A modular seating system and a seating unit

Abstract

A seating unit of a modular seating system, said seating unit comprising: a first lateral member comprising a first mounting arrangement; a second lateral member opposing said first lateral member and comprising a second mounting arrangement; a seat support member having a longitudinal support axis extending through said first lateral member and said second lateral member; and a seat articulated to said seat support member; wherein said first mounting arrangement is configured for coupling to said second mounting arrangement of a second lateral member of a neighboring identical seating unit, so as to attach said seating unit and said neighboring seating unit to each other; and wherein said seat support member has a first end associated with said first lateral member and an opposite second end associated with said second lateral member.

1 - 43 . (canceled) 
     
     
         44 . A seating unit for a modular seating system, said seating unit comprising:
 a first lateral member including a first mounting arrangement;   a second lateral member opposing said first lateral member and including a second mounting arrangement;   a seat support member having a longitudinal support axis extending through said first lateral member and said second lateral member; and   a seat articulated to said seat support member;   wherein said first mounting arrangement is configured for coupling to said second mounting arrangement of a second lateral member of a neighboring identical seating unit, so as to attach said seating unit and said neighboring identical seating unit to each other; and   wherein said seat support member has a first end associated with said first lateral member and an opposite second end associated with said second lateral member.   
     
     
         45 . The seating unit of  claim 44 , wherein said first mounting arrangement includes a protruding element, and said second mounting arrangement includes a recessed element configured for linking with a protruding element of the neighboring identical seating unit. 
     
     
         46 . The seating unit of  claim 44 , wherein each of the first lateral member and the second lateral member is L-shaped and includes a seat portion with a seat axis extending along a length thereof, and a back portion with a back axis extending along a length thereof and disposed at an angle with respect to said seat main axis. 
     
     
         47 . The seating unit of  claim 46 , wherein the seat portion and the back portion are substantially flat and coplanar. 
     
     
         48 . The seating unit of  claim 46 , further comprising:
 at least one back support member and a back articulated thereto;   wherein said back support member extends between the back portions of the first lateral member and the second lateral member; and   wherein the seat support member extends between the seat portions of the first lateral member and the second lateral member.   
     
     
         49 . The seating unit of  claim 48 , wherein the back support member has two opposing back flange members disposed at ends thereof for attaching the back support member to the first lateral member and the second lateral member. 
     
     
         50 . The seating unit of  claim 44 , wherein the first mounting arrangement is configured for coupling to a first vertical leg of the modular seating system, and the second mounting arrangement is configured for coupling to a second vertical leg of the modular seating system for positioning the modular seating system over a floor. 
     
     
         51 . A modular seating system, comprising:
 two or more neighboring identical seating units, each of said two or more neighboring identical seating units including:
 a first lateral member including a first mounting arrangement; 
 a second lateral member opposing said first lateral member and including a second mounting arrangement; 
 a seat support member having a longitudinal support axis extending through said first lateral member and said second lateral member; and 
 a seat articulated to said seat support member; 
 wherein said first mounting arrangement of one of said two or more neighboring identical seating units is configured for coupling to said second mounting arrangement of another one of said two or more neighboring identical seating units, so as to attach said two or more neighboring identical seating units to each other and cause the longitudinal support axes of the two or more neighboring identical seating units to coextend with each other; and 
 wherein said seat support member has a first end associated with said first lateral member and an opposite second end associated with said second lateral member. 
   
     
     
         52 . The modular seating system of  claim 51 , wherein said first mounting arrangement includes a protruding element, and said second mounting arrangement includes a recessed element configured for linking with a protruding element of a neighboring seating unit of the two or more neighboring identical seating units. 
     
     
         53 . The modular seating system of  claim 51 , wherein both of said first mounting arrangement and said second mounting arrangement are either recessed elements or protruding elements, and configured to be linked to a corresponding mounting arrangement of a neighboring seating unit of said two or more neighboring identical seating units by a connector element. 
     
     
         54 . The modular seating system of  claim 51 , wherein the seat support member, the first mounting arrangement, and the second mounting arrangement coextend with each other along said longitudinal support axis. 
     
     
         55 . The modular seating system of  claim 51 , wherein the first mounting arrangement and the second mounting arrangement are formed at outside faces of the respective first lateral member and the second lateral member of the two or more neighboring identical seating units. 
     
     
         56 . The modular seating system of  claim 51 , wherein each of the first lateral member and the second lateral member is L-shaped and includes a seat portion with a seat axis extending along a length thereof, and a back portion with a back axis extending along a length thereof and disposed at an angle with respect to said seat main axis. 
     
     
         57 . The modular seating system of  claim 56 , wherein the seat portion and the back portion are substantially flat and coplanar. 
     
     
         58 . The modular seating system of  claim 56 , further comprising:
 at least one back support member and a back articulated thereto;   wherein said back support member extends between the back portions of the first lateral member and the second lateral member; and   wherein the seat support member extends between the seat portions of the first lateral member and the second lateral member.   
     
     
         59 . The modular seating system of  claim 58 , further comprising a back plate to which backs of the two or more neighboring identical seating units are connectable. 
     
     
         60 . A method for assembling a modular seating system, the method comprising:
 providing two neighboring identical seating units, each of the two neighboring identical seating units including: a first lateral member including a first mounting arrangement; a second lateral member opposing said first lateral member and including a second mounting arrangement; a seat support member having a longitudinal support axis extending through said first lateral member and said second lateral member; and a seat articulated to said seat support member; and   coupling said first mounting arrangement of one of the two neighboring identical seating units to said second mounting arrangement of another one of said two neighboring identical seating units, thereby attaching the two neighboring identical seating units to each other and causing the longitudinal support axes of the two neighboring identical seating units to coextend with each other;   wherein said seat support member has a first end associated with said first lateral member and an opposite second end associated with said second lateral member.   
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 60 , further comprising:
 providing said first mounting arrangement with a protruding element and said second mounting arrangement with a recessed element; and   linking with said protruding element of one of the two neighboring identical seating units with said recessed element of another one of said two neighboring identical seating units by introducing the protruding element into the recessed element.   
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 60 , further comprising:
 providing a connector element having a first connector end and a second connector end; and   introducing the first connector end into the first mounting arrangement of one the two neighboring identical seating units and the second connector end into the second mounting arrangement of another one of said two neighboring identical seating units.   
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 60 , further comprising:
 providing said modular seating system with a first vertical leg and a second vertical leg;   mounting said first vertical leg to the first mounting arrangement of one of the extreme of the two neighboring identical seating units; and   mounting said second vertical leg to the second mounting arrangement of another one of the two neighboring identical seating units.