of a deployment seam in a seat cover;
• installing the seat cover over the seat back frame;
• routing the intensifier pocket between an inner surface of padding for the vehicle seat and the airbag assembly;
• and
• bolting a first end of a substantially straight single elongate support rod to the seat back frame at a first location after installing the seat cover on the seat back frame;
• and
• bolting a second end of the support rod to the seat back frame at a second location spaced vertically above or below the first location, after engaging the support rod with an inner open end of the intensifier pocket for closing and anchoring the inner open end of the intensifier pocket with the airbag assembly and support portion of the seat back frame located within an interior of the intensifier pocket, wherein the first location and the second location are separate from the support portion of the seat back frame connecting the airbag assembly.

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;
• 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, wherein the support rod is substantially straight, and further wherein the first end of the support rod is bolted to the seat back frame of the vehicle at the first location, and the second end of the support rod is bolted to the seat back frame at the second location.