Folding seat module system and method of using same

A portable seating system, comprising

• multiple seat modules, each of said modules being foldable between an upright position for use, and a folded position wherein said seat modules are folded to a compact form for storage, said seat modules being connectable to one another when in the upright position to form a connected row of said seat modules having an end;
• each of said seat modules having a back support member and a seat member pivotally moveable relative to said back support member, and a pair of end supports spaced from one another, each of said pair of end supports being positioned to support said seat member when said module is in its upright position, and foldable to a position under said seat member to allow said seat member to move to said folded position when said module is in its folded position;
• and
• a removable end panel connectable to a side end of one of said seat modules at said end of said row, said end panel being disconnectable from said modules for storage.

A method of providing portable seating, said method comprising:

• A) setting up a row of seats by carrying out the following steps:
• 1) providing at least two seat modules, each of said seat modules having at least two seats, each of said modules being foldable between an upright position for use, and a folded position wherein said seat modules are folded to a compact form;
• 2) connecting at least two of said seat modules in the upright position to form said row of said seat modules;
• and
• B) removing said row of seats by carrying out the following steps:
• 1) disconnecting said connected seat modules from one another;
• 2) folding said seat modules to said compact form by folding a pair of end supports and a seat member, said end supports being spaced from one another and positioned to support said seat member when said seat module is in said upright position, said pair of end supports being folded to a position under said seat member to allow said seat member to move to a folded position relative to a back support member when said module is folded.

A portable seat module foldable between an upright position for seating and a folded position for storage, said seat module comprising:

• a back support member, said back support having first and second back extensions spaced from one another and having a bottom edge for contacting the floor and supporting said module above the floor when said module is in said upright position;
• a seat member pivotally connected to said back support member for pivotal movement between said upright position and said folded position about a generally longitudinal axis, said seat member being in a generally perpendicular position relative to said back support member when said module is in said upright position and folded downward towards the bottom of the seat module generally parallel to said back support member when in said folded position;
• a pair of end supports spaced from one another, each of said pair of end supports being positioned to contact the underside of said seat member to support said seat member when said module is in its upright position and having a lower end for contacting the floor and supporting said module above the floor when said module is in said upright position, each of said end supports being pivotally connected to said back support member along a line generally perpendicular to said longitudinal axis to a position under said seat member to allow said seat member to move to said folded position wherein a bottom face of said seat member faces a side face of said end supports when said module is in its folded position;
• and
• said seat module being connectable to another of said seat modules when in the upright position to form a connected row of said seat modules.