Attachment assembly for securing trim material to the padding of a ventilated seat

Abstract

A ventilated vehicle seat includes one of a seat back and a seat cushion having an air transmission channel therethrough. Upholstery covers the one of a seat back and a seat cushion. An air permeable spacer layer is disposed between the one of a seat back and a seat cushion and the upholstery, and the air permeable spacer layer is in fluid communication with the air transmission channel. An air permeable tie-down strap connects the upholstery to the one of a seat back and a seat cushion.

1 . A ventilated vehicle seat comprising:
 one of a seat back and a seat cushion having an air transmission channel therethrough;   upholstery covering the one of a seat back and a seat cushion;   an air permeable spacer layer disposed between the one of a seat back and a seat cushion and the upholstery, the air permeable spacer layer being in fluid communication with the air transmission channel; and   an air permeable tie-down strap connecting the upholstery to the one of a seat back and a seat cushion.   
     
     
         2 . The ventilated vehicle seat according to  claim 1 , wherein the spacer layer is adjacent the upholstery, and wherein the upholstery and adjacent spacer layer comprise a plurality of panels, adjacent panels being joined together at a seam. 
     
     
         3 . The ventilated vehicle seat according to  claim 1 , wherein the air permeable tie-down strap is disposed in a trench formed in the one of a seat back and a seat cushion. 
     
     
         4 . The ventilated vehicle seat according to  claim 3 , wherein the spacer layer is adjacent the upholstery, wherein the upholstery and adjacent spacer layer comprise a plurality of panels, adjacent panels being joined together at a seam, and wherein the tie-down strap has a first edge and a second edge, the first edge being attached to the upholstery and adjacent spacer layer at the seam, the second edge being attached to the one of a seat back and a seat cushion within the trench. 
     
     
         5 . The ventilated vehicle seat according to  claim 4 , wherein a portion of the tie-down strap extends outwardly of the panels at the seam, the outwardly extending portion of the tie-down strap defining a flow path for air moving between adjacent panels of the air permeable layer and through the air permeable tie-down strap. 
     
     
         6 . The ventilated vehicle seat according to  claim 2 , wherein the air permeable tie-down strap defines a flow path for air moving between adjacent panels of the air permeable layer at the seam and through the trench. 
     
     
         7 . The ventilated vehicle seat according to  claim 2 , wherein the air permeable tie-down strap includes a plurality of apertures for the movement of air between adjacent panels of the air permeable layer at the seam and through the trench. 
     
     
         8 . The ventilated vehicle seat according to  claim 2 , wherein the tie-down strap is attached to an air permeable panel at the seam. 
     
     
         9 . The ventilated vehicle seat according to  claim 8 , wherein the tie-down strap is further attached within a trench formed in the one of a seat back and a seat cushion. 
     
     
         10 . The ventilated vehicle seat according to  claim 1 , further including a second cushion between the upholstery and the spacer layer. 
     
     
         11 . The ventilated vehicle seat according to  claim 1 , further including an anchor interconnecting a portion of the one of a seat back and a seat cushion and the tie-down strap. 
     
     
         12 . A ventilated vehicle seat comprising:
 one of a seat back and a seat cushion having an air transmission channel therethrough;   upholstery covering the one of a seat back and a seat cushion;   an air permeable spacer layer disposed between the one of a seat back and a seat cushion and the upholstery, the air permeable spacer layer being in fluid communication with the air transmission channel; and   an air permeable tie-down strap connecting the upholstery to the one of a seat back and a seat cushion;   wherein the air permeable tie-down strap defines a flow path for air moving within the spacer layer.   
     
     
         13 . The ventilated vehicle seat according to  claim 12 , wherein the air permeable tie-down strap is disposed in a trench formed in the one of a seat back and a seat cushion. 
     
     
         14 . The ventilated vehicle seat according to  claim 13 , wherein the spacer layer is adjacent the upholstery, wherein the upholstery and adjacent spacer layer comprise a plurality of panels, adjacent panels being joined together at a seam, and wherein the tie-down strap has a first edge and a second edge, the first edge being attached to the upholstery and adjacent spacer layer at the seam, the second edge being attached to the one of a seat back and a seat cushion within the trench. 
     
     
         15 . The ventilated vehicle seat according to  claim 14 , wherein a portion of the tie-down strap extends outwardly of the panels at the seam, the outwardly extending portion of the tie-down strap defining a flow path for air moving between adjacent panels of the air permeable layer and through the air permeable tie-down strap. 
     
     
         16 . The ventilated vehicle seat according to  claim 12 , further including a second cushion between the upholstery and the spacer layer. 
     
     
         17 . The ventilated vehicle seat according to  claim 12 , further including an anchor interconnecting a portion of the one of a seat back and a seat cushion and the tie-down strap. 
     
     
         18 . An air permeable tie-down strap for a ventilated vehicle seat, the tie-down strap comprising a mesh body portion having a length and a width;
 wherein the ventilated vehicle seat includes one of a seat back and a seat cushion having an air transmission channel therethrough, upholstery covering the one of a seat back and a seat cushion, and an air permeable spacer layer disposed between the one of a seat back and a seat cushion and the upholstery, the air permeable spacer layer being in fluid communication with the air transmission channel; and   wherein a portion of the tie-down strap is attached to at least one of the upholstery and the spacer layer, and a portion of the tie-down strap is attached to the one of a seat back and a seat cushion, thereby connecting the at least one of the upholstery and the spacer layer to the one of a seat back and a seat cushion.   
     
     
         19 . The air permeable tie-down strap according to  claim 18 , wherein the air permeable tie-down strap is disposed in a trench formed in the one of a seat back and a seat cushion. 
     
     
         20 . The air permeable tie-down strap according to  claim 18 , wherein the spacer layer is adjacent the upholstery, wherein the upholstery and adjacent spacer layer comprise a plurality of panels, adjacent panels being joined together at a seam, and wherein the tie-down strap has a first edge and a second edge, the first edge being attached to the upholstery and adjacent spacer layer at the seam, the second edge being attached to the one of a seat back and a seat cushion within the trench.