EP2851053B1 - Container, particularly jewellery, for filling with the ashes of deceased persons - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a container, in particular piece of jewelry, for filling ash of the deceased and a method for filling the same.

There is a desire to carry a small part of the ashes of cremated relatives in inconspicuous containers in everyday life with them. These are offered "mini urns", which are also referred to as "ash pendant", "ash medallions" or "Memorial jewelry". These often have the inconspicuous shape of a piece of jewelry and can be worn for example on the neck, arm or fingers or as Ansteckschmuck, z. B. brooch. For practical reasons, but also out of piety there is the understandable desire for complete tightness of the container, so that neither ash can be lost, nor this can be mixed with moisture. Generally there is a desire for containers as a memento, z. B. as an accessory. This can be configured in various forms, for. As a candlestick, Handschmeichier (rounded object, such as stone or metal), key chains and the like.

Miniatures known to the inventor are closed by gluing or a screw connection or a combination of both. There is always the long term risk that the desired total tightness is lost.

Even normal urns should not be able to be opened without destruction for reasons after closing. Usually, a lid made of sheet metal is deformed into recesses in the edge region of the urn with a spreading forceps.

WO 201 3/049874 A1 discloses a jewelry-like container for containing samples of genetic material, comprising a body having a cavity for receiving ashes from the deceased, and a closure connectable to the body for gas-tight sealing of the body Cavity, wherein the body and the closure by means of Kiebers, so not tool-free, gas-tight can be closed.

US 2004/040129 A1 discloses a sculpture-like container for filling in ashes of the deceased, having a base body with a cavity for receiving ashes from the deceased, and a closure connectable to the base body for gas-tight sealing of the cavity, the base body and the closure having a one-way latching closure, then that the cavity can be sealed gas-tight by means of the closure tool-free only by pressing the closure against the body. The closure can be opened non-destructively if necessary.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an improved container, in particular piece of jewelry, for filling ash of the deceased and an improved method for filling the same.

This object is achieved by the container having the features of the main claim, and a method for filling the same with the features of the independent claim. Advantageous embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.

As with the known mini urns, the container according to the invention for filling of ashes of deceased, which z. B. in the form of a piece of jewelry, a base body having a cavity for receiving the ashes and a connectable to the body closure for gas-tight closure of the cavity. However, according to the invention, the base body and the closure have disposable latching means. These are such that the cavity can be closed gas-tight by means of the closure tool-free by pressing the closure against the body. The use of disposable locking means allows a permanent connection by simply bringing together two components, namely the base body and the closure, which can be done without tools. One-way snap-in connections are caused by the spring-back of a locking body in a recess of the counter-body to be locked. If the locking body is no longer accessible after snapping, a non-destructive release of the connection is no longer possible. A gas-tight closure can be achieved for example by elastic seals or a press fit or even a combination, as explained below. The "clicking in" of the closure according to the invention is perceived as reverent because the ashes of the deceased do not end up in the thread of a screw cap or in an adhesive.

Tool-free in the sense of the invention meant that no tools or glue or the like must be used for closing. It is enough for. B. a manual click by light pressure. Under "tool-free" but also falls that may be used to compress the body and closure significant forces using the full body weight.

Preferably, the disposable latching means are formed such that the gas-tightly sealed cavity after closing by means of Closure can not be opened, in particular, can not be made gas-permeable without destroying the container or body or closure. This gives the necessary certainty that the ashes in the container are unaffected and complete, which is not the case with the previously known from the prior art glued or screwed containers.

Preferably, to close the container, the interaction between two corresponding grooves, namely an outer groove and a coaxial thereto and lying in the same plane inner groove, which is open in the direction of the outer groove used. Depending on the construction of the closure solutions are feasible, in which the closure of an outer groove and the body carries an inner groove, or vice versa. It is crucial that each face an outer groove and inner groove and a locking element, in particular a snap ring, which extends in the two corresponding grooves record. This snap ring is hidden in the corresponding grooves so that it can not be opened by spreading or squeezing. Accordingly, preferably, the base body has an inner groove or outer groove and the closure has a corresponding outer groove or inner groove, wherein the two corresponding grooves lie in the same plane and are mutually open when the cavity is closed.

Further, therefore, as a one-way Einrastmittel a snap ring may be provided, which is held in the two corresponding grooves when the cavity is closed.

A snap ring is used in mechanical engineering for the positive, axial fixing of components such as wheels or bearings on axles, shafts or bearings, axles etc. in bores. The snap ring itself consists of spring steel wire with constant cross section, which is bent into a ring. Snap rings applied to a shaft in an external groove are also referred to as shaft securing rings, while snap rings introduced into a bore into an internal groove are referred to as bore securing rings. The invention uses alternatively both types of snap rings and does not differentiate between the two types explicitly. This inevitably results from the different locations.

The mountability of the container is preferably achieved by inserting the snap ring into the one inner groove or one outer groove before pressing / inserting the closure against the base body. The snap ring is thus inserted into one of the two corresponding grooves. For closing now wedge surfaces are provided in the direction of the corresponding other inner groove or the corresponding other outer groove, which cause the spreading and squeezing of the closure against the main body spreading or compression of the snap ring, so that the snap ring in the corresponding inner groove or the corresponding outer groove can spring. Depending on the structural design, the wedge surfaces may be part of the closure, the body or the snap ring.

Preferably, for sealing purposes, an elastic seal, in particular an O-ring, is provided between the base body and closure, which is under compressive stress when the cavity is closed. This seal can be hidden, so that it is exposed to a few environmental influences and thus last longer.

Further preferably, the closure is cup-shaped with a bottom portion and a wall portion with an upper edge. For pietätvollen filling therefore the bowl can be easily filled standing on the table with ash. Thereafter, the main body is placed on top of the cup from above and thus the cup, so the closure is inserted from below into the cavity of the body until the one-way snap-in snaps. If present, the seal between the cavity and the upper edge is preferably squeezed in to form a gas-tight seal.

If the outside of the bottom area is flush with the outside of the body, this results in an inconspicuous and aesthetic Appearance and the shutter is not recognized as such. This also strengthens confidence in the complete tightness of the container.

Preferably, as an alternative or in addition to the seal, it is preferably provided that the closure and the cavity form an interference fit at least in one region, preferably in the bottom region, when the cavity is closed. This provides additional safety and, above all, signals to the user that even with aging of the seal is given sufficient tightness.

The container preferably has fastening means, in particular a bore, for connecting to jewelery, in particular small chains, collars, bangles, finger rings. This allowed the integration of the container in popular jewelry systems and also serves as a loser insurance. Furthermore, the container is always visible and thus always present to the wearer.

For this reason, the container can also sockets for insertion of stones, semi-precious stones, synthetic gemstones, gemstones, fingerprints in 2D or 3D, photos - even behind transparent cover - have. If the socket is independent of the ash-filled cavity, the container can be adapted to a changed taste without exposing the ash.

1. a) Bereitstellen eines Grundkörpers mit einem Hohlraum zur Aufnahme von Asche von Verstorbenen, und
2. b) Bereitstellen eines mit dem Grundkörper verbindbaren Verschlusses zum gasdichten Verschließen des Hohlraums,
   wobei der Grundkörper und der Verschluss Einweg-Einrastmittel aufweisen derart, dass der Hohlraum mittels des Verschlusses werkzeugfrei gasdicht verschlossen werden kann durch Drücken des Verschlusses gegen den Grundkörper;
3. c) Befüllen des Hohlraumes mit Asche;
4. d) Drücken des Verschlusses gegen den Grundkörper bis das Einweg-Einrastmittel einrastet.

The inventive method for filling a container or a piece of jewelry, in particular with the above-described features with ashes of the deceased, can take place in the following steps:

1. a) providing a body with a cavity for receiving ashes of deceased, and
2. b) providing a closure which can be connected to the base body for gas-tight sealing of the cavity,
   wherein the base body and the closure comprise disposable latching means such that the cavity can be gas-tightly closed by means of the closure without tools by pressing the closure against the base body;
3. c) filling the cavity with ash;
4. d) pushing the closure against the body until the one-way latch engages.

Preferably, the closure is cup-shaped and is filled with ash prior to step c); and the filling of the cavity with ash in step c) takes place by inserting the closure from below into the cavity of the main body.

Further, preferably, an elastic seal is provided, which must be compressed until the engagement of the disposable Einrasmittel when pressing the closure against the body.

In a further development of the invention it is provided that a set of two containers according to the invention is formed, which are connected to one another via connecting means. These connecting means can be used as another component, or in the form of a coupling piece or frame or as an integrated component of the container, for. B. latching, rotary or threaded closure may be provided; but as a combination of integrated and external components. Preferably, exactly two connectable containers are provided, which together form a complete object, for. B. two hemispheres, half hearts, half figures, and the like. So it can be a half-body each container. These features are also independent of the above-described embodiment with the disposable latching realized and it is reserved to claim this separately for a container, in particular piece of jewelry, for filling of ashes of deceased, with a body with a cavity for receiving ash from Deceased, and a connectable to the body closure for gas-tight closure of the cavity.

Further advantages will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings. Likewise, according to the invention, the features mentioned above and even further can be used individually or in any desired combinations with one another. The mentioned embodiments are not exhaustive and have exemplary character.

Fig. 1 shows a section through the container 1 according to the invention before closing. The container comprises a main body 2 with an internal cavity 4 for receiving ashes from the deceased. In this cavity 4, a closure 3 can be introduced from below, wherein the closure 3 is formed cup-shaped and filled with ash 5. The side walls 32 of the cup 3 open at the top into an edge 33 which presses against the inserted in the cavity 4 of the base body 2 seal 7 when inserting the cup 3 for gas-tight sealing of the cavity. 4

The closure 3 is held in the body 2 by disposable latching means 6 which are formed here by an internal groove 63 in the cavity 4, a snap ring 63 inserted therein and an external groove 62 in the side wall 32 of the cup 3 into which the snap ring 63 can snap, when the shutter 3 is pressed against the base body 2. In the direction of the outer groove 62 rising wedge surfaces 64 allow the insertion of the cup 3 in the cavity 4, a spreading of the snap ring 64 until it can engage in the outer groove 62.

Fig. 2 shows the container with inserted cup. 3

In the present case, openings 9 are provided for attaching the container, in particular to jewelery pieces and sockets 8 for inserting stones or other decorative elements on the container.

Claims (16)

1. Container (1), particularly jewelry, for filling with ashes (5) of deceased persons,
   having a basic body (2) with a cavity (4) for receiving the ashes of deceased persons, and
   a closure (3), which is connectable to the basic body, for sealing the cavity (4) in a gas-tight manner, wherein the basic body (2) and the closure (3) comprise disposable means for locking in place (6) in such a way that the cavity (4) can be sealed with the closure (3) in a gas-tight manner without tools by means of pressing the closure (3) against the basic body (2),
   characterized in that
   the disposable means for locking in place (6) are formed in such a way that the cavity that is sealed in a gas-tightly manner cannot be opened after the sealing with the closure, in particular cannot be made permeable to gas, without destroying the container (1) or the basic body (2) or the closure (3).
2. Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the basic body comprises an inner groove or outer groove and the closure comprises a corresponding outer groove or inner groove, wherein both of the corresponding grooves are located in the same plane and are open towards each other when the cavity is sealed.
3. Container according to claim 2, characterized in that as disposable means for locking in place (6), a retainer ring (61) is provided, which is held in both of the corresponding grooves (61, 62) when the cavity is sealed.
4. Container according to claim 3, characterized in that prior to pressing the closure against the basic body, the retainer ring is inserted in the inner groove or outer groove, and wedge surfaces (64) are provided towards the corresponding inner groove and the corresponding outer groove, which cause forcing apart or compression of the retainer ring when the closure is inserted in and pressed against the basic body, such that the retainer ring can spring in the corresponding inner groove or the corresponding outer groove.
5. Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an elastic seal (7), in particular an O-ring, is provided between basic body and seal, which is under compressive stress when the cavity is sealed.
6. Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the closure is formed in a cup-like manner having a base area and a wall area (32) with an upper edge (33).
7. Container according to claim 6, characterized in that the seal is squeezed between cavity and upper edge.
8. Container according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the outside of the base area is flush with the outside of the basic body.
9. Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the closure and cavity form a press-fit in at least one area when the cavity is sealed.
10. Container according to claim 6 or 8, characterized in that the closure and cavity form a press-fit in at least the base area when the cavity is sealed.
11. Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container comprises fastening means, in particular a bore, for connecting with pieces of jewelry, in particular necklaces, chokers, bracelets, finger rings.
12. Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container comprises sockets for inserting synthetic jewels, natural jewels, finger prints in 2D or 3D, pictures - also behind transparent cover.
13. Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is designed as accessory, as candlestick, worry stones of metal or key rings.
14. Method for filling a container (1) according to claim 1 or a jewelry with ashes (5) of deceased persons, with the following steps:

    providing a basic body (2) with a cavity (4) for receiving the ashes of deceased persons, and

    providing a closure (3), which is connectable to the basic body, for sealing the cavity (4) in a gas-tight manner,

    wherein the basic body (2) and the closure (3) comprise disposable means for locking in place (6) in such a way that the cavity (4) can be sealed with the closure (3) in a gas-tight manner without tools by means of pressing the closure (3) against the basic body (2);

    filling the cavity with ashes;

    pressing the closure (3) against the basic body (2) until the disposable means for locking in place (6) latch.
15. Method according to claim 14, wherein the closure is formed in a cup-like manner and is filled with ashes;
    and the filling of the cavity with ashes is carried out by means of inserting the closure from below into the cavity of the basic body.
16. Method according to claim 14, wherein an elastic seal is provided, which has to be compressed during pressing the closure (3) against the basic body (2) until latching of the disposable means for locking in place.

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