Storage system

Abstract

A storage system for storing objects is provided. The storage system may include a frame having sides and a guide rail system supported on the frame between the frame sides, the guide rail system including a pair of slide members that are selectively extendable beyond the frame sides. The storage system may futher include a tray moveable within the guide rail system and releaseably supported by the pair of slide members for movement with the slide members relative to the frame, the tray may be selectively removable from the slide members and tiltable with respect to the slide members, and a mounting mechanism operable for securing the tray to one of the slide members, the mounting mechanism being selectively releasable for allowing manual removal of the tray from the slide members.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A storage system for storing objects, the storage system comprising:
 a frame having sides;   a guide rail system supported on the frame between the frame sides, the guide rail system including a pair of slide members that are selectively extendable beyond the frame sides;   a tray moveable within the guide rail system and releaseably supported by the pair of slide members for movement with the slide members relative to the frame, the tray being selectively removable from the slide members and tiltable with respect to the slide members; and   a mounting mechanism operable for securing the tray to one of the slide members, the mounting mechanism being selectively releasable for allowing manual removal of the tray from the slide members.   
     
     
         2 . The storage system of  claim 1 ; wherein the mounting mechanism includes a pair of latch members, each latch member moveably disposed on one of the guide rail system and the tray; and
 a pair latch retention members disposed on the other of the guide rail system and the tray, each latch retention member including a first detent configured to releaseably retain the latch member, and thereby the tray in an associated position relative to the slide members.   
     
     
         3 . The storage system of  claim 2 ; wherein each latch member is moveably disposed on either side of the tray adjacent the guide rail system and each latch retention member is disposed on one of the pair of slide members. 
     
     
         4 . The storage system of  claim 2 ; wherein the tray is positionable relative to the slide members in at least a storage position, a first tilt position disposed at a first angle relative to the storage position, and a second tilt position disposed at a second angle relative to the storage position, the second angle being different than the first angle and the first detent releaseably retains the latch member, and thereby the tray in one of the storage position, the first tilt position and the second tilt position relative to the slide members. 
     
     
         5 . The storage system of  claim 4 ; wherein each latch retention member includes a second detent, the second detent configured to releaseably retain the latch member, and thereby the tray in one of the storage position, the first tilt position and the second tilt position relative to the slide members. 
     
     
         6 . The storage system of  claim 3 , wherein the tray includes handles disposed on either side of the tray adjacent the guide rail system and the pair of latch members are moveably disposed on the tray adjacent the handles. 
     
     
         7 . The storage system of  claim 1 , wherein the tray includes a plurality of elongate indentations configured to retain a portion of the objects, the elongate indentations disposed at an angle with respect to a front wall of the tray. 
     
     
         8 . The storage system of  claim 1 , further comprising
 a plurality of trays configured to be securely retained in a stacked position outside of the frame, each tray including a pair of tray side walls having one or both of a stacking recess and a stacking protrusion.   
     
     
         9 . A storage system for storing objects, the storage system comprising:
 a frame;   a guide rail system supported by the frame;   a tray supported by the guide rail system for movement between a stowed position within the frame and an operative position outside the frame, the tray being removable from the guide rail system when the tray is in the operative position, the tray being positionable relative to the guide rail system when the tray is in the operative position in at least a storage position, a first tilt position disposed at a first angle relative to the storage position, and a second tilt position disposed at a second angle relative to the storage position, the second angle being different than the first angle; and   a mounting mechanism configured to selectively retain the tray in at least the storage position, the first tilt position and the second tilt position, the mounting mechanism being manually operable for disengaging the tray from a respective one of the storage, first tilt, and second tilt positions and allowing movement of the tray to another of the storage, first tilt, and second tilt positions.   
     
     
         10 . The storage system of  claim 9 ; wherein the mounting mechanism includes a pair of latch members, each latch member moveably disposed on one of the guide rail system and the tray; and
 a pair latch retention members disposed on the other of the guide rail system and the tray, each latch retention member including at least three detents configured to releaseably retain the latch member, and thereby the tray in one of the storage position, the first tilt position and the second tilt position relative to the slide members.   
     
     
         11 . The storage system of  claim 10 , wherein the tray includes handles disposed on either side of the tray adjacent the guide rail system and the pair of latch members are moveably disposed on the tray adjacent the handles. 
     
     
         12 . The storage system of  claim 10 , wherein the guide rail system includes a pair of slide members that are extendable outside of the frame and the latch retention members are disposed on the slide members. 
     
     
         13 . The storage system of  claim 10 , wherein each latch member is moveable between a lock position in which the latch member is engaged with the latch retention member and a release position in which the latch member is disengaged from the latch retention member;
 the tray being removable from the guide rail system when the latch members are in the release position and the tray being positionable relative to the guide rail system when the latch members are in the release position.   
     
     
         14 . The storage system of  claim 9 , wherein the tray includes a plurality of elongate indentations configured to retain a portion of the objects, the elongate indentations disposed at an angle with respect to a front wall of the tray. 
     
     
         15 . The storage system of  claim 9 , further comprising a plurality of trays configured to be securely retained in a stacked position outside of the storage system, each tray including a pair of side walls having one or both of a stacking recess and a stacking protrusion. 
     
     
         16 . A storage system for storing objects, the storage system comprising:
 a frame;   a guide rail system support by the frame;   a tray supported by the guide rail system for movement between a stowed position within the frame and an operative position outside the frame, the tray being removable from the guide rail system when the tray is in the operative position, the tray being positionable relative to the guide rail system when the tray is in the operative position in at least a storage position and a first tilt position disposed at a first angle relative to the storage position;   a pair of latch members, each latch member moveably disposed on one of the guide rail system and the tray; and   a pair of latch retention members disposed on the other of the guide rail system and the tray, each latch retention member including a first detent configured to releaseably retain the latch member, and thereby the tray in one of the storage position and the first tilt position relative to the guide rail system.   
     
     
         17 . The storage system of  claim 16 ; wherein each latch member is moveably disposed on either side of the tray adjacent the guide rail system and each latch retention member is disposed on the guide rail system. 
     
     
         18 . The storage system of  claim 16 ; wherein the tray is positionable relative to the guide rail system in a second tilt position disposed at a second angle relative to the storage position, the second angle being different than the first angle and each latch retention member includes a second detent, the second detent configured to releaseably retain the latch member, and thereby the tray in one of the storage position, the first tilt position and the second tilt position relative to the slide members. 
     
     
         19 . The storage system of  claim 17 , wherein the tray includes handles disposed on either side of the tray adjacent the guide rail system and the pair of latch members are moveably disposed on the tray adjacent the handles. 
     
     
         20 . The storage system of  claim 16 , wherein the tray includes a plurality of elongate indentations configured to retain a portion of the objects, the elongate indentations disposed at an angle with respect to a front wall of the tray. 
     
     
         21 . The storage system of  claim 16 , further comprising a plurality of trays configured to be securely retained in a stacked position outside of the frame, each tray including a pair of side walls having one or both of a stacking recess and a stacking protrusion. 
     
     
         22 . The storage system of  claim 17 , wherein either side of the tray includes a tray sliding member and the latch retention member includes a sliding member slot having an open end, the slot configured to retain the tray sliding member. 
     
     
         23 . A storage system for storing objects, the storage system comprising:
 a frame;   a guide rail system supported by the frame;   a tray supported by the guide rail system for movement between a stowed position within the frame and an operative position outside the frame, the tray including a pair of tray side walls, each side wall having a handle, the tray being one of removable from the guide rail system when the tray is in the operative position and positionable relative to the guide rail system when the tray is in the operative position in at least a storage position and a first tilt position disposed at a first angle relative to the storage position; and   a pair of latch members, each latch member moveably disposed on one of the pair tray side walls adjacent the handle and configured to releaseably engage the guide rail system.   
     
     
         24 . The storage system of  claim 23 , further comprising a pair of latch retention member disposed on the guide rail system, each latch retention member configured to releaseably retain the latch member, and thereby the tray relative to the guide rail system. 
     
     
         25 . The storage system of  claim 24 , wherein the tray side walls include a tray sliding member, and
 the latch retention member includes a sliding member slot having an open end, the slot configured to retain the tray sliding member.   
     
     
         26 . The storage system of  claim 23 , wherein the tray includes a plurality of elongate indentations configured to retain a portion of the objects, the elongate indentations disposed at an angle with respect to a front wall of the tray. 
     
     
         27 . The storage system of  claim 23 , further comprising a plurality of trays configured to be securely retained in a stacked position outside of the frame, each tray side wall having one or both of a stacking recess and a stacking protrusion. 
     
     
         28 . A storage system for storing objects, the storage system comprising:
 a frame having frame sides, the frame sides having a depth;   a guide rail system supported by the frame;   a first tray supported by the guide rail system for movement between a stowed position within the frame and an operative position outside the frame, the first tray being removable from the guide rail system when the tray is in the operative position, the first tray having a length that is less than the depth of the frame;   a second tray supported by the guide rail system for movement between a stowed position within the frame and an operative position outside the frame, the second tray being removable from the guide rail system when the second tray is in the operative position, the second tray having a length that is less than the depth of the frame; and   a mounting mechanism operable for securing one of the first tray and the second tray to the guide rail system, the mounting mechanism being selectively releasable for allowing manual removal of one of the first tray and the second tray from the guide rail system.   
     
     
         29 . The storage system of  claim 28 , wherein the mounting mechanism includes
 a first latch member moveably disposed on a side wall of the first tray;   a second latch member moveably disposed on a side wall of the second tray; and   a latch retention member disposed on the guide rail system;   the first and second latch members configured to releaseably engage the latch retention member.   
     
     
         30 . A storage system for storing objects, the storage system comprising:
 a frame having frame sides, the frame sides having a depth;   a guide rail system supported on the frame between the frame sides, the guide rail system including a pair of slide members that are selectively extendable beyond the frame sides;   a first tray moveable within the guide rail system, the first tray being selectively removable from the slide members, the first tray including first tray side walls having a length that is less than the depth of the frame sides;   a second tray moveable within the guide rail system, the second tray being selectively removable from the slide members, the second tray including second tray side walls having a length that is less than the depth of the frame sides;   a first pair of latch members, each of the first pair of latch members moveably disposed on one of the first tray side walls; and   a second pair of latch members, each of the second pair of latch members moveably disposed on one of the second tray side walls;   wherein the first and second pair of latch members are operable for securing the first tray and the second tray respectively to the slide members, the first and second pair of latch members being selectively releasable for allowing manual removal of the first tray and the second tray from the slide members.   
     
     
         32 . The storage system of claim  31 , further comprising
 a pair of latch retention members having a detent, each of the pair of latch retention members disposed on one the slide members;   wherein the first and second pair latch members are configured to releaseably engage the detents.   
     
     
         33 . The storage system of claim  31 , wherein the first tray includes a plurality of elongate indentations configured to retain a portion of the objects, the elongate indentations disposed at an angle with respect to a first tray front wall. 
     
     
         34 . The storage system of claim  31 , wherein the top of first tray side walls include one of a stacking recess and a stacking protrusion and the bottom of the second tray side walls include the other of a stacking recess and a stacking protrusion, such that the second tray may be stacked on top of the first tray outside of the frame.