The diagram below shows a $ 4\times4$ rectangular array of points, each of which is $ 1$ unit away from its nearest neighbors.
[asy]unitsize(0.25inch);
defaultpen(linewidth(0.7));

int i, j;
for(i = 0; i < 4; ++i)
	for(j = 0; j < 4; ++j)
		dot(((real)i, (real)j));[/asy]Define a [i]growing path[/i] to be a sequence of distinct points of the array with the property that the distance between consecutive points of the sequence is strictly increasing. Let $ m$ be the maximum possible number of points in a growing path, and let $ r$ be the number of growing paths consisting of exactly $ m$ points. Find $ mr$.
1. **Define the problem and initial setup:**
   We are given a \(4 \times 4\) rectangular array of points, each 1 unit away from its nearest neighbors. We need to find the maximum number of points in a growing path (where the distance between consecutive points is strictly increasing) and the number of such paths. Let \(m\) be the maximum number of points in a growing path, and \(r\) be the number of such paths. We need to find \(mr\).

2. **Identify possible distances:**
   The distances between points in the array can be calculated using the distance formula \(d = \sqrt{(x_2 - x_1)^2 + (y_2 - y_1)^2}\). The possible distances are:
   \[
   1, \sqrt{2}, 2, \sqrt{5}, 2\sqrt{2}, 3, \sqrt{10}, \sqrt{13}, 3\sqrt{2}
   \]
   These distances are derived from the coordinates of points in the array.

3. **Determine the maximum number of points \(m\):**
   To find the maximum number of points in a growing path, we need to consider the sequence of distances. Since there are 9 distinct distances, the maximum number of points \(m\) in a growing path is 10 (including the starting point).

4. **Construct a growing path:**
   A working construction of a growing path with 10 points is:
   \[
   (2,3), (2,2), (3,1), (1,1), (3,2), (1,0), (1,3), (2,0), (0,3), (3,0)
   \]
   This path uses all the distinct distances in increasing order.

5. **Count the number of growing paths \(r\):**
   To find the number of growing paths of exactly 10 points, we consider the number of shrinking paths (where the distance between consecutive points is strictly decreasing). 

6. **Analyze shrinking paths:**
   - The first two points must be at the maximum distance \(3\sqrt{2}\), which are the corners of the array.
   - Without loss of generality, assume the first two points are \((3,0)\) and \((0,3)\).
   - The next point must be \(\sqrt{13}\) away, so we choose \((2,0)\) from \((0,3)\).
   - Continue this process, ensuring each step follows the strictly decreasing distance rule.

7. **Calculate the number of shrinking paths:**
   - For each choice of the first two points, there are 4 possible starting pairs (corners).
   - For each choice of the next point, there are 2 possible paths.
   - The remaining steps are determined by the distances.
   - There are 3 choices for the final step.

   Therefore, the total number of shrinking paths is:
   \[
   4 \times 2 \times 3 = 24
   \]

8. **Calculate \(mr\):**
   Since \(m = 10\) and \(r = 24\), we have:
   \[
   mr = 10 \times 24 = 240
   \]

The final answer is \(\boxed{240}\)