Elastomeric connecting means for double-walled containers

Claim 1

A THERMALLY INSULATED CONTAINER COMPRISING (1) AN OUTER SHELL, (2) AN INNER STORAGE CHAMBER FOR STORING MATERIALS, SAID SHELL AND SAID CHAMBER BEING (A) SPACED FROM ONE ANOTHER SO AS TO DEFINE AN INTERVENING THERMALLY INSULATING EVACUABLE SPACE THEREBETWEEN, (B) SUBJECT TO MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER DUE TO THERMAL EXPANSION AND CONTRACTION WHEN IN USE AND (C) EACH PROVIDED WITH AN OPENING, SAID OPENINGS BEING ALIGNED TO PROVIDE A PASSAGEWAY INTO THE CHAMBER, AND (3) GAS-IMPERMEABLE, ELASTOMERIC, LOW HEAT CONDUCTING CONNECTING MEANS FOR SEALING THE EVACUABLE SPACE SO AS TO MAINTAIN A VACUUM IN THE EVACUABLE SPACE UPON THE EVACUATING OF SAID SPACE BY MIMIMIZING ENTRY OF AIR INTO SAID SPACE THROUGH SAID OPENINGS, SAID CONNECTING MEANS BEING COMPOSED OF A GAS-IMPERMEABLE ELASTOMERIC MATERIAL OF LOW THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY THAT IS GAS-TIGHTLY ATTACHED TO BOTH THE SHELL AND THE CHAMBER AND THAT IS CAPABLE OF DEFORMING WITHOUT FAILURE SO AS TO ALLOW FOR THE MOVEMENT OF THE SHELL AND CHAMBER RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER DUE TO THERMAL EXPANSION AND CONTRACTION.