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The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for preserving one or more collectible items. The apparatus includes a housing and a nitrogen generator. A nitrogen generator generates a nitrogen rich gas and supplies the nitrogen gas to the housing, which displaces the oxygen inside the hou

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for preserving one or more collectible items. The apparatus includes a housing and a nitrogen generator. A nitrogen generator generates a nitrogen rich gas and supplies the nitrogen gas to the housing, which displaces the oxygen inside the housing to preserve the collectible item or items enclosed by the housing. The nitrogen rich gas significantly reduces the degradation of the collectible item due to the exposure of the item to oxygen in the air. In another embodiment, the apparatus further includes a temperature control system and a humidity control system to control the temperature and humidity inside the housing. This further aids in preserving a collectible item for relatively long periods of time by reducing the effects of the environment on the item.

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The invention is claimed as follows: 1. An apparatus for preserving a collectible item comprising: a housing, said housing adapted to enclose the collectible item; an inlet port mounted to the housing; a nitrogen generator mounted in the housing and connected to the inlet port, said nitrogen genera

The invention is claimed as follows: 1. An apparatus for preserving a collectible item comprising: a housing, said housing adapted to enclose the collectible item; an inlet port mounted to the housing; a nitrogen generator mounted in the housing and connected to the inlet port, said nitrogen generator drawing air through the inlet port, separating nitrogen from the air and supplying the nitrogen to the housing to displace the air from inside the housing; and a temperature controller to control the temperature of the nitrogen rich gas inside the housing. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a item storing compartment and a mechanism storing compartment. 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the item storing compartment encloses the collectible item and the mechanism storing compartment includes the nitrogen generator. 4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the item storing compartment includes a lockable door for providing secure access to the item storing compartment. 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a substantially transparent material. 6. The apparatus of claim 5, which includes at least one illumination device. 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the illumination device includes a light emitting diode. 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a non-transparent and non-translucent material. 9. The apparatus of claim 1, which includes an exhaust port connected to the housing. 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the exhaust port includes a check valve. 11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the nitrogen generator includes an air compressor. 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the nitrogen generator includes an air dryer fluidly connected to the air compressor. 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the nitrogen generator includes an oxygen adsorbing carbon molecular sieve fluidly connected to the air dryer and which generates nitrogen rich gas. 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the nitrogen generator includes a nitrogen storage tank fluidly connected to said carbon molecular sieve and which stores the generated nitrogen rich gas. 15. The apparatus of claim 13, which includes a pressure retaining valve connected to the carbon molecular sieve, said pressure retaining valve set to open at a preset pressure. 16. The apparatus of claim 11, which includes a relay switch connected to the air compressor. 17. The apparatus of claim 1, which includes a plurality of housings. 18. The apparatus of claim 17, which includes a manifold having an inlet connected to the nitrogen generator and a plurality of outlets connected to each of the housings. 19. The apparatus of claim 11, which includes an electronic controller connected to and adapted to control the air compressor. 20. The apparatus of claim 1, which includes a humidity controller to control the humidity of the nitrogen rich gas inside the housing. 21. The apparatus of claim 1, which includes at least one illumination device. 22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the illumination device includes a light emitting diode. 23. An apparatus for preserving a collectible item comprising: a housing, said housing adapted to enclose the collectible item; an inlet port mounted to the housing; a nitrogen generator mounted in the housing and connected to the inlet port, said nitrogen generator drawing air through the inlet port, separating nitrogen from the air and supplying the nitrogen to the housing to displace the air from inside the housing, wherein the nitrogen generator includes an air compressor, an air dryer fluidly connected to the air compressor, an oxygen adsorbing carbon molecular sieve fluidly connected to the air dryer and which generates nitrogen rich gas; and a nitrogen storage tank fluidly connected to said carbon molecular sieve and which stores the generated nitrogen rich gas. 24. An apparatus for preserving a collectible item comprising: a housing including an item storing compartment and a mechanism storing compartment, said item storing compartment adapted to enclose at least one collectible item, said mechanism storing compartment including a nitrogen generator; a lockable door movably connected to the item storing compartment for providing secure access to the item storing compartment; an inlet port mounted to the mechanism storing compartment and adapted to be in communication with the nitrogen generator to draw in ambient air; an exhaust port connected to the item storing compartment of the housing to exhaust air displaced by nitrogen rich gas generated and supplied by the nitrogen generator to the item storing compartment, wherein the nitrogen generator generates the nitrogen rich gas by drawing in ambient air through the inlet port and separating nitrogen from the air; and a temperature controller to control the temperature of the nitrogen rich gas inside the housing. 25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the item storing compartment includes a substantially transparent material. 26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the mechanism storing compartment includes a non-transparent and non-translucent material. 27. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the exhaust port includes a check valve. 28. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the nitrogen generator includes an air compressor, an air dryer fluidly connected to the air compressor, an oxygen adsorbing carbon molecular sieve fluidly connected to the air dryer to separate nitrogen from the air and a nitrogen storage tank fluidly connected to the carbon molecular sieve and adapted to store the nitrogen separated from the air. 29. The apparatus of claim 28, which includes a pressure retaining valve connected to the carbon molecular sieve, said pressure retaining valve set to open at a preset pressure. 30. The apparatus of claim 28, which includes a relay switch connected to the air compressor. 31. The apparatus of claim 28, which includes an electronic controller connected to and adapted to control the air compressor. 32. The apparatus of claim 24, which includes a humidity controller to control the humidity of the nitrogen rich gas inside the housing. 33. The apparatus of claim 24, which includes at least one illumination device. 34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the illumination device includes a light emitting diode. 35. An apparatus for preserving a plurality collectible items comprising: a plurality of housings, each said housing adapted to enclose one of the collectible items; an inlet port; a nitrogen generator operable to draw air through the inlet port, separate nitrogen from the air and supply the nitrogen to the housings to displace the air from inside the housings; and a manifold having an inlet connected to the nitrogen generator and a plurality of outlets connected to the housings. 36. An inert gas generator for a collectible item preservation apparatus including a housing adapted to receive at least one collectible item, an air inlet port, an air exhaust port, at least one inert gas communication line connected to an inert rich gas source and adapted to be fluidly connected to the housing to direct the inert gas from the inert gas source into the housing and displace air from the housing out through the air exhaust port to preserve the collectible item in the housing, wherein the inert gas generator comprises: an air compressor connected to the housing; a pressure controller connected to the air compressor; an air dryer fluidly connected to the air compressor; an oxygen adsorbing device fluidly connected to the air dryer; a pressure retainer connected to the oxygen adsorbing device; an inert gas storage tank fluidly connected to the oxygen adsorbing device; and a pressure reducer connected to the inert gas storage tank. 37. The inert gas generator of claim 36, wherein the oxygen adsorbing device includes a carbon molecular sieve. 38. The inert gas generator of claim 36, which includes a controller connected to the air compressor. 39. The inert gas generator of claim 36, which includes a filtering device fluidly connected to said air dryer and adapted to generate an inert gas from the ambient air. 40. The inert gas generator of claim 39, wherein the filtering device is a carbon molecular sieve. 41. The inert gas generator of claim 36, wherein the inert gas is nitrogen. 42. The inert gas generator of claim 36, which includes a controller connected to the air compressor. 43. A method of preserving a collectible item comprising: (a) generating nitrogen rich gas; (b) storing the nitrogen rich gas in a nitrogen storage tank; (c) supplying the nitrogen rich gas into a housing, which encloses the collectible item, while displacing air from inside the housing; and (d) exhausting the air from the housing wherein steps (a) and (b) are performed in or adjacent to the housing. 44. The method of claim 43, wherein the step of generating the nitrogen rich gas includes adsorbing oxygen from ambient air using a carbon molecular sieve. 45. The method of claim 43, which includes the step of adjusting the temperature of the nitrogen rich gas inside the housing using a temperature control system. 46. The method of claim 43, which includes the step of adjusting the humidity of the nitrogen rich gas inside the housing using a humidity control system. 47. The method of claim 43, which includes the step of illuminating the inside of the housing using at least one illumination device. 48. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the illumination device includes a light emitting diode. 49. An apparatus for preserving a collectible item comprising: a housing including an item storing compartment and a mechanism storing compartment, said item storing compartment adapted to enclose at least one collectible item, said mechanism storing compartment including a nitrogen generator, wherein the nitrogen generator includes an air compressor, an air dryer fluidly connected to the air compressor, an oxygen absorbing carbon molecular sieve fluidly connected to the air dryer to separate nitrogen from the air and a nitrogen storage tank fluidly connected to the carbon molecular sieve and adapted to store the nitrogen separated from the air; a lockable door movably connected to the item storing compartment for providing secure access to the item storing compartment; an inlet port mounted to the mechanism storing compartment and adapted to be in communication with the nitrogen generator to draw in ambient air; and an exhaust port connected to the item storing compartment of the housing to exhaust air displaced by nitrogen rich gas generated and supplied by the nitrogen generator to the item storing compartment, wherein the nitrogen generator generates the nitrogen rich gas by drawing in ambient air through the inlet port and separating nitrogen from the air. 50. A method of preserving a collectible item comprising: (a) generating nitrogen rich gas; (b) supplying the nitrogen rich gas into a housing, which encloses the collectible item, while displacing air inside the housing; (c) exhausting the air from the housing; and (d) adjusting the temperature of the nitrogen rich gas inside the housing using a temperature control system. 51. The method of claim 50, wherein the step of generating the nitrogen rich gas includes adsorbing oxygen from ambient air using a carbon molecular sieve. 52. The method of claim 50, which includes the step of adjusting the humidity of the nitrogen rich gas inside the housing using a humidity control system. 53. The method of claim 50, which includes the step of illuminating the inside of the housing using at least one illumination device. 54. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the illumination device includes a light emitting diode. 55. A method of preserving a collectible item comprising: (a) generating nitrogen rich gas; (b) supplying the nitrogen rich gas into a housing, which encloses the collectible item, while displacing air inside the housing; (c) exhausting the air from the housing; and (d) adjusting the humidity of the nitrogen rich gas inside the housing using a humidity control system. 56. The method of claim 55, which includes the step of illuminating the inside of the housing using at least one illumination device. 57. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein the illumination device includes a light emitting diode. 58. An apparatus for preserving a collectible item comprising: a housing, said housing adapted to enclose the collectible item; an inlet port mounted to the housing; a nitrogen generator mounted in the housing and connected to the inlet port, said nitrogen generator drawing air through the inlet port, separating nitrogen from the air and supplying the nitrogen to the housing to displace the air from inside the housing; and a humidity controller to control the humidity of the nitrogen rich gas inside the house. 59. The apparatus of claim 58, wherein the housing includes a item storing compartment and a mechanism storing compartment. 60. The apparatus of claim 59, wherein the item storing compartment encloses the collectible item and the mechanism storing compartment includes the nitrogen generator. 61. The apparatus of claim 59, wherein the item storing compartment includes a lockable door for providing secure access to the item storing compartment. 62. The apparatus of claim 58, which includes an exhaust port connected to the housing. 63. The apparatus of claim 62, wherein the exhaust port includes a check valve. 64. The apparatus of claim 58, wherein the nitrogen generator includes an air compressor. 65. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein the nitrogen generator includes an air dryer fluidly connected to the air compressor. 66. The apparatus of claim 65, wherein the nitrogen generator includes an oxygen adsorbing carbon molecular sieve fluidly connected to the air dryer and which generates nitrogen rich gas. 67. The apparatus of claim 66, wherein the nitrogen generator includes a nitrogen storage tank fluidly connected to said carbon molecular sieve and which stores the generated nitrogen rich gas. 68. The apparatus of claim 66, which includes a pressure retaining valve connected to the carbon molecular sieve, said pressure retaining valve set to open at a preset pressure. 69. The apparatus of claim 64, which includes a relay switch connected to the air compressor. 70. The apparatus of claim 58, which includes a plurality of housings. 71. The apparatus of claim 70, which includes a manifold having an inlet connected to the nitrogen generator and a plurality of outlets connected to each of the housings. 72. The apparatus of claim 65, which includes an electronic controller connected to and adapted to control the air compressor. 73. An apparatus for preserving a collectible item comprising: a housing including an item storing compartment and a mechanism storing compartment, said item storing compartment adapted to enclose at least one collectible item, said mechanism storing compartment including a nitrogen generator; a lockable door movably connected to the item storing compartment for providing secure access to the item storing compartment; an inlet port mounted to the mechanism storing compartment and adapted to be in communication with the nitrogen generator to draw in ambient air; an exhaust port connected to the item storing compartment of the housing to exhaust air displaced by nitrogen rich gas generated and supplied by the nitrogen generator to the item storing compartment, wherein the nitrogen generator generates the nitrogen rich gas by drawing in ambient air through the inlet port and separating nitrogen from the air; and a humidity controller to control the humidity of the nitrogen rich gas inside the housing. 74. The apparatus of claim 73, wherein the nitrogen generator includes an air compressor, an air dryer fluidly connected to the air compressor, an oxygen adsorbing carbon molecular sieve fluidly connected to the air dryer to separate nitrogen from the air and a nitrogen storage tank fluidly connected to the carbon molecular sieve and adapted to store the nitrogen separated from the air. 75. The apparatus of claim 74, which includes a pressure retaining valve connected to the carbon molecular sieve, said pressure retaining valve set to open at a preset pressure. 76. The apparatus of claim 74, which includes a relay switch connected to the air compressor. 77. An item preservation apparatus comprising: a housing which defines a compartment sized to hold and enclose an item; a nitrogen generator connected to the housing, said nitrogen generator operable to draw in air through an inlet port, separate nitrogen from the drawn in air and supply nitrogen rich gas to the compartment of the housing to displace air from inside the compartment of the housing to preserve the item; and a temperature controller operable to control the temperature of the nitrogen rich gas inside the compartment of the housing. 78. The apparatus of claim 77, wherein the item storing compartment includes a lockable door for providing secure access to the item storing compartment. 79. The apparatus of claim 77, wherein the nitrogen generator includes an air compressor. 80. The apparatus of claim 79, wherein the nitrogen generator includes an air dryer fluidly connected to the air compressor. 81. The apparatus of claim 80, wherein the nitrogen generator includes an oxygen adsorbing carbon molecular sieve fluidly connected to the air dryer and which generates nitrogen rich gas. 82. The apparatus of claim 81, wherein the nitrogen generator includes a nitrogen storage tank fluidly connected to said carbon molecular sieve and which stores the generator nitrogen rich gas. 83. The apparatus of claim 77, which includes a humidity controller to control the humidity of the nitrogen rich gas inside the compartment of the housing. 84. An item preservation apparatus comprising: a housing which defines a compartment sized to hold and enclose an item; a nitrogen generator connected to the housing said nitrogen generator operable to draw in air through an inlet port, separate nitrogen from the draw in air and supply nitrogen rich gas to the compartment of the housing to displace the air from inside the compartment of the housing to preserve the item; and a humidity controller operable to control the humidity of the nitrogen rich gas inside the compartment of the house. 85. The apparatus of claim 84, wherein the nitrogen generator includes an air dryer fluidly connected to the air compressor. 86. The apparatus of claim 85, wherein the nitrogen generator includes an oxygen adsorbing carbon molecular sieve fluidly connected to the air dryer and which generates nitrogen rich gas. 87. The apparatus of claim 86, wherein the nitrogen generator includes a nitrogen storage tank fluidly connected to said carbon molecular sieve and which stores the generated nitrogen rich gas. 88. The apparatus of claim 87, which includes a pressure retaining valve connected to the carbon molecular sieve, said pressure retaining valve set to open at a preset pressure.