Patent ID: 7325409

Claim:
An apparatus for storing, preserving and dispensing perishable and degradable food and goods comprising: a) a rigid housing; b) at least one modular unit removably disposed in said rigid housing for holding items, the modular unit comprising a storage unit and a drawer such that when the modular unit is removed from the rigid housing coolant and partial vacuum are retained in the modular unit, the storage unit being constructed and arranged to seal the drawer when the drawer is closed within the storage unit, such that when the drawer is opened coolant is retained between the storage unit and the rigid housing when the modular unit is disposed in the rigid housing; c) means operatively connected to, but physically removed from, said modular unit for creating a partial vacuum in the modular unit; d) means for sealing and maintaining said partial vacuum in the modular unit so that when the modular unit is removed from the rigid housing the partial vacuum is maintained in the modular unit; and e) means operatively connected to, but physically removed from, said modular unit for creating and maintaining a predetermined temperature in the rigid housing.