Stackable tray and inventory system with stackable trays

An apparatus comprising:

• an upright pole having a top and a bottom,
• a support attached to the bottom of the pole, and
• at least a first stackable tray, and at least a second stackable tray, the first stackable tray positioned below the second stackable tray and above the support, each tray having a bottom, a front, a back, a first side and a second side that define an inside of the tray, each tray having a fastening device to engage the back of the tray to the pole, at least the first or second stackable tray adapted to slide perpendicularly away from the pole so that the fastening device of that tray can disengage the pole, the at least first or second stackable tray adapted to slide perpendicularly toward the pole so that the fastening device of that tray can engage the pole, each tray comprising a front edge and a back edge, each front edge and each back edge sloping downwardly in a direction towards the pole, the first stackable tray being in a first position when it is engaged with the pole and a second position when it is removed from between the support and the second stackable tray, wherein as the first stackable tray is slid perpendicularly away from the pole from its first position to its second position, the second stackable tray slides down the pole and the front edge of the second stackable tray slides along the back edge of the first stackable tray until the second stackable tray reaches the first position of the first stackable tray,
• the first stackable tray being in a first position when engaged with the pole, and in an intermediate position when it is not engaged with the pole and a portion of the second stackable tray is over a portion of the first stackable tray, wherein the inside of the first stackable tray is more accessible when the first stackable tray is in the intermediate position than when it is in the first position,
• further comprising a third stackable tray, the third stackable tray having a bottom, a front, a back, a first side and a second side, and a fastening device to engage the back of the third stackable tray to the pole, the second stackable tray being in an initial position when engaged with the pole, and in an extended position when it is not engaged with the pole and a portion of the third stackable tray is over a portion of the second stackable tray, the second stackable tray being between the first stackable tray and the third stackable tray, wherein the inside of the second stackable tray is more accessible when the second stackable tray is its extended position than in its initial position.

A method comprising:

• positioning a first stackable tray between a second stackable tray and a support, each stackable tray comprising a bottom, a front, a back, a first side and a second side, a front edge and a back edge, each front edge and each back edge sloping downwardly in a direction towards a pole,
• fastening a back the first stackable tray and a back of the second stackable tray to the pole, the first stackable tray being in a first position when fastened to the pole,
• unfastening the back of the first stackable tray from the pole, and
• sliding the first stackable tray away from the pole in a direction perpendicular to the pole, wherein as the first stackable tray is slid away from the pole, the second stackable tray slides down the pole and the front edge of the second stackable tray slides along the back edge of the first stackable tray until the second stackable tray reaches the first position of the first stackable tray.