Foldable cabinet

Abstract

Provided are cabinets, and more specifically to “do-it-yourself” (DIY) modular cabinets that require only little space at a storage/shipping position, and can be readily and easily assembled or disassembled. The cabinet including a back panel, a top panel, a base panel, a right side panel, and a left side panel, the back panel being configured with a right side extension constituting a portion of a right side of the cabinet, and a left side extension constituting a portion of the left side of the cabinet; the cabinet is manipulable between a collapsed configuration and a deployed configuration, wherein at the collapsed configuration the thickness of the collapsed cabinet is similar to the width of the respective right side extension and left side extension.

1 . A cabinet comprising a back panel, a top panel, a base panel, a right side panel, and a left side panel, said back panel being configured with a right side extension constituting a portion of a right side of the cabinet, and a left side extension constituting a portion of a left side of the cabinet; the cabinet is manipulable between a collapsed configuration and a deployed configuration, wherein at the collapsed configuration the thickness of the collapsed cabinet is substantially similar to, or less, than the width of the respective right side extension and left side extension. 
     
     
         2 . The cabinet of  claim 1 , wherein the top panel is pivotally articulated at a top edge of the back panel, the base panel is pivotally articulated at a bottom edge of the back panel, the right side panel is pivotally articulated to the right side extension and the left side panel is pivotally articulated to the left side extension. 
     
     
         3 . The cabinet of  claim 1 , wherein the back panel is assembled of a top back panel and a bottom back panel, the top back panel is configured with a respective top right side extension and a respective top left side extension, and the bottom back panel is configured with a respective bottom right side extension and a bottom left side extension. 
     
     
         4 . The cabinet of  claim 1 , wherein (i) at the collapsed configuration at least the back panel, the top panel, the base panel, the right side panel, and the left side panel are coupled to respective one another and are ready for assembly into the fully deployed configuration, or (ii) at the collapsed configuration all the panels and doors are disposed substantially parallel to one another and normal to the respective right side extension and left side extension. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The cabinet of  claim 1 , wherein couplings of the respective panels to one another is detachable, rendering the cabinet to be a knock down cabinet. 
     
     
         7 . The cabinet of  claim 1 , wherein articulation of the top edge of the bottom back panel and the respective bottom edge of the top back panel is by snap-type coupling engagement. 
     
     
         8 . The cabinet of  claim 7 , wherein the snap-type coupling comprises male projections extending from either the respective top edge of the bottom back and the respective bottom edge of the top back panel, and snapingly articulated within corresponding female receptacles extending at the respective other of the top edge of the bottom back panel and the bottom edge of the top back panel. 
     
     
         9 . The cabinet of  claim 1 , wherein (i) the top back panel and the bottom back panel, with their respective right side extension and left side extension, are substantially identical elements, (ii) the top panel and the base panel are substantially identical elements, and/or (iii) wherein the left side panel and the right side panel are substantially identical elements. 
     
     
         10 .- 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The cabinet of  claim 1 , further configured with a left side door and a right side door, each pivotally articulated to a front edge of a respective side wall of the cabinet. 
     
     
         13 . The cabinet of  claim 12 , wherein at the collapsed configuration the thickness of the collapsed cabinet, including said left side door and right side door is substantially similar to, or less, than the width of the respective right side extension and left side extension. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The cabinet of  claim 12 , wherein the left side door and a right side door are substantially identical elements. 
     
     
         16 . The cabinet of  claim 1 , wherein a bottom face of the base panel and the top panel is configured with support legs. 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The cabinet of  claim 1 , wherein support legs at the bottom face of the base panel of a top cabinet are configured for arresting within support legs arresting portions at the top face of the top panel of a bottom cabinet. 
     
     
         19 . The cabinet of  claim 1 , wherein a right side edge and a left side edge of the top panel and the base panel, respectively, are configured for snap-type engagement with respective top and bottom edges of the right side panel and the left side panel. 
     
     
         20 . The cabinet of  claim 1 , wherein the cabinet is configured with one or more shelves, which at the collapsed configuration said shelves are stowed flush against a respective inside face of the left side panel and the right side panel. 
     
     
         21 . The cabinet of  claim 20 , wherein at the collapsed configuration the thickness of the collapsed cabinet, including left side door and right side door and said one or more shelves, is substantially similar to, or less, than the width of the respective right side extension and left side extension. 
     
     
         22 . The cabinet of  claim 1 , wherein the cabinet is configured with one or more foldable drawers, which at the collapsed configuration said drawers are stowed flush against a respective inside face of the left side panel and the right side panel. 
     
     
         23 . A method for deploying a cabinet according to  claim 1 , the method comprising the following steps:
 (a) out-folding the right side panel and the left side panel with respect to the back panel;   (b) out-folding the top panel and the base panel with respect to the back panel;   (c) attaching a right side edge and a left side edge of the top panel and the base panel, respectively, to the respective top and bottom edges of the right side panel and the left side panel.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein when the cabinet comprises left side and right side doors said method comprises:
 (a) out-folding the right side panel with the articulated right door, and the left side panel with the articulated door, with respect to the back panel;   (b) out folding the right side door and the left side door with respect to the right side panel and the left side panel, respectively;   (c) out folding the top panel and the base panel with respect to the back panel;   (d) attaching a right side edge and a left side edge of the top panel and the base panel, respectively, to the respective top and bottom edges of the right side panel and the left side panel.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein (i) when the cabinet comprises one or more shelves, shelf panels are removed from an inside of the cabinet and are placed over suitable shelf supports configured at side wall portions of the cabinet, or (ii) when the cabinet comprises one or more foldable drawers, the drawers are removed from an inside of the cabinet in a folded state, deployed into an un-folded state, and are placed over suitable drawer supports configured at side wall portions of the cabinet. 
     
     
         26 . (canceled)