Compartment divider assembly

Abstract

A compartment divider assembly, in accordance with the principles of the invention, may include a first divider having a longitudinal axis, a second divider having a longitudinal axis that crosses the longitudinal axis of the first divider, and an interior frame—with each of the first and second dividers being moveable back and forth through the interior frame. If desired, the assembly may further include an exterior frame, with at least one end of at least one of the first and second dividers connected to the exterior frame.

1 . A compartment divider assembly, comprising:
 a first divider having a longitudinal axis;   a second divider having a longitudinal axis that crosses the longitudinal axis of the first divider; and   an interior frame,   the first divider moveable back and forth through the interior frame, and   the second divider moveable back and forth through the interior frame.   
   
   
       2 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first divider longitudinal axis is substantially perpendicular to the second divider longitudinal axis. 
   
   
       3 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first and second dividers are moveable back and forth through the interior frame independently of one another. 
   
   
       4 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the interior frame includes a first passageway and a second passageway, with the first divider moveable back and forth through the first passageway, and the second divider moveable back and forth through the second passageway. 
   
   
       5 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first divider comprises a rail, and the interior frame comprises a passageway, the first divider rail moveable back and forth through the passageway. 
   
   
       6 . The assembly of  claim 5  wherein the rail comprises a first rail member and a second rail member substantially parallel with the first rail member, the first and second rail members slidably connected to one another along at least a portion of their respective lengths. 
   
   
       7 . The assembly of  claim 6  wherein one of the first and second rail members includes a channel along at least a portion of its length, and the other of the first and second rail members includes a protrusion along at least a portion of its length, the channel and the protrusion constructed and arranged to slidably engage one another. 
   
   
       8 . The assembly of  claim 6  wherein the passageway is constructed and arranged to inhibit rotation of the rail in the passageway when the first and second rail members are in the passageway simultaneously, when the first rail member is in the passageway but the second rail member is not in the passageway, and when the second rail member is in the passageway but the first rail member is not in the passageway. 
   
   
       9 . The assembly of  claim 5  wherein the second divider comprises a rail, and the interior frame comprises a second passageway, the second divider rail moveable back and forth through the second passageway. 
   
   
       10 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first divider comprises two spaced-apart rails in a first common plane, the two first divider rails moveable back and forth through the interior frame. 
   
   
       11 . The assembly of  claim 10  wherein the second divider comprises two spaced-apart rails in a second common plane, the two second divider rails moveable back and forth through the interior frame. 
   
   
       12 . The assembly of  claim 11  wherein the first divider longitudinal axis is substantially perpendicular to the second divider longitudinal axis. 
   
   
       13 . The assembly of  claim 11  wherein the interior frame includes, in sequential order, first, second, third, and fourth passageways, the two rails of the first divider moveable back and forth through the first and third passageways respectively, the two rails of the second divider moveable back and forth through the second and fourth passageways respectively. 
   
   
       14 . The assembly of  claim 1  further comprising locking structure constructed and arranged to inhibit movement of the first and second dividers relative to the interior frame. 
   
   
       15 . The assembly of  claim 14  wherein the locking structure comprises a cam lock. 
   
   
       16 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein one of the first and second dividers has a first end, and the assembly further comprises an exterior frame, the first end connected to the exterior frame. 
   
   
       17 . A compartment divider assembly, comprising:
 a first divider having a longitudinal axis, a first end, and a second end;   a second divider having a longitudinal axis that crosses the longitudinal axis of the first divider, the second divider further having a first end, and a second end;   an interior frame through which each of the first and second dividers is moveable back and forth; and   an exterior frame, with each of the first and second divider first and second ends connected to the exterior frame.   
   
   
       18 . The assembly of  claim 17  wherein the first divider longitudinal axis is substantially perpendicular to the second divider longitudinal axis. 
   
   
       19 . The assembly of  claim 17  wherein the first and second dividers are moveable back and forth through the interior frame independently of one another. 
   
   
       20 . The assembly of  claim 17  wherein the interior frame includes a first passageway and a second passageway, with the first divider moveable back and forth through the first passageway, and the second divider moveable back and forth through the second passageway. 
   
   
       21 . The assembly of  claim 17  including a bracket at each of the first divider first and second ends, the brackets connecting the first divider first and second ends to the exterior frame. 
   
   
       22 . The assembly of  claim 17  wherein the exterior frame comprises first, second, third, and fourth segments, the first divider extending between and connected to the first and third segments, the second divider extending between and connected to the second and fourth segments. 
   
   
       23 . The assembly of  claim 22  wherein the first divider has an adjustable length, and the second segment has an adjustable length. 
   
   
       24 . The assembly of  claim 23  wherein the second divider has an adjustable length, and the first segment has an adjustable length. 
   
   
       25 . The assembly of  claim 23  wherein the second segment comprises a rail including a first rail member and a second rail member substantially parallel with the first rail member, the first and second rail members slidably connected to one another along at least a portion of their respective lengths. 
   
   
       26 . The assembly of  claim 25  further comprising locking structure at the rail, the locking structure constructed and arranged to inhibit slidable movement between the first and second rail members. 
   
   
       27 . The assembly of  claim 25  wherein one of the first and second rail members includes a channel along at least a portion of its length, and the other of the first and second rail members includes a protrusion along at least a portion of its length, the channel and the protrusion constructed and arranged to slidably engage one another. 
   
   
       28 . The assembly of  claim 27  further comprising locking structure at the rail, the locking structure constructed and arranged to form a releasable friction fit with a surface of the protrusion, thereby inhibiting slidable movement between the first and second rail members. 
   
   
       29 . The assembly of  claim 22  including a first bracket at the first divider first end and a second bracket at the first divider second end, the first and second brackets constructed and arranged to move back and forth along the first and third segments respectively. 
   
   
       30 . The assembly of  claim 29  wherein the first segment comprises a rail including a first rail member and a second rail member substantially parallel with the first rail member, the first and second rail members slidably connected to one another along at least a portion of their respective lengths, and wherein the bracket includes a passageway moveable back and forth along the rail, the passageway constructed and arranged to inhibit rotation of the rail in the passageway when the first and second rail members are in the passageway simultaneously, when the first rail member is in the passageway but the second rail member is not in the passageway, and when the second rail member is in the passageway but the first rail member is not in the passageway. 
   
   
       31 . The assembly of  claim 30  wherein the passageway includes a circumferential sidewall. 
   
   
       32 . The assembly of  claim 21  wherein the brackets are constructed and arranged to offset the first divider from the second divider, whereby the second divider longitudinal axis crosses but does not intersect the first divider longitudinal axis. 
   
   
       33 . The assembly of  claim 32  wherein the interior frame includes a first passageway and a second passageway offset from the first passageway, with the first divider moveable back and forth through the first passageway, and the second divider moveable back and forth through the second passageway. 
   
   
       34 . The assembly of  claim 22  further comprising a first corner member connecting the first and second segments, and a second corner member connecting the second and third segments, the first and second corner members operable to permit adjustment of an interior angle between the first and second segments and the second and third segments respectively. 
   
   
       35 . The assembly of  claim 17  further comprising a plurality of legs at the exterior frame.