Stackable modular storage tower

A method of assembly of a tower of modular storage elements, comprising:

• providing a storage column element having a wall structure with upper and lower column surfaces between which multiple fasteners extend in a predetermined spatial alignment, the fasteners being positionable between first and second positions and each of the fasteners having at opposite ends thereof a handle and a receptacle, the receptacle being of a shape that receives a handle when the fastener is in the first position and holds a received handle securely in place when the fastener is in the second position;
• providing a base unit having an upper base surface from which multiple handles extend in a spatial alignment corresponding to the predetermined spatial alignment of the fasteners of the storage column element;
• positioning the fasteners in the second position and placing the storage column element on the upper base surface of the base unit so that corresponding receptacles of the storage column element receive the handles extending from the upper base surface of the base unit;
• and
• positioning the fasteners of the storage column element to the first position to secure the storage column element and base unit together as a rigid tower assembly.

A storage column element for holding a storage device in a stackable modular storage tower, comprising:

• a wall structure having upper and lower surfaces and first and second intersecting inner side surfaces that define a storage device receptacle having an open side region located opposite the first and second intersecting inner side surfaces;
• a floor having a support surface and an open side boundary and being positioned in contact with the first and second inner side surfaces near the lower surface of the wall structure so that the receptacle is adapted to receive a storage device of a size that extends beyond the open side boundary of the floor in a plane parallel to the support surface;
• multiple electrically interconnected connectors positioned in the wall structure, one of the connectors mounted to one of the first and second inner side surfaces;
• and
• at least one guide member extending along one of the support surface of the floor, the first inner side surface, or the second inner side surface, the guide member extending in a transverse direction to the inner side surface to which the one of the connectors is mounted, thereby to permit engagement with a complementary connector of a storage device held by the storage column element.

A stackable modular storage tower, comprising:

• a base unit including an electrical power supply and having an upper portion;
• a storage column element adapted to releasably mount to the upper portion of the base unit and to receive and hold a removable storage device, the storage column element including a wall structure and a floor, the floor being positioned to separate the upper portion of the base unit from a storage device held by the storage column element and each of the floor and wall structure including a guide member to facilitate a predetermined spatial placement of a storage device in the storage column element;
• and
• electrical connection linkage that provides electrical power from the base unit to the storage column element for delivery to a storage device held by the storage column element.

A stackable modular storage tower, comprising:

• a base unit including an electrical power supply and having an upper portion from which a handle extends;
• a storage column element adapted to releasably mount to the upper portion of the base unit and to receive and hold a removable storage device, the storage column element including a floor positioned to separate the upper portion of the base unit from a storage device held by the storage column element, at least one manually actuatable fastener that is configured to releasably secure the storage column element to the base unit, and upper and lower surfaces, the fastener being of elongated shape and having a handle at one end proximal to the upper surface and a receptacle proximal to the lower surface, and the handle that extends from the upper portion of the base unit fitting into the receptacle of the fastener to secure the storage column element to the base unit;
• and
• electrical connection linkage that provides electrical power from the base unit to the storage column element for delivery to a storage device held by the storage column element.