GB2545173A

GB2545173A - An improved coffin and a method of constructing an improved coffin

Info

Publication number: GB2545173A
Application number: GB1521432.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Francis Irons Leigh
Original assignee: Tanamerah Ltd
Current assignee: Tanamerah Ltd
Priority date: 2015-12-04
Filing date: 2015-12-04
Publication date: 2017-06-14
Anticipated expiration: 2035-12-04
Also published as: GB2545173B; GB201521432D0

Abstract

A coffin comprising a substructure partially surrounded by a cover layer formed from a plurality of weft and warp 114 strands which form a cadaver receiving chamber wherein a frame member 106 of the substructure has a plurality of warp receiving recesses 116 which extend partially into the frame member 106 without passing out the other side such that a warp member 114 can be retained in them. The recesses 116 may be angled and have a lip which forms a punch point where the strands bend. Biodegradable adhesives may be employed to assist with securing the strands which may be rattan. The arrangement is designed to provide an ecologically friendly coffin.

Description

An Improved Coffin and a Method of Constructing an Improved Coffin

The present invention relates to a coffin, particularly, but not exclusively, a coffin which is ecologically friendly.

It is well known to provide ecologically friendly coffins for the burial of cadavers. Such coffins typically comprise biodegradable components such as wooden substructures, rattan walls, rope handles etc. However, ensuring that the structural integrity of such coffins is adequate to hold and carry a heavy cadaver whilst retaining a desirable aesthetic appearance to the coffin can be problematic.

In an attempt to provide the required structural integrity, an existing method described in United Kingdom Patent No. 2440734, and illustrated further in Fig. 1, involves passing cut ends 10 of rattan warp strands 12 (extending from a wall of rattan weave 14) into through-holes 16 in an underlying frame member 18 of a coffin. Whilst this creates a relatively strong attachment between the wall of rattan weave 14 and the frame member 18, a disadvantage of this arrangement is that it forms an uneven surface on the upper edge of the frame member 18 due to the necessary presence of the warp strands 12 passing over the top of the frame member 18. This uneven surface is aesthetically sub optimal and can cause difficulties when trying to place or attach another frame member (such as a coffin lid) directly onto the frame member 18.

Another known method of attaching the cover layer to the base frame of the coffin is illustrated in Fig. 2. In this arrangement each cut end 10 of each warp strand 12 is terminated adjacent the member 18 and is bent into abutment with the underside of the member 18. Several rattan strips 20 are then wrapped tightly around the frame member 18 and over the bent ends 10 of the warp strands in order to secure them to the underside of the member 18. In common with the Fig. 1 arrangement previously described this is aesthetically sub optimal and also has the disadvantage of causing difficulties when trying to place or attach another frame member directly onto the base frame member 18.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a coffin comprising a substructure which is at least partially surrounded by a cover layer formed from a plurality of weft strands interlaced with a plurality of warp strands in order to form a cadaver receiving chamber; wherein at least a frame member of the substructure is provided with a plurality of warp receiving recesses which extend partially into a side of said frame member and which terminate within the frame member without passing through to the other side of the frame member such that a cut end of a respective warp strand may be retained within each warp receiving recess. A longitudinal axis of the or each warp receiving recess may be angled at an angle a from the plane of an adjacent portion of cover layer such that each warp strand cut end is bent into the receiving recess in order to create a pinch point between a pinch point engaging lip of the respective receiving recess and the inner bend of the warp strand.

The structural integrity of the warp strands are such that they are thick and rigid enough to provide a strong structural base through which the material of the weft strands are woven. This inherent structural rigidity and resilience makes the warp strands sufficiently resilient to bending in order to create the desired pinch point described.

The dimensions of the receiving recess may be such that, when bent into the receiving recess, a portion of the cut end of each warp strand is in frictional abutment with a portion of the receiving recess which is diametrically opposed to the side of the recess on which the pinch point engaging lip of the receiving recess is positioned. This portion may be a roof of the recess in the case of a warp strand being attached to an upper frame member of the coffin or else may be a floor of the recess in the case of a warp strand being attached to a lower frame member of the coffin.

Each warp receiving recess may be provided with adhesive to facilitate secure attachment between the warp strand and respective receiving recess.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of constructing a coffin, the method comprising providing a coffin substructure; at least partially surrounding a frame of the substructure with a cover layer formed from a plurality of weft strands interlaced with a plurality of warp strands in order to form a cadaver receiving chamber; providing a plurality of warp receiving recesses in the frame member, the recesses extending partially into one side of said frame member and which terminate within the frame member without passing through to the other side of the frame member; and inserting cut ends of respective warp strands into each respective warp receiving recess.

The method may also comprise arranging the longitudinal axis of the or each warp receiving recess at an angle a from the plane of an adjacent portion of cover layer and bending each cut end of the warp strands into each respective receiving recess in order to create a pinch point between a pinch point engaging lip of the respective receiving recess and the inner bend of the warp strand.

The method may also comprise applying adhesive in each warp receiving recess in order to further facilitate secure attachment between each warp strand and its respective receiving recess.

Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the following diagrams, in which:-

Fig. 3A is schematic partial cutaway illustration of a covering and coffin substructure according to the present invention;

Fig. 3B is a more detailed illustration of a portion of the covering and coffin substructure;

Fig. 4A is a partial cut-away perspective illustration of a base member of the coffin substructure where a cut end of a warp strand is retained within a recess of the base member; and

Fig. 4B is a more detailed illustration of the engagement of Fig. 4A between the cut end of the warp strand and the recess.

With reference to Fig. 3A a coffin 100 comprises a substructure 102 having upper and lower frame members 104,106 attached to one another by upright struts 108. The walls of the substructure 102 are covered by a rattan weave 110 comprising weft members 112 and warp members 114. The warp members 114 are secured within recesses 116 provided in the upper frame member 106 as shown in Fig. 3B and subsequently described. The reader will appreciate that although the rattan weave 110 is shown to cover only a portion of the coffin 100 in Fig. 3A, this is for illustrative purposes only and the vertical walls and possibly also the base of the coffin 100 is in fact typically covered entirely by the rattan weave 110. A rattan weave lid (not shown) would also typically be provided. Strengthening base panels and / or cross bracing members may also be provided in the base of the coffin to provide additional support for the cadaver when placed in the coffin.

As illustrated in Fig. 4A, the upper frame member 106 is provided with a plurality of recesses 116 for receiving a cut and bent end 120 of each warp member 114 therein. The recesses 116 are uniformly spaced along the outer edge of the frame member 106 in order to secure the warp members at a uniform distance from one another. As illustrated, the depth of the recess 116 is such that it can receive the length of the bent and cut end 120 of the warp member 114 therein but does notallow the bent and cut end 120 to pass through to the other side of the base frame member 106.

The width of each recess is formed so as to receive the width of the warp cut end 120 in order to provide a friction fit therebetween.

With particular reference to Fig. 4B, the longitudinal axis L-L of the recess 116 is angled relative to the plane P-P of the rattan weave 114 by an angle a. In the presently described embodiment the angle a is approximately 90°; however, this may be a considerably more obtuse or acute.

During construction of the coffin 100, each cut end 120 of each warp strand 114 is bent over and inserted into a respective recess 116 on the frame member 106. Pressure may be applied by hand or byway of a hammering tool in order to force the cut ends 120 into the recesses 116. Once inserted into the recess 116 each cut end 120 may be a sufficiently close fit to the width of the recess 116 that a strong friction fit is created therebetween; however, since rattan is a natural substance and since there will therefore typically be variations in width along the length of a single fibre and / or between different fibres, a close friction fit may not always exist between the entire outer surface of the cut end 120 and the inner surface of the recess 116. This is not an issue since a strong engagement between the warp 114 and the recess 116 nonetheless exists due to there being a pinch point 122 created between the inner bend of the warp 114 and the outer lower lip (or pinch point engaging lip) 123 of the recess 116. Furthermore, additional strength is provided to the attachment due to there being corresponding abutment between the cut end 120 and the upper roof of the recess 116 at location 124 in Fig. 4B. The pinch point 122 and abutment 124 co-act with one another and with the inherent resilience of the rattan warp to create a strong connection between the warp strand 114 and the recess 116. If required, the connection between the warp 114 and the recess 116 may be further strengthened by applying a suitable biodegradable adhesive to the recess 116 and / or cut end 120.

The above described invention therefore provides a coffin with a high degree of structural integrity and a high aesthetic appeal. Furthermore, since the warp strands do not pass over the top of the base frame member this provides an even surface for attaching e.g. a lid member thereto.

Although particular embodiments of the invention have been disclosed herein in detail, this has been done by way of example and for the purposes of illustration only. The aforementioned embodiments are not intended to be limiting with respect to the scope of the statements of invention.

It is contemplated by the inventors that various substitutions, alterations, and modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the statements of invention. Examples of these include the following: -

Although in the described embodiment, the weft and warp members comprise rattan material, this could be replaced by alternative natural or synthetic materials capable of being woven in a similar way to provide a similar structure. A non-exhaustive list of natural materials which might be suitable includes raffa, sisal, wicker, willow, bamboo etc.

The coffin of the present invention may be of any dimension, size or shape.

Claims

1. A coffin comprising a substructure which is at least partially surrounded by a cover layer formed from a plurality of weft strands interlaced with a plurality of warp strands in order to form a cadaver receiving chamber; wherein at least a frame member of the substructure is provided with a plurality of warp receiving recesses which extend partially into a side of said frame member and which terminate within the frame member without passing through to the other side of the frame member such that a cut end of a respective warp strand may be retained within each warp receiving recess.

2. A coffin according to claim 1, wherein the longitudinal axis of the or each warp receiving recess is angled at an angle a from the plane of an adjacent portion of cover layer such that each warp strand cut end is bent into the receiving recess in order to create a pinch point between a pinch point engaging lip of the respective receiving recess and the inner bend of the warp strand.

3. A coffin according to either of claims 1 or 2, wherein the dimensions of the receiving recess are such that, when bent into the receiving recess, a portion of the cut end of each warp strand is in frictional abutment with a portion of the receiving recess which is diametrically opposed to the side of the recess on which the pinch point engaging lip of the receiving recess is positioned.

4. A coffin according to any preceding claim, wherein each warp receiving recess is provided with biodegradable adhesive to facilitate secure attachment between the warp and respective receiving recess.

5. A method of constructing a coffin, the method comprising:- providing a coffin substructure; at least partially surrounding a frame of the substructure with a cover layer formed from a plurality of weft strands interlaced with a plurality of warp strands in order to form a cadaver receiving chamber; providing a plurality of warp receiving recesses in the frame member, the recesses extending partially into one side of said frame member and which terminate within the frame member without passing through to the other side of the frame member; and inserting cut ends of respective warp strands into each respective warp receiving recess.

6. A method according to claim 5, further comprising arranging the longitudinal axis of the or each warp receiving recess at an angle a from the plane of an adjacent portion of cover layer and bending each cut end of the warp strands into each respective receiving recess in order to create a pinch point between a pinch point engaging lip of the respective receiving recess and the inner bend of the warp strand.

7. A method according to either of claims 5 or 6 further comprising applying biodegradable adhesive in each warp receiving recess in order to further facilitate secure attachment between the warp and respective receiving recess.

8. A coffin substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, or as illustrated in any of Figs. 3A to 4B.

9. A method of constructing a coffin substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, or as illustrated in any of Figs. 3A to 4B.