Patent ID: 7066548

Claim:
A seat assembly ( 10 ) for use on a support surface ( 14 ), comprising: a first portion ( 16 ); a second portion ( 18 ) spaced from said first portion ( 16 ); at least one connector panel ( 52 ) separable from and independent of said first ( 16 ) and second ( 18 ) portions for interconnecting said first ( 16 ) and second ( 18 ) portions; a first locking tab ( 56 a ) attached to one of said first portion ( 16 ) and said connector panel ( 52 ) and a first slot ( 58 a ) defined in the other of said first portion ( 16 ) and said connector panel ( 52 ) for receiving said first locking tab ( 56 a ) to connect said first portion ( 16 ) to said connector panel ( 52 ); a second locking tab ( 56 b ) attached to one of said second portion 918 ) and said connector panel ( 52 ) and a second slot ( 58 b ) defined in the other of said second portion ( 18 ) and said connector panel ( 52 ) for receiving said second locking tab ( 56 b ) to connect said second portion ( 18 ) to said connector panel ( 52 ); wherein each of said locking tabs ( 56 a , 56 b ) are generally hook-shaped and include a front face ( 68 ), a top face ( 70 ) parallel to and spaced from a bottom face ( 72 ), and first ( 74 ) and second ( 76 ) angled faces interconnecting said front face ( 68 ) and said top ( 70 ) and bottom ( 72 ) faces; wherein said front face ( 68 ) of each of said locking tabs ( 56 a , 56 b ) has a length (L 3 ) that is greater than a length (L 2 ) of each of said slots ( 58 A, 58 b ); and a mounting mechanism ( 80 ) attached to said connector panel ( 52 ) for mounting said connector panel ( 52 ) to the support surface ( 14 ) thereby securing said first ( 16 ) and second ( 18 ) portions to the support surface ( 14 ).