Bench assembly

A bench assembly, comprising:

• a seat assembly comprising;
• a seat frame having a first side, a second side, a first end and a second end;
• a plurality of seats supported by the seat frame for defining at least a first seating area and a second seating area, the first seating area spatially disposed from the second seating area so that a slot is provided there between, each of the first and second seating areas adapted to receive and support a person's posterior and upper legs when the person is in a sitting position on the first or second seating areas;
• a first arm rest connected to the first end of the seat frame so as to extend upwardly from the first seating area;
• a second arm rest connected to the second end of the seat frame so as to extend upwardly from the second seating area;
• a central arm rest disposed in the slot and connected to the seat frame such that the central arm rest extends upwardly between the first and second seating areas;
• a first back rest assembly and a second back rest assembly;
• and
• hinge means for pivotally connecting the first back rest assembly to the first arm rest and the center arm rest and for pivotally connecting the second back rest assembly to the second arm rest and the center arm rest such that the first back rest assembly extends substantially upward from the first seat assembly and is rotatable about a center line of the seat frame from the first side of the seat frame to the second side of the seat frame and the second back rest assembly extends substantially upward from the second seat assembly and is rotatable about the center line of the frame assembly independent of the rotation of the first back rest whereby the first and second back rests can be positioned facing the same direction or facing opposite directions, the hinge means comprising:
• a plurality of substantially T-shaped arms, each of the arms having a first portion and a second portion, the second portion extending substantially perpendicularly to the first portion and having a distal end off set relative to the first portion for facilitating rotation of the first and second back rest assemblies relative to the first and second seating areas of the seat assembly.

A bench assembly, comprising:

• a seat assembly comprising;
• a seat frame having a first side, a second side, a first end and a second end;
• a plurality of seats supported by the seat frame for defining at least a first seating area and a second seating area, the first seating area spatially disposed from the second seating area so that a slot is provided there between, each of the first and second seating areas adapted to receive and support a person's posterior and upper legs when the person is in a sitting position on the first or second seating areas;
• a first arm rest connected to the first end of the seat frame so as to extend upwardly from the first seating area;
• a second arm rest connected to the second end of the seat frame so as to extend upwardly from the second seating area;
• a central arm rest disposed in the slot and connected to the seat frame such that the central arm rest extends upwardly between the first and second seating areas;
• a first back rest assembly comprising a frame having a first side, a second side, a first end and a second end;
• a second back rest assembly comprising a frame having a first side, a second side, a first and a second end;
• and wherein
• the first back rest assembly is pivotally connected to the first arm rest and the center arm rest such that the first back rest assembly extends substantially upward from the first seat assembly and the second back rest assembly is pivotally connected to the second arm rest and the center arm rest such that the second back rest assembly extends substantially upward from the second seat assembly, the first back rest assembly rotatable above the first seat assembly about a center line of the seat frame from the first side of the seat frame to the second side of the seat frame whereby, when the first back rest assembly is disposed on the first end of the seat frame, the second end of the frame of the first back rest assembly engages the first side of the seat frame and when the first back rest assembly is disposed on the second side of the seat frame the first end of the frame of the first back rest assembly engages the second side of the seat frame, and the second back rest assembly is rotatable above the second seat assembly about the center line of the seat frame independent of the rotation of the first back rest assembly whereby, when the second back rest assembly is disposed on the first side of the seat frame, the second end of the frame of the second back rest assembly engages the first side of the seat frame and, when the second back rest assembly is disposed on the second end of the seat frame, the first end of the frame of the second back rest assembly engages the second side of the seat frame.