Seating unit including modular stanchion

Abstract

A seating system includes one or more seating units. Each seating unit includes a seat portion, and left and right stanchions attached to the seat portion on left and right sides of the seat portion. Each stanchion includes a bottom member having a first end adapted to be secured to a surface and a second end, and a second member having a first end adapted to be secured to the second end of the bottom member at any one of a plurality of different angular relationships.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A seating system comprising one or more seating units, each seating unit comprising: 
 a seat portion; and    left and right stanchions attached to the seat portion on left and right sides of the seat portion, each stanchion including 
 a bottom member having a first end adapted to be secured to a surface and a second end, and  
 a second member having a first end adapted to be secured to the second end of the bottom member at any one of a plurality of different angular relationships.  
   
     
     
         2 . The seating system of  claim 1 , wherein, for each stanchion, the second end of the bottom member includes a first hub and the first end of the second member includes a second hub, the first hub having one of protrusions and recesses and the second hub having the other one of protrusions and recesses adapted to mate with the one of the protrusions and recesses on the first hub at different relative angular relationships between the first hub and the second hub such that the bottom member and the second member can be secured at the different angular relationships.  
     
     
         3 . The seating system as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the bottom member and the second member are secured relative to each other by a fastener extending through the first hub and the second hub.  
     
     
         4 . The seating system of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom member and the second member of the left stanchion are identical to the bottom member and the second member of the right stanchion.  
     
     
         5 . The seating system of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom member is adapted to be secured at one of a plurality of angular positions between 90° and 180° relative to the second member.  
     
     
         6 . The seating system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the left and right stanchions for one seating unit of the seating system form at least one of a right and left stanchion, respectively, for another seating unit adjacent the one seating unit.  
     
     
         7 . A family of different seating systems, each seating system of the family of different seating systems comprising one or more seating units, each seating unit comprising: 
 a seat portion; and    left and right stanchions attached to the seat portion on left and right sides of the seat portion, each stanchion including 
 a bottom member having a first end adapted to be secured to a surface and a second end, and  
 a second member having a first end adapted to be secured to the second end of the bottom member at any one of a plurality of different angular relationships,  
   wherein, for each seating system of the family of different seating systems, the first end of the bottom member is different from the first end of the bottom member of another seating system of the family of different seating systems.    
     
     
         8 . The family of different seating systems as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the first end of the bottom member includes a foot portion defining a foot surface for being secured to the surface, wherein, for each seating system of the family of different seating systems, the foot portion of the bottom member is different from the foot portion of the bottom member of another seating system of the family of different seating systems.  
     
     
         9 . The family of different seating systems as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein at least one of the left and right stanchions for one seating unit of the seating system form at least one of a right and left stanchion, respectively, for another seating unit adjacent the one seating unit.