Patent ID: 7370907

Claim:
A reconfigurable furniture system resting on a support surface, comprising: a first side frame having first and second opposing portions and third and fourth opposing portions, the first opposing portion being coupled to a first end of the third portion and a first end of the fourth portion, the second opposing portion being coupled to a second end of the third portion and a second end of the fourth portion; a second side frame opposing the first side frame, the second side frame portion having first and second opposing portions and third and fourth opposing portions, the first opposing portion of the second side frame being coupled to a first end of the third portion of second side frame and a first end of the fourth portion of second side frame, the second opposing portion of second side frame being coupled to a second end of the third portion of second side frame and a second end of the fourth portion of second side frame; a first support member being coupled to the first portion of the first side frame proximate the fourth portion of the first side frame and to the first portion of the second side frame proximate the fourth portion of the second side frame; a second support member being coupled to the second portion of the first side frame proximate the fourth portion of the first side frame and to the second portion of the second side frame proximate the fourth portion of the second side frame; a first cross-member coupling the first and second side frames; a second cross-member coupling the first and second side frames; and an operating surface member being positioned on and supported by the first and second cross-members when the furniture system is in a first configuration with the second portion of the first side frame and the second portion of the second side frame resting on the support surface in the first configuration, wherein the first configuration is a seat configuration and the operating surface member comprises first and second operating surface portions, the first operating surface portion being positioned to function as a seat bottom and the second operating surface portion being configured to function as a seat back; and a retaining member on the first operating surface portion to receive and releasably retain the second operating surface portion, the operating surface member being positioned proximate and supported by the first and second support members when the furniture system is in the second configuration with the third portion of the first side frame and the third portion of the second side frame resting on the support surface in the second configuration, whereby the entire operating surface member is maintained in a substantially planar arrangement when the furniture system is in the second configuration.