Patent ID: 7255403

Claim:
A seat assembly ( 10 ) for use on a watercraft having a deck 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 ( 18 ) and said connector panel ( 52 ) and a second slot ( 58 b ) defined in the other of said second portion ( 18 ) and said connection panel ( 52 ) for receiving said second locking tab ( 56 b ) to connect said second portion ( 18 ) to said connector panel ( 52 ); a mounting mechanism ( 80 ) attached to said connector panel ( 52 ) for mounting said connector panel ( 52 ) to the deck support surface ( 14 ) of the watercraft to thereby secure said connector panel ( 52 ) and said first ( 16 ) and second ( 18 ) portions to the deck support surface ( 14 ) of the watercraft; and at least one seat cushion ( 110 ) supported by at least one of said first ( 16 ) and second ( 18 ) portions; each of said locking tabs ( 56 a , 56 b ) being 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; and said top ( 70 ) and bottom ( 72 ) faces of each of said locking tabs ( 56 a , 56 b ) having a width equal to a width of each of said slots ( 58 a , 58 b ) for further providing the snug fit between said connector panel ( 52 ) and said portions ( 16 , 18 ) and a bench seat ( 110 ) supported by said first and second portions ( 16 , 18 ), said bench seat ( 110 ) having a cushion.