Rear backrest lever with remote control

A modular backrest remote control comprising:

• a mounting bracket assembly including a mounting bracket, a first side bracket and a second side bracket, the first side bracket and the second side bracket being attached to the mounting bracket to define a central cavity;
• a pivot bracket attached to the mounting bracket and positioned in the central cavity;
• a pivot rod rotatably mounted on the pivot bracket;
• a lever arm mounted on the pivot rod, the lever arm rotatable from a first position to a second position, the lever arm having a connector for attachment to a backrest actuation cable;
• a user actuated lever handle rigidly mounted on the pivot rod, the user actuated lever handle being rotatable between a lock position and a release position;
• and
• a biasing spring that biases the user actuated lever handle to the lock position with a biasing force such that rotation of the user actuated lever handle from the lock position to the release position against the biasing force of the biasing spring causes rotation of the lever arm from a first position to a second position, wherein rotation from the first position to the second position actuates the backrest actuation cable, the modular backrest remote control being mountable in a vehicle.

A method of assembling a vehicle rear seat, the method comprising:

• attaching a modular backrest remote control to a seat back;
• positioning the seat back with the modular backrest remote control in a vehicle at a vehicle's rear seat location;
• and
• attaching a seat bottom to the vehicle such that the seat bottom support frame is positioned adjacent the modular backrest remote control and below the seat back.