Ready to assemble furniture with corner locking assembly

Abstract

Various embodiments relate to a structurally rigid, square furniture kit configured for tool-free assembly by a consumer. The kit includes front and back panels spanning an x-y plane, side panels spanning a y-z plane, and top and base panels spanning an x-z plane, which together define an enclosed storage volume. Rigid, square connections between adjacent panels are achieved via mechanical connectors comprising (a) one or more vertically oriented female receivers on interior surfaces of the side panels, each sized to receive a corresponding male insert mounted on comer blocks of the front and back panels via vertical translation along the y-axis, and (b) a comer block thumb screw fastener passing through a comer block hole and a threaded insert in the male insert into an insert hole in the receiver. Tool-free engagement of these connectors secures the assembled case.

Description

CBRK-003-W01PATENT APPLICATIONFORREADY TO ASSEMBLE FURNITURE WITH CORNER LOCKING ASSEMBLYBYALBERT JEAN DESMET JUSTIN ALBERT DESMETCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

[0001] This application claims priority to, and the benefit of, co-pending United States Provisional Application 63 / 697,200, filed September 20, 2024, for all subject matter common to both applications. The disclosure of said provisional application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present disclosure relates to a quick, ready-to-assemble piece of furniture that requires no tools for assembly. Exemplary pieces of furniture include vanities, dressers, chests, nightstands, armoires, curios, bookcases, media cabinets, sideboards, kitchen cabinets, kitchen islands, or any other storage unit or cabinet. The piece of furniture can be assembled by the consumer in twenty to thirty minutes, compared to typical ready-to-assemble furniture, which may take three to four hours, depending on the specific piece. Stated otherwise, it may take longer to unpack the instant piece of furniture than to assemble it.BACKGROUND

[0003] Quick, ready-to-assemble furniture has become quite popular due to the ascendance of E-commerce in the marketplace. Manufacturers of such furniture are called upon to offer easy-to-assemble furniture to consumers. Some furniture items, such as cabinets, tables, chairs, storage units, or other large pieces of furniture with a substantial open volume when fully assembled, may be quite bulky and require a large shipping volume to be shipped preassembled. In an effort to provide cost savings to retailers and their consumers, manufacturersCBRK-003-W01- 2 - seek ways to ship furniture in as compact a condition and at the lowest possible cost. To keep shipping costs down, furniture is often shipped in multiple disassembled components that must be unpacked and assembled by the consumer. To assemble the furniture, the consumer is generally required to use tools, such as various screwdrivers and wrenches, as well as to mount or use hardware, including various types of camlocks, pin fasteners, nuts, bolts, washers, screws, clips, and the like. Hardware for furniture kit assembly is generally included as part of the furniture kit; however, incorrect types and amounts of hardware may be included, which can prevent the customer from assembling the kit. Further, the consumer may install the hardware items incorrectly, lose them, or damage either the hardware items or the kit elements to which they are applied. Additionally, consumers must sometimes follow complicated assembly instructions. Assembly performed by the consumer may not be as stable as factory assembly, due to consumer error, the superiority of factory assembly processes and equipment (versus those commonly available to or used by consumers), and damage to components and hardware during shipping or attempted assembly. The stability of the assembled piece of furniture is a critical element in consumer acceptance of the product.

[0004] The consumer must also possess the necessary know-how to assemble the furniture components. This means being able to follow any assembly instructions sent with the components. At times, these assembly instructions and parts necessary for assembly may be voluminous, complicated, and / or confusing, even if preparation of those instructions and selection of parts is given substantial consideration by the manufacturer or retailer. At times, the assembly instructions may not be included with the kit or may be lost during shipment or unpacking. At times, the language(s) of the assembly instructions may not be written in the language of the consumer, or they are prepared in a foreign language and not professionally translated, or written by a non-native speaker of the language. Furthermore, these instructions may be presented solely in the form of pictograms, without written explanation, requiring the consumer to be skilled in interpreting such documents. These situations may lead consumers to adopt a trial-and-error approach to determine the correct configuration of the components. The consumer may become frustrated, waste time and energy building the wrong configuration, may return the item due the consumer's inability to assemble, or may end with a sub-optimal unit due to less-than-optimal placement of all the components, or wear of components due to the trial- and-error process.4937-3392-8546, v. 1CBRK-003-W01- 3 -

[0005] A further aspect of prior art approaches is that consumers may damage portions of the furniture components, either during assembly and disassembly, or simply during the everyday use of the article of furniture. Such articles are often fabricated using materials such as particle board or medium-density fiberboard (MDF), for example. Conventionally, the fully assembled product is a rigid item of furniture, suited for its designed purpose. However, these materials of construction may be vulnerable to failure when stresses are applied to connection points or joints. A joint is the close intersection, securing, or fastening together of two or more surfaces (usually smooth, even surfaces), and customarily, a furniture joint is rigid and square. With furniture sold in assembled form, joints are typically secured by dowels, dovetails, dados, glue blocks, comer blocks, rabbets, etc. In kit or knock-down furniture, joints are commonly made rigid by custom connecting fasteners, connector bolts, or through-bolts mating with fixed nuts. A disadvantage with this approach is that the improper positioning of fastening elements during assembly may result in weakened connection points or joints. In addition, rigid designs may result in the imposition of full stress of use on even properly positioned connection points or joints, possibly leading to failure of or weakening of connections. Kit or knock-down furniture may be relocated or disassembled for transport by the consumer after purchase, and the joints may become weak points due to stress from disassembly, transportation, and reassembly. It would be desirable to provide a kit of furniture that is adapted to such stress, while still being amenable to easy assembly and disassembly.

[0006] For all of these reasons, creating a furniture kit that is easy to assemble without the use of tools is highly desirable and a critical advantage of the current invention.SUMMARY

[0007] The present disclosure provides a furniture kit that includes panels that may be cleat assemblies of the invention. The kit, when assembled, provides a structurally rigid article of furniture that remains so even after prolonged use. Assembly of the kit does not require the use of tools. It may be assembled quickly and easily by hand and may take a shorter time to assemble than to unpack. The furniture kit is also easy to disassemble and reassemble, unlike other ready-to-assemble furniture.4937-3392-8546, v. 1CBRK-003-W01- 4 -

[0008] The structurally rigid and square furniture kit of the disclosed invention comprises a front panel, a back panel, a top panel, a base panel, and two side panels, which, when assembled, form a structurally rigid case. The case defines a storage volume having a height, width, and depth. The front panel and the back panel are each configured to extend along an x-y plane, with each panel having a top, a bottom, and two sides. The side panels may be configured to extend along a y-z plane and have a top, a bottom, and two sides. The base panel may be configured to extend along an x-z plane, and it may be positioned between the side panels. The assembled top panel may be configured to extend along an x-z plane, and the top panel may be placed on top of the tops of the side panels. The top panel may be optional, such as in the case of a bathroom vanity where a sink may be inserted. This ready-to-assemble hardware design construction does not require a top and bottom to be one of a rigid assembly.

[0009] To provide stability to the kit, one or more corner locking assemblies comprising a comer block, a slidably wedge or trapezoid shape nesting male insert and female wedge or trapezoid shape receiver, and a hand-applied fastener are utilized to secure the male and female wedge in a locked position. The female wedge receiver may be sized and shaped to securely receive a corresponding male insert via an opening. The combination of the insert and receiver creates a rigid stable construction in all planes, except that the male insert can be slidably removed from the female receiver in the reverse direction of insertion. The one or more receivers may be comprised of a vertically oriented opening and may be disposed on an interior surface of a side panel. The corresponding insert may be positioned on the interior surface of either the front panel or the back panel. The one or more inserts may include a protrusion configured for insertion into one or more receivers. Thus, the receiver (the female) and the insert (the male) may mate when the side panel is translated in a downward, vertical direction along a y-axis, causing a stable connection between the insert and the receiver. The relative movement of the insert and receiver may then restricted in the direction of insertion utilizing a comer block fastener (e.g., thumb screw) which may be inserted through a pass-through hole in the corner block, threaded through a threaded insert in a hole through the insert, and received into a receiving hole in the receiver which is configure to accommodate the comer block fastener, thus securing the insert and receiver in place. The corner block is attached to a front or back panel, and the female receiver is attached to an adjacent side panel. Thus secured, with the comer block, insert, and receiver held firmly together by the comer block fastener, the back or4937-3392-8546, v. 1CBRK-003-W01- 5 - front panel and the side panel are rigidly and squarely attached. When fully assembled, the resulting piece of furniture may be robustly constructed and may not rock or become wobbly when assembled, or over time. It will be appreciated that the disposition of the elements of the above assembly may be reversed, so long as the corner block on the one hand, and the female receiver on the other, are attached to opposing adjacent elements of the furniture kit.

[0010] The rigid and square assembly of the kit may be enhanced by including one or more assemblies, each comprised of a cleat having a pass-through hole and a cleat fastener. These cleats and cleat fasteners are disposed in a manner such that the cleat fastener can pass-through the pass-through hole in the cleat and into a pre-drilled insert in an adjacent structural member of the furniture kit. For example, the assembly can be installed on a back, front, or side panel for attachment to the base or top panel.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0011] Having thus described the presently disclosed subject matter in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:

[0012] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a portion of an example of a structurally rigid and square furniture kit assembly, including and showing details of certain locking mechanisms, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

[0013] FIG. 2A illustrates a perspective view of an example of a comer locking assembly, comprising a comer block, male wedge insert, female wedge receiver, and corner block thumb screw fastener, in a fully assembled state, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

[0014] FIG. 2B illustrates an exploded view of the corner locking assembly shown in FIG. 2A, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

[0015] FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B, and FIG. 3C illustrate various perspective views of an example of a cleat assembly, comprising a cleat and a cleat thumb screw fastener, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

[0016] FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of an example of a partially assembled furniture kit in its intended orientation for use once assembled, including and showing a process of installing the side panels using the comer locking assemblies placed with a certain4937-3392-8546, v. 1CBRK-003-W01- 6 - orientation, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, showing the assembly of the case piece from the bottom panel up;

[0017] FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of an example of a partially assembled furniture kit inverted from its intended orientation for use once assembled, including and showing a process of installing the side panels using the comer locking assemblies placed with another orientation, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, showing the assembly of the case piece from top panel up;

[0018] FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 illustrate an alternative embodiment of the furniture kit of FIG.4 in which a divider is provided; and

[0019] FIGS 8A, 8B, 8C and 8D show the corner locking assembly, comprising a comer block, insert, receiver, and comer block thumb screw fastener, with the comer block rotated in several orientations relative to the insert and receiver, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] The foregoing and other aspects of the present invention will now be described in more detail with respect to the description and methodologies provided herein. It should be appreciated that the invention can be embodied in different forms and should not be constmed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.

[0021] FIG. 1 and FIGS. 4-7 illustrate embodiments of a partially assembled kit 100 with reference axes shown and labeled inverted from their intended orientation when fully assembled and in use. The assembled kit 100 may include a front face panel 114, a back panel 110, a top panel 116, a base panel 118, side panels 120, and a divider 130 (FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, only). At each of the four corners of the assembled kit may be a leg 112.

[0022] When these pieces are assembled, they form a case defining a storage volume having a height along a y-axis, a width along an x-axis, and a depth along a z-axis. The front panel 114 and back panel 110, upon assembly, are each configured to extend along an x-y4937-3392-8546, v. 1CBRK-003-W01- 7 - plane, the front panel 114 and back panel 110 each having a top, a bottom, and two sides. Each of the side panels 120, upon assembly, is configured to extend along a y-z plane and has a top, a bottom, and two sides. The base panel 118, upon assembly, is configured to extend along an x-z plane, and has a top, a bottom, and two sides, the base panel 118 may be positioned between the side panels 120 and front panel 114 and back panel 110. The top panel 116, upon assembly, is configured to extend along an x-z plane, and the top panel 116 may be positioned on top of the top of the side panels 120, front panel 114, and back panel 110;

[0023] The various panels may be manufactured from particle board, medium-density fiberboard (MDF), plywood, hardwood, metal, plastic, other composite materials, and the like.

[0024] Each kit 100 further comprises elements, which, when installed, create a rigid and square connection between adjacent panels of the furniture assembly. As shown in FIG. 1, the hardware necessary for assembling the furniture kit into a unit of furniture without tools and to provide rigidity to and square construction of the assembled kit 100 may include various locking assemblies comprised of male inserts, female receivers, corner blocks, and comer block thumb screw fasteners, and may further include cleats and cleat fasteners. An exemplary locking assembly 200 is shown in an exploded view of FIG. 1, FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B. The locking assembly 200 may include (1) a comer block 230, having a pass-through corner block hole 234, holes 234A for installation of fasteners 234C (not shown) for attaching the corner block to the male wedge insert 220, and corner block connection holes 234B for installation of fasteners to attach the corner block 230 to the front panel 114 or back panel 110 of the furniture kit. The fasteners 234A and 234C may be wood screws that may self-tap into the adjacent face of the male wedge insert 220; (2) a female wedge receiver 210 with a vertically oriented opening, cavity, or slot 212, a cylindrical shaped receiver hole 214, and holes 214A for installation of fasteners to attach the receiver 210 to a side panel 120 of the furniture kit; (3) a male wedge insert 220 including an insert protrusion 222 and a threaded insert hole 224; and (4) a threaded comer block fastener 236.

[0025] In operation a comer block fastener 236, e.g., thumb screw or similar fastener, may be (a) inserted through a pass-through corner block hole 234, (b) threaded through a threaded insert hole 224 in a male wedge insert 220; such that (c) when fully installed, the end of the comer block fastener 236 is received into a receiver hole 214 in the receiver 210. A comer4937-3392-8546, v. 1CBRK-003-W01- 8 - block fastener 236 firmly connects a corner block 230, male wedge insert 220, and female wedge receiver 210. A comer block 230 may be firmly attached to the front panel 114 or back panel 110 with fasteners installed through comer block connection holes 234B. A female wedge receiver 210 may be firmly attached to an adjacent side panel 120 with fasteners installed through receiver connection holes 214A. A comer block 230 may be optionally mounted to a spacer 232 using fasteners installed through comer block connection holes 234B. As shown, the corner block 230 may be attached during manufacturing to the spacer 232, which in turn may be attached to the front panel 110 or back panel 114. In an alternate embodiment, the comer block 230 may be mounted directly to the front panel 114 or back panel 110.

[0026] One or more female wedge receivers 210 may be positioned or disposed on an interior surface of the side panels 120. The one or more female wedge receivers 210 may be sized and shaped to securely receive, via the vertically oriented opening, cavity, or slot 212 extending inwardly from the front face of the female wedge receiver 210, the corresponding male wedge insert 220 and its insert protrusion 222 extending outwardly from the front face of the male insert 220. The male wedge insert 220 may be mounted to the corner block 230 using screws installed into the insert 220 through the holes in the comer block 234B, or other attachment means (e.g., adhesive). The corner block 230 and insert 220 may be positioned on one of the corners of the front face panel 114 and / or the back panel 110 to properly align with the receiver once assembled. The insert protrusion 222 may be configured for insertion into the vertically oriented receiver opening, cavity, or slot 212 to mate the one or more female wedge receivers 210 with the corresponding male wedge insert 220 and insert protrusion 222, when the side panel 120 may be translated in a downward vertical direction along the y-axis thereby causing or otherwise providing a stable connection because of the mating of the receiver opening, cavity, or slot 212 and the insert protrusion 222. This stable connection may be made rigid and square once the comer block screw 236 is fully installed by inserting it through the pass-through corner block hole 234, threading it into the threaded insert hole 224 of the insert 220, and receiving it in the receiver hole 214.

[0027] In one embodiment, the front face of the insert 220 may be approximately the same height and width as the opposing face of receiver 210, and the faces of the insert 220 and receiver 210 may be in contact when the insert protrusion 222 is engaged. The insert protrusion 222 may be substantially trapezoidal in shape, with the opening, cavity, or slot 212 of the4937-3392-8546, v. 1CBRK-003-W01- 9 - receiver 210 being congruently shaped with a trapezoidal recess to receive the insert protrusion 222. As shown in FIG. 2B, the side walls of the insert protrusion 222 are cut back at an acute angle, so that when the insert protrusion 222 is inserted into the opening, cavity, or slot 212 of the receiver 210, the two pieces cannot be pulled apart.

[0028] Referring to the other exploded view of FIG. 1 and FIGS. 3A-3C, the assembled kit 100 may also include one or more cleat assemblies 250 having a cleat block 252, a cleat pass-through hole 254, and a cleat fastener 256. One or more cleat assemblies 250 may be disposed or positioned on or near a bottom and / or a top edge of the bottom and / or top edge of the back panel 110 and front panel 114 and the bottom and / or the top edge of the side panels 120 (not shown). The one or more cleat assemblies 250 may have a pass-through hole 254 in the block 252 for the thumb screw cleat fasteners 256 to be passed through the pass-through hole 254 and received in a threaded receiving insert hole 258 in the top panel or base panel to provide additional rigidity between the top panel 116 or base panel 118 relative to the side panels 120, front panel 114 and back panel 110.

[0029] FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 illustrate the process of the side panels 120 being installed in one embodiment from top down (in its intended orientation when in use) (FIG. 4) and in another embodiment installed bottom up (upside down from its intended orientation when in use) (FIG. 5). The receivers 210 are positioned on the interior surfaces of each of the four comers of the side panels 120. The inserts 220 are positioned with the comer block 230 at the interior surfaces of the comers of the back panel 114 or the comers of the front panel 110. As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the front panel 114 may include a front panel frame 114a, and the back panel 110 may include a back panel frame 110a. The side panels 120 may be translated in a downward vertical direction A, such that the inserts 220 positioned at the corners of the front panel frames 114a and back panel frames 110a engage receivers 210 disposed at the corners of the side panels 120. The downward-facing opening of the receiver 210 receives the protmsion 222, thereby providing a stable connection between the adjacent panels. This stable construction may be rigidified and made square by installing a comer block fastener (e.g., thumb screw) 236 passed through the corner block 230 through its pass-through comer block hole 234, threaded through the threaded insert 224 in the insert 220 so that it is received into the receiver hole 214 in the receiver 210. Once the thumb screw is fully tightened and is flush with the comer block and is positioned in the insert of the receiver hole 214, a square, firm, and rigid connection will4937-3392-8546, v. 1CBRK-003-W01- 10 - be achieved. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 5, the side panels 120 may be positioned with the furniture kit 100 placed upside down from its intended orientation when in use, and the side panel 120 moved in direction B to have the insert protrusion 222 received in the congruent opening, cavity, or slot 212 of the female wedge receiver 210. This construction is made rigid and square by fully installing the corner block screw 236 as detailed above.

[0030] In the case of either assembly described above, the one or more cleats disposed on the top or bottom of the side panels 120, front panel 114, or back panel 110 may be used to further rigidify and square the furniture kit 100 without the need for tools. The cleat fasteners 256 may be passed through the one or more cleats 250 and its block 252 and pass-through hole 254 to engage a threaded receiving hole 258 in one or more of the panels.

[0031] FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 illustrate an alternative embodiment of the process illustrated in FIG. 4. This alternative embodiment may be desirable with furniture kits that may benefit from additional support, such as longer, taller, or heavier pieces. In FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, a divider 130 may be included to divide and support the interior portion of the assembly 100. The divider 130 may be translated in a downward vertical direction C such that the male wedge inserts 220 positioned at the desired location in the interior portion of the furniture kit 100 engages female wedge receivers 210 disposed at corners of the divider 130. The vertically oriented opening, cavity, or slot 212 of the female wedge receiver 210 receives the protrusion 222 of the insert 220, thereby providing a rigid stable connection. This stable construction is made rigid and square by installing a corner block fastener 236, which is passed through the pass-through comer block hole 234 of the corner block 230, threaded through the threaded insert in the insert hole 224 of the insert protrusion 222, such that it is received in the receiver hole 214 of the receiver 210. The primary function of the comer block fastener 236 is to secure the male wedge inserts 220 and female wedge receivers 210.

[0032] In one embodiment, (as shown in FIG 8A, FIG 8B, FIG 8C and FIG 8D), the comer block 230 may be oriented at 90-degree angles with respect to the associated insert 220 and receiver 210 so that the insert 220 and receiver 210 may be mounted in multiple orientations using a single version of the corner block 230.

[0033] It should be noted that in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the female wedge receiver 210, the corner block 230, the male wedge insert 220, and cleat block4937-3392-8546, v. 1CBRK-003-W01- 11 -252 are intended to arrive preassembled and pre-attached to their corresponding intended panels. Attachment at the factory may be by screws or by glue or by both. It should also be noted that in this embodiment, the corner block screw 236 and cleat screws 256 are thumbscrews, which may be loosened and tightened by hand. Therefore, the entire furniture kit may be assembled easily, simply, and without the use of tools of any kind by the consumer.

[0034] Although the present approach has been described herein with reference to certain embodiments of the present invention, it is to be understood that the invention defined by the appended claims is not to be limited by details set forth in the above description, as may perform similar functions and / or achieve like results. All such equivalent embodiments and examples are within the spirit and scope of the present approach. As one skilled in the art will recognize, the installation of wedges and corner blocks on the one hand, and receivers on the other, may be reversed, so long as they are oriented for installation together as provided herein. Similarly, the optional cleat assemblies may be attached to the y-axis-oriented case pieces for installation to the perpendicular x-axis-oriented case pieces to which they are to be attached.

[0035] As utilized herein, the terms “comprises” and “comprising” are intended to be construed as being inclusive, not exclusive. As utilized herein, the terms “exemplary”, “example”, and “illustrative”, are intended to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration” and should not be construed as indicating, or not indicating, a preferred or advantageous configuration relative to other configurations. As utilized herein, the terms “about”, “generally”, and “approximately” are intended to cover variations that may exist in the upper and lower limits of the ranges of subjective or objective values, such as variations in properties, parameters, sizes, and dimensions. In one non-limiting example, the terms “about”, “generally”, and “approximately” mean at, or plus 10 percent or less, or minus 10 percent or less. In one non-limiting example, the terms “about”, “generally”, and “approximately” mean sufficiently close to be deemed by one of skill in the art in the relevant field to be included. As utilized herein, the term “substantially” refers to the complete or nearly complete extent or degree of an action, characteristic, property, state, structure, item, or result as would be appreciated by one of skill in the art. For example, an object that is “substantially” circular would mean that the object is either completely a circle to mathematically determinable limits, or nearly a circle as would be recognized or understood by one of skill in the art. The exact allowable degree of deviation from absolute completeness may, in some instances, depend on 4937-3392-8546, v. 1CBRK-003-W01- 12 - the specific context. However, in general, the nearness of completion will be so as to have the same overall result as if absolute and total completion were achieved or obtained. The use of “substantially” is equally applicable when utilized in a negative connotation to refer to the complete or near complete lack of an action, characteristic, property, state, structure, item, or result, as would be appreciated by one of skill in the art.

[0036] Numerous modifications and alternative embodiments of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the foregoing description. Accordingly, this description is to be construed as illustrative only and is for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the best mode for carrying out the present invention. Details of the structure may vary substantially without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and exclusive use of all modifications that come within the scope of the appended claims is reserved. Within this specification, embodiments have been described in a way that enables a clear and concise specification to be written, but it is intended and will be appreciated that embodiments may be variously combined or separated without parting from the invention. It is intended that the present invention be limited only to the extent required by the appended claims and the applicable rules of law.

[0037] It is also to be understood that the following claims are to cover all generic and specific features of the invention described herein, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.4937-3392-8546, v. 1

Claims

CBRK-003-W01- 13 -CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. A structurally rigid and square furniture kit that can be assembled by a consumer without use of tools, comprising: a front panel, a back panel, a top panel, a base panel, and two side panels that, when these pieces are 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 depth along a z-axis; wherein the front panel and back panel, upon assembly, are each configured to extend along an x-y plane, the front panel and back panel each having a top, a bottom, and two sides; wherein each of the side panels, upon assembly, is configured to extend along a y-z plane and has a top, a bottom, and two sides; wherein the base panel, upon assembly, is configured to extend along an x-z plane, and has a top, a bottom, and two sides, and the base panel may be positioned between the side panels and front panel and back panel; wherein the top panel, upon assembly, is configured to extend along an x-z plane, and the top panel may be positioned on top of the top of the side panels, front panel, and back panel; wherein each kit further comprises elements, which, when installed, create a rigid and square connection between adjacent panels of the furniture assembly, the elements comprising: a) one or more female receivers comprising a vertically oriented 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 opening a corresponding male insert disposed on one or both of the front panel and back panel wherein the male insert comprises a protrusion configured for insertion into the vertically oriented opening of the one or more female receivers to mate the one or more receivers with the corresponding male insert when the side panel is translated in a, vertical direction along the y-axis thereby causing a stable connection between the male insert and the female receiver; b) one or more comer blocks to which the insert is mounted; and4937-3392-8546, v. 1CBRK-003-W01- 14 - c) a comer block thumb screw fastener configured to pass-through a corner block hole, a threaded insert in the male insert, and to be received in an insert hole in the receiver.

2. The structurally rigid and square furniture kit according to Claim 1, wherein the corner block thumb screw fastener can be tightened by hand without requiring use of tools.

3. The structurally rigid and square furniture kit according to Claim 1, further comprising a divider in an interior portion of the furniture assembly.

4. The structurally rigid and square furniture kit according to Claim 1, further comprising one or more cleats and cleat fasteners disposed on a bottom and / or a top of the side panels and the bottom and / or top of the front and back panels, wherein the one more cleats have a pass- through hole for the cleat fasteners to be inserted through the cleat pass-through hole into a receiving insert in the top panel or base panel to provide rigidity between the top panel or base panel relative to the side panels, front panel and back panel.

5. The structurally rigid and square furniture kit according to Claim 4, wherein the cleat fastener can be tightened by hand without requiring use of tools.

6. The structurally rigid and square furniture kit according to claim 1, wherein: a comer block is attached at the corners of the front panel and the back panel of the kit; a male insert is attached to each corner block; a female receiver is attached to the corners of side panels of the kit; wherein mating the female receivers attached to the comers of side panels with the male inserts attached to the comer blocks attached to the front and back panels connects the side panels with the front and back panels.4937-3392-8546, v. 1CBRK-003-W01- 15 -7. A locking assembly for assembling a kit to form a unit of furniture, the locking assembly comprising: a) a male insert having a front face and a protrusion extending outward from the insert front face; b) a female receiver comprising a receiver base having a front face and a cavity extending inwardly from the receiver front face, wherein the locking male insert is configured for insertion into the female receiver cavity such that a mated configuration causes a stable connection between the male insert and the female receiver; c) a comer block; and(d) an associated corner block fastener which, when installed through the corner block and male insert, and received into a hole in the receiver, results in a rigid assembly.

8. The locking assembly for assembling a kit to form a unit of furniture according to Claim 7, wherein the male insert protrusion is trapezoidal in shape and the female receiver cavity is a trapezoidal recess such that in the mated configuration the trapezoidal insert mates with the trapezoidal recess of the receiver.

9. The locking assembly for assembling a kit to form a unit of furniture according to Claim 7, wherein: the corner block is attached to a front panel or a back panel of the kit; the male insert is attached to the comer block; and the female receiver is attached to a side panel of the kit; wherein, when the female receiver is in the mated configuration with the male insert, the side panel is attached to the front or back panel; and wherein the comer block fastener is installed through the corner block and male insert and female receiver in the mated configuration to result in a rigid assembly.

10. The locking assembly for assembling a kit to form a unit of furniture according to Claim 7, wherein the comer block fastener can be tightened by hand without requiring use of tools.

11. Connection elements for assembling a kit to form a unit of furniture, the connection elements comprising:4937-3392-8546, v. 1CBRK-003-W01- 16 - one or more locking assemblies comprising: a male insert having a front face and a protrusion extending outward from the insert front face; a female receiver comprising a receiver base having a front face and a cavity extending inwardly from the receiver front face, wherein the locking male insert is configured for insertion into the female receiver cavity such that a mated configuration causes a stable connection between the male insert and the female receiver; a corner block; and an associated corner block fastener which, when installed through the comer block and male insert, and received into a hole in the receiver, results in a rigid assembly.

12. The connection elements for assembling a kit to form a unit of furniture according to Claim 11, wherein the comer block fastener can be tightened by hand without requiring use of tools.

13. The connection elements for assembling a kit to form a unit of furniture according to Claim 11, wherein for each of the one or more assemblies:The comer block is attached to a front panel or a back panel of the kit; the male insert is attached to the comer block; and the female receiver is attached to a side panel of the kit; wherein, when the female receiver is in the mated configuration with the male insert, the side panel is attached to the front or back panel; and wherein the comer block fastener is installed through the corner block and male insert and female receiver in the mated configuration to result in a rigid assembly.

14. The connection elements for assembling a kit to form a unit of furniture according to Claim 13, wherein: a comer block is attached at the corners of the front panel and the back panel of the kit; a male insert is attached to each corner block; a female receiver is attached to the corners of side panels of the kit; wherein mating the female receivers attached to the comers of side panels with the4937-3392-8546, v. 1CBRK-003-W01- 17 - male inserts attached to the comer blocks attached to the front and back panels connects the side panels with the front and back panels.

15. The connection elements for assembling a kit to form a unit of furniture according to Claim 11, further comprising one or more cleat assemblies configured to be attached on a bottom and / or a top of side panels and a bottom and / or top of a front panel and back panel of the kit, each cleat assembly comprising: a cleat block having a pass-through hole; and cleat fasteners configured to be inserted through the pass-through hole into a receiving insert in the top panel or base panel to provide rigidity between the top panel or base panel relative to the side panels, front panel and back panel.

16. The connection elements for assembling a kit to form a unit of furniture according to Claim 15, wherein the cleat fastener can be tightened by hand without requiring use of tools.4937-3392-8546, v. 1

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