Abstract:
The invention discloses unique brackets, which form a bracket assembly that may be placed at any location of various components to form an assembly piece, such as furniture. An assembled furniture piece made of furniture panels interconnected with attached engaging and receiving brackets is provided. The engaging and receiving brackets are positioned on components to facilitate the connection of the components. A method to assemble furniture having preformed arm, base, seat and back components is provided. This method of assembly saves on shipment costs, and facilitates the repair of damaged furniture.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims the benefit of prior provisional Application Ser. No. 60/503,124 filed on Sep. 15, 2003 under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) and hereby specifically incorporated by reference in its entirety. 

   STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPEMENT 
   Not applicable 
   REFERENCE A “MICROFICHE APPENDIX” 
   Not applicable 
   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to ready-to-assemble components having brackets attached thereto and a method to use brackets to easily assemble components, such as furniture. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Assembling furniture is ordinarily complicated. Present technology for assembling furniture is labor and part intensive. Presently, a piece of furniture will have many component parts and require several tools for assembly. Moreover, with present technology, assembly of furniture usually requires more than one person. 
   Other ready to assemble furniture systems utilize location dependent brackets that multiply the effort needed to assemble the furniture components and that intensify the complexity of the process. 
   Presently, most furniture is assembled by the seller because of the complexity of assembling. Thus, furniture is handled fully or most fully assembled which creates bulky cargo that takes up a considerable amount of space and is difficult to transport. 
   Additionally, when one part of a piece of furniture is damaged, the entire product must be returned instead of the damaged part. For example, when the frame of the arm of a couch is defective, the entire couch must be returned. 
   Regarding other ready-to-assemble furniture systems for furniture, all entail many component parts, are not stable and require considerable time to assemble. See e.g., Cwik U.S. Pat. No. 4,459,920 and Boycott, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,671,974. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention provides a bracket assembly for interconnecting components made of a receiving bracket and an engaging bracket. The engaging bracket is made of an elongated riser having an inner surface and an outer surface. A plurality of flanges extend from the elongated riser to form a line of intersection. The elongated riser is configured to extend beyond the plurality of flanges to form a cantilevered projection. The cantilevered projection is made of a first portion and a second portion. The first portion extends along the line of intersection. The receiving bracket is made of a riser having an inner surface and an outer surface and a plurality of flanges. The first portion of the cantilevered projection of the engaging bracket is configured to contact the inner surface of the receiving bracket. The plurality of flanges preferably include an aperture sized to receive an attachment means. In one embodiment, the elongated riser is made of two spaced apart vertical members and a top member forming a hollow internal section. 
   The bracket assembly of this invention is made of two main parts: a receiving bracket and an engaging bracket. In the preferred embodiment, the receiving bracket is made of a riser that is formed from two spaced apart vertical members connected with a receiving top member. The spaced apart vertical members and top member form the hollow internal section of the receiving bracket. At least one flange, but preferably two coplanar flanges, extend perpendicularly from the vertical members. The flange preferably includes at least one aperture to receive an attachment means. The aperture allows the receiving bracket to be fixedly attached to a component. The second main part of the bracket assembly is an engaging bracket. In the preferred embodiment, the engaging bracket is made of an elongated riser that is formed from two spaced apart vertical members connected with an engaging top member. At least one flange, but preferably two coplanar flanges, perpendicularly extends from one of the vertical members and has at least one aperture. A portion of the engaging top member projects beyond the at least one flange to form a cantilevered projection. The cantilevered projection is sized to fit in the receiving internal section of the receiving bracket. 
   The inner surface of the receiving bracket is configured to contact the outer surface of the engaging bracket elongated riser. In the preferred embodiment, the receiving bracket has an aperture in the riser that is sized to receive a locking means. In the preferred embodiment, the engaging bracket has an aperture in the elongated riser which is sized to receive a locking means. In the preferred embodiment, two coplanar parallel flanges of the receiving bracket off-set two coplanar parallel flanges of the engaging bracket, upon assembly. In this way, various furniture components can be secured together. 
   Additionally, this invention provides a system for a ready to assemble furniture piece made of a plurality of bracketed furniture components having at least one bracket being either an engaging bracket or a receiving bracket, whereby the bracketed furniture components are interconnected through a receiving bracket on one furniture component with accommodating engaging bracket on a second furniture component. 
   This invention discloses bracketed furniture components that are easily shipped and ready to assemble on arrival without much labor or specialized tools. This invention discloses unique brackets, which form a bracket assembly, that may be placed at any location on the various furniture components. More specifically, this invention provides a method to assemble furniture involving the steps of: providing a plurality of bracketed furniture components and connecting the bracketed furniture components by forming bracket assemblies between the plurality of bracketed furniture components. These brackets are preferably attached by bolts into predrilled holes in furniture panels, but may be attached by any other means as desired by one skilled in the art. 
   More specifically, this invention relates to a plurality of bracketed furniture components interconnected by forming bracket assemblies. For example, the bracket components needed to assemble a chair or small couch can include a furniture arm component having a back side arm panel; a front side arm panel; and a side arm panel positioned interconnectingly to the back side arm panel and the front side arm panel, wherein at least one of the panels has at least one engaging or receiving bracket attached thereto; a furniture base component having a first and second side base panel having an exterior and interior surface; a front base panel; and a rear base panel, wherein at least one of the panels has at least one engaging or receiving bracket attached thereto; a furniture seat component having a first and second side seat panel; a front seat panel; and a rear seat panel, wherein at least one of the panels has at least one engaging or receiving bracket attached thereto; a furniture back component having two side back panels wherein at least one of the panels has at least one engaging or receiving bracket attached thereto. The brackets are not location dependent. One skilled in the art may place the engaging brackets and receiving brackets at any location on the furniture components that allows for the furniture components to be interconnected by forming bracket assemblies. Additionally, the number of total bracket assemblies used to interconnect furniture components will vary as desired by one skilled in the art. 
   An assembled furniture piece is made by fixedly interconnecting a plurality of furniture components. In one embodiment of a chair, the assembled furniture piece has two furniture arm components each having a back side arm panel having a means to support a receiving bracket, substantially perpendicular to the back side arm panel; a front side arm panel; and a side arm panel positioned interconnectingly to the back side arm panel and the front side arm panel, the side arm panel having a plurality of receiving brackets and a plurality of engaging brackets. The chair further includes a furniture base component having a first and second side base panel having an exterior and interior surface, wherein a plurality of receiving brackets are attached to the exterior and interior surfaces of the first and second side base panel; a front base panel; and a rear base panel. The chair further includes a seat component having a first and second side seat panel wherein the first and second side panels include a plurality of engaging brackets; a front seat panel; and a rear seat panel. The chair further includes a back component having a first and second side seat panel wherein the first and second side panels include a plurality of engaging brackets; a front seat panel; and a rear seat panel; wherein the plurality of engaging brackets of the horizontal side arm panels of each of the furniture arm components are connected to a receiving bracket on the side base panel of the furniture base component; wherein the engaging brackets of the first and second side seat panels of the furniture seat component interconnect with receiving brackets on the back vertical side arm panel of each of the furniture arm components; wherein a plurality of engaging brackets attached thereto to the side back panels of the furniture back component interconnect with receiving brackets attached to the back vertical side arm panel of each of the furniture arm component and the first and second side base panels of the furniture base component. 
   This invention further provides a method to assemble furniture having arm, base, seat and back components, which involves the steps of providing two arm components having a plurality of engaging and receiving brackets positioned to connect with corresponding brackets on another component; providing a base component having a plurality of receiving brackets positioned to connect with corresponding brackets on another component; providing a seat component with a plurality of brackets to connect with corresponding engaging brackets on another component; providing a back component with a plurality of engaging components to connect with corresponding receiving brackets on another component; connecting engaging brackets on the arm components with receiving brackets on the base component; connecting engaging brackets on the seat component with receiving brackets on the arm components; and connecting engaging brackets on the back component with receiving brackets on the arm components and the seat component. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a receiving bracket. 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic view of an engaging bracket. 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic view of a bracket assembly. 
       FIG. 4A  is a schematic top view of a receiving bracket. 
       FIG. 4B  is a schematic side view of a bracket assembly. 
       FIG. 4C  is a schematic view of a receiving bracket and an engaging bracket. 
       FIG. 5A  is a schematic top view of a receiving bracket and a compressible material. 
       FIG. 5B  is a schematic side view of a receiving bracket and a compressible material. 
       FIG. 5C  is a schematic view of a receiving bracket and a compressible material. 
       FIG. 6A  shows a schematic view of the assembly process involving two arm components and a base component. 
       FIG. 6B  shows the result achieved by the assembly of two arm components and a base component. 
       FIG. 7A  shows a schematic view of the assembly process involving the seat component and the result in  FIG. 6B . 
       FIG. 7B  shows the result achieved by the assembly of the seat component, the base component and two arm components. 
       FIG. 8  shows a schematic view of the assembly process involving the back component and the result in  FIG. 7B . 
       FIG. 9  shows the result achieved by the assembly of the back component, the seat component, the base component and two arm components. 
       FIG. 10A  shows a schematic view of a connected table support connector. 
       FIG. 10B  shows a schematic view of a disconnected table support connector. 
       FIG. 11A  shows a schematic view of a connected headboard and bedrail. 
       FIG. 11B  shows a top schematic view of a headboard and bedrail. 
       FIG. 11C  shows a front schematic view of a headboard and bedrail. 
       FIG. 11D  shows a right schematic view of a headboard and bedrail. 
       FIG. 12A  shows a schematic side view of a receiving bracket and pole. 
       FIG. 12B  shows a schematic side view of a sign connected to a pole via a bracket assembly. 
       FIG. 12C  shows a schematic view of a sign with engaging bracket and pole with receiving brackets. 
       FIG. 13A  is a schematic view of a portion of a casket. 
       FIG. 13B  is a schematic view of a portion of a casket. 
       FIG. 13C  is a schematic view of a portion of a casket. 
       FIG. 13D  is a schematic view of a portion of a casket. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 1-3 , the bracket assembly  5  is made of a receiving bracket  2  and an engaging bracket  4 . Now referring to  FIG. 1 , a receiving bracket  2  is made of a riser  34 . The riser  34  has an inner surface  44  and an outer surface  45 . The riser  34  may be straight, orthogonal, horizontal, sloped or curved. The riser  34  forms hollow internal section  20 . The receiving bracket  2  also includes a plurality of flanges  1  and  3 . 
   In the preferred embodiment, two coplanar parallel flanges  1  and  3  perpendicularly extend from the riser  34 . In the preferred embodiment, two spaced apart vertical members  34 A extend from a receiving top member  35  to form the riser  34 . In this embodiment, the vertical members  34 A is straight and orthogonal. Receiving brackets  2  are preferably two and a half inches in width and two inches in length, but may be any size as desired by one skilled in the art. Receiving brackets  2  are preferably made of steel or iron although other materials, such as plastic or a synthetic modification thereof, may be used as desired by one skilled in the art. The engaging bracket  2  can be made integrally with a component. 
   In a preferred embodiment, the receiving bracket  2  is made of at least one planar flange  1  having an aperture  6  to receive an attachment means, such as a bolt, but other attachment means, such as spot welding or clamping, may be used as desired by one skilled in the art. At least one aperture  6  is preferably positioned in the center of each of the substantially parallel flanges  1  and  3  allowing for the receiving bracket  2  to be attached to a component (not shown in  FIG. 1 ). A lock-down aperture  22  is positioned on the receiving bracket  2  to allow a locking means, such as a bolt, to contact the engaging bracket  4  to form a secure bracket assembly  5 , but any other locking means may be used as desired by one skilled in the art. In this way, one bracketed component is interconnected with a second bracketed component. 
   Referring to F 1 G.  2 , an engaging bracket  4  is made of an elongated riser  36  having an inner surface  46  and an outer surface  47 . The elongated riser  36  may be straight, orthogonal, horizontal, sloped or curved. A plurality of flanges  23  and  24  perpendicularly extend from the elongated riser  36 . The plurality of flanges  23  and  24  form a line of intersection  48  with the elongated riser  36 . The elongated riser  36  is configured to extend beyond the plurality of flanges  23  and  24  to form a cantilevered projection  39 . The cantilevered projection  39  is made of two portions, a first portion  40  and a second portion  41 . In the first portion  40 , the line of intersection  48  extends past the plurality of flanges  23  and  24  to form an outer surface sized to contact the inner surface  44  of the receiving bracket  2 . Additionally, the cantilevered projection  39  has a second portion  41  which tapers and narrows where the line of intersection  48  has been cut away allowing for easy assembly of the engaging bracket  4  and receiving bracket  2 . 
   In the preferred embodiment, two coplanar parallel flanges  23  and  24  extend from two spaced apart vertical members  36 A. In the preferred embodiment, the two spaced apart vertical members  36 A are straight and orthogonal. The spaced apart vertical members  36 A extend from the engaging top member  38 . The term riser can refer generically to a bracket having an external surface and a hollow internal section. More specifically, the terms two spaced apart vertical members refers to the preferred embodiment where the riser  36  is formed from two spaced apart members  36 A and a top member  38 . 
   Engaging top member  38  projects beyond at least one flange  23  to form a cantilevered projection  39 . The cantilevered projection  39  has a tapered guide portion  41  to allow ease of initial assembly between engaging bracket  4  and receiving bracket  2 . The cantilevered projection  39  is sized to fit, with minimal clearance in receiving bracket internal section  20 . In the preferred embodiment, the engaging bracket  4  is made of at least one planar flange  23  having an aperture  11  to receive attachment means, such as a bolt. Any other attachment means, such as spot welding or clamping, may be used as desired by one skilled in the art. In the preferred embodiment, two coplanar parallel flanges  1  and  3  of the receiving bracket  2  off-set two coplanar parallel flanges  23  and  24  of the engaging bracket  4  upon assembly. Engaging brackets  4  are preferably two and a half inches in width and four inches in length but can be any size as desired by one skilled in the art. Engaging brackets  4  are made of steel or iron although other materials, such as plastic or a synthetic modification thereof, may be used as desired by one skilled in the art. The described shape of the receiving bracket  2  and engaging bracket  4  are constant but the overall size may change. The receiving bracket  2  can be integrally made with the component. 
   Now referring to  FIG. 3 , a bracket assembly  5  is shown. The bracket assembly  5  is formed of a receiving bracket  2  and an engaging bracket  4  which are placed in contact. The stability of the bracket assembly  5  is based upon contact between the outer surface  47  of elongated riser  36  of the engaging bracket  4  and the inner surface  44  of riser  34  of the receiving bracket  2 . Additionally, the stability of the bracket assembly  5  is based on contact between the first portion  40  of the cantilevered projection  39  of the engaging bracket  4  with the inner surface  44  of the riser  34  of the receiving bracket  2 . Additionally, the stability of the bracket assembly  5  can be based on contact between outer surface  45  of riser  34  of the receiving bracket  2  being in contact with the surface onto which the receiving bracket  2  is mounted. 
   Now referring to  FIGS. 4A-C , alternative engaging and receiving brackets are shown. The inner surface  44  and riser  34  of the receiving bracket  2  are sized to contact the outer surface  45  of the engaging bracket  4 . In particular, the stability of the bracket assembly  5  is increased by the contact of the inner surface  44  of the receiving bracket  2  with the first portion  40  of the cantilevered projection  39  of the engaging bracket  4 . 
   Additionally, the strength of the bracket assembly  5  can be increased by providing an interference fit between the receiving bracket  2  and engaging bracket  4 . An interference fit occurs when the receiving bracket  2  is mounted on a material, such as wood. Wood will compress on the open side  20  of receiving bracket  2  to create a tight fit. Additionally, an interference fit occurs when the receiving bracket  2  is mounted to a material dissimilar to the engaging bracket  4  material. Similarly, a compressible layer of material, such as rubber can be placed between the receiving bracket  2  and the material to which the receiving bracket  2  is mounted. 
   Now referring to  FIG. 5A-C , the interference fit can be enhanced by relying on the compressibility of the material onto which the receiving bracket  2  is mounted, such as wood. Wood will compress on the open side  20  of the receiving bracket  2  to create a tight fit. Similarly, a compressible layer of material  50  can be placed between the receiving bracket and the material onto which the receiving bracket  2  is mounted if the material to which the bracket is mounted, i.e., steel, has inadequate compressibility for this purpose. 
   The bracket assembly  5  is further strengthened by lock down aperture  22  wherein a locking means such as a bolt is used to secure the receiving bracket  2  to engaging bracket  4 . Any other locking means may be used as desired by one skilled in the art. The lock down aperture  22  is positioned to allow a locking means, such as a bolt to contact the cantilevered portion  39  of engaging bracket  4 . 
   The receiving bracket  2  and engaging bracket  4  are attached to panels which are formed into components. The components assemble to form furniture, signage and caskets. The terms “receiving” and “engaging” when used to describe a bracket refer to the shape of a bracket and not to the motion of the assembly process. A furniture component is at least one panel having at least one engaging or receiving bracket attached thereto. In a preferred embodiment, a furniture component is made of a plurality of panels. A furniture component is fixedly attached to another furniture component by forming bracket assemblies  5  between the furniture components. The furniture components with at least one engaging or receiving bracket are referred to as a bracketed furniture components. A furniture component is the basic building block of this system. Furniture will be shipped as bracketed furniture components. 
   Now referring to  FIGS. 6A-9 , the system and method to assemble a chair is shown. In this illustrative embodiment, the ready to assemble furniture piece  25  is made of five basic furniture components  10 ,  12 ,  14  and  16  including two opposing arm components  10 , a base component  12 , a seat component  14 , and a back component  16 . Depending on the styling of the furniture, more or less components can be used. These components are interconnected through receiving brackets  2  and engaging brackets  4  attached to the panels or made integrally with the panels. The bracketed furniture components  10 ,  12 ,  14  and  16  are preferably made of a plurality of furniture panels, such as  7 ,  8 ,  9 ,  13  and  14 . A furniture component may be made of a single panel as desired by one skilled in the art. A furniture panel is any part of the frame to which a bracket is attached, but not limited to wood; a panel can include other materials, such as steel and aluminum for example. Receiving brackets  2  and engaging brackets  4  are attached to the furniture components  10 ,  12 ,  14  and  16  in designated positions depending on the type and design of the ready to assemble furniture piece  25  desired. The brackets  2  and  4  are not location dependent. One skilled in the ad may place the engaging brackets  4  and receiving brackets  2  at any location on the furniture components that allows for the furniture components to be interconnected by forming bracket assemblies  5 . The brackets can be attached anywhere on the panels as long as they position interlock with a corresponding bracket on another component. The number, shape and size of the arm components  10 , the base component  12 , the seat component  14  and back component  16  will vary depending on the type and design of the ready-to-assemble furniture piece  25  desired. Also, the number of total bracket assemblies  5  used to interconnect furniture components will vary as desired by one skilled in the art. The number of receiving brackets  2  and engaging brackets  4  attached on the furniture panels  7 ,  8 ,  9 , 13  and  15  will vary depending on type and design of the ready-to-assemble furniture piece  25  desired. 
   A ready to assemble furniture piece  25  could be made of different bracketed components than those disclosed in this illustrative embodiment. For example, the bracketed component could be a table top, table leg, cabinet back, cabinet front, cabinet drawers, etc. 
   Referring to  FIG. 6A , a portion of chair or small couch is shown. More specifically, two furniture arm components  10  are shown. The arm components  10  are made of differing materials and vary in size depending on the type and design of the ready to assemble furniture piece  25  desired. The arm component  10  is made of three major elements: a back side arm panel  7 , a front side arm panel  17 ; and a side arm panel  8 . A back side arm panel  7  includes a means to support a receiving bracket, such as a substantially perpendicular member  26 . The receiving bracket  2  is attached by nails through aperture  6  to the perpendicular member  26 , but other attachment means may be used as desired by one skilled in the art. The receiving bracket  2  of the back side arm panel  7  is preferably attached between the middle and top of the back side arm panel  7 . The front side arm panel  17  is substantially parallel to the back side arm panel  7  and is connected to the side arm panel by a plurality of support members  27 . The side arm panel  8  is substantially perpendicular to the back side arm panel  7  and front side arm panel  17 , and is connected to both. The side arm panel has a plurality of receiving brackets  2  and a plurality of engaging brackets  4  attached thereto. The brackets are positioned to connect with corresponding brackets on another furniture component to form a bracket assembly. A bracket assembly can be strengthened by applying an adhesive, bolt or screw to lock down aperture  22 . The base component  12  is made of a first side base panel  9  and a second side base panel  30 . The base component  12  is also made of a front base panel  28  and a rear base panel  29 . The first side base panel  9  and second side base panel  30  has an interior and exterior surface to which engaging brackets  4  and receiving brackets  2  are attached. 
     FIG. 6B  depicts the result achieved by the assembly of two opposing arm components  10  and a base component  12 . More specifically, two arm components  10  are contactingly moved adjacent to base component  12 . A plurality of engaging brackets  4  attached to the horizontal side arm panel  8  are inserted into receiving brackets  2  on the exterior surface of the first side base panel  9  and second side base panel  30  of the base component  12 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 7A , the seat component  14  is made of a first and second side seat panels  13 . A plurality of engaging brackets  4  are vertically mounted on the exterior of each side seat panel  13 . In the preferred embodiment, two sets of engaging brackets  4  are attached near the front and rear sections of the side seat panels  13  allowing for the seat component  14  to lock with the arm components  10  upon assembly. The seat component  14  also includes a front seat panel  31  and rear seat panel  32 . The seat panels  13 ,  31  and  32  are interconnected at right angles to form a frame. The receiving brackets  4   2  on the horizontal side arm panel  8 , and arm component  10  are positioned to receive engaging bracket  4  on side seat panel  13  of seat component  14 . 
     FIG. 7B  depicts the result achieved by the assembly of the seat component  14 , the base component  12  and the two opposing arm components  10 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 8 , the back component  16  is made of two side back panels  15 . An engaging bracket  4  is vertically mounted on the exterior of each side back panels panel  15  near the middle section of each side back panel  15  allowing for the back component  16  to interconnect with the arm components  10  upon assembly. An engaging bracket  4  is vertically mounted on the interior of the side back panels  15  in the lower section of each side back panel  15  allowing for the back component  16  to lock with the base component  12  upon assembly. The back component  16  is further made of a back panel  33  that is substantially perpendicular and attached to the two side back panels  15 . 
     FIG. 9  depicts the ready to assemble furniture piece  25 . The ready to assemble furniture piece  25 , a chair, is preferably made of furniture components  10 ,  12 ,  14  and  16  including the back component  16 , the seat component  14 , the base component  12  and two arm components  10 . Each furniture component  10 ,  12 ,  14  and  16  is made of furniture panels  7 ,  8 ,  9 ,  13  and  15  which are preferably wooden but may be made of other materials, as desired by one skilled in the art. The furniture components can be upholstered, allowing the brackets to be attached to the exterior of the upholstery or can be upholstered when assembled. 
   The furniture components  10 ,  12 ,  14  and  16  are assembled by interconnecting the receiving brackets  2  and engaging brackets  4  which together form bracket assemblies  5 . The number of bracket assemblies  5  used will vary depending on the styling of the furniture. At least one receiving bracket  2  or engaging bracket  4  is attached to furniture panels  7 ,  8 ,  9 ,  13  and  15  of each furniture component  10 ,  12 ,  14  and  16 . 
   In relation to the presently illustrative configuration, it should be understood that the ready to assemble furniture piece  25  is readily adaptable to all types of furniture pieces including but not limited to sofas, sleepers, loveseats, chairs, and motion furniture. Moreover, the ready to assemble furniture piece is readily adaptable to most types and designs of furniture including but not limited to leather, fabric, show wood, loose cushion, single cushion, single back and split back. This system is not exclusively intended for upholstered furniture use, but can be used in other areas of the furniture industry, such as cabinets and tables. 
   More specifically, as shown in  FIGS. 10A and 10B  a table support connection is shown. The table support  81  has a plurality of receiving brackets  2  attached around the table support  81 . A table leg  83  has an engaging bracket  4  attached. The receiving bracket  2  and engaging bracket  4  are positioned to allow the table leg  83  to connect with table support  81 . 
   In the preferred embodiment, there are four receiving brackets  2  attached equidistantly around the table support  81 , but more or less brackets may be used as desired by one skilled in the art. The four receiving brackets  2  are connected to four engaging brackets  4  to affix the table legs  83  to a table support  81 . 
   Additionally, in  FIGS. 11A-D , bedpost and bedrail connections are shown. In  FIG. 11A , a bedrail  93  is attached by a bracket assembly  5  to a bedpost  91 .  FIGS. 11B-11D  show cutaway sections of the connection viewed from above ( FIG. 11B ), the side ( FIG. 11C ) and along the axis of the bedrail ( FIG. 11D ). 
   In  FIGS. 12A ,  12 B and  12 C, signage connection is shown. More specifically, a pole  101  has a receiving bracket  2  attached thereto. An engaging bracket  4  is attached to the back surface of a sign  103 . The sign is attached to the pole  101  through bracket assembly  5 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 13A-D , the receiving brackets  2  and engaging brackets  4  can be used to assemble a casket. In  FIG. 13D , a bracket assembly  5  combines the components to form a casket. 
   The bracket assembly and system is advantageous because it allows the assembly of all types of furniture by a single individual. Moreover, the present invention is advantageous because it allows assembly at any place with no tools required for assembly and in approximately one to two minutes. Unlike present technology which is complicated and labor and part intensive, the self-assembly bracket and system has no loose parts to assemble. The required hardware for the present invention is only the receiving brackets  2  and engaging brackets  4  placed at integral parts on the ready to assemble furniture piece  25 . 
   Although the forgoing invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it will be obvious that certain changes and modifications can be made which are within the full scope of the invention.