Vehicle seat assembly with air bag protection member

A vehicle seat assembly comprising:

• an air bag module having a front and a side, the air bag module including an inflatable air bag and a flexible cover at least partially covering the air bag, the flexible cover having a frangible portion that at least partially defines a flap portion, the flap portion extending at least partially along the front and the side of the air bag module and having an end spaced away from the front of the air bag module, wherein the flexible cover includes first and second ends that are joined together by an attachment seam, and the frangible portion is spaced away from the attachment seam;
• a seat pad portion disposed in front of the air bag module;
• and
• a trim cover positioned over the seat pad;
• wherein, upon inflation of the air bag, the frangible portion of the flexible cover is configured to rupture and the end of the flap portion is configured to move forwardly such that the flap portion extends between the seat pad portion and the air bag, or between the trim cover and the air bag.

An air bag module for use with a vehicle seat having a seat pad and a trim cover positioned over the seat pad, the air bag module comprising:

• an inflatable air bag;
• and
• a flexible member covering at least a portion of the air bag and forming an outermost portion of the air bag module, the flexible member including a protection portion having an end that is spaced away from a front of the air bag module, the end being releasably connected to the air bag;
• wherein, upon inflation of the air bag, the end of the protection portion is configured to be released from the air bag and extend forwardly such that the protection portion extends between a portion of the seat pad and the air bag, or between a portion of the trim cover and the air bag.