Adjustable shelf apparatus for coolers

Abstract

A shelf apparatus that can be adjusted at a front portion or a rear portion for quick and easy vertical adjustment within a storage case, such as a cabinet, cooler or refrigerated case. The shelf apparatus can include a frame and at least one actuation system that enables the adjustment of the shelf apparatus. The at least one actuation system can include pin members movable between an extended position and a retracted position in response to movement of a pull bar that can be actuated by a user. Movement of the pull bar can be translated to movement of the pin members via a rotating member operatively coupled to the pull bar and the pin members via tension members.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An adjustable shelf apparatus comprising:
 a frame including side frame members; and   an actuation system disposed on the frame, the actuation system comprising:
 a pin member mounted on one of the side frame members, the pin member being movable between an extended position and a retracted position, the pin member being biased towards the extended position; and 
 a pull bar movable between a disengaged position and an engaged position, wherein the pull bar is operatively coupled to the pin member such that movement of the pull bar towards the engaged position causes the pin member to move towards the retracted position. 
   
     
     
         2 . The adjustable shelf apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the actuation system further comprises:
 a rotating member; and   tension members operatively coupling the pin member and the pull bar with the rotating member, wherein the tension members and the rotating member cooperate to translate movement of the pull bar towards the engaged position to movement of the pin member towards the retracted position.   
     
     
         3 . The adjustable shelf apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein one of the tension members is a lateral tension member that operatively couples the pin member and the rotating member and another one of the tension members is a medial tension member that operatively couples the pull bar and the rotating member. 
     
     
         4 . The adjustable shelf apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the medial tension member is movable relative to the frame in a longitudinal direction,   the lateral tension member is movable relative to the frame in a lateral direction, and   the rotating member translates movement of the medial tension member in the longitudinal direction to movement of the lateral tension member in the lateral direction.   
     
     
         5 . The adjustable shelf apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the actuation system comprises a plurality of pin members, the pin member being one pin member of the plurality of pin members, the plurality of pin members being mounted on the side members,   each pin member of the plurality of pin members is movable between the extended position and the retracted position, each pin member of the plurality of pin members being biased towards the extended position, and   the pull bar is operatively coupled to the plurality of pin members such that movement of the pull bar towards the engaged position causes each pin member of the plurality of pin members to move towards the retracted position.   
     
     
         6 . The adjustable shelf apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the actuation system further comprises:
 a rotating member; and   tension members operatively coupling the plurality of pin members and the pull bar with the rotating member, wherein the tension members and the rotating member cooperate to translate movement of the pull bar towards the engaged position to movement of each pin member of the plurality of pin members towards the retracted position.   
     
     
         7 . The adjustable shelf apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the pin member is biased towards the extended position by a spring. 
     
     
         8 . The adjustable shelf apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the pin member is engageable within a storage case when in the extended positioned and the adjustable shelf apparatus is releasable from the storage case when the pin member is in the retracted position. 
     
     
         9 . The adjustable shelf apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the pin member has a recess positioned for engagement with a mating feature in the storage case. 
     
     
         10 . The adjustable shelf apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the frame includes a front frame member and a rear frame member, the front frame member being joined to the rear frame member by the side frame members, and   the actuation system is disposed within a front portion of the frame proximate the front frame member.   
     
     
         11 . The adjustable shelf apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the actuation system is a first actuation system, the adjustable shelf apparatus further comprising a second actuation system disposed within a rear portion of the frame proximate the rear frame member, the second actuation system comprising:
 a second pin member mounted on one of the side frame members, the second pin member being movable between an extended position and a retracted position, the second pin member being biased towards the extended position; and   a second pull bar movable between a disengaged position and an engaged position, wherein the second pull bar is operatively coupled to the second pin member such that movement of the second pull bar towards the engaged position causes the second pin member to move towards the retracted position.   
     
     
         12 . The adjustable shelf apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the second actuation system is operable independent of the first actuation system. 
     
     
         13 . The adjustable shelf apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a flange member attached to the frame, wherein the flange member includes a stop for products positioned on the frame. 
     
     
         14 . The adjustable shelf apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising a price channel attached to the flange member. 
     
     
         15 . A storage case comprising the adjustable shelf apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the pin member engages within the storage case when in the extended positioned and the adjustable shelf apparatus is releasable from the storage case when the pin member is in the retracted position. 
     
     
         16 . An adjustable shelf apparatus comprising:
 a frame including side frame members;   pin members mounted on the side frame members, the pin members being movable between an extended position and a retracted position;   a first pull bar operatively coupled to a first pin member of the pin members, wherein the first pull bar is operable to move the first pin member between the extended position and the retracted position; and   a second pull bar operatively coupled to a second pin member of the pin members, wherein the second pull bar is operable to move the second pin member between the extended position and the retracted position.   
     
     
         17 . The adjustable shelf apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the second pull bar is operable independent of the first pull bar. 
     
     
         18 . The adjustable shelf apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the pin members are biased towards the extended position. 
     
     
         19 . The adjustable shelf apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein each of the first pull bar and the second pull bar is movable between a disengaged position and an engaged position, and wherein each of the first pull bar and the second pull bar is operable to move the first pin member and the second pin member, respectively, towards the retracted position when moved towards the engaged position. 
     
     
         20 . The adjustable shelf apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a first rotating member;   first tension members operatively coupling the first pin member and the first pull bar with the first rotating member, wherein the first tension members and the first rotating member cooperate to translate movement of the first pull bar to movement of the pin member between the extended position and the retracted position;   a second rotating member; and   second tension members operatively coupling the second pin member and the second pull bar with the second rotating member, wherein the second tension members and the second rotating member cooperate to translate movement of the second pull bar to movement of the second pin member between the extended position and the retracted position.