Storage system and method of use of the same

Abstract

A storage systems for storing objects, a container for use in the storage system, and a method of storing and transporting objects are disclosed. According to some embodiments, the presently disclosed storage system includes at least one container maintained in an elevated position above a transportable base, such as a dolly base or a pallet base, where the base includes a load bearing deck. The weight of the at least one container is borne by at least one selectively deployable upright support. According to some embodiments, the container includes at least one channel substantially parallel to a depth dimension and configured so that the upright support at least partially traverses the channel to hold the container to the upright support. In some embodiments, the containers are stackable, and may be stacked on the load-bearing deck and transported with a load in the containers. In some embodiments, after the containers are removed from the upright support, they may be nested for storage.

1 ) A storage system for storing objects, the system comprising: 
 a) at least one container for storing the objects;    b) a transportable base selected from the group consisting of a pallet and a dolly base, said transportable base having a load bearing deck; and    c) at least one selectively deployable upright support for bearing the weight of at least one said container while maintained in an elevated position above said transportable base.    
   
   
       2 ) The system of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 d) a clamping mechanism operative to hold said elevated container in a substantially constant position along an elongate axis of said upright support.    
   
   
       3 ) The system of  claim 2  wherein friction between said upright support and a surface associated with said elevated container holds said container in said elevated position above said transportable base.  
   
   
       4 ) The system of  claim 3  wherein a gravitational moment of said elevated container contributes to said friction between said surface and said upright support.  
   
   
       5 ) The system of  claim 1  wherein said container is vertically adjustable to a plurality of heights above said transportable base.  
   
   
       6 ) The system of  claim 5  wherein said container is vertically adjustable to a plurality of pre-defined heights above said transportable base.  
   
   
       7 ) The system of  claim 5  wherein said container is continuously vertically adjustable above said transportable base.  
   
   
       8 ) The system of  claim 1  wherein said upright support is substantially outside of a downward vertical projection of said supported container.  
   
   
       9 ) The system of  claim 1  wherein said pallet base is adapted to be lifted by a pair of tines.  
   
   
       10 ) The system of  claim 1  where said transportable base includes a slot for stowing said upright support.  
   
   
       11 ) The system of  claim 1  wherein a depth of said container is at least 0.2 times a larger horizontal dimension of said container.  
   
   
       12 ) The system of  claim 1  wherein said load bearing deck substantially lacks walls.  
   
   
       13 ) The system of  claim 1  wherein a characteristic length of vertical features of said load bearing deck is at most 10% a greater horizontal direction of said load-bearing deck.  
   
   
       14 ) The system of  claim 1  the system comprises a plurality of said containers, and said containers are nestable.  
   
   
       15 ) The system of  claim 1  the system comprises a plurality of said containers, and said containers are stackable.  
   
   
       16 ) The system of  claim 1  wherein said upright support includes a plurality of slots, said elevated container includes a stopping element for engaging a said slot to contribute to said maintaining of said position above said transportable base.  
   
   
       17 ) The system of  claim 1  wherein said at least one container is removable from said upright support.  
   
   
       18 ) A container for storing objects while held along an upright support above a base of a storage system, the container comprising: 
 a) a container floor;    b) a plurality of container walls attached to said container floor, said container walls configured to at least partially enclose a volume with said container floor; and    c) at least one channel substantially parallel to a depth dimension of the container, said channel configured for at least partial traversal by the upright support to hold the container to the upright support, wherein the container is stackable.    
   
   
       19 ) The container of  claim 18  wherein said channel is associated with at least one said wall.  
   
   
       20 ) The container of  claim 18  wherein an inner surface of said channel is a surface said wall.  
   
   
       21 ) The container of  claim 18  further comprising: 
 d) a stopping mechanism for holding the container in a substantially constant position along an elongate axis of said upright support.    
   
   
       22 ) The container of  claim 19  wherein said stopping mechanism includes a movable object which can adapt a plurality of configurations, and in one said configuration at least a portion of said movable object engages the upright support to hold the container in said substantially constant position.  
   
   
       23 ) The container of  claim 22  wherein said movable object is a rotatable handle which can rotate to a plurality of configurations.  
   
   
       24 ) The container of  claim 22  wherein said movable object is a rotatable bail arm which can rotate to a plurality of configurations.  
   
   
       25 ) The container of  claim 22  wherein said at least a portion of said movable object substantially traverses said channel to engage said upright support.  
   
   
       26 ) The container of  claim 18  wherein said container is nestable.  
   
   
       27 ) The container of  claim 18  wherein said container is collapsible.  
   
   
       28 ) A method of storing and transporting objects, the method comprising: 
 a) dispensing the objects into a plurality of containers such that each respective said container receives a plurality of said objects;    b) stacking said containers containing said dispensed objects to form a vertical stack of said containers on a transportable base;    c) transporting said transportable base and said containers from a first location to a second location; and    d) deploying an upright support to said transportable base such that at least one said container is associated with said upright support.    
   
   
       29 ) The method of  claim 28  further comprising: 
 e) elevating said associated container from a first height above said upright support to a second height above said upright support; and    f) maintaining said elevated container at said second height, wherein said upright support bears a weight of said elevated container that is maintained at said second height above said transportable base.    
   
   
       30 ) The method of  claim 29  further comprising: 
 g) after said objects are removed from at least a sub-plurality of said plurality of containers, nesting said sub-plurality of containers.    
   
   
       31 ) The method of  claim 30  wherein said nested containers are placed on said transportable base and transported from said second location to a third location.  
   
   
       32 ) The method of  claim 29  further comprising: 
 g) after said objects are removed from at least a sub-plurality of said plurality of containers, reversing deployment of said upright support; and    i) stowing said upright support on or in said transportable base.    
   
   
       33 ) The method of  claim 28  wherein said transportable base is a dolly base, and said transporting includes moving said dolly base on rollable objects attached to said dolly base.  
   
   
       34 ) The method of  claim 28  wherein said transportable base is a pallet base, and said transporting includes: 
 i) engaging said pallet base with a pair of tines; and    ii) using said times, moving said engaged pallet base from said first location to said second location.