Long term storage apparatus

Claim 2

A long-term storage system for connection to a continuous or intermittent supply of inert gas comprising: a plurality of long-term, hermetically sealable individually transportable storage containers each storage container having first and second gas communication terminals communicating with the interior thereof; selectably decouplable serial interconnection conduit means for serial coupling of respective first and second communication terminals of adjacent ones of said plurality of storage containers and for coupling said serially connected storage containers to a continuous or intermittent gas supply; and means for preventing egress of inert gas from individual ones of said containers when said individual ones of said containers are not coupled to a gas supply or to adjacent ones of said containers.

Claim 3

A long-term storage system according to claim 1 wherein said means for preventing egress comprises: one way valve means preventing egress of inert gas from said storage containers through the respective first gas communication terminals; and means for selectably sealing said second communication terminals when said second terminals are not coupled to said conduit means.

Claim 4

A long-term storage system according to claim 1 wherein said storage containers are configured such that the interior thereof is molded to conform to the general configuration of goods to be stored therein.

Claim 5

A long-term storage system according to claim 1 and wherein said storage containers are configured to be stackable one upon another.

Claim 6

A long-term storage system according to claim 1 wherein said serial interconnection conduit means comprises a plurality of retractable access hoses each selectably storable in a recess formed in a respective one of said storage containers.

Claim 7

A long-term storage system according to claim 5 wherein said egress preventing means comprises one way valve means associated with said retractable access hose for preventing egress of gas from said long-term storage containers.

Claim 8

A long-term storage system comprising: supply means for continuously or intermittently providing a flow of inert gas; a plurality of long-term, hermetically sealed, individually transportable, storage containers; each storage container having first and second gas communication terminals communicating with the interior thereof; selectably decouplable serial interconnection conduit means for serial coupling of respective first and second communication terminals of adjacent ones of said plurality of storage containers and for coupling said serially connected storage containers to said supply means; one way valve means preventing egress of said inert gas from said storage containers through said respective first communication terminals; and means for selectably sealing said second communication terminal when said second terminals are not coupled to said conduit means; and wherein said conduit means comprise a plurality of retractable access hose means each associated with a storage container and selectably locatable within a recess thereof.

Claim 9

A long-term storage system comprising: supply means for continuously or intermittently providing a flow of inert gas; a plurality of long-term, hermetically sealed, individually transportable, storage containers; each storage container having first and second gas communication terminals communicating with the interior thereof; selectably decouplable serial interconnection conduit means for serial coupling of respective first and second communication terminals of adjacent ones of said plurality of storage containers and for coupling said serially connected storage containers to said supply means; one way valve means preventing egress of said inert gas from said storage containers through said respective first communication terminals; and means for selectably sealing said second communication terminal when said second terminals are not coupled to said conduit means; and wherein said conduit means comprise a plurality of retractable access hose means each associated with a storage container and selectably locatable within a recess thereof.