Release lever counterweight

1. A counterweighted release lever for a vehicle seat back release mechanism, wherein the release lever includes a counterweight providing sufficient weight to move a center of mass of the release lever towards a release lever pivot point disposed adjacent to the counterweight, and wherein the counterweight comprises a bracket portion configured for attaching the counterweight to a position adjacent to the release lever pivot point.

2. The release lever of claim 1 , wherein the counterweight is attached to a latch release shaft that is operatively connected to the release lever at the release lever pivot point.

3. The release lever of claim 1 , wherein the counterweight is fabricated of a material selected from the group consisting of a powdered or sintered metal, a plastic or other polymer, a plastic-overmolded metal, a metal die casting, and a metal stamping.

4. The release lever of claim 1 , wherein the counterweight is attached to a portion of the release lever.

5. A vehicle seat back release mechanism, comprising:

a release lever pivotally mounted to a vehicle seat assembly for movement in a first direction to actuate one or more vehicle seat functions by one or more cables; and

a counterweight disposed to bias the release lever in a second direction counteracting the release lever movement in the first direction, the counterweight providing sufficient weight to move a center of mass of the release lever towards a release lever pivot point disposed adjacent to the counterweight;

further wherein the counterweight comprises a bracket for attaching the counterweight to a position adjacent to the release lever pivot point.

6. The seat back release mechanism of 5 , wherein the bracket portion is configured for attaching to a portion of the release lever disposed adjacent to the release lever pivot point.

7. The seat back release mechanism of 5 , wherein the bracket portion is configured for attaching to a latch release shaft that is operatively connected to the release lever at the release lever pivot point.

8. The seat back release mechanism of claim 5 , wherein the counterweight is fabricated of a material selected from the group consisting of a powdered or sintered metal, a plastic or other polymer, a plastic-overmolded metal, a metal die casting, and a metal stamping.

9. A seat assembly for a vehicle, comprising:

a seat portion comprising a seat bottom and a reclinable seat back;

a seat back release lever pivotally mounted to the seat assembly for movement in a first direction to actuate one or more vehicle seat functions one or more cables; and

a counterweight disposed to bias the release lever in a second direction counteracting the movement of the release lever in the first direction, the counterweight providing sufficient weight to move a center of mass of the release lever towards a release lever pivot point and comprising a bracket for attaching the counterweight to a position adjacent to the release lever pivot point.

10. The seat assembly of claim 9 , wherein the counterweight is disposed in an exterior portion of the seat assembly and the bracket portion is configured for attaching to a portion of the release lever disposed adjacent to the release lever pivot point.

11. The seat assembly of claim 9 , wherein the counterweight is disposed in an interior portion of the seat assembly and the bracket portion is configured for attaching to a latch release shaft that is operatively connected to the release lever at the release lever pivot point.

12. The seat assembly of claim 9 , wherein the counterweight is fabricated of a material selected from the group consisting of a powdered or sintered metal, a plastic or other polymer, a plastic-overmolded metal, a metal die casting, and a metal stamping.

13. A vehicle including the seat assembly of claim 9 .