Insertable Semi-flexible Shelf Within A Compartment

Abstract

An insertable, semi-flexible shelf apparatus suspended and attached in a horizontal relationship within a compartment and anchored to anchor elements bonded to the inside wall surface of a portable cooler or drop-in horizontal freezer or portable storage bin container for better visibility, access, organization, and protection of food and food containers; fishing bait; and other items to retain and protect these items from damage due to wetness, frost and combination with other items.

1 . An insertable and semi-flexible shelf and retaining apparatus installed within a compartment for separating, organizing, retaining, and protecting items from mixing with other materials within said compartment and comprising:
 (a) a rectangular shelf body configured to be deployed and attached in a horizontal fashion within a compartment covering a predetermined section of the compartment space and mounted below the opening;   (b) an upright retaining wall formed by raising a portion of said shelf body, forming a barrier on the open edge of the horizontal edge of top surface of said shelf, and attached to the adjacent inside wall sides of said compartment to keep items from falling off of or out of said shelf;   (c) a parametrical border attached on the edges of said shelf incorporating mounted fastening elements for attachment to other fastening elements to be affixed to the internal sides of said compartment and said retaining wall;   (d) fastener elements for mounting said shelf to the inside of said compartment and including respective anchor elements to be affixed by bonding to the inside of said compartment running the length and width on three sides of said compartment perimeter for attachment to said border of said shelf body.   
     
     
         2 . The insertable shelf and retaining apparatus of  claim 1  wherein:
 said shelf body and border are constructed of nylon mesh material. 
 
     
     
         3 . The insertable shelf and retaining apparatus of  claim 1  wherein:
 said shelf body and border are constructed of plastic material. 
 
     
     
         4 . The insertable shelf and retaining apparatus of  claim 1  wherein:
 said fastener elements attached to said shelf border are constructed of hook and loop material; and 
 said fastener elements adhered to the inside walls of said compartment are constructed of hook and loop material. 
 
     
     
         5 . The insertable shelf and retaining apparatus of  claim 1  wherein:
 said fastener elements attached to said shelf border are constructed of plastic latch connectors; and 
 said fastener elements mounted to the inside walls of said compartment are constructed of plastic latch connectors. 
 
     
     
         6 . The insertable shelf and retaining apparatus of  claim 1  wherein:
 said fastener elements attached to said shelf border are constructed of button snap connectors; and 
 said fastener elements mounted to the inside walls of said compartment are constructed of button snap connectors. 
 
     
     
         7 . The insertable shelf and retaining apparatus of  claim 1  wherein:
 an upright center partition, acting as a divider, running the length of said shelf horizontally, is attached along its lower edge to the top horizontal center of said shelf horizontally, and attached on one horizontal end to the adjacent inside wall of said compartment, and on the other horizontal end to said retaining wall of said shelf. 
 
     
     
         8 . The partition of  claim 7  wherein:
 said partition is constructed of nylon mesh material. 
 
     
     
         9 . The partition of  claim 7  wherein:
 said partition is constructed of plastic material. 
 
     
     
         10 . The partition of  claim 7  wherein:
 said partition is attached to said shelf and to said compartment by means of hook and loop material. 
 
     
     
         11 . The partition of  claim 7  wherein:
 said partition is attached to said shelf and to said compartment by means of button snap connectors. 
 
     
     
         12 . The insertable shelf and retaining apparatus of  claim 1  wherein;
 an additional partition is installed on the top side of said shelf on the opposite horizontal end from said retaining wall, running the width of the horizontal surface of said shelf, and attached at its base to said shelf and at its ends to the adjacent inside walls of said compartment. 
 
     
     
         13 . The insertable shelf and retaining apparatus of  claim 1  wherein;
 additional partitions are installed at various locations on top side of said shelf, running the width of the horizontal surface of the shelf, and attached at their lower edges to said shelf and to the adjacent inside walls of said compartment. 
 
     
     
         14 . The insertable shelf and retaining apparatus of  claim 1  wherein;
 the means of the attachment of said shelf to said compartment is provided by separate attachable flaps of predetermined width and length, incorporating fastening elements along the length of said flaps, and attached between said fastening elements mounted to said shelf border and the respective fastener elements mounted to said compartment, for means of attaching said shelf to various sizes of compartments. 
 
     
     
         15 . The flaps of  claim 14  wherein;
 said flaps are constructed of nylon mesh material. 
 
     
     
         16 . The flaps of  claim 14  wherein;
 said flaps are constructed of plastic material. 
 
     
     
         17 . The flaps of  claim 14  wherein;
 said fastening elements of said flaps are constructed of hook-and-loop material. 
 
     
     
         18 . The flaps of  claim 14  wherein;
 said fastening elements of said flaps are constructed of plastic hook latches. 
 
     
     
         19 . The flaps of  claim 14  wherein;
 said fastening elements of said flaps are constructed of button snap connectors. 
 
     
     
         20 . The insertable shelf and retaining apparatus of  claim 1  wherein;
 said shelf covers the entire opening of said compartment and said border is attached to the inside walls of said compartment on all sides; and 
 said retaining wall is not formed by raising said shelf.