GB2448592A

GB2448592A - Honeycomb panel coffin

Info

Publication number: GB2448592A
Application number: GB0806870A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Simon Geir Moeller; Qin Kang Gu; Robert John Morphet
Original assignee: Joseph A Hey & Son Ltd
Current assignee: Joseph A Hey & Son Ltd
Priority date: 2007-04-19
Filing date: 2008-04-16
Publication date: 2008-10-22
Anticipated expiration: 2028-04-16
Also published as: GB0806870D0; GB0707539D0; GB2448592B

Abstract

A coffin or casket 1 is provided that is substantially made of inexpensive, recycled and/ or biodegradable material such as paper-pulp based materials such as cardboard and fibreboard. The coffin comprises a plurality of panels 5 each including a sandwich honeycomb layer 6 comprising honeycomb cells 7 and liner boards 8, 9 on both sides thereof as well as an outer layer in the form of a veneer 11, which may comprise wood or a wood-effect material. The honeycomb board may be built up in certain areas with cardboard layers 13 which are framed within strips 16 or beading 17 to provide a traditional coffin appearance with panels and mouldings. One or more areas of the panels are adapted for the attachment of coffin furniture (21, Fig.3) thereto by the provision of a block of material (22, Fig.3) inset into the honeycomb layer.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS TO COFFINS

The present invention relates to a coffin or casket and in particular to a coffin or casket that can be made of inexpensive, recycled and/or biodegradable material.

Hereinafter and in the claims, the term coffin' is used for all receptacles, regardless of shape or size, suitable for repose of a body or body ashes including animal bodies and ashes. Likewise, the term cardboard' will be used to refer to any heavy paper-pulp based board such as card stock or, where specified, to corrugated fiberboard. The latter is a paper-based material comprising fluted corrugated sheet.

Traditional wooden coffins are expensive items and typically have intricate metal or plastic fittings. If a body is to be cremated, conventionally the coffin is incinerated along with the body. Many people, however, see this as wasteful both from a financial and from an environmental point of view.

As a result coffins are often made from less expensive and/or environmentally friendly materials. Veneered medium density fibreboard (MDF) and chipboard coffins are often used for cremations. However, like solid wood coffins, these coffins are heavy and difficult for one person to handle when empty so that storage and transportation of the coffins before use can be difficult. Environmentally friendly coffins are made from cardboard or wicker. These coffins are light in weight but they are not attractive and many people choose not to use them simply to keep up appearances at the funeral.

The object of the present invention is to overcome or substantially mitigate the aforementioned problems by the provision of a coffin that can be made substantially of paper-pulp based materials such as cardboard so that it is light in weight but which can have the external appearance of a traditional wooden coffin so that it is attractive to the purchaser.

According to the present invention there is provided a coffin comprising a plurality of panels each including a sandwich honeycomb layer arranged such that the cells of the honeycomb have longitudinal axes perpendicular to the plane of the panel and to linerboards secured to the honeycomb on both sides thereof, wherein one or more areas of at least one panel are adapted for the attachment of coffin furniture thereto by the provision of a block of material inset into the honeycomb of the sandwich honeycomb layer, and wherein at least one panel comprises an outer layer in the form of a veneer.

Sandwich honeycomb structures are usually made from paper-based board and can therefore be readily made from recycled paperboard or cardboard. The presence of such structures in the coffin imparts rigidity and strength while the veneer enables the coffin to have the appearance of a solid wood coffin, particularly if a wood or wood-effect veneer is used. The provision of the blocks of material in the coffin reinforces the sandwich honeycomb layer to enable coffin furniture such as lid fixture fittings, handles and the like to be secured to the coffin. This is important as it enables the coffin to have its lid screwed down in a traditional fashion and enables handles to be fitted so that the coffin can be carried when in use.

Other preferred but non-essential features of the various aspects of the present invention are described in the dependent claims appended hereto.

The present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:-Fig. I is a cross-section through a panel forming part of a side wall of a coffin in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is a cross-section through the panel perpendicular to the direction of the cross-section of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of part of a side wall of a coffin according to the invention with some outer covering layers removed therefrom; and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one corner of another coffin according to the invention shown with the corner portion cut-away to reveal its interior and the structure of the panels making up the coffin.

The embodiments of coffin 1 shown in Figs 3 and 4 of the drawings each comprise sides 2, a lid 3 and a base 4 to which the sides 2 are secured.

The lid 3 can then be secured to the sides 2 in a traditional fashion, as described below, once the body has been placed inside. The lid 3 and the base 4 of the coffin are each made from a single, one-piece panel 5. The sides 2 of the coffin are also each made from panels 5, such as that shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Dependent on whether the sides of the coffin 1 are arranged parallel to one another or adapted to taper towards the head and the foot of the coffin, the sides can be made rigid or capable of folding slightly about an axis that enables the tapering head and foot portions to be provided. In any event, the panels 5 all have a basic structure as is now described.

The underlying rigidity and strength of each of the panels 5 of the coffin is imparted by the provision of a sandwich honeycomb layer 6.

Typically, this layer 6 will be made of heavy paper-pulp based board, commonly called cardboard, which is approximately 1 mm thick. The layer comprises a honeycomb 7 that is formed in a conventional manner, for example from appropriately folded cardboard, and that is secured to linerboards 8 and 9 secured to the honeycomb 7 on both sides thereof.

Hence, each individual cell of the honeycomb 7 has its longitudinal axis perpendicular to the plane of the panel 5 and the linerboards 8, 9. The depth of the honeycomb 7, that is the length of each cell along its longitudinal axis, is of the order of 13 mm (0.5 inches). Each cell of the honeycomb 7 preferably comprises a regular hexagon with a width that is also of the order of 13 mm (0.5 inches). The linerboard 8 is intended to be located towards the interior of the coffin 1 and its exterior surface, that is its exposed side inside the coffin, may be given a layer of paint or covered with a thin sheet of appropriately coloured or decorated paper, see 10, that is adhered thereto.

Those panels 5 that are to be used for the sides 2 and the lid 3 of the coffin and that are therefore intended to be visible, also comprise an outer covering layer Ii in the form of a veneer.

The veneer 11 may be adhered directly to the linerboard 9 or, in the case of panels that are built-up to simulate moulding or carving as is described below, the veneer 11 may be adhered to the built-up portions and to portions of the linerboard 9 that have not been built-up. The base 4 of the coffin may also be provided with a similar veneer Ii or comprise a layer similar to the interior layer 10, which is either paint or paper. The veneer 11 can be of any suitable material but to simulate a solid wooden coffin, the veneer may comprise a genuine wood veneer or a wood-effect veneer, such as a printed wood-effect plastics or paper sheet. Alternatively, as the veneer 11 is not a structural part of the coffin it can be made of any suitable material so that the exterior of the coffin 1 can be decorated as desired. For example, instead of wood or a woodeffect material, the veneer could be paper printed to resemble another material such as stone or printed with any desired pattern. Metal foils, decorated plastics sheeting and fabrics could also be used as a veneer.

Those panels 5 which make up the side walls 2 and the lid 3 of the coffin may be constructed so that they simulate the moulding or carving that may be present in a solid wood coffin. In order to do this, portions of the panel 2 are built-up by one or more layers 12 made of corrugated cardboard 13 attached to a thin cardboard liner 14. One or more such layers 12 may be built up over the top of parts of the sandwich honeycomb layer 6 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, where two such layers 12 are shown. The outermost layer 12 is provided with an overlying thin liner 15 to cover over the corrugations and to provide a smooth surface for the application of the veneer 11. To add rigidity and to provide a smooth surface at the edges of the built-up portions, blocks or strips of moulded paper-pulp material 16 are located at what would otherwise be the exposed edges of the layer or layers 12 and adhered to the underlying linerboard 9. The veneer 11 is then applied to cover the exposed linerboard 9, the blocks or strips 16 and the liner 15, thereby covering the built-up layer or layers 12. The veneer 11 need not be applied in a single sheet over the exterior of the panel 5 but in a manner that simulates a panel made from solid wood, wherein each piece of wood making up the panel 5 would have a grain running in a different direction. Hence, parts of a built-up panel 5 may be covered with different pieces of veneer ii that have a grain or grain effect running in different directions to one another and that adjoin along lines which simulate mitre joints and the like.

In order to impart additional rigidity to the panel 5 and to finish off its edges neatly, the edges of each panels may comprise beading 17, made from moulded paper-pulp strips, which is adhered to the sides of the honeycomb layer 6 and to the edges of any layers 12 comprising built-up portions. The veneer 11 also covers the beading 17 where appropriate. As shown in Fig. 4, along the lower edges of the side panel 2 of the coffin and around the edges of the lid 3, the beading 17 is preferably moulded with an L-shaped profile.

This enables one leg 18 of the L-shape to be secured to one panel, for example one of the sides 2, and the other leg to project as a flange 19 for attachment by an adhesive to a second panel, for example the base 4. In the case of the side panels 2, the flange 19 projects beneath the base 4 of the coffin ito hold the base 4 in position. During construction, the side panels of the coffin 1 are adhered together around the base panel, which is adhered to flange 19. In contrast, the beading 17 around the edge of the lid 3 defines a lip 20 than fits snugly over the top of the sides 2 of the coffin to hold the lid 3 securely in position prior to it being screwed down.

Although it is preferable for the blocks or strips 16 and the beading 17 to be made from paper-pulp based material such as cardboard in order that it can be made from re-cycled material, these portions of the coffin I could also be made from particle board (chipboard), medium density fibreboard (MDF) or from wood.

It will be appreciated that the panels 5 are made from various layers of material that are adhered together. Preferably, a water-based adhesive is used for this purpose. The coffin 1 is then assembled from these panels 5 and again a water-based adhesive is preferably used.

In order to enable coffin furniture such as lid fixture fittings, nameplates, handles and the like to be attached to various portions of the coffin 1, these portions must be reinforced. One way of accomplishing this is to inset blocks of material 22 that can hold fasteners such as screw or nails into the structure of the panels 5. Such blocks are therefore preferably comprised of wood, particleboard (chipboard) or medium density fibreboard (MDF). As shown in Fig. 3, in locations where a handle 21 is to be attached to the coffin, a block 22 of such material is inset into the honeycomb 7 of the sandwich honeycomb layer 6 where a similarly sized portion of the honeycomb 7 has been removed. The block 22 is therefore held in position in the panel 5 by the surrounding honeycomb 7 and linerboards 8, 9. The block 22 then enables the handle 21 to be secured to the coffin 1 by screws 23 that pass into and are held by the block 22. Similar blocks (not shown) are also provided around the upper part of the sides 2 of the coffin ito enable the lid 3 to be screwed down. These blocks may be pre-drilled so that they can be fitted with appropriate furniture defining female receptacles into which the threaded fasteners used to fasten down the lid 3 can engage. A block can also provided in the lid 3 to enable a nameplate (not shown) to be nailed to the lid 3 in a traditional manner. Elongate blocks 22 are also provided in the base 4 of the coffin I in the positions where the coffin will rest on trestles in use, as these narrow portions of the coffin will take the weight of the body during this period and thereby prevent any possibility of the sandwich honeycomb layer 6 buckling.

While the reinforcing blocks 22 are required to enable lid fixture fittings to be used, an alternative way of fastening a useable handle to the coffin 1 is shown in Fig. 4 where a cardboard facing piece 24 to the linerboard 8 is provided on the inside of the coffin 1. Bolts 25 that pass through the facing piece 23 can then be used to secure the handle and fixed using an enlarged washer 26 and nut 27. The facing piece 24, the washer 26 and the nut 27 can then be hidden from view by a coffin lining, which is traditionally fabric.

It will be appreciated that a coffin 1 according to the invention can be made entirely from bio-degradable materials and is preferably made from recycled material. This means that the coffin is environmentally friendly and inexpensive whilst giving the appearance, if desired, of a traditional coffin with useable coffin furniture such as handles, a nameplate and lid fixture fittings. The other main advantage of the coffin is that the use of such materials significantly reduces the weight of the coffin, typically by up to 40% over a 1.68 m length veneered MDF or chipboard coffin, but without compromising its strength.

Claims

1. A coffin comprising a plurality of panels each including a sandwich honeycomb layer arranged such that the cells of the honeycomb have longitudinal axes perpendicular to the plane of the panel and to linerboards secured to the honeycomb on both sides thereof, wherein one or more areas of at least one panel are adapted for the attachment of coffin furniture thereto by the provision of a block of material inset into the honeycomb of the sandwich honeycomb layer, and wherein at least one panel comprises an outer layer in the form of a veneer.

2. A coffin as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the veneer comprises at least one veneer from the following list: a wood veneer, a wood-effect veneer, decorated paper, decorated plastics sheeting, metal foil and fabric.

3. A coffin as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein at least one panel has an inner covering layer forming the inner surface of the coffin.

4. A coffin as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the inner covering layer comprises a paint or paper layer over one of the linerboards.

5. A coffin as claimed in any of Claims ito 4, wherein one or more edges ofat least one panel are provided with beading.

6. A coffin as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the beading comprises moulded strips of paper-pulp based material located between the sandwich honeycomb layer and the veneer.

7. Acoffin as claimed in any of Claims Ito 6, wherein portions of at least one panel are built-up by one or more layers of corrugated cardboard located between the sandwich honeycomb layer and the veneer.

8. A coffin as claimed in Claim 7, wherein each layer of corrugated cardboard is adhered to a liner.

9. A coffin as claimed in Claim 7 or Claim 8, wherein the outermost layer of corrugated cardboard is covered with a overlying liner that covers the corrugations and provides a smooth surface to which the veneer is adhered.

10. A coffin as claimed in any of Claims 7 to 9, wherein edges of the built-up portions comprise blocks or strips of material which are adhered to the sandwich honeycomb layer.

11. A coffin as claimed in any of Claims 7 to 10, when dependent on Claim 2 wherein a wood or wood-effect veneer covering built-up portions of the panel is arranged such that its grain runs in directions dependent on the portions of the panel it covers.

12. A coffin as claimed in any of Claims ito 11, wherein coffin furniture is secured thereto at said adapted areas of the panel or panels by screws or nails which penetrate the blocks of material.

13. A coffin as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 12, wherein the base of the coffin comprises a panel adapted to be supported on trestles by the provision of two or more blocks of material inset into the honeycomb of the sandwich honeycomb layer forming the base of the coffin.

14. A coffin as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 13, wherein the blocks of material are made from wood, particleboard or medium density fibreboard.

15. A coffin as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 14, wherein one or more handles are secured to at least one panel by the provision of a piece of cardboard secured to the linerboard on the inside of the coffin -10 -through which a bolt attaching the handle to the panel passes and is fixed using a washer and a nut.

16. A coffin as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 15, wherein the sandwich honeycomb layer is comprised wholly of heavy paper-pulp based board.

17. Acoffin as claimed in any of Claims lto 16, wherein the length of each cell of the honeycomb of the sandwich honeycomb layer along its longitudinal axis is of the order of 13 mm (0.5 inches).

18. A coffin as claimed in any of Claims Ito 17, wherein each cell of the honeycomb of the honeycomb of the sandwich honeycomb layer comprises a regular hexagon with a width that is of the order of 13 mm(0.5inches).

19. A coffin as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 18, wherein the sandwich honeycomb layer is made from cardboard which is of the order of 1 mm in thickness.

20. A coffin substantially as described herein with reference to Figs. land 2, or Fig. 3 or Fig. 4 of the accompanying drawings.