Patent ID: 7350338

Claim:
A storage device for protecting oversized items from environmental contaminants, said device comprising: an impermeable shrink-wrap package sized and shaped for housing a portion of the oversized items therein, said package having an opening formed at one end portion thereof, said package being formed from substantially transparent material so that a user can view the items stored therein; and a transportable vacuum device for selectively removing air from said package so that said item portions become firmly attached to said package wherein air pressure is maintained at a static level, said vacuum device comprising a housing including a rotatable fan centrally disposed therein and provided with at least one outlet for exhausting air outwardly therefrom, a power cord electrically coupled to the fan for allowing a user to power said vacuum device through a 110-volt power outlet, and a conduit having opposed end portions attachable thereto and removably positionable through the package opening respectively, said conduit having a predetermined diameter sufficient for channeling air away from said package at a rate desired by a user, and an inlet in fluid communication with said conduit for directing air through said outlets of said housing, said inlet being coupled to said at least one outlet; wherein one said end portions of said conduit is threadably engageable with said inlet in such a manner to define a diametrically nested sleeve for receiving an outer perimeter of said package therebetween, said one end portion of said conduit being directly connected to said Inlet, an opposite one of said end portions of said conduit being directly abutted against said at least one outlet, said conduit having a linear shape and being formed from rigid material such that said conduit maintains a static and linear shape during operating conditions; wherein said one end portion of said conduit has an inwardly tapered lip for defining a sleeve between said inlet respectively, said sleeve housing said end portion of said shrink-wrap when said conduit and said inlet are threadably engaged; wherein said vacuum device further comprises a motor including a drive shaft operably connected thereto and extending outwardly therefrom, said drive shaft being rotatable in a counter clockwise direction as desired by a user.