GB2431390A

GB2431390A - Method of forming a memorial for the presentation of cremated remains

Info

Publication number: GB2431390A
Application number: GB0521571A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Wendy Ann Redmore; Kris Aaron Lang; David Stewart Evans
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-10-22
Filing date: 2005-10-22
Publication date: 2007-04-25
Anticipated expiration: 2025-10-22
Also published as: GB2431390B; GB0521571D0

Abstract

There is provided a method of forming a memorial 40 for the presentation of cremated remains 27. The method comprises the steps of: providing a first layer 20 of material; applying a quantity of cremated remains 27 to a first surface of the first layer 20; and applying a second layer 30 of material to the first layer whereby to retain the remains 27. The first and second layers 27, 30 may be manufactured from glass, plastic, lead crystal, or soda glass. The memorial 40 thus consists of remains 27 embedded in glass, and may be moulded to form a vase, or even jewellery such as earrings or broaches.

Description

METHOD OF FORMING A MEMORiAL FOR THE PRESENTATION OF

CREMATED REMAINS

The present invention relates generally to the presentation of cremated remains and particularly to a memorial, and a method of forming a memorial, for the presentation of cremated remains.

It is known to provide articles for storing the remains of a human or animal body after cremation. For example, urns allow for ashes to be stored in their loose granular form within a container. However, the ashes themselves are not generally visible when held within the urn and because they are loosely filled they may be subject to loss if the urn is dropped or damaged.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of forming a memorial for the presentation of cremated remains, comprising the steps of: providing a first layer of material; applying a quantity of cremated remains to a first surface of the first layer; and applying a second layer of material to the first surface of the first layer whereby to retain the remains in position between the layers.

Accordingly, the present invention seeks to prepare a memorial in which the ashes are fixed in position and form an integral part of the memorial for the purpose of display.

The first layer may be formed into a desired shape prior to the application of cremated remains over the first surface. For example, the first layer may be formed into the shape of a vase or the like article before cremated remains are applied to the first surface, which may comprise the interior or exterior surface of the article.

The first layer may be formed into a desired shape by casting. For example, moulds manufactured out of wood, steel or carbon may be used to form a desired shape.

The first layer of material may be molten prior to application of the cremated remains to the first surface. By applying the cremated remains whilst the material is molten the ashes can be absorbed into or onto the first surface and fixed relative to the surface once the first layer sets.

The cremated remains may be embedded in the first surface in the sense that they are absorbed into the first layer. Alternatively or additionally, at least part of the cremated remains may be encrusted onto the first surface so that they lie on top of the first surface.

The memorial may be formed into a desired shape after the second layer is formed onto the first surface. Accordingly, the first and second layers can be used to sandwich the ashes and then together formed into an article to serve as a memorial.

The first and/or second layer may be formed from a transparent material so that the cremated remains are visible; translucent materials may alternatively or additionally be used.

In a preferred embodiment the first and second layers are formed from glass (g-r& materials. Other materials, such as plastics materials (for example PersexJ may be used. The materials used for the first and second layers do not have to be of the same type, for example the first layer may be formed from glass and the second layer may be formed from Perspex(TM) Where a glass material is used it may comprise, for example, lead crystal, soda glass or other suitable homogeneous material with a random, liquid-like (non- crystalline) molecular structure. The manufacturing process for such materials requires that the raw materials must be heated to a temperature sufficient to produce a completely fused melt which, when cooled rapidly, becomes rigid without crystallising.

Specialised types of glass, such as aurene glass in which an iridescent surface is made by spraying the glass with stannous chloride or lead chloride and reheated under controlled atmospheric conditions or dichroic glass which appears one colour when seen by reflected light and another colour when light shines through it, may be used.

The first and/or second material may be formed from a coloured material. For example, coloured glass material may be formed as a result of impurities in the basic ingredients in the batch, or techniques can be used to colour glass such as using a dissolved metal oxide to impart a colour, forming a dispersion of some substance in a colloidal state, or suspending particles of pigments to form opaque colours.

In many cases where coloured glass layers are used the layers are relatively thin and it may be necessary to form a further layer of glass onto the coloured layer to protect it.

Prior to application of the cremated remains to the first surface they may be subjected to sorting on the basis of particle size. This could be used to select only larger particles which would be most visible when incorporated between the layers.

In practice this may be done on a purely visible basis, but a mechanical size sorting step may be used.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of forming a glass display article for the presentation of cremated remains, comprising the steps of: providing a first layer of glass material; applying a quantity of cremated remains to a first surface of the first layer; and applying a second layer of glass material to the first surface of the first layer whereby to retain the remains in position between the layers.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided an article for the presentation of cremated remains, comprising a first layer of glass material and a second layer of glass material in which a quantity of cremated remains is retained between the layers whereby to be displayed.

The present invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures IA to 11 illustrate a method of forming a memorial according to an embodiment of the present invention; and Figures 2A to 2E illustrate a method of forming a memorial according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

Referring first to Figure 1A a mass of molten glass 10 is shown in a molten and amorphous state such as would be collected on the end of a blow pipe as a so- called gather. In this embodiment the mass 10 comprises lead crystal glass.

The mass 10 is cast by blow-moulding into a mould 15 so as to form a parison 20 comprising a first layer of material 21 in the form of a generally cylindrical tube closed at one end as shown best in Figure 1G.

Referring now to Figure ID there is shown a tray 25 including a bed 26 onto which a quantity of ashes 27 is spread.

When the mass 10 is formed into the parison 20 the glass will be in the region of 900 to 1400 degrees Celsius. Whilst the glass material making up the parison 20 is still molten it is rolled across the bed 26 so that the exterior surface of the first layer 21 contacts the ashes 27 as shown in Figure 1 E. Because the parison 20 is molten the ashes 27 become adsorbed and/or absorbed to the exterior surface of the parison 20 which becomes coated (embedded and/or encrusted) with ashes 27 as shown in Figure 1 F. One or more passes of the parison 20 along the bed 26 may be made to obtain a uniform distribution of ashes 27 around the parison 20.

The coated parison 20 shown in Figure IF then has a second layer of glass 30 applied to its exterior surface to seal the ashes 27 in position. In this embodiment a layer of coloured glass 30 is applied to the exterior surface of the first layer 21 as shown in Figure 1G.

Because the thickness of the layer 30 is minimised to avoid obscuration of the ashes 27 a further transparent outer glass casing layer 35 is applied over the coloured layer 30 as shown in Figure 1H.

The completed parison 20 comprising the first layer of glass 21, the ashes 27, the coloured layer of glass 30 and the outer layer of glass 35 may be the final shape of an article. Alternatively the parison 20 is then formed into a final presentation article, which in this case is a vase 40 shown in Figure 11.

The ashes 27 are visible through the layers 30, 35 so as to serve as a memorial to an individual.

Referring now to Figure 2A there is shown a first layer of glass 121 comprising a sheet of molten soda glass poured into a long flat rectangular mould (not shown).

Ashes 127 are applied to the exposed upper surface of the layer 121 by sprinkling whilst the glass sheet is molten as shown in Figure 2B.

A second layer 130 of glass is poured over the first layer 120/ashes 127 as shown in Figure 2C and the newly formed sheet is allowed to cool.

The sheet that emerges from the mould as a slab is shown in plan in Figure 2D.

The slab 145 can be cut into smaller segments 150 as shown in Figure 2E for use as items ofjewellery such as earrings and brooches.

Claims

1. A method of forming a memorial for the presentation of cremated remains, comprising the steps of: - providing a first layer of material; applying a quantity of cremated remains to a first surface of the first layer; and - applying a second layer of material to the first surface of the first layer whereby to retain the remains in position between the layers.

2. A method as claimed in Claim 1, in which the first layer is formed into a desired shape prior to the application of cremated remains over the first surface.

3. A method as claimed in Claim 2, in which the first layer is formed into a desired shape by casting.

4. A method as claimed in any of Claims I to 3, in which the first layer of material is molten prior to application of the cremated remains to the first surface.

5. A method as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 4, in which the cremated remains are embedded in the first surface.

6. A method as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 4, in which the cremated remains are encrusted onto the first surface.

7. A method as claimed in any preceding Claim, in which the memorial is formed into a desired shape after the second layer is formed onto the first surface.

8. A method as claimed in any preceding Claim, in which the first andlor second layer is formed from a transparent material.

9. A method as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 7, in which the first and/or second layer is formed from a translucent material.

10. A method as claimed in any preceding Claim, in which the first and/or second layer is formed from a glass material.

11. A method as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 9, in which the first and/or second layer is formed from a plastics material.

12. A method as claimed in Claim 10, in which the first and/or second layer comprises lead crystal.

13. A method as claimed in Claim 10, in which the first and/or second layer comprises soda glass.

14. A method as claimed in any preceding Claim, in which the first and/or second layer is formed from a coloured material. ft

15. A method as claimed in any preceding Claim, in which a third layer of material is formed onto the second layer.

16. A method as claimed in any preceding Claim, in which prior to application the cremated remains are subjected to sorting on the basis of particle size.

17. A method of forming a glass display article for the presentation of cremated remains, comprising the steps of: - providing a first layer of glass material; - applying a quantity of cremated remains to a first surface of the first layer; and - applying a second layer of glass material to the first surface of the first layer whereby to retain the remains in position between the layers.

18. An article for the presentation of cremated remains, comprising a first layer of glass material and a second layer of glass material in which a quantity of cremated remains is retained between the layers whereby to be displayed.

19. A method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.

20. An article substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.