GB2310675A

GB2310675A - Mounting structures, e.g. gravestones, on the ground

Info

Publication number: GB2310675A
Application number: GB9604520A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ivan Robert George Ash
Original assignee: NETTLEBANK MONUMENTAL WORKS LI
Current assignee: NETTLEBANK MONUMENTAL WORKS LI
Priority date: 1996-03-02
Filing date: 1996-03-02
Publication date: 1997-09-03
Anticipated expiration: 2016-03-02
Also published as: GB9604520D0; GB2310675B

Abstract

A method for mounting a structure, e.g. a gravestone on the ground comprises forming a foundation 20 and locating a (gravestone) base 14 thereon. Aligned holes are formed extending through the base 14 and foundation 20 into the ground therebeneath. Elongate members 22 are located in the holes. The members 22 may have a washer 24 fixed thereto, which rests on the top of the foundation 20 to maintain the members 22 at a required position relative to the base 14.

Description

MOUNBG METHOD This invention concerns a mounting method and particularly but not exclusively a method of mounting memorials such as gravestones, on the ground.

Difficulties have been encountered previously in securely mounting gravestones and other memorials on the ground. Gravestones have on some occasions fallen over which can be very dangerous in view of their not inconsiderable weight. Proposals have been made for securely mounting gravestones but these have not always been wholly satisfactory and have often been difficult to carry out.

According to the present invention there is provided a method of mounting an article on the ground, the method comprising forming a foundation on the ground, forming aligned hole through a base of the article, through said foundation anu: into the ground therebeneath, locating said base on the foundation and locating an elongate member through the hole such that said member extends in each of the base, foundation and ground.

The elongate member is preferably formed so as to extend through at least a substantial part of the thickness of said base, and desirably such that the upper end of the elongate member is adjacent the upper surface of said base. A part of the elongate member preferably engages against the upper surface of the foundation to provide the required location of the elongate member in the base.

The holes are preferably formed by drilling, and desirably by drilling through the base, foundation and into the ground with the base located on the foundation. A pair of aligned holes are preferably provided.

The base is preferably subsequently removed from the foundation and the or each elongate member located through the holes in the foundation and underlying ground, with the base thereafter being replaced on the foundation with the or each elongate member extending into the or each hole in the base.

Another part of the article is preferably located on the base. Said other part is preferably located on the base so as to cover the upper ends of the or each hole. Said other part is preferably mountable on the base, perhaps by dowels locatable in further aligned holes in the base and said other part.

The foundation is preferably formed into the ground to be substantially co-planar with the surface thereof.

The invention also provides a method of mounting a memorial on the ground, the method being according to any of the preceding eight paragraphs.

The invention still further provides a elongate member usable in a method according to any of said preceding nine paragraphs.

The elongate member is preferably of circular section and is desirably tubular. The elongate member may be formed of stainless steel.

The elongate member preferably includes a formation engageable on the upper surface of the foundation. The formation may comprise an annular ring.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of an article mounted by a method according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view along the line A-A of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of part of apparatus used to mount the article shown in Fig. 1.

The drawings show a memorial in the form of a gravestone 10 mounted on the ground 12 by a method according to the present invention. The gravestone 10 comprises a rectangular base 14 upon which a headstone 16 is mounted in a conventional manner with dowels 18 extending between aligned holes (not shown) in the base 14 and headstone 16.

The base 14 is mounted on a cement foundation 20. The foundation 20 which is larger than the base 14 is formed so as to be flush with the ground 12.

Two elongate members 22 extend through respective pairs of aligned holes in the base 14, foundation 20 and into the ground 12. The elongate members 22 are formed of stainless steel tube and have an annular washer 24 mounted thereon for example by welding. The washer 24 is spaced from the upper end of the member 22 such that the washer 24 rests on the foundation 20 with the upper end of the member 22 immediately below the top of the base 14. The headstone 16 is located to cover the holes in which the elongate members 22 locate.

The gravestone 10 is mounted on the ground 12 in the following manner.

A hole is dug in the ground 12 and the cement foundation 20 is formed therein.

The base 14 is then located in a required position on the foundation 20. Two holes are drilled through the base 14, foundation 20 and into the ground therebeneath. The base 14 is then removed from the foundation 20.

The elongate members 22 are inserted into the holes in the foundation 20 such that the washers 24 rest on the upper surface of the foundation 20.

The base 14 can then be replaced with the holes therein fitting over the upper ends of the elongate members 22 such that the top of the members 22 is located immediately below the top of the base 14. The headstone 16 can then be mounted on the base 14 in the usual manner and so as to cover the upper ends of the elongate members 22.

There is thus described a method of mounting a memorial such as a gravestone, and also an elongate member usable in this method, which provide for considerable advantages. As the holes are drilled through the base and foundation when in situ, no difficulties are encountered in providing accurately aligned holes. The washer on the elongate members ensures that the elongate members extend through substantially the whole of the thickness of the base thereby providing firm mounting. As the headstone covers the upper ends of the elongate members no visible sign of the mounting is provided which could detract from the appearance of the gravestone.

The method used is relatively simple and can thus be readily and inexpensively carried out. The elongate members are of relatively simple construction and can thus be inexpensively and robustly formed. The position of the washer on the elongate member can be chosen to correspond to the thickness of the base.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the headstone may be mounted on the base in any required way. The elongate member may take a different form. A different number of holes could be drilled in the base and foundation. The method could be used for mounting a wide range of articles in addition to gravestones.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

Aims:

1. A method of mounting an article on the ground, the method comprising forming a foundation on the ground, forming an aligned hole through a base of the article, through said foundation and into the ground therebeneath, locating said base on the foundation, and locating an elongate member through the hole such that said member extends in each of the base, foundation and ground.

2. A method according to claim 1, in which the elongate member is formed so as to extend through at least a substantial part of the thickness of said base.

3. A method according to claim 2, in which the elongate member is formed such that the upper end of the elongate member is adjacent the upper surface of said base.

4. A method according to claim 3, in which a part of the elongate member engages against the upper surface of the foundation to provide the required location of the elongate member in the base.

5. A method according to any of the preceding claims, in which a pair of aligned holes are provided.

6. A method according to any of the preceding claims, in which the holes are formed by drilling.

7. A method according to claim 6, in which the holes are formed by drilling through the base, foundation and into the ground with the base located on the foundation,

8. A method according to claim 7, in which the base is subsequently removed from the foundation and the or each elongate member located through the or each hole in the foundation and underlying ground, with the base thereafter being replaced on the foundation with the or each elongate member extending into the or each hole in the base.

9. A method according to any of the preceding claims, in which another part of the article is located on the base.

10. A method according to claim 9, in which said other part is located on the base so as to cover the upper ends of the or each hole.

11. A method according to claims 9 or 10, in which said other part is mountable on the base.

12. A method according to claim 11, in which said other part is mountable on the base by dowels locatable in further aligned holes in the base and said other part.

13. A method according to any of the preceding claims, in which the foundation is formed into the ground to be substantially co-planar with the surface thereof.

14. A method of mounting a memorial on the ground, the method being according to any of the preceding claims.

15. An elongate member usable in a method according to any of said preceding claims.

16. A member according to claim 15, in which the elongate member is of circular section.

17. A member according to claims 15 or 16, in which the elongate member is tubular.

18. A member according to any of claims 15 to 17, in which the elongate member is formed of stainless steel.

19. A member according to any of claims 15 to 18, in which the elongate member includes a formation engageable on the upper surface of the foundation.

20. A member according to claim 19, in which the formation comprises an annular ring.

21. A method of mounting an article on the ground substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

22. A method of mounting a memorial on the ground substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

23. An elongate member usable in a method of mounting an article on the ground, the elongate member being substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

24. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.