GB2264962A - A cinerarium - Google Patents

Abstract

A cinerarium comprises a water-tight container 1 suitable for interment which defines at least one receptacle 3 into which ashes can be placed and which is closable by a lid 2. The lid 2 is capable of providing an above-ground memorial and is secured to the container 1 by a releasable fastening means 5. Preferably, the fastening means 5 is hidden from view after interment of the container and comprises at least two bolts 6 which pass through channels 9 in the container 1 and screw into respective nuts 7 let into the underside of the lid 2. An outer casing 13 may also be provided in which the container 1 can be located after it has been sunk into the ground, the lid 2 overhanging the upper edges of the casing 13. <IMAGE>

Description

A CINERARIIJM The present invention relates to a cinerarium and in particular to a cinerarium suitable for interment.

Cineraria conventionally comprise an urn in which ashes are stored and kept in a suitable place by a relative or friend of the deceased or a wall located at a crematorium or a cemetery in which niches are provided to accommodate urns or caskets containing the ashes of the deceased. . Otherwise, ashes are usually scattered and a memorial stone erected at an appropriate place which may be remote from the scattering site. Sometimes a casket containing ashes is interred at the grave of a relative of the deceased but it is not usual for ashes to be interred separately and a memorial stone located on the site.

The object of the present invention is to provide a cinerarium which provides the means whereby the ashes of one or more persons or animals can be interred along with a memorial.

According to the present invention there is provided a cinerarium comprising a water-tight container suitable for interment which defines at least one receptacle into which ashes can be placed and is closable by a lid capable of providiny an above-ground memoria.l, the lid being secured to the container by a fastening means which releasably engages the container.

Preferably, the fastening means is hidden from view after interment of the container.

Preferably also,. a stone or plate is provided to seal each receptacle within the container after ashes have been located therein.

Preferably also, the container defines at least two receptacles which are separated by a removable partition.

Preferably also an outer casing is provided in which the container can be located after the casing has been sunk into the ground, the lid overhanging the upper edges of the casing.

The present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in whi oh: Figure is a perspective view of a cinerarium according to the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of a container forming part of the cinerarium shown in Figure 1 Figllre 3 is a view of the underside of a lid for use with the container shown in Figure 2: Figure 4 is a sectional view o the cinerarium after interment and including an outer casing; and Figure 5 is e sectional view of a modified cinerarium after interment.

The cinerarium shown in Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings comprises a water-proof container 1 which can be made from pre-cast concrete by an injection moulding process or from any other suitable long-lasting rigid material and a lid 2 which is intended to seal the container and provide an above-ground memorial. The lid 2 can be made of any suitable material such as polished marble, granite or the like. Whilst the lid is shown in the drawings as a rectangular slab, it will be appreciated that the container 1 and consequently the lid 2 can be made with any cross-sectional shape.In addition, the lid 2 need not comprise a slab but could be in the form of a statue or other shape provided that it has a flat rim on its underside to make it capable of being a lid to close off the interior of the container 1.

The interior of the container 1 comprises a receptacle 3 in which ashes can be placed, preferably already sealed in a casket or box. If the cinerarium is to be used for multiple interments, the interior can be partitioned to provide several receptacles 3. In hoth of these cases, each of the receptacles 3 is provided with a sealing stone or plate 4, which can be cemented over the top of the receptacle 3 after a casket containing ashes has been located therein. A plaque bearing the name of the deceased can be secured to the sealing stone 4 if desired.

However: in a modified arrangement, the interior can be partitioned by the provision of one of more removable partitions to provide a plurality of receptacles 3. The partition can be a sliding partition located in grooves or in channels formed on opposed sides of the interior. In this way, the cinerarium can be partitioned after a first interment to a.ccommodate a further casket Aiternatively, a partition can be removed after interment to permit ashes from more than one deceased to be mingled in accordance with their wishes. In the latter circumstance, an inner casket would not be used, the ashes would be simply placed directly within the interior, which would then be sealed as previously described by a stone or plate 4.

The lid 2 is releasably secured to the container 1 by a fastening means S comprising at least two bolts 6 whIch screw into respective nuts 7 that are let into apertures in the undersIde of the lid 2. The nuts 7 are secured in position using cement or another suitable adhesive, The heads .3 of the bolts 6 are located beneath the container 1 and pass through channels 9 in the wall of the container 1 before emerging from the top edge 10. In this way, the fastening of the lid 2 to the container 1 cannot be seen when the cinerarium has been interred and it must be at least partially disinterred to enable the fastening means 5 to be released. This helps to prevent tampering and also improves the appearance of the cinerarium.

The fastening means 5 can be made of any suitahle material, which is preferably one that will be long lasting and will not rust, such as brass. If the contaIner 1 is of square or rectangular cross-section then a fastening means 5 is preferably located at each corner.

Alternatively, if the container 1 is cylindrical or another shape, as many fastening means 5 as appropriate can be provided around its circumference or edge.

To prevent water from seeping into the container 1 between its top edge 10 and the lid 1, a seal is provided.

This can take the form of a resilient plastics or rubber rin 11 which is inset into a groove 19 formed on the top edge 10 of the container 1. This will then seal against the underside of the lid 2 when the container 1 is closed.

Preferably, as shown in the drawings, the nuts 7 and bolts 6 are located inwardly of the sealing ring 11 so that their fastening is also protected from water damage. It will also he appreciated that the seal prevents insects and other animals living in the soil from entering the container 1.

In an alternative arrangement, the seal could be provided on the underside of the lid 2.

In use, a casket bearing the ashes of the deceased is placed in the receptacle 3 provided by the container 1 and the top of the receptacle is then closed by cementing in place the sealing stone 4. The lid 2 is engraved with an appropriate memorial and is then secured to the container by the fastening means 5 so that the seal 11 comes into operation and the interior of the container 1 is watertight. A hole needs to be dug at the interment site large enough to accommodate the container 1 so that the lid 2 forms an above-ground memorial whilst the container 1 is below ground level. The cinerarium is then sunk into this hole and the earth firmed around it.

If other remains are to be interred in the cinerarium or it has to be disinterred for any other reason, it can be dug up without difficulty. The lid 2 can be removed for the placement of other remains in the container 1 and reengraved if necessary or even replaced with another one before the cinerarium is again sealed and re-interred.

If it is envisaged that the cinerarium will need to be disinterred several times, then it can be modified by the provision of an outer casing 13 as shown in Figure 4.

Here a sink-like casing 13 is provided into which the container 1 can be slotted after the casing 13 has been sunk independently into the ground. Thus, once the casing 13 has ben set into the ground no further digging work is required to inter or disinter the rest of the cinerarium.

The casing 13 can be made of a similar material to that of the container 1 but any rigid long-lasting material is suitable. The size of the casing is made so that the lid 2 will preferably cover its top edges so that it cannot be seen from above the ground.

In a modified cinerarium as shown in Figure 5, the casing 13 is omitted and the lid 2 is secured directly to the top of the container 1 by screws, 14 which are countersunk into the upper surface of the lid 2. This fastening means 14 is, however, covered by a thinner plate 15 which is itself secured to the lid 2 by countersunk screws 16. Here, the lid 2 provided a base of the memorial and the plate 15 is engraved as appropriate. This form of cinerarium is more economical to produce as the lid 2 need not be made of expensive material because it is covered by the plate 15, which can comprise a metal plate or a thin stone or even toughened glass sheet. However, as before the actual fastening means securing the lid 2 to the container 1 is covered in use to deter tampering.

One of the advantages of a cinerarium according to the present invention is that it can be used for the interment of more than one person in the same manner as a multiple grave so that family members can be interbred in one place. In addition, the cinerarium can be disinterred and moved to another location without difficulty, which is advantageous if the interment is in 8 garden of a private dwelling or if a surviving relative wishes to move the remains to another cemetery or garden of remembrance. For this reason, the cinerarium is also particularly suitable for the interment of pets as it can be moved from place to place along with the owner as he moves house.

Claims (1)

1. A cinerarium comprising a water-tight container suitable for interment which defines at least one receptacle into which ashes can be placed and is closable by a lid capable of providing an above-ground memorial, the lid being secured to the container by a fastening means which releasably engages the container.

2. h cinerarium as claimed in Claim 1, in which the fastening means is hidden from view after interment of the container.

3. A cinerarium as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which the fastening means comprises at least two bolts which pass through channels formed in the container and screw into respective nuts let into the underside of the lid.

4. A cinerarium as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which the fastening means comprises at least two screws which pass through the lid into the wall of the container and which are covered by a plate secured to the lid.

5. A cinerarium as claimed In any one of Claims 1 to 4, in which a seal is inset into a groove located around a top edge of the container to seal with the lid when is it closed.

6. A cinerarium as claimed in Claim 5, in which the fastening means is located inwardly of the seal when it is in use.

7. A cinerarium as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 6, in which a stone or plate is provided to seal each receptacle within the container after ashes have been located therein.

5, A cinerarium as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 7, in which the container defines at least two receptacles which are separated by a removable partition, 9. A cinerarium as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 8, 1n which an outer casing is provided in which the container can be located after the casing has been sunk into the ground, the lid overhanging the upper edges of the casing.

10. A cinerarium substantially as described herein with reference to any one of Figures 1 to 4, or igure 5 of the accompanying drawings.