Arrangement of operation unit in seat back

An arrangement of operation unit in a seat back, wherein said seat back includes:

• one upper corner portion having a predetermined outer shape;
• a seat back frame including an upper corner frame region disposed corresponding to an upper corner of said seat back;
• a padding;
• and a trim cover assembly covering said padding, wherein said operation unit includes an operating lever operatively provided therewith, wherein said padding has a bore formed therein at a point corresponding to said one upper corner portion of the seat back, while likewise, said trim cover assembly has an opening formed therein at a point corresponding to said one upper corner portion of the seat back, wherein a body of said operation unit is disposed within said bore of said padding, with said operating lever is disposed so as to project outwardly from said opening of said trim cover assembly,
• said arrangement being characterized in that:
• said trim cover assembly includes a connecting area defined near to said opening thereof, and
• said operation unit comprises:
• a connecting bracket of substantially U-shaped configuration, said connecting bracket having an opening defined in the backward side thereof and being fixed to said one corner frame region of said seat back frame;
• said connecting bracket further having a projected portion formed therewith;
• a housing accommodating a part of said operating lever therein, said housing being bodily disposed in said connecting bracket and having a projected portion formed therewith;
• a shape retaining bracket so configured to contact and retain a peripheral edge region of said opening of said trim cover assembly in a shape conforming to said predetermined outer shape of said one corner portion of said seat back,
• and
• said shape retaining bracket being securely connected with said connecting bracket and having an inward opening region smaller in size than a substantially circular region circumscribed by said peripheral edge region of said opening associated with said trim cover assembly;
• a bezel is provided, which has an outer contour small in size than said inward opening region of said shape retaining bracket, said bezel being adapted for covering an space between said shape retaining bracket and said operating lever,
• wherein said connecting bracket includes a wall having:
• a transversely extending insertion hole;
• and a guide hole which communicates with said transversely extending insertion hole and extends vertically from the latter,
• wherein said housing includes a distal end having a substantially T-shaped guide piece provided therewith, said substantially T-shaped guide piece being slidably in and along said transversely extending insertion hole and said guide hole,
• and said arrangement being further characterized that said peripheral edge region of said opening of said trim cover assembly is inserted between said bezel and said shape retaining bracket, and that said projected portion of said connecting bracket, said projected portion of said housing and said connecting area of said trim cover assembly are securely connected with one another.