EP2988718B1

EP2988718B1 - Eco-friendly coffin

Info

Publication number: EP2988718B1
Application number: EP14724655.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Elena Moreno
Original assignee: Plasticos Hidrosolubles SL
Current assignee: Plasticos Hidrosolubles SL
Priority date: 2013-04-24
Filing date: 2014-04-24
Publication date: 2017-08-02
Anticipated expiration: 2034-04-24
Also published as: EP2796122A1; ES2644354T3; KR20160002907A; EP2988718A1; WO2014173992A1

Description

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The eco-friendly coffin, object of the present invention, refers to a coffin for ecological burials in which it is intended that the remains of the deceased, previously converted into small particles, are mixed with the environment, unique in that both the structural configuration and composition of said coffin, halfway between coffin and urn, facilitate decomposition in both earthy and aquatic environments over a period of less than 24 months.
The field of application of the present invention falls within the sector of the industry engaged in the manufacture of coffins, urns and other containers used in burials and more specifically those of ecological or biodegradable character.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As is currently known, in addition to traditional burials in a grave in the ground or in a niche, there are other ways of burying the deceased which increasingly seek to be more environmentally friendly, since said traditional systems imply that the remains are kept for years and decompose slowly, which, in addition to the economic cost of maintenance, involves the production of waste which is not very eco-friendly and must be controlled.
Despite cremation theoretically being a more ecological form of "burial", it also produces harmful environmental effects, since it involves very high energy consumption owing to the fact that 80% of human matter consists of water and this water must be removed before the organic matter can be burnt. This is the primary source of mercury emissions being released into the atmosphere since incinerating the human body, in which the greatest amount of mercury is stored in the planet, all mercury is released into the atmosphere. Also, if the urn is not biodegradable, something which is still uncommon, it remains in the environment. In fact, there have been repeated calls to not throw the ashes of the deceased into natural areas so as to not pollute the natural environment, as each year hundreds of discarded urns are collected.
In any case, so-called eco-friendly coffins tend to be used, either for incinerations or for burials. These coffins are manufactured from materials which decompose completely and more rapidly. However, when they are intended to be buried, it is necessary to bury them deeply, since no microbial activity occurs above 500 mm and therefore it is impossible for any type of decomposition to occur or to treat the remains of the deceased prior to burial in such a way that they do not produce contaminative waste.
The aim of the present invention is therefore to provide the market with a new type of eco-friendly coffin which avoids such difficulties and with which, rather than being incinerated, the deceased are buried with a mixture of compost so that, within a minimal time period, they decompose and mix with the natural environment, at the same time proving beneficial thereto. The corpse of the deceased is frozen and then subjected to vibration, to then be dried and the metals contained therein separated. Finally, it is placed inside the coffin with a suitable mixture of carbons and nitrogens in such a way that aggregate of elements may decompose.
As a reference to the state of the art, it should be mentioned that although the existence of some types of eco-friendly coffin made of readily degradable materials is known, at least by the applicant, the existence of any having technical and structural features similar to those advocated and claimed herein is unknown. Likewise, the existence of a coffin made of the same material as or a similar material to the present invention is unknown, which despite showing improved mechanical properties compared to a plastic with high mechanical performance, is completely compostable, non-toxic and water soluble.

EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, as disclosed by the appended claims, proposes a coffin for ecological burials, so that the burial can take place in the surface layers of the ground and to facilitate the decomposition thereof and its conversion into compost along with the remains of the deceased. These remains have been subjected prior to their introduction into the coffin to a previous freezing and vibration process to break them up, thus converting them into particles smaller than 5 mm.
The decomposition takes place in both earthy and aquatic environments over a period of less than 24 months, which is possible owing, in large part, to the composition of the material used to make the coffin consisting in the mixture of a water soluble polymer, namely a PVOH resin (polyvinyl alcohol also known as polyethenol or vinyl alcohol), plus additives and fillers, forming a biodegradable, compostable (in accordance with norm UNE EN 13432/01), water-soluble and nontoxic material. The material comprises between 40% and 80% in weight of a PVOH resin, between 10% and 50% in weight of plasticizers and between 5% and 10% in weight of fillers or additives.
In terms of its structural configuration, the coffin, object of the present invention, comprises, according to the first claim, a box formed by two identical and symmetrical halves joined together, each of which is obtained via an injection process and may take on different forms and designs as desired.
A second object of the disclosure is one half of said coffin. The aforementioned joint between both halves of the box, is formed by clipping the same, considering, in addition, the sealing of the joint between the two halves with a preparation consisting of a water-based mixture and the very material of the box, in such a way that, by exerting a certain amount of vertical and horizontal pressure, said seal is created in a few seconds or minutes.
It is important to note that, in order for the box to be formed properly from its two halves, it is imperative to ensure that the percentage of humidity of both is between 5 and 12% in weight.
Once the box has been fully formed, it should be stored in environments of 20-22° C and 40 to 65% of humidity.
Continuing with the features of the invention, it should be stressed that the inner structure of each half of the box carries a series of reinforcements of between 2 and 5 mm in thickness which provide the coffin with the necessary strength, both horizontally and vertically. On the other hand, in an area of the joint between the two halves of the box there is at least one fill hole with a cap for filling, said hole and said cap being designed in such a way that, when closed, the cap cannot seep into the box. Said hole or holes may also be placed in one of the halves of the box. Also, whereby the hole is positioned between both halves of the box, each of the halves will have a part of said hole.
Moreover, both halves have certain thin areas measuring between 0.5 and 1 mm, through which the coffin is easily broken once buried, enabling the moisture in the soil to pass through the content and affect 100% of the faces of the box. This ensures that in less than 24 months it is fully decomposed and it disappears.
As noted above, the shape of the box can vary, but in any case said shape is such that it allows either of the two faces, top and bottom, of the coffin to be supported, maintaining balance. Such a shape or design also allows it to be picked up and transporting by two or four people comfortably.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To complement the description being made and in order to facilitate a better understanding of the features of the invention, the present specification is accompanied, as an integral part thereof, by a set of drawings which serve as a nonlimiting example:

Figure number 1 shows a perspective view of an example of embodiment of the eco-friendly coffin object of the invention, showing the main parts and elements it comprises.
Figure number 2 shows a plan view of the example coffin, according to the invention shown in the preceding figure.
Figure number 3 is a top elevation of the same example coffin shown in figures 1 and 2, this view clearly showing the configuration of the cap that closes the fill hole.
Figures number 4 and 5 show perspective views, top and bottom respectively, of one of the two halves that make up the coffin of the invention, according to the same example shown in figures 1 to 3.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

The coffin, as seen in said figures, consists of a box (1) formed from two halves (1a) which are identical and symmetrical, at least along the longitudinal axis (2), wherein each of said halves is made of a biodegradable, compostable water-soluble and non-toxic material, consisting of a mixture of a PVOH polymer, plus additives and fillers and obtained via injecting said material into a mold. Both halves have between 5% and 12% moisture in weight. The material comprises between 40% and 80% in weight of a PVOH resin, between 10% and 50% in weight of plasticizers and between 5% and 10% in weight of fillers or additives.
In addition, both halves (1a) are joined together by a joint (3) that closes them by clipping and wherein, in addition, a water-based mixture is inserted as a seal along with the aforementioned PVOH box material, additives and fillers, which after applying some vertical or horizontal pressure for several seconds or minutes, creates said seal.
In an area of the joint described, preferably the central part of one of its sides, as shown in figures 3, 4 and 5, the existence of a hole has been proposed, as determined by respective recesses (4) along on the edge of the two halves (1a) forming the box, which serves to enable the coffin to be filled and for which a cap (5) has been provided which will be closed and preferably, sealed with the same water-based mixture along on the joint but which, in addition and to prevent it from slipping inside the box, both its edges and the edge (4a) of the recess determining the hole are arranged in an oblique direction so that the inside of said edges is slightly narrower than the outside. The hole is formed when joining the two halves of the box, since one half has a portion of the recess of the hole that joins the portion of the recess of the hole located on the other half of the box. Likewise, the hole or holes, in the case of including more than one, may be arranged on one or both halves of the box.
Figure 5 shows how, in the inside of each half (1 a) of the box, the presence of reinforcements (6) has been proposed which extend both cross-ways and longitudinally in order to provide increased resistance to the same.
Likewise, said figure 5 shows how, in addition, on each of said halves (1a) thin areas (7) have been proposed, preferably by way of channels, in which the material is thinner, between 0.5 and 1 mm, than the rest of the part, with the purpose of facilitating breaking thereof once buried in order to enable moisture from the soil to enter inside of it and accelerate decomposition.
Finally, the dimensions of the coffin are preferably 800 mm to 1200 mm long, 600 mm wide and 250 mm high, with a volume of approximately 60 to 160 liters and an unladen weight of approximately 5 to 18 kg.

Claims

Eco-friendly coffin, intended to facilitate the rapid mixing of the remains of the deceased, previously converted into small particles, with the environment, including both earthy and aquatic environments, characterized in that it comprises a box (1) formed by two halves (1 a) joined together and made of a biodegradable, compostable, water-soluble and nontoxic material that is a mixture of polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH), additives and fillers, and further comprising at least one fill hole with a cap (5).
Coffin according to claim 1, characterized in that both halves (1a) are joined together by a joint (3) that is closed by clipping and wherein, in addition, a water soluble mixture is included along with the PVOH material, additives and fillers sealing it.
Coffin according to claim 1, characterized in that the two halves (1a) are identical and symmetrical, at least along the longitudinal axis (2).
Coffin according to claim 1, characterized in that the fill hole is in an area of the joint and is determined by respective recesses (4) arranged along the edge of the two halves (1a) forming the box.
Coffin according to claim 1, characterized in that the fill hole is located in in a half (1a) which forms the box (1).
Coffin according to claim 1, characterized in that the cap (5) that closes the fill hole includes, for sealing, a water based mixture and PVOH material, additives and fillers.
Coffin according to claim 1, characterized in that, on the inside of each half (1a), reinforcements (6) have been provided, extending both cross-ways and longitudinally.
Coffin according to claim 1, characterized in that, on each of the halves (1a), thin areas (7) are proposed which facilitate the rupture thereof once buried.