Storage rack for bottles and jars

Abstract

A modular rack for storing objects. Each rack element has forward, rear, and side walls. The rack elements are configured to have a plurality of protrusions and recessions so that the protrusions and recessions of a rack element slideably interlock with complementary recessions and protrusions of other-rack elements of generally similar appearance, so that the rack elements may be assembled into a modular rack without the need of tools or external fastening elements.

1 . A modular rack comprising 
 a plurality of rack elements, each rack element comprising a housing having a forward wall, a side wall and a rear wall, the side wall having at least one protrusion portion having a head portion and a neck portion and at least one recession portion, the recession portion being of complementary shape to the protrusion portion    wherein the protrusion portion of one rack element may be engaged with the recession portion of another rack element.    
   
   
       2 . The modular rack of  claim 1 , wherein the protrusion portion of one rack element may be slideably interengaged with the recession portion of another rack element.  
   
   
       3 . The modular rack of  claim 2 , wherein the side wall has an outer surface and the slideable interengagement occurs in a direction parallel to the outer surface  6  the side wall defining the protrusion portion of the rack element.  
   
   
       4 . The modular rack of  claim 3 , wherein the slideable interengagement occurs in a direction parallel to the outer surface of the side wall defining the recession portion of the rack element.  
   
   
       5 . The modular rack of  claim 4 , wherein the forward wall of each of the rack elements has a plurality of forward container accommodating openings, each forward container accommodating opening defined by a forward interior container receiving wall.  
   
   
       6 . The modular rack of  claim 5 , including a plurality of ribs extending laterally on the surface of each of the forward interior container receiving walls.  
   
   
       7 . The modular rack of  claim 5 , including a plurality of ribs extending circumferentially around the surface of each of the forward interior container receiving walls.  
   
   
       8 . The modular rack of  claim 5 , wherein each of the forward interior container receiving walls extends from the forward wall to the rear wall of the rack elements.  
   
   
       9 . The modular rack of  claim 5 , wherein the rear wall of each of the rack elements has a plurality of rear container accommodating openings in registry with the respective forward container accommodating openings, each rear container accommodating opening defined by a rear interior container receiving wall and wherein at least one forward interior container receiving wall does not extend to its corresponding rear container receiving wall.  
   
   
       10 . The modular rack of  claim 6 , wherein each of the forward container accommodating openings has a longitudinal axis and the longitudinal axis of each of the forward container accommodating openings is generally parallel.  
   
   
       11 . The modular rack of  claim 2 , wherein each of the rack elements is attached to at least one other rack element by having the protrusion portion of each of the rack elements slideably engaged with the recession portion of at least one other rack element.  
   
   
       12 . A rack for storing containers comprising 
 a housing having a forward wall, a rear wall and an edge wall;    a plurality of recesses in the forward wall of the housing, each recess adapted to receive a container;    at least one protrusion portion formed by the side wall and the forward and rear walls of the rack, the protrusion portion having a head portion and joined to the rack by a neck portion;    at least one recession portion formed by the side wall and the forward and rear walls of the rack, the shape of the recession portion corresponding to the size and shape of the protrusion portion.