Display rack with interlocking divider and divider array systems

Abstract

A display rack incorporates an interlocking divider system that facilitates convenient installation and flexible adjustment of dividers to separate and organize displayed items such as produce, meat products, and the like. Also, a display rack may incorporate a divider array system, alone or in combination with interlocking dividers, having two or more horizontal divider mounting sections for convenient installation and flexible adjustment of dividers to provide an increased number of display options. The interlocking divider system allows easy installation of vertical dividers at different lateral positions along the display rack. Each vertical divider is configured for interlocking engagement with one or more horizontal dividers. In particular, each horizontal divider and vertical divider defines one or more mounting slots that interlock with one another to provide selective mounting of the vertical divider. The horizontal dividers can be formed with a unique bracket configuration that allows ready selection of horizontal divider depth by switching between different sides of the bracket. The divider array system incorporates two or more horizontal divider mounting sections disposed adjacent one another in a single rack. This configuration allows two or more horizontal dividers to be mounted not only at different heights, but also at different lateral positions along the rack. In this manner, an array of horizontal dividers can be distributed across the surface of the support member at different heights and lateral positions, enabling flexible selection of a greater variety of display and organization arrangements.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A display rack comprising: 
 a support member having a surface to support items to be displayed;    a horizontal divider mounted over the surface of the support member and extending in a first direction;    a vertical divider mounted over the surface of the support member and extending in a second direction;    a first mounting structure forming part of the horizontal divider, the first mounting structure being configured to removably engage a portion of the vertical divider and limit movement of the vertical divider in the first direction; and    a second mounting structure forming part of the vertical divider, the second mounting structure being configured to removably engage a portion of the horizontal divider and limit movement of the vertical divider in the second direction.    
     
     
         2 . The display rack of    claim 1   , wherein the first mounting structure includes a first slot defined by the horizontal divider, and the second mounting structure includes a second slot defined by the vertical divider, and the first and second slots being removably interlockable with one another to limit movement of the vertical divider in the first and second directions.  
     
     
         3 . The display rack of    claim 2   , wherein the first slot defines a pair of first side surfaces oriented to bear against the vertical divider and thereby limit movement of the vertical divider in the first direction and in a direction opposite the first direction, and the second slot defines a pair of second side surfaces oriented to bear against the horizontal divider and thereby limit movement of the vertical divider in the second direction and in a direction opposite the second direction.  
     
     
         4 . The display rack of    claim 3   , wherein the horizontal divider defines a plurality of the first slots, the second slot being removably interlockable with each of the first slots whereby the vertical divider is selectively mountable at different positions along the horizontal divider.  
     
     
         5 . The display rack of    claim 4   , wherein the first slots are spaced at substantially regular intervals along a length of the horizontal divider.  
     
     
         6 . The display rack of    claim 4   , wherein the horizontal divider comprises a first horizontal divider surface and a second horizontal divider surface oriented at an angle relative to one another, each of the first and second horizontal divider surfaces being selectively mountable on the surface of the support member such that at least a portion of the mounted horizontal divider surface lies substantially parallel to the surface of the support member and the other horizontal divider surface extends outward from the surface of the support member to support the displayed items, wherein each of the first and second horizontal divider surfaces includes one or more of the first slots, and wherein the first and second horizontal divider surfaces have different depths, whereby the horizontal divider is selectively mountable to provide support surfaces with different depths.  
     
     
         7 . The display rack of    claim 4   , wherein the vertical divider defines a plurality of the second slots, each of the second slots being removably interlockable with one of the first slots whereby the vertical divider is selectively mountable to the horizontal divider at different positions along the vertical divider and at different positions along the vertical divider.  
     
     
         8 . The display rack of    claim 7   , wherein the second slots are spaced at substantially regular intervals along a length of the vertical divider.  
     
     
         9 . The display rack of    claim 7   , wherein the horizontal divider is a first horizontal divider, and the display rack further comprises a second horizontal divider mounted over the surface of the supporting member at a position displaced from the first horizontal divider, the second horizontal divider defining a plurality of third slots, wherein each of the second slots is removably interlockable with one of the third slots.  
     
     
         10 . The display rack of    claim 1   , wherein the support member, vertical divider, and horizontal divider are formed from sheets of metal.  
     
     
         11 . The display rack of    claim 1   , wherein the horizontal divider includes a first side wall, a second side wall, a bottom wall, and a front wall, the horizontal divider thereby defining a bin-like compartment for one or more of the items to be displayed.  
     
     
         12 . The display rack of    claim 1   , wherein the horizontal divider is a first horizontal divider, the display rack further comprising: 
 a first mounting section arranged on the surface of the support member;    a second mounting section arranged on the surface of the support member beside the first mounting section; and    a second horizontal divider mounted over the surface of the support member and extending in the first direction,    wherein the first horizontal divider is mounted within the first mounting section and the second horizontal divider is mounted within the second mounting section.    
     
     
         13 . The display rack of    claim 1   , wherein the first and second mounting sections include mounting sites arranged for mounting of a third horizontal divider over the surface of the support member and extending across both the first and second mounting sections.  
     
     
         14 . The display rack of    claim 13   , further comprising: 
 a plurality of first mounting sites disposed at different positions within the first mounting section, the first horizontal divider being selectively mountable at each of the first mounting sites;    a plurality of second mounting sites disposed at different positions within the second mounting section, the second horizontal divider being selectively mountable at each of the first mounting sites.    
     
     
         15 . A display rack comprising: 
 a support member having a surface arranged to support items to be displayed;    a first horizontal divider mounted on the surface of the support member, the first horizontal divider extending in a first direction across the surface of the support member, wherein the first horizontal divider includes a first horizontal divider surface defining a plurality of first slots;    a second horizontal divider mounted on the surface of the support member, the second horizontal divider extending in the first direction across the surface of the support member, wherein the second horizontal divider includes a second horizontal divider surface defining a plurality of second slots; and    a vertical divider extending in a second direction across the surface of the support member, wherein the vertical divider includes a vertical dividing surface defining a plurality of third slots;    wherein each of the third slots is removably interlockable with one of the first slots and with one of the second slots to limit movement of the vertical divider against movement in the first and second directions, whereby the vertical divider is mountable at a plurality of positions along a length of the first horizontal divider and at a plurality of positions along a length of the second horizontal divider.    
     
     
         16 . The display rack of    claim 15   , wherein each of the first and second horizontal dividers comprises a first horizontal divider surface and a second horizontal divider surface oriented at an angle relative to one another, each of the first and second horizontal divider surfaces being selectively mountable on the surface of the support member such that at least a portion of the mounted horizontal divider surface lies substantially parallel to the surface of the support member and the other horizontal divider surface extends outward from the surface of the support member to support the displayed items, wherein each of the first and second horizontal divider surfaces of the first horizontal divider defines a plurality of the first slots, and each of the first and second horizontal divider surfaces of the second horizontal divider includes a plurality of the second slots.  
     
     
         17 . The display rack of    claim 16   , wherein the first and second horizontal divider surfaces for each of the first and second horizontal dividers have different depths.  
     
     
         18 . The display rack of    claim 15   , further comprising a second vertical divider extending in the second direction across the surface of the support member, wherein the second vertical divider defines a plurality of fourth slots, each of the fourth slots being removably interlockable with one of the first slots and with one of the second slots to limit movement of the second vertical divider in the first and second directions, whereby the second vertical divider is mountable at a plurality of positions along a length of the first horizontal divider and at a plurality of positions along a length of the second horizontal divider.  
     
     
         19 . The display rack of    claim 15   , wherein the first slots are spaced at substantially regular intervals along a length of the first horizontal divider, the second slots are spaced at substantially regular intervals along a length of the second horizontal divider, and the third slots are spaced at substantially regular intervals along a length of the vertical divider.  
     
     
         20 . The display rack of    claim 15   , further comprising: 
 a first mounting section arranged on the surface of the support member; and    a second mounting section arranged on the surface of the support member beside the first mounting section,    wherein the first horizontal divider is mounted within the first mounting section and the second horizontal divider is mounted within the second mounting section.    
     
     
         21 . The display rack of    claim 20   , wherein the first and second mounting sections include mounting sites arranged for mounting of a third horizontal divider over the surface of the support member and extending across both the first and second mounting sections.  
     
     
         22 . The display rack of    claim 15   , wherein the first horizontal divider includes a first side wall, a second side wall, a bottom wall, and a front wall, the first horizontal vertical divider thereby defining a bin-like compartment for one or more of the items to be displayed.  
     
     
         23 . A display rack comprising: 
 a support member having a surface to support items to be displayed;    a horizontal divider mounted over the surface of the support member, the horizontal divider having a length extending across the surface of the support member in a first direction and a width extending outward from the surface of the support member;    a vertical divider mounted over the surface of the support member, the vertical divider having a length extending in a second direction substantially transverse to the first direction and a width extending outward from the surface of the support member;    a plurality of first mounting structures forming part of the horizontal divider and distributed along the length of the horizontal divider, each of the first mounting structures being configured for selective removable engagement with a portion of the vertical divider to limit movement of the vertical divider in the first direction;    a plurality of second mounting structures forming part of the vertical divider and distributed along the length of the vertical divider, each of the second mounting structures being configured for selective removable engagement with a portion of the horizontal divider to limit movement of the vertical divider in the second direction.    
     
     
         24 . The display rack of    claim 23   , wherein the first mounting structures include a plurality of first slots defined by the horizontal divider, and the second mounting structures include a plurality of second slots defined by the vertical divider, each of the first slots being removably interlockable with one of the second slots to limit movement of the vertical divider against movement in the first and second directions, whereby the vertical divider is mountable at a plurality of positions along the length of the horizontal divider and at a plurality of positions along the length of the vertical divider.  
     
     
         25 . The display rack of    claim 23   , wherein the first slots are spaced at substantially regular intervals along a length of the horizontal divider, and wherein the second slots are spaced at substantially regular intervals along a length of the vertical divider.  
     
     
         26 . The display rack of    claim 23   , wherein the horizontal divider comprises a first horizontal divider surface and a second horizontal divider surface oriented at an angle relative to one another, each of the first and second horizontal divider surfaces being selectively mountable on the surface of the support member such that at least a portion of the mounted horizontal divider surface lies substantially parallel to the surface of the support member and the other horizontal divider surface extends outward from the surface of the support member to support the displayed items, wherein each of the first and second horizontal divider surfaces includes a plurality of the first slots, and wherein the first and second horizontal divider surfaces have different depths, whereby the horizontal divider is selectively mountable to provide support surfaces with different depths.  
     
     
         27 . The display rack of    claim 23   , wherein the horizontal divider includes a first side wall, a second side wall, a bottom wall, and a front wall, the horizontal divider thereby defining a bin-like compartment for one or more of the items to be displayed.  
     
     
         28 . A display rack comprising: 
 a support member having a surface to support items to be displayed;    a horizontal divider positionable over the surface of the support member; and    a vertical divider positionable over the surface of the support member,    wherein the horizontal divider and vertical divider define complementary slot patterns that are removably interlockable with one another to limit movement of the vertical divider in at least two dimensions.    
     
     
         29 . A display rack comprising: 
 a support member having a surface to support items to be displayed;    a plurality of mounting sections arranged laterally adjacent one another across the surface of the support member; and    a plurality of horizontal dividers, each of the horizontal dividers being mounted within one of the mounting sections.    
     
     
         30 . The display rack of    claim 29   , wherein the mounting sections include a first mounting section and a second mounting section arranged beside the first mounting section.  
     
     
         31 . The display rack of    claim 29   , wherein the horizontal dividers include a first horizontal divider mounted within the first mounting section and a second horizontal divider mounted within the second mounting section.  
     
     
         32 . The display rack of    claim 29   , wherein the first and second mounting sections include mounting sites arranged for mounting of a third horizontal divider over the surface of the support member and extending across both the first and second mounting sections.  
     
     
         33 . The display rack of    claim 29   , wherein the first and second horizontal dividers are mounted at different heights on the surface of the support member.  
     
     
         34 . The display rack of    claim 29   , wherein the first and second mounting sections include mounting sites for selective mounting of the first and second horizontal dividers at different heights on the surface of the support member.  
     
     
         35 . The display rack of    claim 29   , wherein the first mounting section includes a pair of first columns of mounting holes for selective mounting of the first horizontal divider at different heights within the first mounting section, the first horizontal divider including first structures for removable engagement within the mounting holes, and the second mounting section includes a pair of second columns of mounting holes for selective mounting of the second horizontal divider at different heights within the second mounting structure, the second horizontal divider including second structures for removable engagement within the mounting holes.  
     
     
         36 . The display rack of    claim 29   , wherein at least one of the horizontal dividers includes a first side wall, a second side wall, a bottom wall, and a front wall, the respective horizontal divider thereby defining a bin-like compartment for one or more of the items to be displayed.  
     
     
         37 . A display rack comprising: 
 a support member having a surface to support items to be displayed;    a first mounting section arranged on the surface of the support member;    a second mounting section arranged on the surface of the support member beside the first mounting section;    at least a first pair of mounting sites disposed within the first mounting section to receive a horizontal divider; and    at least a second pair of mounting sites disposed within the second mounting section to receive another horizontal divider.    
     
     
         38 . The display rack of    claim 37   , further comprising: 
 a first horizontal divider received by the first pair of mounting sites; and    a second horizontal divider received by the second pair of mounting sites.    
     
     
         39 . The display rack of    claim 38   , wherein the first pair of mounting sites comprises first mounting holes defined by within the first mounting section by the surface of the support member, the first horizontal divider having first structures for removable engagement with the second mounting holes, and the second pair of mounting sites comprises second mounting holes defined within the second mounting section by the surface of the support member, the second horizontal divider having second structures for removable engagement with the second mounting holes.  
     
     
         40 . A horizontal divider bracket for mounting on a display rack, the horizontal divider bracket comprising: 
 a first horizontal divider section;    a second horizontal divider section oriented at an angle relative to the first vertical horizontal plate, the first and second horizontal divider sections having different depths; and    wherein the second horizontal divider plate is mountable on the surface of a support member such that at least a portion of the second horizontal divider section lies substantially parallel to the surface of the support member and the first horizontal divider section extends outward from the surface of the support member to support items to be displayed.    
     
     
         41 . The horizontal divider bracket of    claim 40   , further comprising a plurality of slots defined along the first horizontal divider section and configured to receive a portion of a vertical divider,  
     
     
         42 . The horizontal divider bracket of    claim 41   , wherein the slots are first slots, the horizontal divider bracket further comprising a plurality of second slots defined along the second horizontal divider plate and configured to receive a portion of a horizontal divider, wherein each of the first and second horizontal divider plates is selectively mountable such that at least a portion of the mounted horizontal divider plate lies substantially parallel to the surface of the support member and the other horizontal divider plate extends outward from the surface of the support member to support items to be displayed, and wherein the first and second horizontal divider surfaces have different depths.