Patent ID: 7556167

Claim:
An apparatus for selectively elevating stacked objects stored in a container, the apparatus comprising: a container comprising: a bottom wall, and at least one sidewall extending from the bottom wall, the sidewall having an outer surface, an inner surface extending around an open interior of the container, and a top edge extending around an opening of the container, the opening providing access to the container interior; a lift, comprising: a solid inflexible base positioned in the container interior, said solid inflexible base adapted to provide a rigid platform supporting said stacked objects stored in said container; at least one flexible guide having a first end coupled to the base; an outer ring positioned adjacent the container sidewall outer surface, wherein the at least one guide includes a second end coupled to the outer ring, whereby the outer ring is vertically adjustable along the container sidewall outer surface resulting in vertical adjustment of the base within the container interior; and an inner surface of the outer ring is in friction engagement with the container sidewall outer surface to suspend the outer ring at a first position along the container sidewall outer surface, the solid inflexible base being suspended in the container interior at a second position by the friction engagement of the inner surface of the outer ring and the container sidewall outer surface.