Patent attributes
A storage apparatus is provided for storage of elongate articles in a vertical orientation, such as for storage of flexible esophageal dilators. The storage apparatus includes a gripping element of flexible material supported at a support frame. The gripping element includes receiving slots or apertures aligned with the spaced holes in the rigid panel. The support frame may include a rigid support panel with a pattern of spaced holes corresponding to respective ones of the receiving apertures of the gripping element. The gripping element grips and holds elongate articles at respective receiving apertures to suspend the articles in a vertical orientation. The elongate articles are retained in the gripping element until a user exerts a removal force on the article to retrieve it from the storage apparatus. The support frame may be disposed inside of a container, such as a cabinet or drawer.
