Apparatus and method for preserving collectible items

An apparatus for preserving a collectible item comprising:

• a housing, said housing adapted to enclose the collectible item;
• an inlet port mounted to the housing;
• a nitrogen generator mounted in the housing and connected to the inlet port, said nitrogen generator drawing air through the inlet port, separating nitrogen from the air and supplying the nitrogen to the housing to displace the air from inside the housing, wherein the nitrogen generator includes an air compressor, an air dryer fluidly connected to the air compressor, an oxygen adsorbing carbon molecular sieve fluidly connected to the air dryer and which generates nitrogen rich gas;
• and
• a nitrogen storage tank fluidly connected to said carbon molecular sieve and which stores the generated nitrogen rich gas.

An apparatus for preserving a collectible item comprising:

• a housing including an item storing compartment and a mechanism storing compartment, said item storing compartment adapted to enclose at least one collectible item, said mechanism storing compartment including a nitrogen generator;
• a lockable door movably connected to the item storing compartment for providing secure access to the item storing compartment;
• an inlet port mounted to the mechanism storing compartment and adapted to be in communication with the nitrogen generator to draw in ambient air;
• an exhaust port connected to the item storing compartment of the housing to exhaust air displaced by nitrogen rich gas generated and supplied by the nitrogen generator to the item storing compartment, wherein the nitrogen generator generates the nitrogen rich gas by drawing in ambient air through the inlet port and separating nitrogen from the air;
• and
• a temperature controller to control the temperature of the nitrogen rich gas inside the housing.

An apparatus for preserving a plurality collectible items comprising:

• a plurality of housings, each said housing adapted to enclose one of the collectible items;
• an inlet port;
• a nitrogen generator operable to draw air through the inlet port, separate nitrogen from the air and supply the nitrogen to the housings to displace the air from inside the housings;
• and
• a manifold having an inlet connected to the nitrogen generator and a plurality of outlets connected to the housings.

An inert gas generator for a collectible item preservation apparatus including a housing adapted to receive at least one collectible item, an air inlet port, an air exhaust port, at least one inert gas communication line connected to an inert rich gas source and adapted to be fluidly connected to the housing to direct the inert gas from the inert gas source into the housing and displace air from the housing out through the air exhaust port to preserve the collectible item in the housing, wherein the inert gas generator comprises:

• an air compressor connected to the housing;
• a pressure controller connected to the air compressor;
• an air dryer fluidly connected to the air compressor;
• an oxygen adsorbing device fluidly connected to the air dryer;
• a pressure retainer connected to the oxygen adsorbing device;
• an inert gas storage tank fluidly connected to the oxygen adsorbing device;
• and
• a pressure reducer connected to the inert gas storage tank.

A method of preserving a collectible item comprising:

• (a) generating nitrogen rich gas;
• (b) storing the nitrogen rich gas in a nitrogen storage tank;
• (c) supplying the nitrogen rich gas into a housing, which encloses the collectible item, while displacing air from inside the housing;
• and
• (d) exhausting the air from the housing wherein steps (a) and (b) are performed in or adjacent to the housing.

An apparatus for preserving a collectible item comprising:

• a housing including an item storing compartment and a mechanism storing compartment, said item storing compartment adapted to enclose at least one collectible item, said mechanism storing compartment including a nitrogen generator, wherein the nitrogen generator includes an air compressor, an air dryer fluidly connected to the air compressor, an oxygen absorbing carbon molecular sieve fluidly connected to the air dryer to separate nitrogen from the air and a nitrogen storage tank fluidly connected to the carbon molecular sieve and adapted to store the nitrogen separated from the air;
• a lockable door movably connected to the item storing compartment for providing secure access to the item storing compartment;
• an inlet port mounted to the mechanism storing compartment and adapted to be in communication with the nitrogen generator to draw in ambient air;
• and
• an exhaust port connected to the item storing compartment of the housing to exhaust air displaced by nitrogen rich gas generated and supplied by the nitrogen generator to the item storing compartment, wherein the nitrogen generator generates the nitrogen rich gas by drawing in ambient air through the inlet port and separating nitrogen from the air.

A method of preserving a collectible item comprising:

• (a) generating nitrogen rich gas;
• (b) supplying the nitrogen rich gas into a housing, which encloses the collectible item, while displacing air inside the housing;
• (c) exhausting the air from the housing;
• and
• (d) adjusting the temperature of the nitrogen rich gas inside the housing using a temperature control system.

A method of preserving a collectible item comprising:

• (a) generating nitrogen rich gas;
• (b) supplying the nitrogen rich gas into a housing, which encloses the collectible item, while displacing air inside the housing;
• (c) exhausting the air from the housing;
• and
• (d) adjusting the humidity of the nitrogen rich gas inside the housing using a humidity control system.

An apparatus for preserving a collectible item comprising:

• a housing, said housing adapted to enclose the collectible item;
• an inlet port mounted to the housing;
• a nitrogen generator mounted in the housing and connected to the inlet port, said nitrogen generator drawing air through the inlet port, separating nitrogen from the air and supplying the nitrogen to the housing to displace the air from inside the housing;
• and
• a humidity controller to control the humidity of the nitrogen rich gas inside the house.

An apparatus for preserving a collectible item comprising:

• a housing including an item storing compartment and a mechanism storing compartment, said item storing compartment adapted to enclose at least one collectible item, said mechanism storing compartment including a nitrogen generator;
• a lockable door movably connected to the item storing compartment for providing secure access to the item storing compartment;
• an inlet port mounted to the mechanism storing compartment and adapted to be in communication with the nitrogen generator to draw in ambient air;
• an exhaust port connected to the item storing compartment of the housing to exhaust air displaced by nitrogen rich gas generated and supplied by the nitrogen generator to the item storing compartment, wherein the nitrogen generator generates the nitrogen rich gas by drawing in ambient air through the inlet port and separating nitrogen from the air;
• and
• a humidity controller to control the humidity of the nitrogen rich gas inside the housing.

An item preservation apparatus comprising:

• a housing which defines a compartment sized to hold and enclose an item;
• a nitrogen generator connected to the housing, said nitrogen generator operable to draw in air through an inlet port, separate nitrogen from the drawn in air and supply nitrogen rich gas to the compartment of the housing to displace air from inside the compartment of the housing to preserve the item;
• and
• a temperature controller operable to control the temperature of the nitrogen rich gas inside the compartment of the housing.

An item preservation apparatus comprising:

• a housing which defines a compartment sized to hold and enclose an item;
• a nitrogen generator connected to the housing said nitrogen generator operable to draw in air through an inlet port, separate nitrogen from the draw in air and supply nitrogen rich gas to the compartment of the housing to displace the air from inside the compartment of the housing to preserve the item;
• and
• a humidity controller operable to control the humidity of the nitrogen rich gas inside the compartment of the house.