NZ214241A - Coffin with reusable outer casket - Google Patents

Description

1 214241 NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT 1953 I, MARMADUKE GUSTAV VON BRATT a citizen of South Africa, of 24 Claremont Terrace, Otumoetai, Tauranga, New Zealand, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: _ 2. 214241 ft The invention relates to coffins and, in particular, is con-cerned with an inner liner and outer casket assembly particularly suitable for use with cremations or burials, the liner being used up or destroyed but the casket being reusable.

It is an object of the present invention to produce a combination outer casket and inner liner suitable for use with cremations or burials, the liner being consumed and the casket being available for reuse. Thus, a liner of relatively inexpensive and readily combustible or decomposable material can be used 10 and a casket of significantly more expensive construction and design retained for reuse.

According to one aspect, the present invention consists in a casket assembly comprising a liner arranged to nest securely within an outer casket, the casket being provided with releas-15 able support means whereby, in one mode, the assembly can be raised with the liner supported within the casket and in another mode, with the support means released, the casket can be removed from around the liner.

Preferably, the assembled peripheral wall tapers downwardly and 20 inwardly to provide an open lower end of restrictive dimensions relative to the liner, the tapering configuration thus providing the liner support means.

Preferably, inwardly directed lugs are formed about a lower extremity of the peripheral wall to provide the or additional 25 support means.

O The above gives a broad description of the present invention, a preferred form of which will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: o ! >241 Figure 1 is a plan view of a sheet of material for a casket liner for use in the present invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of a sheet of material for the lid of a casket liner of the present invention; Figure 3 is a side elevation of an assembled liner with lid and depicted attached to a base board; Figure 4 is an end elevation of the liner of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a plan view of a first form of outer casket © depicted without a lid and showing the approximate positioning of the liner support lugs; Figure 6 is an end view of casket Figure 5; Figure 7 is a side sectional view of Figure 5 showing the positioning of hinges attaching sides to casket lid and location of side interlock and release means; 15 Figure 8 is a fragmented view detailing the shoulder corner of the outer casket of Figure 7 and depicting in particular the interlock release mechanism; Figure 9 is a sectional view of hinged casket side detailing liner side flaps in relation to casket side and 20 liner retainer supported by lugs where the sides are tapered; Figure 10 is a sectional view as for Figure 9 but with sides vertical; Figure 11 is a truncated perspective view detailing the 25 liner release mechanism of a casket with fixed vertical sides. The release screw is at the foot end and the mechanism ends at the shoulder.

Figure 12 is a simple end view of the mechanism Figure 11 only showing the retaining bracket an 30 section to which lug is welded. o Figure 13 is a sectional view of Figs. 11 and 12 giving the position of the liner and liner support in relation to the casket side.

In each of the illustrated embodiments a liner 10 is fabricated from a semi-rigid cardboard or similar material preferably in a substantially conventional coffin shape but with one, rather than conventional two, shoulder region defining corners. The liner 10 may be constructed in any suitable manner with, in the preferred embodiment, the liner typically being formed from single cardboard blank as shown in Figure 1. Preferably a further single cardboard blank forms a lid 11' as depicted in Figure 2 and a base section 12 of corresponding shape with the base being marginally narrower than the lid.

Along each side of the base 12 there may be one, two, three or more flaps 15, all extending to substantially the same distance from the main body of the base 12 itself, and arranged so that there are flaps 15 for the full length of each side. The number of flaps on each side depends on the particular shape of the desired coffin. These side flaps 15 and end caps 16 may have securing flaps 17 at the sides of them.

As depicted in Fig. 3 and 4 .in assembly the flaps form an upright peripheral wall about the base, the liner being closed by the folding of the lid 11. The lid 11 incorporates marginal flaps 18 thereabout which can be fastened down over the upper edges. The joins between the flaps when they are folded up to to form the upright walls may be strengthened by se additional strips (not depicted) of material over as by riveting, stapling or glueing.

Referring in particular to Figure 4 as aforesaid, with the base 12 being narrower than the lid 11, the liner 10 is of a downwardly and inwardly tapering cross-section. The ends 16 5 too may be tapered, but vertical ends are also quite within the scope of the invention.

A first casket outer 20 (Figure 5) is typically of substantially conventional configuration and, in particular, is shaped and dimensioned to match the liner 10 so that the liner 10 10 can nest securely with the casket 20. The casket outer 20 has a peripheral wall 21 formed in sections representing side and end panels in similar manner to the arrangement described above in respect of the liner. The wall sections may be detachably assembled together by any suitable interlocking 15 means therebetween and by hinge arrangements with a lid 36 fitted thereto. The fitting of the lid then secures the collapsible assembly of the casket into an essentially unitary form.

Referring to Figure 8 in particular for example, hinges 22 20 may be used along the upper edge of the casket wall, to join each panel of the wall 21 thereto. The panels of the wall are interlocked together at the adjoining edges. Preferably the interlock means comprise tubular lugs 37 mounted by plates 38 mounted to the inner faces of the wall 21 panels. The lugs 37 25 overlap (as at 50) on another to align the bores enabling a release pin 29 to home therein.Pin 29 is mounted for axial movement within the lugs to enable withdrawal thereof. Preferably pins 29 extend through the lid 36 to enable t. m r ^ °x their operation from ffiy z25febi»& 2L4241 above.

As depicted in Figures 5 and 6 preferably the peripheral wall of the casket outer tapers outwardly and inwardly to terminate with an open lower end forming a restricted opening, or open 5 bottom, 24, too small for the liner 10 to fit through. The tapering thus provides a support means for the liner when the casket and the liner are raised as an assembly.

When it is desired to remove the casket 20 from around the liner 10, the sections of wall 21 are released to swing out 10 pivoting about their upper edges that is about the hinges 22, after the pins 29 have been released. The casket can then be lifted away from the liner.

In addition or as an alternative, outer casket 20 is provided with inwardly projecting lugs 31 provided about a lower edge 15 of the casket peripheral wall to provide support beneath a casket liner nesting therein. The use of lugs 31 enables an uprightly walled casket liner to be utilised, the lugs supporting the liner within the casket.

; Referring to Figure 11, in an alternative embodiment outer casket 20 is provided with inwardly projecting lugs 31 mounted on rotatable shafts or pipe sections 32 held in place such as by pins or grub screws 33 so that the lugs hold the ,Ss_y' liner securely within the casket. Brackets 34 hold the shaft mounting to the casket walls. Pipe bushes 35 welded to 25 bracket 34 hold the mechanism together. Shafts 32 extend along the lower edge of each long side panel of wall 21 and through the associated end panel of wall 21. A release screw 39 and jtamw-— 3& 0 7 '21424.1 linkage 40 are attached thereto. At the opposing end each shaft 32 homes in a bush 41 incorporating an elongate slot which a projecting pin 43 on shaft 32 is located. By operating the release screw 39 shaft 32 can be withdrawn from 5 its associated bush 41 and can thus rotate allowing the lugs 31 to fall away from beneath an inner liner. The casket outer can then be removed and the inner casket containing the body cremated or covered over with soil as the case may be.

The brackets may extend substantially the full length of the 10 sides, or they may be relatively short, as shown and as many lugs incorporated as needed.

In this case, the side walls of the casket and/or the liner may be vertical, as the inward taper of the walls is no longer being relied upon to hold the liner in place within the outer 15 casket.

Various modifications to the above may be made without departing form the scope of the present invention as broadly defined or envisaged. For example, various different mechanisms for holding the inner casket within the outer casket 20 may be used, apart from those described above.

The inner liner may be formed of a single sheet of material, or it may comprise several pieces joined together in any suitable manner. If desired, the floor of the liner may be of sturdier material than the side walls, to guard against ^ premature break-out of the body from the casket. 214241 Referring to Fig. 3 in particular a liner formed from a single sheet as depicted in Fig. 1 may be attached to a base board of timber 13 to provide additional strength. The provisional of the base board will provide sufficient support to avoid the 5 need of lugs 31 in the zone of the outer casket 20 between the shoulder and the associated end of the casket. A similar approach may also be provided near the foot end. The liner may take the form of any suitable inexpensive container, able to be held with the outer casket until its release.

Thus, in use a casket outer and liner can be presented in a conventional manner without its being particularly apparent that a conventional casket is not being used. When required, the casket outer can be detached from the liner for reuse.

Claims (1)

1. WHAT I CLAIM IS ■' -f *v. i "i v .i,;X;- J %;$ o v—;1. A casket assembly comprising a liner arranged to nest securely within an outer casket, the casket being provided with releasable support means whereby, in one mode, the assembly can be raised with the liner;5 supported within the casket, and in another mode, with the support means released, the casket can be removed <^) from around the liner, and wherein the peripheral wall of the outer casket tapers downwardly and inwardly to provide an open lower end of restricted dimensions 10 relative to the liner, the tapering configuration thus providing the liner support means.;2. A casket assembly as claimed in claim 1,;wherein the wall sections of the peripheral wall of the outer casket are adapted to be opened out to release;15 the liner support, to permit the outer casket to be removed from around the liner.;3. A casket assembly as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein inwardly directed lugs are formed about a lower extremity of the peripheral wall of the outer casket to;20 provide the or additional support means.;4. A casket assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the lugs are arranged to „be rotatable to release the support, and to permit the outer casket to be removed from around the liner.;5. A casket assembly as claimed in claim 4,;wherein the lugs are releasably held against rotation by pins, screws or the like.;6. A casket assembly, substantially as herein described, with reference to any of the accompanying drawings.;MARMADUKE GUSTAV VON BRATT By His Attorneys HENRY HUGHES LIMITED;J* o; "25FEBW88 "I m