Storage system and method

Abstract

A storage system 1 for storing items 20 , the storage system comprising: a storage area 5 extending in a length direction L; a first item 21 having a first length; and a plurality of further items 22, 23 each having length less than the first length, wherein the storage area is configured to interchangeably store: the first item in a first arrangement in which the first length extends in the length direction; and the plurality of further items in a further arrangement in which further item lengths extend along the length direction and adjacent further items are spaced apart along the length direction by a fixed separation L g , wherein the first length is substantially equal to the sum of further item lengths and the at least one fixed separation. A method ( 40 , FIG. 4 ) of interchanging items 20 is also provided.

1 . A storage system for storing items, the storage system comprising:
 a storage area extending in a length direction;   a first item having a first length; and   a plurality of further items each having a further item length less than the first length,   wherein the storage area is configured to interchangeably store:
 the first item in a first arrangement in which the first length extends in the length direction; and 
 the plurality of further items in a further arrangement in which further item lengths extend along the length direction and adjacent further items are spaced apart along the length direction by a fixed separation, 
   wherein the first length is substantially equal to the sum of further item lengths and at least one fixed separation,   wherein the storage area comprises a plurality of engagement features, the engagement features configured to engage co-operating engagement features provided on rear surfaces of the first and further items such that in the first and further arrangements a fixed clearance is provided between the items and the storage area.   
     
     
         2 . The storage system of  claim 1 , wherein the storage area comprises a continuous surface having an array of engagement features with a regular periodicity in the length direction. 
     
     
         3 . The storage system of  claim 1 , wherein the storage area comprises an array of point fixings having a regular periodicity in the length direction, each item comprising a corresponding array of point fixings configured to engage the point fixings of the storage area. 
     
     
         4 . The storage system of  claim 1 , wherein the engagement features provided on the rear surfaces of the items are provided at a minimum margin from the edges of the items, the margin being greater than the fixed clearance between the items and the storage area in the first and further arrangements. 
     
     
         5 . The storage system of  claim 1 , wherein the engagement features of the storage area are non-contiguous. 
     
     
         6 . The storage system of  claim 1 , wherein the engagement features of the storage area are spaced apart along the length direction by a distance at least three times greater than the dimensions a dimension of the engagement features in the length direction. 
     
     
         7 . The storage system of  claim 1 , wherein the storage area extends in a width direction, the first item having a first width and each further item having the first width, wherein in the first and further arrangements, the items are stored such that the first widths of the items extend in the width direction. 
     
     
         8 . The storage system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of further items comprises:
 a second item having a second length less than the first length and a third item having a third length less than the first length, the further arrangement comprising one fixed separation;   three third items each having a third length less than the first length, the further arrangement comprising two fixed separations; or   two third items each having a third length less than the first length, the further arrangement comprising one fixed separation.   
     
     
         9 . The storage system of  claim 8 , wherein the second length is greater than the period of the array, wherein the second item comprises two engagement features spaced apart along the length direction by the period of the array, and wherein the third length is less than the period of the array, wherein the third item comprises engagement features at only a single length coordinate. 
     
     
         10 . The storage system of  claim 1 , wherein the first length is greater than two periods of the array; and
 wherein the first item comprises two engagement features spaced apart by twice the period of the array.   
     
     
         11 . The storage system of  claim 1 , wherein the storage area comprises an array of engagement features having an alternating periodicity along the width direction, each engagement feature configured to co-operate with a corresponding engagement feature of an item. 
     
     
         12 . The storage system of  claim 1 , wherein the storage area is configured to store a plurality of first items having first item lengths along the length direction, adjacent first items being spaced apart along the length direction by the fixed separation. 
     
     
         13 . The storage system of  claim 1 , wherein the first length:second length:third length:fixed separation:spacing of the array are provided approximately in the ratios 571:356:140:75:216. 
     
     
         14 . The storage system of  claim 1 , wherein the engagement features comprise button fixings. 
     
     
         15 . The storage area of  claim 1 , wherein in the first and further arrangements, the edges of the items are not obscured or obstructed. 
     
     
         16 . A method comprising:
 providing the storage system of  claim 1 ;   removing from the storage area one of the first item and the plurality of further items;   replacing the removed one of the first item and the plurality of further items by the other of the first item and the plurality of further items.   
     
     
         17 . A storage system for storing items, the storage system comprising:
 a storage area extending in a length direction;   a first set of items each having a length; and   a second set of items each having a length,   wherein the storage area is configured to interchangeably store:
 the first set of items item in a first arrangement in which the lengths of the items of the first set extend along the length direction; and 
 the second set of items in a second arrangement in which the lengths of the items of the second set extend along the length direction, 
   wherein in the first and second arrangements, adjacent items are spaced apart along the length direction by a fixed separation,   wherein the sum of the lengths of the items in the first arrangement and any fixed separations therebetween is substantially equal to the sum of the lengths of the items in the second arrangement and any fixed separations therebetween,   wherein the storage area comprises a plurality of engagement features, the engagement features configured to engage co-operating engagement features provided on the rear surfaces of the items such that in the first and second arrangements a fixed clearance is provided between the items and the storage area.   
     
     
         18 . The storage system of  claim 17 , wherein the total lengths of items of the first set is different from the total lengths of items of the second set.