US3810282A

US3810282A - Burial device and method for using same

Info

Publication number: US3810282A
Application number: US00244477A
Authority: US
Inventors: C Doggett
Original assignee: Hawkeye Machinery Corp
Current assignee: Hawkeye Machinery Corp
Priority date: 1972-04-17
Filing date: 1972-04-17
Publication date: 1974-05-14
Anticipated expiration: 1991-05-14

Abstract

The present invention comprises a reusable casket having an open top, and a removable insert sized to slidably fit within the reusable casket and adapted to be slidably removed from the top of the reusable casket. The insert has a detached lid which is sized to fit in covering relationship over the top of the insert after the insert has been removed from the casket. The lid of the insert includes vent holes therein, at one end, and the insert includes an exhaust hole at the other end thereof for permitting ventilation of the insert when it is placed within a mausoleum crypt.

Description

United States Patent 1191 Doggett May 14, 1974 [54] BURIAL DEVICE AND METHOD FOR l,821,760 9/1931 Leitch 27/35 USING SAME 2,665,471 H1954 Gould 2,516,488 7/1950 Smith 27/1 1 Charles F. Doggett, Des Moines, Iowa Assignee: Hawkeye Machinery Corporation,

Waukee, Iowa Filed: Apr. 17, 1972 Appl. No.: 244,477

Inventor:

US. Cl 27/35, 27/19, 52/131 Int. Cl. .1 A6lg 17/00 Field of Search 27/3, 6, 7, 35, 2, l9,

27/ll, 4, 5;52/l31,128,129

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Primary Examiner-Richard A. Gaudet Assistant Examiner-G. F. Dunne Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Zarley, McKee & Thomte 57 ABSTRACT The present invention comprises a reusable casket having an open top, and a removable insert sized to slidably fit within the reusable casket and adapted to be slidably removed from the top of the reusable casket. The insert has a detached lid which is sized to fit in covering relationship over the top of the insert after the insert has been removed from the casket. The lid of the insert includes vent holes therein, at one end, and the insert includes an exhaust hole at the other end thereof for permitting ventilation of the insert when it is placed within a mausoleum crypt.

3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures 1 BURIAL DEVICE AND METHOD FOR USING SAME The present invention relates generally to burial devices and particularly to a burial device which utilizes a reusable casket and an insert which may be removed therefrom for burial in a crypt.

One of the major burial expenses is the expense of a decorative casket for the funeral services. Under present methods, the casket is purchased and used for the ceremony, and then is finally buried never to be seen again. The present invention contemplates improvement upon the present devices in that it permits any conventional ornamental casket to be used over and over again.

Another problem presently encountered with burial in mausoleums is the problem of odors which emanate from the various crypts. Various methods of ventilation have been tried, but heretofore they have been highly expensive or totally unsatisfactory. The present invention contemplates a simple method in ventilating the containers within the crypts so that odors will not be present in the hallways and areas leading to the crypts.

Therefore a primary object of the present invention is the provision of a decorative casket which is reusable.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a reusable casket which includes a removable insert which can be removed from the casket and sealed for internment after the ceremony.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a burial device which may be easily constructed and which is adaptable to either internment in a mausoleum or to underground burial.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a burial device which includes means for permitting thorough ventilation of the container when the container is within a mausoleum crypt.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a burial device which is economical to manufacture and easy to use.

This invention consists in the construction, arrangements and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, specifically pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the burial device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken alone line 2 2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the burial container within a mausoleum crypt.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a modified form of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second modified form of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a burial device includes a reusable casket l2,' and a removable insert container 14. Reusable casket 12 includes a bottom wall 16 (FIG. 2), ahead wall 18, a foot wall 20, and two

side walls

22, 24. Hinged along one of the upper edges of reusable casket 12 by means of piano hinges 26 F IG. 2) are two hinged

doors

28, 30 which are of conventional construction and which are commonly used in caskets presently known.

Extending around the upper edges of

walls

18, 20, 22, 24 is an upwardly presented shoulder 32. The interior of reusable casket 12 does not. include upholstery as in conventional caskets but instead is adapted to receive insert 14.

Insert 14 includes a bottom wall 34, a head wall 36, a foot wall 38, and two

side walls

40, 42. Extending around the upper edges of

walls

36, 38, 40 and 42 is an outwardly projecting annular lip 44. A vacuum hole 46 extends through the lower portion of side wall 42 adja cent head wall 36. Vacuum hole 46 is provided with a coupling 48 which is adapted to be connected to a vacuum hose 50. The interior of an insert container 14 is provided with upholstery 52 which is of the type presently found on the interior of conventional caskets.

For the funeral ceremonies insert 14 is slidably fitted within reusable casket 12 as shown in FIG. 2. Annular lip 44 rests on upwardly presented shoulder 32 so as to provide support for container 14 and so as to give the appearance that container 14 is an integral part of reusable casket 12. After the ceremony insert 14 may be lifted out of reusable casket 12, and reusable casket 12 may again be used for another container and another funeral ceremony. Container 14 is then fitted with a lid 54 which is sized to fit against the upper surface of annular lip 44. Lid 54 may then be permanently secured over the top of container 14 by means of mastic or other desirable adhesive. Lid 54 includes vent holes 56 which are adapted to be adjacent foot wall 38 of container 14. Since ventilation of container 14 is not necessary for underground burial, a cap 58 is provided which may be permanently secured over vent holes 56 in the event that the container 14 is used for underground burial. Cap 58 would not be used if container 14 is used for burial in a mausoleum.

Referring to FIG. 3, container 14 is shown enclosed within a mausoleum crypt 60. Crypt 60 includes a ventilation inlet 62 at one end thereof and a vacuum outlet 64 at the opposite end thereof. Outlet 64 is preferably positioned adjacent the.end of crypt 60 which is open for placing container 14 therein.

Vacuum hose 50 interconnects vacuum hole 46 of container 14 to vacuum outlet 64. Vacuum outlet 64 is connected to a vacuum source which is adapted to draw air out of crypt 60. Ventilation inlet 62 may either be of the gravity type, or it may be provided with a forced air system which forces air into crypt 60 through inlet 62. In operation the vacuum is applied to the interior of container 14 by means of vacuum hose 50 and vacuum outlet 64. The vacuum created within container 14 causes the fresh air from inlet 62 to be forced through vent holes 56 in lid 54 of container 14. The air thus enters through vent holes 56, passes from one end of container 14 to the other and exits through vacuum hole 46 of container 14. It will be noted that this method of ventilation prevents any gases or fumes from the interior of container 14 to enter into the crypt 60 in the space surrounding container 14. Thus the chances of odors being introduced into crypt 60 are minimized and consequently odors are not emitted to the hallway or room adjacent to crypt 60. Furthermore, the air system passes through the full length of container 14 so as to provide thorough ventilation therein.

The insert 14 may be constructed of any desirable material. For example it may be molded from fiberglas or plastic. It could also be made from a combustible material which would make it equally adapable for underground burial, mausoleum burial, or cremation.

Referring to FIG. 4, a modification of the present invention is shown utilizing an end door 66 for the removable of container 14 from the interior of reusable casket 12. FIG. 5 illustrates another modification wherein a hinged bottom wall 68 is provided in reuable casket 12 so as to permit the removal of insert 14 from the bottom of reusable casket 12. Wall 68 is provided with a plurality of latches 70 so as to permit wall 68 to be secured in its closed position when container 14 is within casket 12. Likewise, end wall 66 of FIG. 4 is provided with a similar latch 72.

From the foregoing it can be seen that casket 12 can be reused any number of times, thereby reducing the cost of funeral services. Only insert 14 is utilized permanently, and therefore the customer need only pay for insert 14 which would be considerably less expensive due to the fact that it is not necessary to provide insert 14 with decorative features. Furthermore, the container of the present invention may be easily ventilated in a mausoleum crypt so as to eliminate noxious 4, odors in the mausoleum. Thus it can be seen that the device accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives.

I claim:

1. A method for burial comprising inserting a removable rigid container having an open top and a lining on the interior thereof within a reusable decorative casket having an open top; supporting said container within said casket during burial ceremonies; removing said container from said casket after said ceremonies by lifting said container upwardly out of said open top of said casket; placing a lid over said top of said container; sealing said lid over said top of said container; and placing said container within a place of interment.

2. A method according to claim 1 comprising applying a vacuum to an opening at one end of said container so as to draw fresh air inwardly through a second opening in said container and to draw air and gases out of said container through said first mentioned opening.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein said container is placed within a burial crypt.