Cabinet assembly

Abstract

A kit is provided that, when assembled, forms a unit of furniture. The kit includes side panels that can reversibly slide into an opening formed in the sides of the front and side panels. The kit may include multiple locking pins to restrict movement of the top and side panels. The kit may include positioning wedges and/or locking wedges to restrict relative movement of the panels and thus improve the stability of the unit. Also provided are methods of assembling the unit of furniture.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A furniture assembly kit comprising:
 a front panel, a back panel, a top panel, a base panel, and two side panels that, when assembled, form a case, the case defining a storage volume having a height along a y-axis, a width along an x-axis, and a thickness along a z-axis and   wherein the front panel and back panel are each configured to extend along a x-y plane, the front panel and back panel each having a top, a bottom, and two sides;   wherein each of the side panels is configured to extend along a y-z plane and has a top, a bottom, and two sides and is configured to reversibly slide into an opening formed in the sides of the front panel and back panel;   wherein the base panel, upon assembly, is configured to extend along an x-z plane, and the base panel may be positioned between the side panels;   wherein the top panel, upon assembly, is configured to extend along an x-z plane, proximate tops of the side panels; and   wherein each of the side panels further comprise one or more receivers comprising a downward-facing opening disposed on an interior surface of the side panels, and further wherein the one or more receivers are each sized and shaped to securely receive via the downward-facing opening a corresponding locking wedge disposed on one or both of the front panel and back panel when the side panel is translated in a downward, vertical direction along the y-axis, thereby restricting the side panels from movement relative to one or more of the front and back panels.   
     
     
         2 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein each of the side panels has at least one positioning wedge coupled to an interior bottom surface of the side panel, wherein the at least one positioning wedge on the interior bottom surface of the side panel reversibly joins with a second positioning wedge affixed to an interior side of the back panel or front panel to position the side, back and front panels with respect to one another. 
     
     
         3 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein the kit comprises one or more shelves extending along an x-z plane and wherein, upon assembly, the one or more shelves is removably coupled to an interior portion of the side panels. 
     
     
         4 . The kit of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more door panels that, upon assembly, extend along an x-y plane when closed so as to enclose all or a portion of the case storage volume, and wherein the one or more door panels may be coupled to one or more drawer runners attached to an interior surface of the side panels. 
     
     
         5 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein the kit, when assembled, forms a unit of furniture selected from the group consisting of a table, a book shelf, a storage shelf, a cabinet, a bar table, an armoire, a case, a chiffonier, a closet, a dresser, a locker, a wardrobe, a bin, a vault, a buffet, and a sideboard. 
     
     
         6 . The kit of  claim 1  further including a plurality of locking pins and cleats, wherein the top panel, upon assembly, may be connected to the back panel and the front panel by the plurality of locking pins and cleats installed on the top panel, wherein the plurality of locking cleats and pins restrict the top panel from relative movement, and wherein the side panels, upon assembly, may be connected to the back panel and the front panel by the plurality of locking pins and cleats installed on an interior surface of the side panel, wherein the plurality of locking cleats and pins restrict the side panels from relative movement. 
     
     
         7 . The kit of  claim 6 , wherein at least one locking pin is a self-tightening pin. 
     
     
         8 . The kit of  claim 6 , further comprising one or more cleats attached to the side panels, wherein upon assembly the side panels are further attached to the back panel and front panel by means of the one or more cleats and the plurality of locking pins. 
     
     
         9 . A furniture assembly kit comprising:
 a front panel, a back panel, a top panel, a base panel, and two side panels that, when assembled, form a case, the case defining a storage volume having a height along a y-axis, a width along an x-axis, and a thickness along a z-axis; and   wherein the front panel and back panel are each configured to extend along a x-y plane, the front panel and back panel each having a top, a bottom, and two sides;   wherein each of the side panels is configured to extend along a y-z plane and has a top, a bottom, and two sides and is configured to reversibly slide into an opening formed in the sides of the front panel and back panel;   wherein the base panel, upon assembly, is configured to extend along an x-z plane, and the base panel may be positioned on top of the plurality of position members and between the side panels;   wherein the top panel, upon assembly, is configured to extend along an x-z plane, proximate tops of the side panels.   wherein each of the side panels further comprise one or more receivers comprising a downward-facing opening disposed on an interior surface of the side panels, and further wherein the one or more receivers are each sized and shaped to securely receive via the downward-facing opening a corresponding locking wedge disposed on one or both of the front panel and back panel when the side panel is translated in a downward, vertical direction along the y-axis, thereby restricting the side panels from movement relative to one or more of the front and back panels.   
     
     
         10 . The kit of  claim 9 , further comprising a plurality of locking pins and cleats, wherein the top panel, upon assembly, may be connected to the back panel and the front panel by the plurality of locking pins and cleats installed on the top panel, wherein the plurality of locking cleats and pins restrict the top panel from relative movement with respect to the back or front panel. 
     
     
         11 . The kit of  claim 10 , further comprising a plurality of locking pins and cleats, wherein the side panels, upon assembly, may be connected to the back panel and the front panel by the plurality of locking pins and cleats installed on an interior surface of the side panel, wherein the plurality of locking cleats and pins restrict the side panels from relative movement with respect to the back or front panel. 
     
     
         12 . The kit of  claim 9 , wherein each of the side panels has at least one positioning wedge coupled to an interior bottom surface of the side panel, wherein the at least one positioning wedge on the interior bottom surface of the side panel reversibly joins with a second positioning wedge affixed to an interior side of the back panel or the front panel to restrict the side panel from relative movement with respect to the back or front panel. 
     
     
         13 . The kit of  claim 9 , further comprising at least one locking pin, wherein the at least one locking pin is a self-tightening pin. 
     
     
         14 . The kit of  claim 9 , wherein the kit comprises one or more shelves extending along an x-z plane and wherein, upon assembly, the one or more shelves is removably coupled to an interior portion of the side panels. 
     
     
         15 . The kit of  claim 9 , further comprising one or more door panels that, upon assembly, extend along an x-y plane when closed so as to seal all or a portion of the storage volume of the case, and wherein the one or more door panels may be coupled to one or more drawer runners attached to an interior surface of the side panels. 
     
     
         16 . The kit of  claim 9 , wherein the kit, when assembled, forms a unit of furniture selected from the group consisting of a table, a book shelf, a storage shelf, a cabinet, a bar table, an armoire, a case, a chiffonier, a closet, a dresser, a locker, a wardrobe, a bin, a vault, a buffet, and a sideboard. 
     
     
         17 . A method of assembling a kit that is designed, when assembled, to form a unit of furniture, the method comprising:
 providing a front panel, a back panel, a top panel, a base panel, and two side panels that, when assembled, form a case, the case defining a storage volume having a height along a y-axis, a width along an x-axis, and a thickness along a z-axis, wherein the back panel is configured to extend along an x-y plane, the back panel having a top, a bottom, and two sides, and wherein each of the two side panels has a top, a bottom, and two sides;   providing a locking wedge and a receiver, wherein when engaged the locking wedge and the receiver interact in the same plane wherein each of the side panels further comprise one or more receivers comprising a downward-facing opening disposed on an interior surface of the side panels, and further wherein the one or more receivers are each sized and shaped to securely receive via the downward-facing opening a corresponding locking wedge disposed on one or both of the front panel and back panel when the side panel is translated in a downward, vertical direction along the y-axis, thereby restricting the side panels from movement relative to one or more of the front and back panels;   attaching the side panels to opposite ends of the back panel and the front panel by sliding the side panels into openings formed in the sides of the front panel and the back panel, such that the side panels are at right angles to the back panel and the front panel, while translating the side panel in a downward, vertical direction along the y-axis to engage the locking wedge and the receiver in the same plane;   attaching the top panel to an interior surface of the front panel and the back panel; and   attaching the base panel by placing the base panel on top of at least one said position member such that the base panel extends along the x-z plane and rests above the position members.   
     
     
         18 . A furniture assembly kit comprising:
 a front panel, a back panel, a top panel, a base panel, and two side panels that, when assembled, form a case, the case defining a storage volume having a height along a y-axis, a width along an x-axis, and a thickness along a z-axis and   wherein the front panel and back panel are each configured to extend along a x-y plane, the front panel and back panel each having a top, a bottom, and two sides;   wherein each of the side panels is configured to extend along a y-z plane and has a top, a bottom, and two sides and is configured to reversibly slide into an opening formed in the sides of the front panel and back panel;   wherein the base panel, upon assembly, is configured to extend along an x-z plane, and the base panel may be positioned on top of the plurality of position members and between the side panels;   wherein the top panel, upon assembly, is configured to extend along an x-z plane, proximate tops of the side panels; and   wherein at least one panel further comprises one or more receivers, each one or more receivers comprising an opening disposed on an interior surface of the one panel, and further wherein the one or more receivers are each sized and shaped to securely receive via the opening a corresponding locking wedge disposed and positioned on an adjacent panel, when the one panel or adjacent panel is translated along the y-axis, thereby restricting both panels from movement in the x and y planes, and downward in the y plane, relative to one another.   
     
     
         19 . The kit of  claim 18  further including a plurality of locking pins and cleats, wherein the top panel, upon assembly, may be connected to the back panel and the front panel by the plurality of locking pins and cleats installed on the top panel, wherein the plurality of locking cleats and pins restrict the top panel from relative movement with respect to the back or front panel, and wherein the side panels, upon assembly, may be connected to the back panel and the front panel by the plurality of locking pins and cleats installed on an interior surface of the side panel, wherein the plurality of locking cleats and pins restrict the side panels from relative movement with respect to the back or front panel. 
     
     
         20 . The kit of  claim 18 , wherein the kit, when assembled, forms a unit of furniture selected from the group consisting of a table, a book shelf, a storage shelf, a cabinet, a bar table, an armoire, a case, a chiffonier, a closet, a dresser, a locker, a wardrobe, a bin, a vault, a buffet, and a sideboard.