Seat assembly including an armrest with a lever handle and method for making the same

A method for making a seat assembly for supporting a seat occupant, the method comprising the steps of:

• arranging a seat backrest extending substantially upright from a rearward seat base section of a seat base, wherein the seat base extends forward from the rearward seat base section to a forward seat base section:
• disposing an armrest adjacent to the seat base, wherein the armrest extends from a rearward armrest section to a forward armrest section that is forward of the seat backrest, and wherein the armrest has an upper armrest section configured for supporting an arm of the seat occupant;
• coupling a first end of a lever arm to a lever handle;
• disposing the lever handle within a hand-length below the upper armrest section such that the lever handle is accessible to a hand of the seat occupant while at least a portion of the arm of the seat occupant is supported on the upper armrest section;
• and
• pivotably coupling a second end of the lever arm to a part of the armrest that is disposed below the upper armrest section such that the lever handle moves in an arcuate upward direction when actuated by the hand of the seat occupant, wherein the armrest has an outer armrest side on a side opposite the seat base and extending from the rearward armrest section to the forward armrest section below the upper armrest section, and wherein the lever handle is at least partially disposed in the outer armrest side.