Patent ID: 6561601
Filing Date: 2003-05-13
Classification: A47B

Abstract:
A quick-assembly storage unit, comprising:a back panel having a front side, back side, a pair of flanged widthwise ends generally perpendicular to the front and back sides, a pair of flanged lengthwise ends generally perpendicular to the front and back sides, a pair of inner flanges extending from the front side and being generally parallel and adjacent to a corresponding one of the flanged lengthwise ends so as to define a channel between the inner flange and corresponding flanged lengthwise end, each inner flange having at least one cut-out therein, the back panel further including at least one male engagement region adjacent each flanged widthwise end, each of the male engagement regions comprising a half-round bump having a perimetrical edge; a pair of side panels, each side panel having an interior side corresponding to the front side of the back panel and an exterior side corresponding to the back side of the back panel, each side panel having a pair of widthwise ends, a front flanged lengthwise end portion, and a rear flanged lengthwise end portion, the rear flanged lengthwise end being sized for frictional insertion into a corresponding channel of the back panel, each flanged lengthwise end portion of each side panel having a first portion extending from the interior side and being generally perpendicular to the interior side of the side panel and a second portion that is attached and generally perpendicular to the first portion, the second portion extending generally parallel to and confronting the interior side, the second portion of the rear flanged lengthwise end portion having at least one cut-out therein that is generally aligned with the cut-out in a corresponding one of the inner flanges of the back panel, the second portion of the front flanged lengthwise portion having a cut-out therein, each side panel having at least one male engagement region located on the exterior side and adjacent a corresponding widthwise end of the side panel, each male engagement region comprising a half round bump having a perimetrical edge; a top panel having a top side, a bottom side, a pair of flanged widthwise ends and a pair of flanged lengthwise ends, the top panel having at least one female engagement region on each of the flanged lengthwise and widthwise ends, each female engagement region corresponding to one of the male engagement regions on the back panel, each female engagement region comprising an opening having a perimetrical edge; a bottom panel having a top side, a bottom side, a pair of flanged widthwise ends and a pair of flanged lengthwise ends, the bottom panel having at least one female engagement region on each of the flanged lengthwise and widthwise ends, each female engagement region on the flanged lengthwise and widthwise ends corresponding to one of the male engagement regions on the back panel, each female engagement region on the flanged lengthwise and widthwise ends of the bottom panel comprising an opening having a perimetrical edge; at least one shelf member, the shelf member having a top side, a bottom side, a pair of widthwise end portions, a front flanged lengthwise end portion, and a rear flanged lengthwise end portion, each of the flanged lengthwise end portions having a first portion generally perpendicular to the bottom side of the shelf member and a second portion attached to and generally perpendicular to the first portion and which confronts the bottom side, each second portion of the flanged lengthwise end portions having a pair of cut-outs, each cut-out being located proximate to a corresponding widthwise end of the shelf member; at least one shelf support member attached to the back panel and defining a region that is sized for frictionally receiving a portion of the rear flanged lengthwise end portion of the shelf member; said side panels being configured to be attached to said back panel wherein the rear flanged lengthwise end portion of each side panel is frictionally inserted into a corresponding channel of the back panel such that the interior sides of the side panels face each other and the cut-outs of the rear flanged lengthwise end portions of the side panels are generally aligned with the cut-outs of the inner flanges, said back panel and said side panels attached to said back panel defining an intermediate assembly; said top panel being configured to be attached to said back panel and said side panels wherein the perimetrical edge of each half round bump on said back panel and said side panels extends through a corresponding one of the openings on said top panel, the top panel being sized, in relation to the intermediate assembly, so as to allow a tight-fitting relationship between said top panel and said back panel and said side panels thereby allowing the perimetrical edge of each half round bump to firmly abut the perimetrical edge of a corresponding opening on said top panel; said bottom panel being configured to be attached to said back panel and said side panels such that the perimetrical edge of each half round bump on said back panel and said side panels extends through a corresponding one of the openings on said bottom panel, said bottom panel being sized, in relation to the intermediate assembly, so as to allow a tight-fitting relationship between said bottom panel and said back panel and said side panels thereby allowing the perimetrical edge of each half round bump to firmly abut the perimetrical edge of a corresponding opening on said bottom panel; said shelf member being configured to be removably attached to the side panels and back panel wherein portions of the rear flanged lengthwise end portion that are adjacent to said widthwise ends of said shelf member are received by the cut-outs in said inner flanges and said rear flanged lengthwise end portions of said side panels and a portion of the rear flanged lengthwise end portion of said shelf member is frictionally disposed in said region of said shelf support member so as to provide a tight-fitting relationship between said shelf member and said side panels and between said shelf member and said back panel.