Methods and apparatus for preservation of articles

Abstract

An apparatus includes a container for preservation of articles defining an atmospheric control mechanism that maintains an internal atmospheric composition within the container such that an interior cavity of the container that is devoid of various contaminants including UV radiation, dust, oxygen, water, atmospheric moisture (humidity), reactive oxygen species, airborne chemical pollutants and/or airborne chemicals not conducive to the longevity or preservation of the articles to be protected. As such, the container protects and preserves articles by preventing decay and deterioration of the articles due to light, temperature, dirt, mold, humidity, hydrolysis due to moisture in the air, and oxidation with exposure to air.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for preservation of footwear, comprising:
 at least one container configured to maintain an internal atmospheric composition to preserve an article of footwear, the at least one container including:
 a body comprising an interior cavity in communication with an opening configured to receive the article of footwear, the body defining at least a first panel and a second panel that collectively encapsulate the interior cavity, both of the first panel and the second panel of the body being formed of a multi-layered flexible material,
 wherein the flexible material of the body includes a woven fiber coated with a sealing material that provides a moveable structure and shape to accommodate varying shapes and sizes for the article of footwear while also providing airtight resistance to chemicals, temperature, ozone, ultraviolet (UV) radiation, mold, mildew, and abrasion for the article of footwear; 
 
 an access door that provides access to the interior cavity along the opening of the at least one container, the access door including a sealing mechanism that couples the access door along the opening such that the sealing mechanism prevents permeation of air from an external environment into the interior cavity; 
 an inlet valve coupled to the interior cavity configured to provide one-way fluid flow of a selected gas from an inflator device into the interior cavity to reach and maintain the internal atmospheric composition and preserve the article of footwear; and 
 an outlet valve coupled to the interior cavity that establishes one-way fluid flow communication from the interior cavity to the external environment, the outlet valve configured to modulate a predetermined flow of air being expelled through the outlet valve. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first panel comprises an opaque material, and wherein at least some of the second panel comprises a transparent material that defines a transparent portion, the transparent portion including an ultraviolet (UV) blocking property, the transparent portion defined opposite the first panel to accommodate viewing of the article along a discrete portion of the second panel. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the outlet valve is configured for manual control to modulate the flow of rate of air being expelled through the outlet valve by constricting or dilating a venting path through the outlet valve until a desired flow rate is reached. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the selected gas includes at least one noble or inert gas. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the selected gas is devoid of moisture or oils. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an outer container, the at least one container being disposed within and at least partially encapsulated by the outer container. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the inlet valve is a one-way pressure release valve. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the inlet valve engages with an external canister that provides the selected gas to accommodate one-way fluid flow communication of the selected gas from the external canister into the interior cavity of the at least one container. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the outlet valve is configured for manual operation. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the outlet valve is configured to release pressurized air within the interior cavity when an air pressure within the interior cavity reaches a predetermined threshold value. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one container is configured to limit or prevent ultraviolet radiation from entering the interior cavity. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an outer layer that encloses the at least one container therein. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the outer layer includes at least one removable panel configured for partial or complete removal from the outer layer. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the article of footwear includes a shoe including a color configuration, such that the at least one container encloses the shoe within the interior cavity and protects the shoe from the external environment. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the internal atmospheric composition associated with the selected gas reduces a change in the color configuration of the shoe over time. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the article of footwear includes a shoe including a sole including a plastic or rubber material, such that the at least one container encloses the shoe within the interior cavity and protects the shoe from the external environment. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the internal atmospheric composition associated with the selected gas reduces a change in integrity of the sole over time. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the article of footwear includes a shoe having an adhesive, such that the at least one container encloses the shoe within the interior cavity and protects the shoe from the external environment. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the internal atmospheric composition associated with the selected gas reduces a change in the adhesive of the shoe over time. 
     
     
         20 . A method of making an apparatus for preserving an article, comprising:
 forming at least one container configured to maintain an internal atmospheric composition, the at least one container including an interior cavity in communication with an opening configured to receive an article;   forming an access door along the opening of the at least one container that provides air-tight access to the interior cavity;   coupling an inlet valve to the interior cavity that provides one-way fluid flow of a selected gas into the interior cavity; and   coupling an outlet valve to the interior cavity that provides one-way fluid flow communication from the interior cavity to an external environment.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 connecting an inflator device including an external canister to the inlet valve to provide the selected gas into the interior cavity.   
     
     
         22 . An apparatus for preservation of at least one article, comprising:
 at least one container comprising:
 a body including an interior cavity in communication with an opening configured to receive an article; 
 an access door that provides access to the interior cavity along the opening of the at least one container; 
 an inlet valve positioned along the body that provides one-way fluid flow of a one or more gases into the interior cavity; and 
 a manually adjustable outlet valve positioned along the body that provides one-way fluid flow communication from the interior cavity to an external environment, 
 wherein the body comprises a flexible material that provides a moveable structure and shape. 
   
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the flexible material of the body includes a sealing material to provide airtight resistance to the external environment as well as long term resistance to air and moisture permeation via molecular penetration through composite layers of the body. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the flexible material of the body includes material that provides UV protection from the external environment. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the outlet valve is configured for manual control to modulate a flow of rate of air being expelled through the outlet valve such that the outlet valve accommodates constricting or dilating a venting path through the outlet valve until a desired flow rate is reached.