Patent ID: 6843541

Claim:
A containment enclosure apparatus, said apparatus comprising: a hollow first portion having an open bottom end wherein said first portion defines a glove box enclosure, said first portion comprising at least one access port and a sleeve sealed to said access port enabling the admission of a hand into said glove box enclosure for manipulation of an article therein; a hollow second portion having a first end and a second end; said first end of said second end portion attached to said open bottom end of said first portion; a third portion having an open first end in communication with the second end of said second portion, said third portion having an entranceway defined therein for introducing an article into said third portion; a longitudinally extending passageway defined by said first portion, said second portion, and said third portion; an elevator member received within said passageway comprising a base that moves along a longitudinal axis from said entranceway of said third portion to said first portion, whereby an article can be transported by said elevator member from said third portion to said first portion and returned back to said third portion via said passageway, wherein at least a portion of said elevator member and at least a portion of said third portion capable of being submerged in a liquid; and a column of liquid contained within at least a portion of said third portion, said first portion defining an interior cavity filled with gas whereby an interface between said gas and said liquid is defined in said passageway.