Furniture kit with prefabricated foldable seat and back assembly

Abstract

A prefabricated seat and back assembly is provided for a kit of components to be assembled to form an item of furniture. The prefabricated seat and back assembly includes a pair of frame elements and multiple slats each of which is attached at opposite ends to the frame elements so that the slats are interconnected by the frame elements to collectively form an upwardly extending back portion adjoined to a generally horizontal seat portion. Each of the frame elements includes at least two components connected to each other by a hinge that is located at the base of the back portion, so that the seat and back portions may be folded over each other for compact packing. The remainder of the kit includes at least a pair of end frames adapted to be attached to the frame elements of the prefabricated seat and back assembly, and multiple fastening elements to attach the end frames to the frame elements of the seat and back assembly.

1 . A kit of components to be assembled to form an item of furniture, comprising 
 a prefabricated seat and back assembly including a pair of frame elements and multiple slats each of which is attached at opposite ends to said frame elements so that said slats are interconnected by said frame elements, said slats collectively forming an upwardly extending back portion and a generally horizontal seat portion,    each of said frame elements including at least two components connected to each other by a hinge that is located at the base of said back portion when said frame elements and said slats are fastened together, so that said seat and back portions may be folded over each other for compact packing,    a pair of end frames adapted to be attached to said frame elements of said seat and back assembly,    at least one stretcher for connecting said end frames to each other, and    multiple fastening elements to attach said end frames to said frame elements of said seat and back assembly.    
   
   
       2 . The furniture kit of  claim 1  wherein said slats are fastened to said frame elements of said seat and back assembly by rivets.  
   
   
       3 . The furniture kit of  claim 1  wherein said item of furniture is a glider, and said multiple fastening elements include a pair of straps for attaching each of said end frames to said seat and back assembly, the ends of said straps being adapted for pivoting movement relative to both journaled to both said end frames and said seat and back assembly to allow rocking movement of said seat and back assembly relative to said end frames.  
   
   
       4 . The furniture kit of  claim 1  wherein said frame elements of said seat and back assembly are made of tubular metal.  
   
   
       5 . A prefabricated seat and back assembly for an item of kit furniture, comprising 
 a pair of frame elements and multiple slats each of which is attached at opposite ends to said frame elements so that said slats are interconnected by said frame elements, said slats collectively forming an upwardly extending back portion adjoined to a generally horizontal seat portion,    each of said frame elements including at least two components connected to each other by a hinge that is located at the base of said back portion when said frame elements and said slats are fastened together, so that said seat and back portions may be folded over each other for compact packing.    
   
   
       6 . The prefabricated seat and back assembly of  claim 5  wherein said slats are fastened to said frame elements of said seat and back assembly by rivets.  
   
   
       7 . The prefabricated seat and back assembly of  claim 5  wherein said frame elements are made of tubular metal.