Dual purpose rack and divider assembly

Abstract

The dual purpose rack and divider assembly of this invention has a base, wings, base slats, and cross slats which can be assemble in either a rack or a divider configuration. A mortise on the base and tenons on the wings and base slats provide an interlocking mechanism that allow transformation from a divider to a rack and to provide stability when in the rack configuration. The base has parallel mortises in a spaced relationship. The wings has one or more toes or tenons with a taper for insertion into and interlocking in the mortises on the base. The wings can be pivotally attached to the base. The base slats have one or more tenons with a taper for insertion into and interlocking in the mortises in the base. The toes on the base slats straddle the toe(s) of the wings when in the configuration of a rack. The base slats have at least two slots in a parallel spaced relationship with the slots extending half way across the base slats. There are two or more cross slats having at least two slots in a parallel spaced relationship. The cross slats join with the base slats by interlocking the slots on the base slat with the slots on the cross slats to form openings or compartments.

1 . A dual purpose rack and divider assembly comprising:
 a base, generally rectangular in shape having at least two mortises in a spaced parallel relationship, each mortise in the shape of a dovetail cavity crosswise across the width of the base;   at least two generally rectangular shaped wings each having a length corresponding to the width of the base, each having a toe projection centered along a lower length edge, the toe projection being a tenon with an angle matched for insertion into the mortises for interlocking the wings onto the base and holding the wings at a fixed angle from the base;   two or more rectangular base slats having the same width as the base, each of the base slats having a cutout region corresponding to the width of the tenon on the wings, and having outer tenons or toes with a tapered edge for insertion into and interlocking with the mortices on the base, straddling the toe of the wings, and holding the base slats at a fixed angle from the base and at a right angle or an approximate right angle from the wings, and each of the base slats having two or more slots in a parallel space relationship, each of the slots extending half way across the base slat;   two or more rectangular cross slats each having two or more slots in a parallel space relationship, each of the slots extending half way across the cross slat, the cross slats attached to the base slats by interlocking the slots on the base slats with the slots on the cross slats forming openings or compartments; and   the base being removable from the base slats, and a bottom surface of the base being butted against the width edges of the interlocked base slat and cross slats with the wings extending outward from the base at a right angle to form a divider assembly for protection and separation of items.   
   
   
       2 . The dual purpose rack and divider assembly as set forth in  claim 1  further comprising a back plate, the back plate attached to back edges of the cross slats, base slats, wings and the base, the back plate providing stability to the dual purpose rack and divider and closing the back of the compartments formed in the assembly. 
   
   
       3 . The dual purpose rack and divider assembly as set forth in  claim 1  in which the wings has outer toes and the base slats having a centered toe for insertion into and interlocking the wings and base slats within the mortices. 
   
   
       4 . The dual purpose rack and divider assembly as set forth in  claim 1  in which the wings and base slats each have multiple toes for insertion into and interlocking the wings and base slats within the mortices with the toes straddling one another. 
   
   
       5 . The dual purpose rack and divider assembly as set forth in  claim 1  further comprising a hinge pivotally attaching the wings to the base. 
   
   
       6 . The dual purpose rack and divider assembly as set forth in  claim 1  further comprising advertisement printed, painted, etched, inlayed, and/or adhered to the base, wings, base slats, cross slats, and/or back plate. 
   
   
       7 . The dual purpose rack and divider assembly as set forth in  claim 1  in which materials such as cloth, paper, vinyl or any other similar type of materials attached to or adhered to the base and wings functions as a hinge to pivotally attach the wings to the base. 
   
   
       8 . A dual purpose rack and divider assembly comprising
 a base having parallel dovetail mortices;   two wings having one or more toes with a taper for insertion into and interlocking the wings in the dovetail on the base;   two or more base slats having one or more toes with a taper for insertion into and interlocking the base slats in the dovetail in the base and the toe(s) straddling the toe(s) of the wings, and having at least two slots in a parallel spaced relationship, the slots extending half way across the base slats; and   two or more cross slats having at least two slots in a parallel spaced relationship, the slots extending half way across the base slats, the cross slats joined with the base slats by interlocking the slots on the base slat with the slots on the cross slats to form openings or compartments.   
   
   
       9 . The dual purpose rack and divider assembly as set forth in  claim 8  in which the assembly is placed on rear edges of the assembly with a bottom surface of the base butted against ends of a base slat and a cross slat with the wings extended outward in parallel with the base slat and cross slat to form a divider with a plurality of openings or compartments for protection and/or separation of items placed in the openings. 
   
   
       10 . The dual purpose rack and divider assembly as set forth in  claim 9  in which the assembly is placed in a case for protection and separation of items. 
   
   
       11 . A dual purpose rack and divider assembly as set forth in  claim 8  in which a bottom surface of the base is placed downward with the wings and base slats attached to the base by interlocking the toes in the dovetail and extending upwards each at a forty five degree angle and at right angles to one another, with the cross slats interlocked with the base slats to form a rack with compartments for displaying items. 
   
   
       12 . The dual purpose rack and divider assembly as set forth in  claim 8  further comprising the wings being pivotally attached to the base.