System and method for storage

Abstract

A storage system includes a rail system, and a container. The container has an inner compartment. The container further includes an apparatus for supporting the container which also interacts the rail system, and a hoist coupled to the apparatus for supporting the container.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A storage system comprising:
 a rail system further comprising:
 a first branch; 
 a second branch; 
 a third branch that includes a raising and lowering position; and 
 a transfer station apparatus that provides a moveable pathway between at least two of the first branch, the second branch and the third branch; and 
 an apparatus for supporting the first container and a second container which interacts the rail system. 
   
     
     
         2 . The storage system of  claim 1  further comprising a hoist associated with the raising and lowering position, the hoist used to raise and lower at least one of the first container and the second container with respect to the raising and lowering position. 
     
     
         3 . The storage system of  claim 1  wherein
 the first container comprises a first hoist associated with the first container, the first hoist used to raise and lower the first container at the raising and lowering position; and 
 the second container comprises a second hoist associated with the second container, the second hoist used to raise and lower the second container at the raising and lowering position. 
 
     
     
         4 . The storage system of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the first branch, the second branch and the third branch can support the first and the second container. 
     
     
         5 . The storage system of  claim 1  wherein the first branch, the second branch and the third branch can each support the first and the second container. 
     
     
         6 . The storage system of  claim 1  wherein the container further comprises:
 a frame; 
 a floor; and 
 a plurality of fabric sides. 
 
     
     
         7 . The storage system of  claim 1  wherein the container can be mounted to a vehicle. 
     
     
         8 . The storage system of  claim 1  wherein the rail system is used to move the container from a first storage position to a second storage position. 
     
     
         9 . The storage system of  claim 1  wherein the rail system is used to move the container from a first storage position to a position over a vehicle. 
     
     
         10 . The storage system of  claim 1  wherein the rail system is adapted to be mounted to a ceiling. 
     
     
         11 . The storage system of  claim 1  wherein the container includes a material that interacts with a vehicle. 
     
     
         12 . The storage system of  claim 11  wherein the container further includes a vehicle attachment mechanism formed integral with the container. 
     
     
         13 . The storage system of  claim 1  wherein the container further comprises:
 a foldable frame; 
 a plurality of fabric sides attached to the frame; and 
 a stiffening element for stiffening at least two opposing sides of the frame, the element sized for insertion between at least some of the frame elements. 
 
     
     
         14 . The storage system of  claim 13  wherein the stiffening element is foldable and further comprises:
 a first substantially solid sidewall; and 
 a second substantially solid sidewall, the stiffening element insertable within the foldable frame and unfolded to form a substantially noncollapsible container. 
 
     
     
         15 . The storage system of  claim 13  wherein the stiffening element is foldable and further comprises:
 a first substantially solid sidewall; 
 a second substantially solid sidewall; and 
 a substantially solid floor, the stiffening element insertable within the foldable frame and unfolded to form a substantially noncollapsible container. 
 
     
     
         16 . The storage system of  claim 2  wherein the hoist can be removed from the container. 
     
     
         17 . A storage container system comprising:
 a frame;   a floor portion positioned within the frame;   a plurality of side flaps that cover the frame to form an inner compartment, at least two side flaps including a substantially solid wall, the frame and sideflaps foldable to a substantially flat position;   an insert that further includes:
 a floor portion; 
 a first stiffener for a sideflap located on one edge of the floor portion; and 
 a second stiffener for a second sideflap located parallel to the one edge of the floor portion, the insert insertable into the frame and unfoldable to a position where the first stiffener and the second stiffener stiffen a pair of the plurality of sidewalls to form a substantially solid container; and 
 an apparatus supporting the container from an overhead track having a plurality of storage positions and a raising and lowering position, wherein the apparatus allows the container to be moved from any one of the plurality of storage positions to the raising and lowering position; and 
 a transfer station apparatus that provides a moveable pathway between a plurality of branchs connected to the transfer station. 
   
     
     
         18 . The storage container system of  claim 17  wherein one of the floor portion associated with the frame and the floor portion associated with the insert includes a floor stiffener.