US20200037758A1

US20200037758A1 - Foldable cabinet

Info

Publication number: US20200037758A1
Application number: US16/339,799
Authority: US
Inventors: Ishay KAGAN
Original assignee: Keter Plastic Ltd
Current assignee: Keter Plastic Ltd
Priority date: 2016-10-06
Filing date: 2017-09-17
Publication date: 2020-02-06
Also published as: ES2855425T3; CA3035950A1; CN109788847A; IL248226A0; IL265311A; AU2017339256A1; MX2019003692A; EP3522754B1; EP3522754A1; WO2018065976A1

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.

Description

TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD

The present disclosure concerns cabinets, and more specifically “do it yourself” (DIY) modular cabinets that require only little space at a storage/shipping configuration, and can be readily and easily assembled or disassembled.

BACKGROUND ART

References considered to be relevant as background to the presently disclosed subject matter are listed below:

- U.S. Pat. No. 3,752,552
- U.S. Pat. No. 4,579,401
- U.S. Pat. No. 6,848,758
- U.S. Pat. No. 6,722,750
- U.S. Pat. No. 8,256,443
- US 2008164787
- US 2011115350
- US 2013002112

Acknowledgement of the above references herein is not to be inferred as meaning that these are in any way relevant to the patentability of the presently disclosed subject matter.

BACKGROUND

The use of “Do-It-Yourself” (DIY) furniture is ever-growing worldwide and a wide variety of DIY cabinets are available on the market.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,752,552 discloses a foldable base or wall cabinet fabricated from articulated molded plastic components assembled for quick erection with a minimum number of parts. A front panel formed with integral hinge portions is provided with a pair of articulated side panels also formed with integral hinge portions which cooperate with the front panel portion and are adapted to be folded over against one another when in a collapsed position. A shelf with integral hinge pins pivotally engages the front and side panels by sockets formed between the side panels and the front panel, the shelf being foldable against the front panel when collapsed. Integral locking connections are provided for locking the cabinet in an erected position and various components are interchangeable to reduce the number of molds.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,579,401 discloses a cabinet which is collapsible from an erect condition to a collapsed condition includes a base panel to which are hinged first and second side panels and a front panel extending perpendicular to the first and second side panels. Each of the panels is hinged to a progressively higher flange so that the panels collapse over one another in an overlapping relationship. The front panel is hinged intermediate its ends and folds back upon itself. A top panel forming a top for the cabinet is hinged to the front panel and overlies the first and second side panels and folded front panel when the cabinet is collapsed. The cabinet includes at least one shelf which can be stored beneath the collapsed sides and front. Castor wheels are provided so that the cabinet may be conveniently moved when either erected or collapsed.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,722,750 discloses improved foldable cabinets, wherein one implementation features a configuration providing a highly compact form when such cabinets are in a folded orientation. One implementation of the foldable cabinet includes a hinge assembly with mating cutout sections in the hinged members.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,848,758 discloses a DIY cabinet having a foldable frame, a top panel, a bottom panel, a rear panel and multiple pop-it fasteners. The panels are attached to the foldable frame with the pop-it fasteners. Each pop-it fastener is composed of a countersunk tube and a stud. The countersunk tubes are pressed into head holes in panels, and the studs are screwed into and extend from base holes in the foldable frame and align with corresponding head holes in the panels. The studs extending from the base holes are pressed respectively into the countersunk tube in the head holes. Thereby, the panels are mounted on the foldable frame without using tools.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,256,443 discloses a collapsible privacy shelter including an upper section, lower section, and roof section. The lower section includes a back wall, a pair of side walls pivotally connected to the back wall of the lower section and are operable to fold inward, a front wall pivotally connected to the plurality of side walls of the lower section, and a door pivotally connected to the front wall of the lower section. The upper section includes a back wall disposed on an edge of the back wall of the lower section and operable to engage the back wall of the lower section, a pair of opposing side walls pivotally connected to the back wall of the upper section and operable to fold inward and each operable to engage a corresponding side wall of the lower section, a front wall pivotally connected to the plurality of side walls of the upper section and operable to engage the front wall of the lower section, and a door pivotally connected to the upstanding front wall of the upper section and operable to engage the door of the lower section.
US 2008164787 discloses a joint device for assembled furniture and a foldable cabinet using the joint device. The joint device for assembled furniture includes a sheath and a bolt. The sheath includes an outer flank adapted to be tightly fitted in a hole of a first furniture member. The bolt includes a first end adapted to be inserted into a cavity of the sheath and a second end adapted to be tightly fitted in a hole of a second furniture member. The sheath includes an elastic material. The first end of the bolt is snugly engaged with the cavity of the sheath when inserted into the cavity of the sheath.
US 2011115350 discloses a folding entertainment cabinet that can be assembled without tools. Hinged end walls interconnect with rigid front and back walls. A rigid floor and a top removably connect to the unfolded frame structure for a rigid assembled cabinet structure.
US 2013002112 discloses a detachable cabinet with multiple functions. The cabinet includes a folding frame, a top panel and a bottom panel. Also, the top panel and the bottom panel are connected to the folding frame the notch and the stud.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure is directed to a cabinet comprising a back panel, a top panel, a base panel, a right side panel, and a left side panel, wherein the back panel is 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.
According to a particular embodiment, the cabinet may further be configured with a left side door and a right side door. According to yet a particular embodiment, the cabinet may further be configured with one or more shelves. The arrangement being such that at the collapsed configuration the thickness of the collapsed cabinet, including said left side door, 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.
At the collapsed configuration of the cabinet all said panels and said doors are disposed substantially parallel to one another and normal to said respective right side extension and left side extension.
According to a particular example, 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.
According to an embodiment, the back panel is assembled of a top back panel and a bottom back panel, wherein 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.
The arrangement is such that a top edge of the bottom back panel is articulated flush with a respective bottom edge of the top back panel.
Any one or more of the following features, designs and configurations can be applied in a cabinet according to the present disclosure, separately or in various combinations thereof:

- The cabinet may have a substantially rectangular shape;
- the back panel may be integrally configured with the right side extension and the left side extension;
- The cabinet may be made of plastic molded elements:
- At the collapsed configuration of the cabinet, 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 immediate assembly into the fully deployed configuration. According to a particular example, the collapsed configuration the doors are coupled to respective side panels;
- Couplings of the respective panels to one another may be detachable, rendering the cabinet to be a “knock-down” cabinet, so it can be easily shifted from the deployed configuration back into the collapsed configuration;
- The cabinet may comprise a locking mechanism for locking the left side door and right side door;
- Articulation of the top edge of the bottom back panel and the respective bottom edge of the top back panel may be by snap-type coupling engagement. According to a particular example the snap-type coupling is configured with 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;
- The top back panel and the bottom back panel, with their respective right side extension and left side extension, may be identical elements;
- The top panel and the base panel may be identical elements;
- The left side panel and the right side panel may be identical elements;
- The left side door and a right side door may be identical elements;
- A shelf of the cabinet may be composed of two identical shelf panels. At the collapsed position said shelf panels are each stowed flush against a respective inside face of the left side panel and the right side panel;
- A bottom face of the base panel and the top panel may be configured with support legs;
- A top face of the top panel and the base panel may be configured with support legs arresting portions;
- Support legs at the bottom face of the base panel of a top cabinet may be configured for arresting within support legs arresting portions at the top face of the top panel of a bottom cabinet;
- A right side edge and a left side edge of the top panel and the base panel, respectively, may be configured for snap-type engagement with respective top and bottom edges of the right side panel and the left side panel;
- The cabinet may be provided with at least one foldable drawer. In some embodiments, the cabinet is configured with said at least one foldable drawer instead of said doors and/or said shelves, such that the when at the collapsed configuration the thickness of the collapsed cabinet, including said drawer(s), is substantially similar to, or less, than the width of the respective right side extension and left side extension;
- According to one particular example, erecting the cabinet from its collapsed configuration into the deployed configuration may be facilitated by 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.
- According to another particular example, where the cabinet comprises left side and right side doors, erecting the cabinet from its collapsed configuration into the deployed configuration may be facilitated by 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 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.
- Where the cabinet comprises doors, at step a) the right side panel and the left side panel are out-folded together with the articulated right side door and the left side door.
- Where the cabinet comprises one or more shelves, after step d) the 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.
- Wherein the cabinet comprises one or more foldable drawers, after step d) the drawers are removed from an inside of the cabinet in a folded state, are deployed into an un-folded state, and are placed over suitable drawer supports configured at side wall portions of the cabinet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to better understand the subject matter that is disclosed herein and to exemplify how it may be carried out in practice, embodiments will now be described, by way of a non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1A is a top perspective view of a cabinet according to an example of the present disclosure, the cabinet at its fully collapsed, folded configuration;

FIG. 1B is an enlargement of the portion marked I in FIG. 1A;

FIG. 1C is a section taken along line II-II in FIG. 1A;

FIG. 1D is an enlargement of the portion marked III in FIG. 1C;

FIG. 2A is a top perspective view of the cabinet of FIG. 1A at is fully deployed configuration;

FIG. 2B shows the cabinet of FIG. 2A, however with the doors open;

FIG. 2C is a schematic exploded spread of the cabinet according to the disclosure;

FIGS. 3A to H are consecutive steps of erecting the cabinet from its fully collapsed configuration of FIG. 1A to the fully deployed configuration of FIG. 2A;

FIGS. 4A to 4D illustrate further consecutive steps of fitting a shelve system within the cabinet; and

FIG. 5 illustrates modularity in assembly of a cabinet system according to the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Attention is directed first to FIG. 1A illustrating a cabinet generally designated 10, according to the present disclosure, at its fully collapsed configuration, and at the deployed configuration depicted in FIG. 2A (doors closed) and in FIG. 2B (doors open).
The cabinet is made of a plurality of resin (e.g. plastic material) molded panels articulated to one another. As can best be seen in FIGS. 1A, 2B and 2C, the cabinet 10 comprises a back panel 14 composed of a top back panel segment 14T and a bottom back panel segment 14B, wherein the top back panel segment 14T is coupled with a top panel 16, and the bottom back panel segment 14B is coupled with a base (bottom) panel 18. In FIG. 2C pivotal coupling between two neighboring panels is schematically shown as two inverted triangles having a common vertex representing a hinge coupler 22.
The top back panel segment 14T is configured with an integrated top right side extension segment 24T and a top left side extension segment 26T, and the bottom back panel segment 14B is configured with an integrated bottom right side extension segment 24B and a bottom left side extension segment 26B. According to a particular example, the side extension segments are integral with and rigidly disposed with respect to the respective back panel segment. However, according to a different embodiment (not shown) the side extension segments are pivotally coupled with respect to the respective back panel segment.
Pivotally articulated to the top right side extension segment 24T (via hinge couplers 22) there is a right side panel 28 and likewise, pivotally articulated to the bottom right side extension segment 24B (via hinge couplers 22) there is a left side panel 30. A right front door 34 is pivotally articulated to the right side panel 28 (via hinge couplers 36) and a left front door 40 is pivotally articulated to the left side panel 30 (via hinge couplers 36).
It is further appreciated that the top back panel segment 14T and the bottom back panel segment 14B are configured for articulation to each other by male-female snap-type engagement couplers designated 42A and 42B respectively, and configured such that at the assembled position the two panels coextend flush along their respective edge. It is further appreciated that at the collapsed configuration of the cabinet, the top back panel segment 14T and the bottom back panel segment 14B are beforehand attached to one another.
A cabinet according to an example further comprises a shelf comprised of two shelf panels 48A and 48B which are identical to one another and are configured for flush coupling to one another by male-female snap-type engagement couplers designated 50A and 50B, respectively. At the collapsed configuration, each shelf panel is stowed between the back panel and the respective right side panel 28 and left side panel 30. For supporting the shelf within the deployed cabinet, the right side panel 28 and left side panel 30 are configured with several shelf supports 52, such that the assembled shelf can be supported at different levels. As an alternative (not shown), rather than assembling the two shelf panels 48A and 48B into a single shelf, they can be separately disposed at different levels within the cabinet.
Alternatively, the cabinet may comprise at least one foldable drawer (not shown) instead of the shelves or even instead of one or more of the doors, as long as the thickness of the collapsed cabinet, including said drawer(s), is substantially similar to, or less, than the width of the respective right side extension and left side extension.
It is further appreciated that the cabinet can be configured at inside faces of any of the panels with various functional elements e.g. hooks, supports, windows etc. In the present example the right front door 34 and the left front door 40 are configured with a top locking mechanism 54L and 54R, and a bottom locking mechanism 56L and 56R, for secure locking the doors at the deployed configuration.
For purpose of assembly and fixing the cabinet at its deployed configuration, the top panel 16 and the base panel 18 are configured at their respective side edges with snap- type engaging couplers 60A and 60B. Likewise, the top left side extension segment 26T and the bottom right side extension segment 24B are configured at their respective side edges with snap-type engaging couplers 64A and 66A for coupling with respective snap-type engaging couplers 64B and 66B of right side panel 28 and the left side panel 30.
With further reference now being made also to FIGS. 1A to 1D, the arrangement is such that the width of the side extension segments 24T, 24B, 26T and 26B is such that the thickness of the cabinet (T in FIGS. 1A to 1D) at the collapsed configuration (FIGS. 1A to 1D) is substantially the width of the side extension segments 24T, 24B, 26T and 26B. Namely, the thickness of a side extension segment corresponds to the thickness of the back panel, a side panel and a door, parallely disposed and flush over one another. The arrangement being such that a respective shelf and/or foldable drawer segment is received at a space between side panel and the respective door, without adding thickness thereto.
It is thus noted, as can best be appreciated from FIG. 2C, that the cabinet assembly comprises sets of similar panel members, namely:

- top back panel segment 14T and the bottom back panel segment 14B (with the respective extension segments 24T, 24B, 26T and 26B);
- top panel 16 and bottom panel 18;
- right side panel 28 and left side panel 30;
- right front door 34 and left front door 40.

Furthermore, the cabinet assembly comprises two similar sub-assemblies, namely:
top back panel segment 14T (with the respective extension segments 24T, 24B), top panel 16, right side panel 28 and right front door 34 (and optionally a shelf segment 48A);
bottom back panel segment 14B (with the respective extension segments 26T, 26B), base panel 18, left side panel 30 and left front door 40 (and optionally a shelf segment 48B).
It can be further be appreciated that the top panel 16 and base panel 18 are configured at a bottom face thereof with support legs 70 and respectively the top face of the top panel 16 and base panel 18 are configured with arresting receptacles 72 for arresting respective support legs 70 of a cabinet mounted thereover. Noticeably, the support legs can be configured at either or both a bottom face of the base panel and the side panels 28 and 30, and respectively the arresting receptacles can be configured at either or both a top face of the top panel and the side panels 28 and 30.
Erecting the cabinet from its stowed, fully collapsed configuration as in FIG. 1A to its operative, fully deployed configuration as in FIG. 2A takes place according to the following sequence of steps:

- a) While at the upright position (FIG. 1A) the right side panel 28 with the right front door 34 articulated thereto, and the left side panel 30 with the left front door 40 articulated thereto, are out-folded (i.e. folded outwards) with respect to the back panel 14, in direction of arrows 70 (the right front door 34 and the left front door 40 remain at their folded position, extending parallel to the respective right side panel 28 and the left side panel 30). The right side panel 28 and the left side panel 30 are out folded until they are disposed at an obtuse angle as in FIG. 3B;
- b) Out-folding the front right side door 34 and the front left side door 40 with respect to the right side panel 28 and the left side panel 30, respectively, following arrows 74 (FIG. 3C) until the right side door 34 and the left side door 40 are disposed at a wide angle with respect to the right side panel 28 and the left side panel 30, respectively (FIG. 3D);
- c) Out-folding the top panel 16 and the base panel 18 with respect to the back panel 14, in direction of arrows 76 (FIG. 3E), until they are disposed at a right angle with respect to the back panel 14, i.e. substantially horizontally disposed (FIG. 3F);
- d) Approaching a top edge of the right side panel 28 to right side edge 78 of the top panel 16 and a bottom edge of the right side panel 28 to a right side edge 80 (FIG. 2C) of the base panel 18, in direction of arrow 84 (FIG. 3G); and approaching a top edge of the left side panel 30 to right side edge 86 of the top panel 16 and a bottom edge of the left side panel 30 to a left side edge 88 of the base panel 18, in direction of arrow 84 (FIG. 3G);
- e) once the respective edges engage each other, they are pressed against each other in direction of arrows 92 (FIG. H) arrestingly coupled by snap-type engagement of engaging couplers 60A and 60B (FIG. 3H), thereby arresting the panels at a fixed position, where the side walls 28 and 30 extend substantially parallel to one another, and at a right angle with respect to the back panel 14.

Once deployed, the cabinet 10 assumes a rigid rectangular configuration, with the front doors 34 and 40 being pivotally displaceable between an open position (FIG. 2B) and a closed position (FIG. 2A), wherein the doors can be locked to one another by the locking arrangement.
FIGS. 4A to 4D illustrate consecutive steps of assembling a shelf to the cabinet 10. As mentioned hereinabove, the shelf is composed of two shelf panels 48A and 48B which are identical to one another and are configured for flush coupling to one another by male-female snap-type engagement couplers designated 50A and 50B (FIGS. 2C, 4A and 4B), respectively. The two shelf panels 48A and 48B are a-priory accommodated within a space extending at the collapsed cabinet between a respective side wall and a corresponding front door (e.g. seen in FIGS. 3D to 3F). Once removed from the cabinet (FIGS. 4A and 4B) the two shelf panels 48A and 48B are fixed to one another to form a solid, flat surface shelf by couplers 50A and 50B (FIG. 4C). Then, the assembled shelf 48 is placed within the cabinet 10 and is placed level over respective shelf supports 52 configured at inside surfaces of the side panels.
FIG. 5 illustrates a cabinet system generally designated 100, assembled of four cabinets 10A, 10B, 10C and 10D, each being of similar design as described herein above. The arrangement is such that the cabinets are modular and configured for secure mounting side by side and on top of one another, such that a modular cabinet system of any layout can be assembled. Cabinets mounted on top of one another benefit the support legs 70 of a top cabinet securely received within arresting receptacles 72 of a bottom cabinet, as mentioned above.

Claims

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)