Cooler for holding beverage containers

Abstract

An exemplary beverage cooler apparatus ( 10 ) has an interior area ( 14 ) with a plurality of shelves ( 24, 26, 28 ). An exemplary shelf ( 24, 106 ) is suitable for supporting beverage containers ( 78, 158 ). The shelf includes a pair of side walls ( 34, 108 ). A support plate ( 58, 138 ) is movably positionable between the side walls. Pivots ( 68, 146 ) are in fixed operative connection with the support plate. The pivots are releasably engageable in respective wall recesses ( 38, 40, 112, 114 ) in the side walls to selectively position the support plate in a level position or in a tilted position. Dividers ( 84, 156 ) are releasably engageable with the support plate to maintain beverage containers in aligned relation.

I claim: 
     
         1 . Apparatus comprising:
 a cooler configured to hold beverage containers including:   an enclosure, wherein the enclosure bounds an interior area,
 wherein the enclosure includes an opening to the interior area, 
   a door, wherein the door is movably mounted in operative connection with the enclosure,
 wherein the door is movable between a closed door position in which the door closes the opening, and an open door position in which the interior area is accessible from outside the enclosure through the opening, 
   a shelf, wherein the shelf is adapted to support thereon a plurality of beverage containers each having a circular cross section,   wherein the shelf is
 movably mounted in operative supported connection with the enclosure, 
 movable along a shelf movement direction between an outward position in which the shelf extends outward from the interior area through the opening, and a back position in which the shelf is fully within the interior area, 
 wherein the shelf is selectively configurable and in an operative position includes
 a pair of horizontally disposed vertically extending side walls, 
 at least one brace, wherein the at least one brace
 extends horizontally between the side walls, and 
 is in fixed operative connection with each of the side walls, 
 
 at least one horizontally extending projection, wherein the at least one projection
 extends perpendicular to each of the side walls, 
 is in fixed operative connection with each of the side walls, and 
 is positioned vertically above at least one of the at least one brace, 
 
 
   a substantially planar support plate, wherein the support plate
 is movably positionable between the side walls and above the at least one brace, 
 is configured to support the plurality of beverage containers, 
 includes at least one pivot, wherein the at least one pivot is operative to enable the support plate to be selectively positioned in either
 a level position in which a front edge of the support plate which is closest to the opening when the shelf is in the back position, is substantially vertically level with a back edge of the support plate that is furthest away from the opening when the shelf is in the back position, or 
 a tilted position in which the front edge is vertically lower than the back edge,
 wherein in the tilted position the support plate is engaged with the at least one horizontally extending projection and in the level position the support plate is not engaged with the at least one horizontally extending projection, 
 
 whereby in the level position the beverage containers may be supported on the shelf with the axis of each respective container extending either vertically or horizontally, and in the tilted position the beverage containers may be supported on the shelf with the axis of each respective container extending horizontally such that the containers are biased to move toward the front edge. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1   wherein the at least one pivot enables the support plate to be rotatable relative to the side walls about a horizontally extending axis,   wherein in the back position of the shelf and in the tilted position of the support plate, the axis is further away from the opening than when the support plate is in the level position.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1   wherein in the back position of the shelf and in the tilted position of the support plate, the front edge is further away from the opening than when the support plate is in the level position.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1   wherein the shelf further includes a front stop,   wherein the front stop extends
 perpendicular to each of the side walls, 
 horizontally intermediate of the side walls, and 
 in the back position of the shelf and in the level position of the support plate,
 closer to the opening than the front edge, and 
 vertically higher than the front edge. 
 
   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1   wherein the shelf further includes a front stop,   wherein the front stop extends
 perpendicular to each of the side walls, 
 horizontally intermediate of the side walls, and 
 in the back position of the shelf and in the tilted position of the support plate,
 closer to the opening than the front edge, 
 wherein a horizontal gap smaller than a beverage container diameter extends between the front edge and the front stop, 
 wherein the horizontal gap is configured to receive a portion of a cylindrical outer wall of a beverage container therein when a container axis of the beverage container extends horizontally. 
 
   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 1   wherein each side wall includes a respective upper side wall portion,   wherein in the back position of the shelf, each upper side wall portion is vertically lower with closer proximity to the opening.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1   wherein each side wall includes a respective upper side wall portion,   wherein in the back position of the shelf and in the tilted position of the support plate, each upper side wall portion
 is vertically lower with closer proximity to the opening, and 
 continuously extends a uniform distance above the support plate between the front edge and the back edge. 
   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 1   wherein each side wall includes a respective upper side wall portion,   wherein in the back position of the shelf and in the tilted position of the support plate, each upper side wall portion
 is vertically lower with closer proximity to the opening, and 
 extends above and horizontally away from the support plate between the front edge and the back edge. 
   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 1   wherein in the level position, the support plate is above and in abutting engaged relation with the at least one brace.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 1   wherein the at least one brace includes a back brace, wherein the back brace includes a forward portion and a rearward portion,   wherein in the back position of the shelf the forward portion is closer to the opening than the rearward portion,   wherein the rearward portion includes a plurality of air flow openings that extend vertically through the rearward portion,   wherein in the level position, the support plate extends in abutting overlying relation of the forward portion and does not block any air flow openings.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 1   wherein the at least one horizontally extending projection includes a crossbar, wherein the crossbar extends
 horizontally intermediate of the side walls, and 
 vertically above at least one of the at least one brace. 
   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 1   wherein the at least one horizontally extending projection includes a crossbar, wherein the crossbar extends
 horizontally intermediate of the side walls, and 
 vertically above at least one of the at least one brace, 
   wherein in the tilted position of the support plate, the support plate is engaged with and the back edge extends vertically above the crossbar, and in the level position of the support plate, the back edge extends below the crossbar.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 1   wherein the at least one horizontally extending projection includes a crossbar, wherein the crossbar extends
 horizontally intermediate of the side walls, and 
 vertically above at least one of the at least one brace, 
   wherein in the tilted position of the support plate, the support plate is engaged with and the back edge extends vertically above the crossbar, and in the level position of the support plate, the back edge extends below the crossbar,   and wherein the shelf further includes
 a backstop, wherein the backstop extends
 horizontally intermediate of the side walls, and 
 in the back position of the shelf and the tilted position of the support plate, vertically above and further away from the opening than the back edge. 
 
   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 1   wherein the at least one pivot includes   a pair of horizontal pivot projections, wherein each respective horizontal pivot projection
 extends perpendicular to the shelf movement direction, 
 is in fixed operative connection with the support plate adjacent to the front edge, 
   wherein each side wall includes a respective recess, wherein a respective pivot projection is releasably engageable in a respective recess.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 1   wherein the at least one pivot includes   a pair of either horizontal pivot projections or pivot recesses, wherein each respective horizontal pivot projection or recess
 extends perpendicular to the shelf movement direction, 
 is in fixed operative connection with the support plate adjacent to the front edge, 
   wherein each side wall includes a respective wall projection or wall recess operative to releasably engage a respective pivot projection or pivot recess.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to  claim 1   wherein the at least one pivot includes   a pair of horizontal pivot projections, wherein each respective horizontal pivot projection
 extends perpendicular to the shelf movement direction, 
 is in fixed operative connection with the support plate adjacent to the front edge, 
   wherein each side wall includes respective first and second wall recesses, wherein the first and second wall recesses are disposed from one another in the shelf movement direction,   wherein in the back position of the shelf the first wall recesses are disposed further from the opening than the second wall recesses,   wherein in the level position of the support plate each respective pivot projection is releasably engaged in one respective second wall recess, and in the tilted position of the support plate each respective pivot projection is releasably engaged in one respective first wall recess.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus according to  claim 1   wherein the shelf further includes
 at least one divider, wherein each divider
 extends parallel to the shelf movement direction, and 
 is releasably engageable with the support plate. 
 
   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus according to  claim 1   wherein the shelf further includes
 at least one divider, wherein each divider is selectively positionable horizontally in engagement with the support plate, 
 wherein each divider includes
 the elongated body that extends above an upper surface of the support plate and parallel to the shelf movement direction, 
 a hook, wherein the hook
 is positioned at a first end of the body, 
 extends around one of the front edge or the back edge, and 
 extends parallel to the shelf movement direction below a lower surface of the support plate. 
 
 
   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus according to  claim 1   wherein each shelf further includes
 at least one divider, wherein each divider is selectively positionable horizontally in engagement with the support surface, 
 wherein each divider includes
 an elongated body that extends above an upper surface of the support plate and parallel to the shelf movement direction, 
 a finger, wherein the finger 
 is positioned at a first end of the body, 
 extends vertically across the back edge, 
 and at least one of
 releasably engages a lower surface of the support plate, and 
 releasably engages a finger engaging aperture adjacent to the at least one horizontally extending projection. 
 
 
   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus according to  claim 1   wherein each shelf further includes
 at least one divider, wherein each divider is selectively positionable horizontally in engagement with the support surface, 
 wherein each divider includes
 an elongated body that extends above an upper surface of the support plate and parallel to the shelf movement direction, 
 a hook, wherein the hook
 is positioned at a first end of the body, 
 extends around the front edge, 
 and 
 extends parallel to the shelf movement direction below a lower surface of the support plate, 
 
 a finger, wherein the finger
 is positioned at a second end of the body opposed of the first end, 
 extends vertically across the back edge, and at least one of 
  releasably engages a lower surface of the support plate, and 
  releasably engages a finger engaging aperture adjacent to the at least one horizontally extending projection. 
 
 
   
     
     
         21 . Apparatus comprising:
 a cooler configured to hold beverage containers including:   an enclosure, wherein the enclosure bounds an interior area,
 wherein the enclosure includes an opening to the interior area, 
   a door, wherein the door is movably mounted in operative connection with the enclosure,
 wherein the door is movable between a closed door position in which the door closes the opening, and an open door position in which the interior area is accessible from outside the enclosure through the opening, 
   a shelf, wherein the shelf is operative to support a plurality of beverage containers each having a respective circular cross section,   wherein the shelf in an operative position includes
 a pair of horizontally disposed vertically extending side walls, 
 at least one brace, wherein the at least one brace
 extends horizontally between the side walls, and 
 is in fixed operative connection with each of the side walls, 
 
   at least one horizontally extending projection, wherein the at least one horizontally extending projection
 extends perpendicular to each of the side walls, 
 is in fixed operative connection with the shelf, and 
 extends vertically above one of the at least one brace, 
   a substantially planar support plate, wherein the support plate
 is movably positionable between the side walls, 
 extends above one of the at least one brace, 
 is operative to support on an upper surface of the support plate the plurality of beverage containers, 
   at least one pivot in fixed operative connection with the support plate,
 wherein a respective one of the at least one pivot is releasably operatively engageable with one of the respective side walls in at least two horizontally disposed locations, 
 wherein when a respective pivot is engaged with a respective side wall in a first location the support plate is caused to be in a level position in which a front edge of the support plate which is closest to the opening, is substantially vertically level with a back edge of the support plate that is furthest away from the opening, and 
 wherein when a respective pivot is engaged with the respective side wall in a second location horizontally disposed from the first location, the support plate is in a tilted position in which the front edge is vertically lower than the back edge and a lower surface of the support plate is operatively engaged with the at least one horizontally extending projection, 
   whereby in the level position of the support plate the beverage containers are supportable in engagement with the upper surface of the support plate with the axis of each respective container extending either vertically or horizontally, and in the tilted position of the support plate the beverage containers are supportable in engagement on the upper surface of the support plate with the axis of each respective container extending horizontally such that the containers are biased to move toward the front edge.   
     
     
         22 . The apparatus according to  claim 21   wherein the at least one pivot includes a respective pivot horizontal projection that extends outward from the support plate on each respective horizontal side adjacent to the front edge, and   wherein each side wall includes a respective wall recess configured to releasably engage a respective pivot horizontal projection at the first location, and another wall recess configured to releasably engage the respective pivot horizontal projection at the second location.   
     
     
         23 . The apparatus according to  claim 21   wherein the at least one horizontally extending projection includes a crossbar, wherein the crossbar
 extends horizontally intermediate of the side walls, and 
 extends vertically above one of the at least one brace, 
   wherein in the tilted position the lower surface of the support plate is in engaged relation with the crossbar, and   wherein in the level position the back edge of the support plate is vertically lower than the crossbar.   
     
     
         24 . The apparatus according to  claim 21   wherein the shelf further includes at least one divider,   wherein the at least one divider
 extends parallel to the side walls, 
 extends vertically above the upper surface of the support plate, and 
 is releasably engageable with the support plate in a plurality of horizontally disposed locations on the upper surface.