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.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to systems for storing, transporting and dispensing items.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There is an ongoing need for improved packaging and display systems which serve a dual purpose as transport storage containers and in-store display units. These systems allow for goods (e.g. both perishable items such as produce and eggs, and non-perishable items such as pharmaceuticals, hardware items, and office supplies) to be packed by suppliers and transported into the store, reducing costs and reducing the risk of product damage by enabling automated packing on one end, and eliminating the need for stocking on the other end.

FIG. 1 provides an image of a prior art dual-purpose packaging and transport system which combined a shipping container and in-store display in one unit. The system includes two containers 122A (e.g. crates) resting on a load bearing deck 114A (e.g. a deck for supporting the weight of the loaded containers) of a dolly base 118A including a plurality of wheels 116. The containers are loaded by the suppliers and transported into the store (e.g. while stacked on the load bearing deck), where the system functions as an in-store display for dispensing the items. A plurality of items, in this case packages of eggs, are stored in the containers. After all egg packages are taken from the upper container, the upper container is removed, and consumers in the store may obtain the egg packages from the lower container.

Unfortunately, the height of the lower container is not necessarily a convenient height for dispensing the items to consumers who would need to bend down to receive the items. Thus, it would be desirable to have a storage system that provides that aforementioned shipping and in-store display features and includes a mechanism for raising a container to a desired height and maintaining the container at this target height.

It is noted that the following patents provide potentially relevant background material for this disclosure: GB 1, 119,652, GB 1,356,126, U.S. Pat. No. 3,212,646, U.S. Pat. No. 4,545,463, U.S. Pat. No. 6,035,973 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,227,397.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The aforementioned needs are satisfied by several aspects of the present invention.

It is now disclosed for the first time a storage system for storing objects including at least one container for storing the objects, a transportable base (for example, a pallet or a dolly base) having a load bearing deck and at least one selectively deployable upright support for bearing the weight of at least one container while maintained in an elevated position above the transportable base. In some embodiments, the container is maintained in a substantially constant elevated position above the transportable base.

According to some embodiments, the presently disclosed storage system further includes a clamping mechanism operative to hold the elevated container in a substantially constant position along an elongate axis of the upright support. It is noted that there is no explicit limitation on the clamping mechanism, and any clamping mechanism is appropriate for these embodiments of the present invention.

According to some embodiments, friction between the upright support and a surface contacting the elevated container holds the container in the elevated position above the transportable base.

According to some embodiments, a gravitational moment of the elevated container contributes to the friction between the surface and the upright support.

According to some embodiments, the container is vertically adjustable to a plurality of heights above the transportable base.

According to some embodiments, the container is vertically adjustable to a plurality of pre-defined heights above the transportable base.

According to some embodiments, the container is continuously vertically adjustable above the transportable base.

According to some embodiments, the upright support is substantially outside of a downward vertical projection of the supported container.

According to some embodiments, the pallet base is adapted to be lifted by a pair of tines.

According to some embodiments, the transportable base includes a slot or recess for stowing the upright support.

According to some embodiments, a depth of the container is at least 0.2 times a larger horizontal dimension of the container. According to some embodiments, a depth of the container is at least 0.2 times a smaller horizontal dimension of the container.

According to some embodiments, the load bearing deck substantially lacks walls.

According to some embodiments, a characteristic length of vertical features of the load bearing deck is at most 10% a greater horizontal direction of the load-bearing deck. According to some embodiments, a characteristic length of vertical features of the load bearing deck is at most 5% a greater horizontal direction of the load-bearing deck. According to some embodiments, a characteristic length of vertical features of the load bearing deck is at most 10% a lesser horizontal direction of the load-bearing deck.

According to some embodiments, the system includes a plurality of nestable containers.

According to some embodiments, the system includes a plurality of stackable containers.

According to some embodiments, the upright support includes a plurality of slots, and the elevated container includes a stopping element for engaging a said slot (e.g. at least partial insertion in the slot) to contribute to said maintaining of said position above said transportable base.

According to some embodiments, at least one container is disengagable or removable (e.g. removable without violating the physical structure of the container of the support) from the upright support. In one example, the container is removed from the upright support by lifting the container above the upright support.

In one example, the container is used for disposing items (e.g. in a shop), and when all or most items are removed from an uppermost container, the container is removed from the upright support, and a container below the uppermost container is raised along the upright support to a convenient position for customer access.

It is now disclosed for the first time a stackable and nestable container for storing objects while held along an upright support above a base of a storage system. The presently disclosed stackable and nestable container includes a container floor, a plurality of container walls attached to the container floor, the container walls configured to at least partially enclose a volume with the container floor, and at least one channel substantially parallel to a depth dimension of the container configured for at least partial traversal by the upright support to hold the container to the upright support.

According to some embodiments, the channel is associated with at least one wall.

According to some embodiments, the presently disclosed container further includes a stopping mechanism for holding the container in a substantially constant position along an elongate axis of the upright support.

According to some embodiments, the stopping mechanism includes a movable object which can adapt a plurality of configurations, and in one configuration at least a portion of the movable object engages the upright support to hold the container in the substantially constant position.

According to some embodiments, the movable object is a rotatable handle which can rotate to a plurality of configurations.

According to some embodiments, the movable object is a rotatable bail arm which can rotate to a plurality of configurations.

According to some embodiments, at least a portion of the movable object substantially traverses the channel to engage the upright support.

It is now disclosed for the first time a method of storing and transporting objects including dispensing the objects into a plurality of containers such that each respective container receives a plurality of the objects, stacking the containers containing the dispensed objects to form a vertical stack of containers on a transportable base, transporting the transportable base and the containers from a first location to a second location, and deploying an upright support to the transportable base such that at least one said container is associated with the upright support.

According to some embodiments, the method further includes the steps of the elevating the associated container from a first height above the upright support to a second height above the upright support, and maintaining the elevated container at the second height, wherein the upright support bears a weight of the elevated container that is maintained at the second height above the transportable base.

According to some embodiments, the method further includes after the objects are removed from at least a sub-plurality of said plurality of containers, nesting the sub-plurality of containers, e.g. for storage.

According to some embodiments, the nested containers are placed on the transportable base and transported from the second location to a third location including but not limited to substantially the first location (e.g. return transportation back to the supplier).

According to some embodiments, the method further includes after the objects are removed from at least a sub-plurality of the plurality of containers, reversing the deployment of the upright support (e.g. folding the upright support to the base, or removing the upright support from the base, or any other method of reversing deployment) and stowing the upright support on or in the transportable base.

According to some embodiments, the transportable base is a dolly base, and the transporting includes moving the dolly base on rollable objects (e.g. wheels) attached to the dolly base.

According to some embodiments, the transporting includes engaging said pallet base with a pair of tines, and using the times, moving the engaged pallet base from the first location to the second location.

In one example, the first location is the location of a supplier and the second location is a location of a shop, store or other end-user or customer distribution point. Thus, according to some embodiments, at distance between the first and second point is at least 100 meters, or at least a kilometer.

These and further embodiments will be apparent from the detailed description and examples that follow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 provides a view of a prior art system for transporting, storing and dispensing items.

FIG. 2-6 provide views showing various components of a system for storing objects according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention will now be described in terms of specific, example embodiments. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the example embodiments disclosed. It should also be understood that not every feature of the presently disclosed storage system for storing objects, container for storing objects, and method of dispensing objects is necessary to implement the invention as claimed in any particular one of the appended claims. Various elements and features of devices are described to fully enable the invention. It should also be understood that throughout this disclosure, where a process or method is shown or described, the steps of the method may be performed in any order or simultaneously, unless it is clear from the context that one step depends on another being performed first.

FIG. 2A-2J provide drawings of various components of a system for storing objects according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 2A, the storage system includes at least one stackable container 122B whose weight is born by two pillars or upright supports 110A while maintained in an elevated position above a dolly base 118B having a load bearing deck 114B for bearing the weight of one or more of the containers 122 (e.g. stacked containers 122B resting on the load bearing deck). It is noted that each upright support 110A is attached to the dolly base 118B with a respective pillar hinge 108, and may be folded into recess or slot 144A for stowing when not in use. Thus, the upright supports 110A are selectively or reversibly foldable or deployable to the dolly base 118B.

For embodiments where the base includes a “load bearing deck,” the load bearing deck is substantially capable of bearing the same load as the entire base. The load bearing deck can be implement as a continuous or discontinous surface, a plurality of slats, or any other appropriate load bearing configuration used in pallets and dollies known in the art.

FIG. 2B provides a drawing of an exemplary container 122B having a plurality of container walls 130 attached to a container floor 132. As illustrated, the container walls provide vertical depth and allow for at least partial enclosing of a volume. In some embodiments, the vertical depth of the container is at least 20% a greater horizontal dimension of the container. It is noted that any appropriate container having a depth for at least partially enclosing volume is appropriate for the present invention, including but not limited to crates, boxes and bins.

The exemplary container 122B of FIG. 2B includes two bail arms 137A and two handles 136. The handle is attached to the container through a handle hinge 138 and thus is rotatable about the axis of the hinge. Furthermore, it is noted that the exemplary container of FIG. 2B includes a pillar slot 134A which is, in effect, a channel substantially parallel to a depth dimension (e.g. body fixed z axis) of the container. It is noted that as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2C-2F, the pillar or upright support 110A traverses the pillar slot or channel 134A on each end of the container 122B to hold the container to the respective upright support 110A.

FIGS. 2C-2E are a series of images describing how a specific container is raised from a first height H1 above the dolly base 118 to a second height H2 above the dolly base. In one example, the container is raised in a store or shop in order to allow more convenient customer access to items stored in the container.

As shown in FIGS. 2C-2D, the container is maintained at a first height above the dolly base 118B (e.g. distance between the bottom of the container floor 132 and a fixed reference point on the dolly base 118B), and in order to raise the crate, a clamping mechanism for maintaining the container at the fixed height must first be deactivated (step 146). Subsequently, the container itself is lifted (step 149) from the first height H1 to the new height H2, and the clamping mechanism is reactivated (step 148) for the new height. For the particular embodiment of FIG. 2 it is noted that the container may be raised to one of a plurality of specific heights defined by the locations of the grooves 106 in the upright support 110A, though it is noted that this is not a specific limitation of the present invention, and in alternate embodiments (see FIGS. 3-6) vertical adjustment is continuous. Each groove 106 is substantially perpedicular to an elongate elongate axis of the upright support 110A.

As depicted in step 146 of FIG. 2D, rotation of the handle 136 about the handle hinge 138 in the counter-clockwise direction disengages the handle protrusion or tooth 140 from the slot or groove 106 of the upright support 110A to allow free movement of the pillar or upright support 110A through the pillar slot 134A or channel which concomitantly allows free vertical movement of the container 122B along the upright support. Thus, once the clamping mechanism on each side of the container 122B is disengaged, the container 112B may be raised to the desired height H2. To re-engage or re-lock the clamping mechanism, the handle 136 is rotated in a clockwise direction about the handle hinge 138 to insert the handle protrusion or tooth 140 into the slot or groove 106 of the upright support, thereby preventing vertical movement of the upright support 110A through the pillar slot 134A or channel which fixes the container at a defined vertical position along the elongated axis of the upright support 110A and concomitantly maintains the container 122B at a fixed height H2 above the reference point of the dolly base 118B.

Furthermore, it is noted that as depicted in FIG. 2F, the tooth 140 of the handle 136 functions as a stopping mechanism which substantially stops or prevents movement of the container 122B along the elongate axis of the upright support 110A. More specifically, the tooth 140 of the handle 136 functions as a stopping mechanism which substantially stops or prevents movement of the upright support 110A through the pillar slot or channel 134A.

Although the exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 2D-2F depict first unlocking or disengaging the clamping mechanism before subsequently raising the container 122B to the desired height, this is not an explicit limitation of the present invention. In some embodiments, the container 122B rests on a fixed point or surface of the base 118 before being raised, and thus there is no need for first disengaging or unlocking the clamping mechanism.

Furthermore, it is noted that there is no explicit limitation on the height at which a container 122 is maintained by the upright support 110 above the deck 114 of the base. In some embodiments, the container suspended at least twice a depth dimension of the container above the deck 114 of the transportable base 118.

FIG. 2G depicts the container 122B in both nesting 150 and stacking 152 positions, depending on the configuration of the bail arm 137A. Thus, according to the embodiments depicted in FIG. 2, the containers are stackable as depicted in FIG. 2H, though this is not an explicit limitation of the present invention. This is particularly convenient for situations where the containers are filled with the soon to be dispensed items at the supplier's location, and transported in the configuration shown in FIG. 2H to the shop, store or other customer distribution point. Once the containers are emptied, they may be nested for convenient return transport to the supplier.

According to some embodiments, “nestable” containers are containers with the ability of a container to slide down into another one, reducing the space they take up when not in use. It is noted that nestable containers do not need to be nestable while deployed to the upright support in order to be considered nestable. Specifically, containers which are nestable only when they are not deployed to the upright support are also defined to be “nestable.”

According to some embodiments, “stackable” containers are containers that, when stacked, are configured so each container can support itself on top of another container, without sliding down into it. Stacking may be achieved by any method known in the art, including but not limited to by a 180 degree rotation, by cross-stacking (turning rectangular bins 90 degrees), using stacking bars (like a vege crate) or stacking on lids.

Alternatively or additionally, the containers or at least one container is collapsible, e.g. the container can be assembled to full capacity and collapsed for return freight or storage. Collapsing can be achieved according to any technique known in the art, including using attached, fold down sides or removable sides.

FIGS. 2I-2J depict the reversible or selectable folding or deploying of the upright supports 110A about the pillar hinges 108. When deployed, as in FIG. 2I, the pillars or upright supports 110A are operative to bear or support the weight of one or more containers 122B and any items stored within the containers. After removal of all containers (e.g. in the store, shop or other distribution point), the deployment of the upright supports 110A or pillars may reversed—e.g. the upright supports 110A may be folded or collapsed or nested into or onto the base 118B. It is noted that stowing the upright supports 110A or pillars into the slot or recess 144A after all containers have been removed is particularly convenient for return transport to the supplier.

In some embodiments, the base and/or load bearing deck includes at least one platform supported by a plurality of supports or legs, and there is a clearance (e.g. 196 of FIG. 2I) beneath the platform (e.g. between a lower surface of a platform or lower platform and the supporting floor surface). In some embodiments, a ratio between a height of the clearance and a longer horizontal dimension of the platform is at most 0.05, or at most 0.1 or at most 0.2.

Furthermore, it is noted that there is no limitation on the thickness of an upright support 110 or pillar. In some embodiments, a ratio between an elongate dimension (e.g. 197 of FIG. 2I) of the upright support 110 and a greater traverse dimension (e.g. 198 of FIG. 2I) is at least 5. In some embodiments, a ratio between a greater traverse dimension (e.g. 198 of FIG. 2I) and a horizontal length dimension of the container (greater or lesser) is at most 0.3.

It is noted that, in some embodiments, in contrast to the containers 122 (e.g. containers depicted in FIG. 2B) which have depth or vertical features for at least partially enclosing a contained volume above the upper surface of the container floor 132, the load bearing deck (e.g. load bearing deck 114B or load bearing deck according to any embodiment of the present invention) of the base substantially lacks walls and substantially lacks vertical features. In some embodiments, the characteristic length of the vertical features of the load bearing deck (e.g. load bearing deck 114B or load bearing deck according to any embodiment of the present invention) is at most 10% of a greater horizontal direction of the load-bearing deck. In some embodiments, the characteristic length of the vertical features of the load bearing deck (e.g. load bearing deck 114B or load bearing deck according to any embodiment of the present invention) is at most 5% of a greater horizontal direction of the load-bearing deck.

As shown in FIG. 2C, the dolly base 118B includes at least one wheel 116 or other rollable object for transporting the storage system. Nevertheless, it is noted that this is not a requirement of the present invention, and any dolly base (e.g. including wheels or other rollable objects) or pallet base (e.g. lacking wheels or other rollable objects) such as a base having a load bearing deck is within the scope of the present invention. In some embodiments, the base includes a continuous or discontinuous substantially flat deck surface. In some embodiments, the pallet base is adapted to be lifted by a pair of tines.

FIGS. 3A-3I provide drawings of various components of a system for storing objects according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3A, the pillar or upright support 110B is substantially smooth and lacks grooves. The container 122C on the right side of FIG. 3A is supported at the top of the pillar or upright support 110B, which only partially traverses the pillar slot or channel 134B of the container 122C, e.g. with respect to FIG. 3B the pillar traverses a lower portion 154 of the pillar slot or channel 134B and does not traverse an upper portion 156 of the pillar slot 134B.

As illustrated in FIG. 3C, the bail arm 137B can be configured into three positions: a stacking configuration (top left 180), a lifting configuration (top right 182) for lifting the container, and a “stopping” configuration (184) for substantially stopping or preventing downward movement of the container 122B along the elongate axis of the upright support 110A, thereby causing the container 122B to be maintained in a substantially fixed elevated position above the base 118C where the pillars or upright supports substantially bear the weight of the supported container 122B. Another view of the “stopping” configuration is provided in FIG. 3F.

FIGS. 3D-3F illustrate the process of raising the container from a position where the crate 122C rests upon the load bearing deck 114C of the dolly base 118C (FIG. 3D), to the position where a portion of the bail arm 137B rests on the top of the upright support 110B, thereby supporting the container 122C. In FIG. 3E the container is raised is not configured to be supported by the pillar or upright support 110B (e.g. the bail arm 137B is not in the “stopping” configuration but rather is in the lifting configuration for lifting the container), while in FIG. 3F the bail arm 137B adopts the stopping configuration to cause the container to be supported by the upright supports 110B.

It is noted in FIG. 3D that opposing pillars or upright supports 110B are substantially aligned (190) in the middle of the crate.

FIG. 3G shows an illustration of a full dolly including loaded containers for example containers loaded at a supplier ready for transport and supported by the load bearing deck. It is noted that the containers in FIG. 3G are stackable, and that the upright support 110B, while providing for alignment of the containers, only traverses the lower three containers. The top container is stacked on and rests on the container below it.

Referring now to FIGS. 3H-3I, it is noted that the pillars or upright supports are foldable into slots for storage. Furthermore, it is noted that the angles between each respective slot 144B and a body-fixed horizontal axis (e.g. x axis or y axis) of the deck 114C of the dolly base 118C is an acute angle, to allow for adjacent stowing each opposing pillars next to each other while still providing a configuration wherein deployed opposing pillars or upright supports 110B are substantially aligned (190) in the middle of the crate It is noted that the dolly of FIGS. 3H-3I includes four pillars and is for two rows of crates.

FIG. 3I provides an image of the base 118C with the pillars 110B stowed within the base. According to exemplary embodiments of FIG. 3I, the surface of base 118C is substantially planar with the pillars or upright supports 110B stowed within the slots 144B.

FIGS. 4A-4E provide drawings of a storage system according to yet other embodiments of the invention. It is noted that the container of FIG. 4 is a “vented” container, e.g. a container include holes which allow for drainage of liquids or movement of air through the hole to ventilate the container. Although not an explicit requirement of the present invention, it is noted that vented containers are useful, for example, in situations where produce or other perishable items are stored in the container.

It is noted that there is no specific limitation on the material from which the container is constructed. According to some embodiments, a majority of the container is plastic.

With reference to FIG. 4B, and not wishing to be bound by any particular theory, the clamping mechanism by which container 122D is maintained at a substantially constant position along the elongate axis of upright support 110C, and concomitantly maintained at a substantially constant elevated position above the base 118D will be explained. As illustrated in FIG. 4B, the pillar or upright support 110C traverses the container at a location removed in the horizontal direction from the center of mass by a distance l. This gives rise to a moment or torque 172 and concomitantly gives rise to forces 174 and 176 between the inner surface of the pillar slot 134C or channel and the upright support 110C. Static friction between the inner surface of the pillar slot 134C and the upright support 110C counteracts the downward pull of gravity, and thus clamps the container 122D to substantially a single position along the upright support 110D. To raise a container 122D along the elongate axis of the upright support 110D, one simply lifts the container to counteract the downward force of gravity mg on the center of mass.

In some embodiments according to FIGS. 4C-4D, the upright support 110C is reversibly or selectively deployable to the base 118D by inserting the upright support 110C into a port or socket 188A of the base 118D. To reverse the deployment, the upright support 110C is simply removed from the port 188A. Subsequently, the support 110C may be stowed in the slot or recess of the base 144C, for example, for transport from the shop or store back to the supplier. FIG. 4E provides images of a full dolly according to this third embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 5A-5E provide drawings of a storage system according to yet other embodiments of the invention. Not wishing to be bound by theory, it is noted that like the embodiments depicted in FIG. 4, the container 122E embodiments of FIG. 5 can maintain a constant position along the elongate axis of the upright support 110D due to the gravitational moment about an axis passing through the upright support 110D, concomitantly causing at least a portion of an inner surface of the pillar slot or channel 134D to adhere to the upright support 110D, which allows static friction to counteract gravity's downward pull. It is noted that the container 122E includes a plurality of pillars slot or channels 134D, and a respective upright support 110D at least partially traverses each pillar slot 134D.

As shown in FIGS. 5B-5C, reversing deployment of the upright supports 110D includes detaching the upright support 110D from the dolly base 118E. The upright supports may be stowed in buried slots 144D or channels for storage.

FIGS. 6A-6E provides images of components of a storage system according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. The upright supports 110E of the embodiments of FIGS. 6A-6E lie substantially in the interior region of the dolly base 118E. Furthermore, the storage system depicted in FIG. 6 may include a plurality of stacks of containers supported by a single base 118E.

Not wishing to be bound by theory, it that the container 122F according to embodiments of FIG. 6 can maintain a constant position along the elongate axis of the upright support 110E due to the gravitational moment about an axis passing through the upright support 110E, concomitantly causing at least a portion of an inner surface of the pillar slot or channel 134E to adhere to the upright support 110E, which allows static friction to counteract gravity's downward pull.

It is also noted that as shown in FIG. 6, the upright supports 110E are reversibly deployable or removable from the port 188B in the dolly base 118F.

It is noted that according to some embodiments in accordance with FIGS. 2-6, the container may be continuously raised or lowered to along the upright support 110 to a desired height, though this is not a limitation of the present invention. Furthermore, according to some embodiments in accordance with FIGS. 1-6, raising a specific container above the top of the upright support removes or disengages the container from the rest of the storage system. In one example, the storage system is used to dispense items (e.g. produce) in a shop, and when the top container empties, a store official or the customer removes the top container and raises the next container to a convenient level for disposing the items.

In the description and claims of the present application, each of the verbs, “comprise” “include” and “have”, and conjugates thereof, are used to indicate that the object or objects of the verb are not necessarily a complete listing of members, components, elements or parts of the subject or subjects of the verb.

The present invention has been described using detailed descriptions of embodiments thereof that are provided by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The described embodiments comprise different features, not all of which are required in all embodiments of the invention. Some embodiments of the present invention utilize only some of the features or possible combinations of the features. Variations of embodiments of the present invention that are described and embodiments of the present invention comprising different combinations of features noted in the described embodiments will occur to persons of the art. The scope of the invention is limited only by the following claims.

Claims

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.