GB2142949A

GB2142949A - Improvements in or relating to gravestones

Info

Publication number: GB2142949A
Application number: GB08318615A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Francis Herbert Marsh; Michael Maurice Sephton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-07-09
Filing date: 1983-07-09
Publication date: 1985-01-30
Also published as: GB8318615D0

Abstract

A monument for a grave and comprising a headstone, a base having holes passing completely through it, and dowel pins engaging in the headstone and projecting from the face of the headstone which contacts the base, the projecting dowel pins passing through the holes in the base so as to extend beyond the base on the underneath of the base and the dowel pins being threaded at their free ends to receive nuts which are tightened against the underneath of the base to clamp the headstone detachably to the base. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to gravestones This invention relates to gravestones or the like monuments for graves.

Atypical gravestone comprises a headstone permanently mounted on a base. The headstone is secured to the base by dowel pins, each of which is located partly in a blind bore in the base and partly in a blind bore in the headstone, and in addition there is a cement joint between the headstone and the base. Machines are available for inscribing the headstone with a first inscription before the headstone is secured to the base but once the headstone is permanently mounted on the base, any further inscriptions are cut by hand on the headstone at the cemetery.

An object of the invention is to provide a more convenient way of cutting such further inscriptions on headstones.

According to the present invention, a monument for a grave is provided with a detachable headstone, which may conveniently be removed from its base, taken away from the cemetery, inscribed on a machine and then remounted on its base at the cemetery.

In one form of the invention, the monument comprises a headstone, a base having holes passing completely through it and securing means engaging in the headstone and passing through the holes in the base to secure the headstone detachably to the base.

In a preferred form of the invention, the monument comprises a headstone, a base having holes passing completely through it, and dowel pins engaging in the headstone and projecting from the face of the headstone which contacts the base, the projecting dowel pins passing through the holes in the base so as to extend beyond the base on the underneath of the base and the dowel pins being threaded at their free ends to receive nuts which are tightened against the underneath of the base to clamp the headstone detachably to the base. Two dowel pins may conveniently be provided.

It is highly desirable to interpose a layer of a sealing and/or cushioning material between the headstone and the base. The sealing effect of this material is to minimise corrosion of the dowel pins where they pass from the headstone into the base.

The cushioning effect of the material is to accomodate any irregularities in the otherwise contacting surfaces of the headstone and base and to guard against fracture of the headstone or base as a result of tightening up the nuts, thus enabling the tightening up process to be executed safely. The layer may be a strip of material of the plastics class (plastic strip), suitably prepared and securely held on the bed of the headstone by adhesive.

The dowel pins may engage in the headstone by being grouted, preferably with a sulphur compound, into blind bores located in the face of the headstone which contacts the base of the monument, A washer may be disposed on the dowel pin between the nut and the underneath of the base, The monument may be erected on a slab and the slab may be countersunk to take the nuts (and washers) or alternatively the holes in the base may be countersunk on the underside of the base to accommodate the nuts (and washers).

The invention includes not only the complete monument but also the detachable headstone itself with the threaded dowel pins projecting therefrom, and preferably with the layer of sealing/cushioning material secured to the bed of the headstone.

The single figure of the accompanying drawing is a perspective view of a monument embodying the invention.

In the drawing, a headstone 1 is shown provided with a first inscription 2. Blind bores 3 are located at the lower edge portion of the headstone 1. Dowel pins 4 are grouted with a sulphur compound into the blind bores and project from the lower face of the headstone. A layer of prepared plastic strip 10 is fixed to the bed of the headstone 1 with permanent adhesive. The dowel pins 4 pass through this layer.

The headstone is supported upon a base 5, which is provided with bores 6 passing completely through it. The dowel pins 4 pass respectively through the bores 6 and extend beyond the underface of the base as threaded portions 7 which carry (respectively) nuts 8 in threaded engagement therewith. Washers 9 are located respectively on the dowel pins between the nuts and the underface of the base. The headstone is clamped firmly to the base by tightening the nuts 8 against the base. The presence of the plastic strip provides a seal between the headstone and base and enables the nuts 8 to be tightened safely as explained above.

In the monument shown in the drawings, the dowel pins and nuts project from the underside of the base and, in this case, the slab on which the monument rests is countersunk to accommodate the pins and nuts. Alternatively, the holes in the base may be countersunk to take the nuts as already mentioned.

When it is desired to add a further inscription to the monument, the headstone may be readily removed from the base for this purpose by unscrewing the nuts, the headstone then being removed from the cemetery. The inscription may then be conveniently cut on a machine which can accommodate the headstone. Thus cutting the further inscription by hand at the cemetery is avoided.

1. A monument for a grave and comprising a base and a headstone detachably mounted on the base.

2. A monument for a grave and comprising a headstone, a base having holes passing completely through it, and securing means engaging in the headstone and passing through the holes in the base to secure the headstone detachably to the base.

3. A monument for a grave and comprising a headstone, a base having holes passing completely through it, and dowel pins engaging in the headstone and projecting from the face of the headstone which contacts the base, the projecting dowel pins

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to gravestones This invention relates to gravestones or the like monuments for graves. Atypical gravestone comprises a headstone permanently mounted on a base. The headstone is secured to the base by dowel pins, each of which is located partly in a blind bore in the base and partly in a blind bore in the headstone, and in addition there is a cement joint between the headstone and the base. Machines are available for inscribing the headstone with a first inscription before the headstone is secured to the base but once the headstone is permanently mounted on the base, any further inscriptions are cut by hand on the headstone at the cemetery. An object of the invention is to provide a more convenient way of cutting such further inscriptions on headstones. According to the present invention, a monument for a grave is provided with a detachable headstone, which may conveniently be removed from its base, taken away from the cemetery, inscribed on a machine and then remounted on its base at the cemetery. In one form of the invention, the monument comprises a headstone, a base having holes passing completely through it and securing means engaging in the headstone and passing through the holes in the base to secure the headstone detachably to the base. In a preferred form of the invention, the monument comprises a headstone, a base having holes passing completely through it, and dowel pins engaging in the headstone and projecting from the face of the headstone which contacts the base, the projecting dowel pins passing through the holes in the base so as to extend beyond the base on the underneath of the base and the dowel pins being threaded at their free ends to receive nuts which are tightened against the underneath of the base to clamp the headstone detachably to the base. Two dowel pins may conveniently be provided. It is highly desirable to interpose a layer of a sealing and/or cushioning material between the headstone and the base. The sealing effect of this material is to minimise corrosion of the dowel pins where they pass from the headstone into the base. The cushioning effect of the material is to accomodate any irregularities in the otherwise contacting surfaces of the headstone and base and to guard against fracture of the headstone or base as a result of tightening up the nuts, thus enabling the tightening up process to be executed safely. The layer may be a strip of material of the plastics class (plastic strip), suitably prepared and securely held on the bed of the headstone by adhesive. The dowel pins may engage in the headstone by being grouted, preferably with a sulphur compound, into blind bores located in the face of the headstone which contacts the base of the monument, A washer may be disposed on the dowel pin between the nut and the underneath of the base, The monument may be erected on a slab and the slab may be countersunk to take the nuts (and washers) or alternatively the holes in the base may be countersunk on the underside of the base to accommodate the nuts (and washers). The invention includes not only the complete monument but also the detachable headstone itself with the threaded dowel pins projecting therefrom, and preferably with the layer of sealing/cushioning material secured to the bed of the headstone. The single figure of the accompanying drawing is a perspective view of a monument embodying the invention. In the drawing, a headstone 1 is shown provided with a first inscription 2. Blind bores 3 are located at the lower edge portion of the headstone 1. Dowel pins 4 are grouted with a sulphur compound into the blind bores and project from the lower face of the headstone. A layer of prepared plastic strip 10 is fixed to the bed of the headstone 1 with permanent adhesive. The dowel pins 4 pass through this layer. The headstone is supported upon a base 5, which is provided with bores 6 passing completely through it. The dowel pins 4 pass respectively through the bores 6 and extend beyond the underface of the base as threaded portions 7 which carry (respectively) nuts 8 in threaded engagement therewith. Washers 9 are located respectively on the dowel pins between the nuts and the underface of the base. The headstone is clamped firmly to the base by tightening the nuts 8 against the base. The presence of the plastic strip provides a seal between the headstone and base and enables the nuts 8 to be tightened safely as explained above. In the monument shown in the drawings, the dowel pins and nuts project from the underside of the base and, in this case, the slab on which the monument rests is countersunk to accommodate the pins and nuts. Alternatively, the holes in the base may be countersunk to take the nuts as already mentioned. When it is desired to add a further inscription to the monument, the headstone may be readily removed from the base for this purpose by unscrewing the nuts, the headstone then being removed from the cemetery. The inscription may then be conveniently cut on a machine which can accommodate the headstone. Thus cutting the further inscription by hand at the cemetery is avoided. CLAIMS

3. A monument for a grave and comprising a headstone, a base having holes passing completely through it, and dowel pins engaging in the headstone and projecting from the face of the headstone which contacts the base, the projecting dowel pins passing through the holes in the base so as to extend beyond the base on the underneath of the base and the dowel pins being threaded at their free ends to receive nuts which are tightened against the underneath of the base to ciamp the headstone detachably to the base.

4. A monument as claimed in ciaim 3, wherein two dowel pins are provided.

5. A monument as claimed in claim 3 or 4, in which the dowel pins engage in the headstone by being grouted into blind bores located in the face of the headstone which contacts the base of the monument.

6. A monument as claimed in claim 3,4 or 5, in which a washer is disposed on each dowel pin between the nut and the underneath of the base.

7. A monument as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 6, in which a layer of a sealing and/or cushioning material is interposed between the headstone and the base.

8. A monument as claimed in claim 7, in which the layer is secured to the bed of the headstone.

9. A monument as claimed in claim 7 or 8, in which the layer is a strip of material of the plastics class, held on the bed of the headstone by adhesive.

10. A monument as claimed in claim 3 and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

11. A monument as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 10 erected on a slab.

12. A monument as claimed in claim 11, in which the slab is countersunkto accomodatethe nuts.

13. A monument as claimed in claim 11, in which the holes in the base are countersunk to accomodate the nuts.

14. A detachable headstone for a monument as claimed in claim 3, having dowel pins engaging in the headstone and projecting from the bed thereof, the dowel pins being threaded at their free ends to receive nuts for clamping the headstone.

15. A detachable headstone as claimed in claim 14, in which a layer of sealing and/or cushioning is secured to the bed of the headstone.