Modular freezer rack

Abstract

A rack for providing a lower cost solution for manufacturing and shipping is disclosed. The rack, suitable for use in freezer or cooling components comprises a top element, a bottom element and side elements between said top and bottom elements, linearly arranged, wherein three of said elements are joined together at corresponding edges with a flexible hinge mechanism, a joining mechanism including a catching mechanism and a connecting mechanism, said joining mechanism retaining adjacent ones of said elements in a substantially perpendicular arrangement, each of said elements including at least one of said catching mechanism and said connecting mechanism and adjacent ones of said elements contain alternate ones of said catching mechanism and said connecting mechanism; and a back element linearly attached with a flexible hinge mechanism along an edge of each of said side elements, wherein said back element includes a snap fit retaining mechanism along a top end and a bottom end of each edge.

1 . A rack comprising:
 a top element, a bottom element and side elements between said top and bottom elements, linearly arranged, wherein four of said elements are joined together at three shared edges with a flexible hinge mechanism.   a joining mechanism including a catching mechanism and a connecting mechanism, said joining mechanism retaining adjacent ones of said elements in a substantially perpendicular arrangement, each of said elements including at least one of said catching mechanism and said connecting mechanism and adjacent ones of said elements contain alternate ones of said catching mechanism and said connecting mechanism; and   a back element linearly attached with a flexible hinge mechanism along an edge of each of said side elements, wherein said back element includes a snap fit retaining mechanism along a top end and a bottom end of each edge.   
     
     
         2 . The rack according to  claim 1 , wherein said catching mechanism is positioned along edges of each of said top element and said bottom element. 
     
     
         3 . The rack according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a retaining mechanism positioned along said top end and said bottom of each back edge of each of said top and bottom element, said retaining mechanism corresponding to said snap fit retaining mechanism on said back element.   
     
     
         4 . The rack according to  claim 1 , wherein a first edge of each of said side elements includes at least one notch element. 
     
     
         5 . The rack according to  claim 4 , wherein each of said back elements includes a raised area, said raised area corresponding to said notch element on said first edge. 
     
     
         6 . The rack according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said side elements includes a plurality of protrusions extending from an outer surface of said side element to an inner surface of said side element. 
     
     
         7 . The rack according to  claim 1 , wherein said joining mechanism further including:
 a leg element extending diagonally from a top of said connector mechanism, wherein a free end of said leg element contacts an adjacent element surface when said elements are positioned substantially perpendicular.   
     
     
         8 . The rack according to  claim 7 , wherein said leg element is oriented toward a front edge of said side element. 
     
     
         9 . The rack according to  claim 6 , wherein said raised area include a plurality of slots corresponding to said protrusions extending from an outer surface to an inner surface of said side element. 
     
     
         10 . A rack comprising:
 a plurality of rack members joined together, wherein said joining mechanism comprises a strap connector extending from a front edge of adjacent ones of said plurality of rack members to a back edge of said adjacent ones of said plurality of rack members, said back edge including a recessed area for capturing an open end of said strap connector with a retaining mechanism.   
     
     
         11 . The rack according to  claim 10 , wherein each of said racks comprises:
 a top element, a bottom element and side element between said top and bottom elements, linearly arranged, wherein three four of said elements are joined together at 3 shared edges with a flexible hinge mechanism,   a joining mechanism including a catching mechanism and a connecting mechanism, said joining mechanism retaining adjacent ones of said elements in a substantially perpendicular arrangement, each of said elements including at least one of said catching mechanism and said connecting mechanism and adjacent ones of said elements contain alternate ones of said catching mechanism and said connecting mechanism;   a back element linearly attached with a flexible hinge mechanism along an edge of each of said side elements, wherein said back element includes a snap fit retaining mechanism along a top end and a bottom end of each edge, wherein   a front edge of each of said racks including at least one notch element for capturing said strap connector.   
     
     
         12 . The rack according to  claim 10 , wherein a first end of said strap connector includes a snap fit protrusion. 
     
     
         13 . The rack according to  claim 12 , wherein said retaining mechanism is represents a locking ring engaging said snap fit protrusion.