Folding upholstered furniture

Abstract

An upholstered foldable furniture system for mounting on a horizontal surface, having a first unfolded configuration for seating; and a second folded configuration for storage and shipping. The system comprises a horizontal seat support frame having a rear support member, front support member, and spaced apart side support members. A back member, having a bottom back member, top back member, and spaced aside side support members is rotatably secured to a rear support member, and is rotatable between a position parallel to the seat support frame and an obtuse angle with respect to the seat support frame. Left and right arm members are each comprised of a rear arm frame, a front arm frame, an upper arm frame, and a lower arm frame. The lower arm frames are rotatably secured to the side support members so that they can rotate through approximately 180 degrees from a vertically upward position to a vertically downward position. Latch assemblies are comprised of a first part and a second part, the first part being attached to an arm member, and the second part being attached to the side support back member. When the furniture system is in the unfolded configuration for seating the back member is at an obtuse angle relative to the seat support frame; and the left and right arm members are in a vertically upward position relative to the seat support frame, and the first and second parts of the latch assemblies are latched. When the furniture system is in the second folded configuration for storage and shipping the back member is in a horizontal position relative to the seat support frame, and the latch assemblies are unlatched.

We claim:  
     
         1 . An upholstered foldable furniture system for mounting on a substantially horizontal surface, said furniture system having a first unfolded configuration for seating; and a second folded configuration for storage and shipping, comprising: 
 a horizontal seat support frame having a rear support member, and left and right side spaced support members;    a back member, having a bottom back member rotatably secured to said rear support member, said back member being rotatable between a position substantially parallel to said horizontal seat support frame and an obtuse angle with respect to said horizontal seat support frame.    left and right arm members, each of said left and right arm members having a rear arm frame, and a lower arm frame, said left and right lower arm frames being secured to said left and right side support members respectively.    left and right latch assemblies, each of said left and right latch assemblies having a first part and a second part, the first part of a left latch assembly being attached to one of said left arm member and said left side support back member, and the second part of a latch assembly being attached to the other of said left arm member and said left side support back member; and the first part of said right latch assembly being attached to one of said right arm member and said right side support back member, and the second part of a latch assembly being attached to the other of said right arm member and said right side support back member, whereby when the furniture system is in the first unfolded configuration for seating said back member is in a substantially vertical position, said left and right arm members are in a vertically upward position, and said first and second parts of said left and right latch assemblies are latched, and when the furniture system is in the second unassembled configuration for storage and shipping said back member is in a substantially horizontal position, and said first and second parts of said left and right latch assemblies are unlatched.    
     
     
         2 . An upholstered foldable furniture system for mounting on a substantially horizontal surface, said furniture system having a first unfolded configuration for seating; and a second folded configuration for storage and shipping, comprising: 
 a horizontal seat support frame having a rear support member, front support member, and left and right side spaced support members;    a back member, having a bottom back member rotatably secured to said rear support member, said back member being rotatable between a position substantially parallel to said horizontal seat support frame and an obtuse angle with respect to said horizontal seat support frame.    left and right arm members, each of said left and right arm members having a rear arm frame, and a lower arm frame, said left and right lower arm frames being rotatably secured to said left and right side support members respectively for rotating each of said left and right arms from a vertically upward position to a vertically downward position; and    left and right latch assemblies, each of said left and right latch assemblies having a first part and a second part, the first part of said left latch assembly being attached to one of said left arm member and said left side support back member, and the second part of said latch assembly being attached to the other of said left arm member and said left side support back member; and the first part of said right latch assembly being attached to one of said right arm member and said right side support back member, and the second part of said latch assembly being attached to the other of said right arm member and said right side support back member, whereby when said furniture system is in the first unfolded configuration for seating said back member is at an obtuse angle relative to said side support members; said left and right arm members are in a vertically upward position, and said first and second parts of said left and right latch assemblies are latched, and when said furniture system is in the second folded configuration for storage and shipping said back member is in a substantially horizontal position, said left and right arm members are in a vertically downward position, and said first and second parts of said left and right latch assemblies are unlatched.    
     
     
         3 . The upholstered foldable furniture system defined by  claim 2  which further comprises left and right fasteners, each of said fasteners having a hooking element and a loop element, said hooking element being connected to one of said left arm member and said left side support back member, and said loop element being connected to the other of said left arm member and said left side support back member; and said hooking element being connected to one of said right arm member and said right side support back member, and said loop element being connected to the other of said right arm member and said right side support back member, said fasteners cooperating with said latch assemblies to prevent rotational movement of said back member about said rear support member.  
     
     
         4 . An upholstered foldable furniture system for mounting on a substantially horizontal surface, said furniture system having a first unfolded configuration for seating and a second folded configuration for storage and shipping, comprising: 
 a horizontal seat support frame, said seat support frame having 
 a front support member;  
 a rear support member spaced from said front support member; and  
 left and right side spaced support members interposed between said front and rear support members;  
   a back member, said back member having 
 a bottom back member rotatably secured to said rear support member, said back member being rotatable between a position substantially parallel to said horizontal seat support frame and an obtuse angle relative to said back member;  
 a top back member spaced from said bottom back member; and left and right side support back members interposed between said bottom and top back members;  
   left and right arm members, each of said left and right arm members having 
 a front arm frame;  
 a rear arm frame spaced from said front arm frame;  
 a lower arm frame interposed between said front and rear arm frames; and  
 an upper arm frame interposed between said front and rear arm frames and spaced from said lower arm frame, said left and right lower arm frames being rotatably secured to said left and right support members respectively for rotating each of said arm members between a vertically upward position and a vertically downward position; and  
   left and right latch assemblies, each of said left and right latch assemblies having 
 a latch member; and  
 a latch receptacle, engageable with said latch member, said latch member of said left latch assembly being secured to one of said left rear arm frame and a surface of said left side support back member, and said latch receptacle of said left latch assembly being secured to the other of said left rear arm frame and a surface of said left side support back member; and said latch member of said right latch assembly being secured to one of said right rear arm frame and a surface of said right side support back member, and said latch receptacle of said right latch assembly being secured to the other of said right rear arm frame and a surface of said right side support back member; whereby when said furniture system is in the first unfolded configuration for seating said back member is at an obtuse angle relative to said side support members; said arm members are in a vertically upward position, and said latch members and said latch receptacle members are latched, and when said furniture system is in the second folded configuration for storage and shipping said back member is in a substantially horizontal position, said arm members are in a vertically downward position, and said latch members and said latch receptacle members are unlatched.  
   
     
     
         5 . The upholstered foldable furniture system defined by  claim 4  which further comprises left and right fasteners, each of said fasteners having a hooking element and a loop element, said hooking element being connected to one of said left arm member and said left side support back member, and said loop element being connected to the other of said left arm member and said left side support back member; and said hooking element being connected to one of said right arm member and said right side support back member, and said loop element being connected to the other of said right arm member and said right side support back member, said fasteners cooperating with said latch assemblies to prevent rotational movement of said back member about said rear support member.  
     
     
         6 . An upholstered foldable furniture system for mounting on a substantially horizontal surface, said furniture system having a first unfolded configuration for seating; and a second folded configuration for storage and shipping, comprising: 
 a horizontal seat support frame having a rear support part, a pitch rail, and left and right side spaced support members;    a back part, having a bottom back part rotatably secured to said pitch rail, said back part being rotatable between a position substantially parallel to said horizontal seat support frame and at an obtuse angle with respect to said horizontal seat support frame;    an outer back part having outer back side support parts, a bottom outer back frame part, and a top outer back frame part;    a top frame part attached to said back part and rotatably joined to said outer back part;    left and right arm members, each of said left and right arm members having a rear arm frame, and a lower arm frame, said left and right lower arm frames being rotatably secured to said left and right side support members respectively for rotating each of said left and right arms from a vertically upward position to a vertically downward position; and    left and right latch assemblies, each of said left and right latch assemblies having a first part and a second part, the first part of a left latch assembly being attached to one of said left arm member and said left side support back part, and the second part of a latch assembly being attached to the other of said left arm member and said left side support back part; and the first part of a right latch assembly being attached to one of said right arm member and said right side support back part, and the second part of a latch assembly being attached to the other of said right arm member and said right side support back member, whereby when said furniture system is in the first unfolded configuration for seating said back member is at an obtuse angle relative to said side support members; said left and right arm members are in a vertically upward position, and said first and second parts of said left and right latch assemblies are latched, and when said furniture system is in the second folded configuration for storage and shipping said back member is in a substantially horizontal position, said left and right arm members are in a vertically downward position, and said first and second parts of said left and right latch assemblies are unlatched.    
     
     
         7 . The upholstered foldable furniture system defined by  claim 6  which further comprises left and right fasteners, each of said fasteners having a hooking element and a loop element, said hooking element being connected to one of said left arm member and said left side support back member, and said loop element being connected to the other of said left arm member and said left side support back member; and said hooking element being connected to one of said right arm member and said right side support back member, and said loop element being connected to the other of said right arm member and said right side support back member, said fasteners cooperating with said latch assemblies to prevent rotational movement of said back member about said rear support member.  
     
     
         8 . The upholstered foldable furniture system defined by  claim 6 , said furniture system having a first unfolded configuration for seating and a second folded configuration for storage and shipping, comprising: 
 a horizontal seat support frame, said seat support frame having 
 a front support member;  
 a rear support part spaced from said front support member; and  
 a pitch rail spaced apart and parallel to said rear support part and said front support member;  
 left and right side spaced support members interposed between said front support members and rear support part and attached to said pitch rail;  
   a back part, said back part having 
 a bottom back part rotatably secured to said pitch rail, said back part being rotatable between a position parallel to said horizontal seat support frame and an obtuse angle relative to said seat support frame; and  
 a top back part spaced from said bottom back part; and  
 left and right side support back parts interposed between said bottom and top back parts;  
   an outer back part, said outer back part having 
 a bottom outer back frame part removably attached to said rear seat support part;  
 a top outer back frame part spaced from said bottom outer back frame part; and  
 left and right outer back side support parts interposed between said bottom and top outer back parts;  
 a top frame part attached to said back part and rotatably joined to said top outer back part frame part;  
   left and right arm members, each of said left and right arm members having 
 a front arm frame;  
 a rear arm frame spaced from said front arm frame;  
 a lower arm frame interposed between said front and rear arm frames; and  
 an upper arm frame ( 39 ,  39 ′) interposed between said front and rear arm frames and spaced from said lower arm frame, said left and right lower arm frames being rotatably secured to said left and right support members respectively for rotating each of said arm members between a vertically upward position and a vertically downward position; and  
   left and right latch assemblies, each of said left and right latch assemblies having 
 a latch member; and  
 a latch receptacle, engageable with said latch member, said latch member of said left latch assembly being secured to one of said left rear arm frame and a surface of said left side support back part, and said latch receptacle of said left latch assembly being secured to the other of said left rear arm frame and the surface of said left side support back part; and said latch member of said right latch assembly being secured to one of said right rear arm frame and a surface of said right side support back part, and said latch receptacle of said right latch assembly being secured to the other of said right rear arm frame and a surface of said right side support back part; whereby when said furniture system is in the first unfolded configuration for seating said back part is at an obtuse angle relative to said side support members; and the arm members are in a vertically upward position relative to said side support members; and said latch members and said latch receptacles are latched, and when said furniture system is in the second folded configuration for storage and shipping said back member is in a substantially horizontal position, said arm members are in a vertically downward position, and said latch members and said latch receptacles are unlatched.  
   
     
     
         9 . The upholstered foldable furniture system defined by  claim 6  which further 
 comprises left and right fasteners, each of said fasteners having a hooking element and a loop element, said hooking element being connected to one of said left arm member and said left side support back member, and said loop element being connected to the other of said left arm member and said left side support back member; and said hooking element being connected to one of said right arm member and said right side support back member, and said loop element being connected to the other of said right arm member and said right side support back member, said fasteners cooperating with said latch assemblies to prevent rotational movement of said back member about said rear support member.