Lock for preventing inadvertent removal of a first frame component of an adjustable storage system from a second frame component of the adjustable storage system and the adjustable storage system

A lock for preventing inadvertent removal of a first frame component of an adjustable storage system from a second frame component of the adjustable storage system, wherein said first frame component of the adjustable storage system has a throughbore, and wherein the second frame component of the adjustable storage system has a throughbore, said lock comprising:

• a) a housing;
• b) a locking pin;
• and
• c) a spring;
• wherein said housing has a proximal end;
• wherein said housing has a distal end;
• wherein said distal end of said housing is for extending into the throughbore in the first frame component of the adjustable storage system;
• wherein said locking pin has a shaft;
• wherein said shaft of said locking pin is movable between an extended position and a retracted position relative to said housing;
• wherein said shaft of said locking pin has a proximal end;
• wherein said shaft of said locking pin has a distal end;
• wherein said distal end of said shaft of said locking pin is for extending into the throughbore in the second frame component of the adjustable storage system when said shaft of said locking pin is in said extended position thereof;
• wherein said distal end of said shaft of said locking pin is for not extending into the throughbore in the second frame component of the adjustable storage system when said shaft of said locking pin is in said retracted position thereof;
• wherein said locking pin has a head;
• wherein said head of said locking pin is joined to said proximal end of said shaft;
• wherein said head of said locking pin extends radially through said housing, and is never outside said proximal end of said housing when said shaft of said locking pin is in said extended position thereof and said retracted position thereof;
• wherein said spring is joined between said head of said locking pin and said housing;
• and
• wherein said spring biases said shaft of said locking pin into said extended position thereof so as to allow said distal end of said shaft of said locking pin to extend outside said distal end of said housing.

A method of linking and locking a first frame component to a second frame component of an adjustable storage system, wherein the first frame component has at least one stud with a head, and an end connector with an outer surface, wherein the second frame component has at least one throughslot, an outer surface, and an inner surface, wherein the at least one throughslot has an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the adjustable storage system further has a lock with a housing and a locking pin, wherein the housing has a longitudinal wall with a pair of throughslots, and wherein the locking pin has a head, a spring, and a shaft with a distal end, a retracted position, and an extended position, said method comprising the steps of:

• a) aligning the at least one stud of the first frame component with the upper portion of the at least one throughslot in the second frame component, respectively;
• b) inserting axially the at least one stud of the first frame component into the upper portion of the at least one throughslot in the second frame component, respectively, until the outer surface of the end connector of the first frame component abuts the outer surface of the second frame component;
• c) causing the distal end of the shaft of the locking pin to abut the outer surface of the second frame component;
• d) causing the spring of the locking pin to compress;
• e) causing the shaft of the locking pin to move to the retracted position thereof;
• f) causing the head of the shaft to move in the pair of throughslots in the longitudinal wall of the housing of the lock in a direction away from the at least one throughslot in the second frame component;
• g) moving the at least one stud of the first component downwardly into the lower portion of the at least one throughslot in the second frame component, respectively;
• h) causing the shaft of the locking pin to be aligned with the upper portion of one throughslot of the at least one throughslot in the second frame component;
• i) causing the spring of the locking pin to extend the shaft of the locking pin into the upper portion of the one throughslot of the at least one throughslot in the second frame component;
• j) causing the shaft of the locking pin to automatically achieve the extended position thereof,
• k) causing the head of the locking pin to move in the pair of throughslots in the longitudinal wall of the housing of the lock in a direction towards the at least one throughslot in the second frame component;
• l) causing the at least one stud of the first frame component to be prevented from vertical movement out of the lower portion of the at least one throughslot in the second frame component, respectively;
• m) causing the head of the at least one stud of the first frame component to engage the inner surface of the second frame component;
• n) causing prevention of axial movement of the at least one stud of the first frame component;
• and
• o) causing the first frame component to be locked to the second frame component in a linked and locked configuration.

A method of unlocking and unlinking a first frame component from a second frame component of an adjustable storage system, wherein the first frame component has at least one stud with a head, wherein the second frame component has at least one throughslot and an inner surface, wherein the at least one throughslot has a lower portion and an upper portion, wherein the adjustable storage system further has a lock with a housing and a locking pin, wherein the housing has a longitudinal wall with a pair of throughslots, and wherein the locking pin has a head, a spring, and a shaft with a retracted position, said method comprising the steps of:

• a) moving the head of the locking pin in the pair of throughslots in the longitudinal wall of the housing of the lock in a direction away from the at least one throughslot in the second frame component;
• b) causing the shaft of the locking pin to move to the retracted position thereof;
• c) causing the spring of the locking pin to compress;
• d) causing the at least one stud of the first frame component to be allowed vertical movement out of the lower portion of the at least one throughslot in the second frame component, respectively;
• e) moving the at least one stud of the first frame component vertically from the lower portion of the at least one throughslot in the second frame component to the upper portion of the at least one throughslot in the second frame component, respectively;
• f) causing the head of the at least one stud of the first frame component to disengage from the inner surface of the second frame component;
• g) removing axially the at least one stud of the first frame component from the upper portion of the at least one throughslot in the second frame component, respectively;
• h) disengaging axially the first frame component from the second frame component;
• and
• i) causing the first frame component to be unlocked and unlinked from the second frame component.