US1452029A - Construction of coffins - Google Patents

Description

Apr. 11, 1923. HASZMZQ S. H. DEUEL CONSTRUCTION OF COFFINS Filed Sept. 30 1922 HHHI U I @nnni Fatented Apr. 17, 1923.

SANFORD HOYT DEUEL, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

CONSTRUCTION OF COFFINS.

Application filed September 30, 1922. Serial No. 591,630.

T all whom it may concern Be it known that I, SANFORD HoY'r DEUEL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oakland, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented a new and usefullmproveinent in the Construction of Coflins, of which the following is a specification and which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to cofiins for deceased persons and particularly to a method of making them less commercial, and more personal in identifying'them closely with the deceased through the use of an illuminated insignia. panel carrying the deceaseds religious or fraternal emblem, or other insignia or design which the family may desire to bring to the attention of friends during the obsequies. The principal result clesired being to have the insignia glow on the coilin with a diffused light during the entire ceremony and be visible in the subdued lighting attendant such functions.

I achieve the result mentioned by the coffin construction shown in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a side view of a cofiin with a portion of the lid broken away to show the insignia panel and portable electric flash lamp for illuminating it. Figure 2 is a'plan view of a part of Figure 1 showing a fraternal design upon the panel.

Figure 3 shows a transparent religious design afiixed to an opaque panel, interchangeable with the panel shown in Fig.

' ure 2.

' Figure 4 is a plan view of a coffin lid fitted with a glass illuminated religious design fixed permanently in place.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of Figure l showing in section the arrangement of parts making the device operative.

In Figure 1 a coffin 1 is shown in side elevation with a lid 2 in place upon it. In some coffins the lid has a viewing door at the head end as indicated at Just below this door the lid is shown broken away to show my insignia panel and illuminating arran ement.

A thin metal frame 4 is inserted into an opening through the lid and held in place by friction against it or through means of depending spring tongues as indicated at 5. The frame 4 carries two sheets of glass, 6 and 7, and between them a printed, colored, or cut-out design or insignia sheet 8.

The outer sheet of glass 6 is usually of artistic, tinted, or cathedral glass so as to soften or modify the design or light coming therethrough, and is usually conformed to the curve of the coffin lid when the cofiin lid is curved. The design sheet 8 is sometimes pasted to the inside of glass 6 or simply laid between the two sheets of glass. If pasted to sheet 6, sheet 7 may bedispensed with.

The frame 4 has a continuous edge overlapping the coffin lid as shown and also one projecting inwardly overlapping the glass. Under the glass the frame has a series of prongs 9 which may be bent up against the inner glass to secure the glass sheets and design sheet in place, so that they may all be lifted out with the frame as a unit.

Under the insignia panel, and secured to the coffin lid, is a sheet metal reflector 10 spaced from the panel as shown, and at 11 is a regular pocket electric flash lamp positioned in a pocket 12 in the lid and held in place by the spring clip 13. This lamp is readily' inserted or removed by lifting out the insignia panel frame 4 as it is not accessible from inside of the cofhn lid as the panel, lamp and reflector are all concealed by the shirred upholstery lining 15, such a spaced or loose lining being common to coffin lids.

flhe reflector may be corrugated very finely at 16 to properly diffuse the light of the lamp and also to project it at the proper angle outward through the insignia panel, or the corrugated portion may be separately laid on a supporting sheet as shown.

Figure 2 shows a plan view of a portion of the lid of the coffin shown in Figure 1 and makes clear the arrangement of the parts just described, the same being sim ilarly numbered.

At 17 is shown thumb depressions in the lid of the coffin at the side of the frame for lifting it out, either for adjusting or inserting the lamp, or the insignia sheet.

Of course it is evident without a detailed drawing that the design or insignia may be embodied in the glass if desired, such as leaded glass, stained glass, etc., but the separate design sheet makes it easy to meet any special requirement of design.

Figure 3 shows an opaque panel 18 with a religious emblem of moulded glass 19 inserted in it. This panel is adapted to be placed in the frame 4 of Figure 1 in place of the glasses, etc, and is but one example of through the lid 2' and held by the spring clip 13 secured to a plate 22 covering the hole.

This, plate 22 is preferably the usual engraved coflin plate. The other parts shown arev as described for Figure 1 and. likewise all are concealed by the coflin lid drapery lining 15. I use the standard pocket electric flash 1 lamp as a source of illumination on account of its especial adaptability, convenience, and the fact that it will burn continuously for a dozen hours or more, which is'long enough for the purpose intended, though of course any other form of'e-lectric or other lighting is intended to be covered in some of my claims. I i

Note, that in using the words insignia, design, or light transmittingdevice, etc., in my claims I wish to embrace any fraternal or'other design, a cross or other religious emblem or design. or a prayer, or picture, or any other device desired to be placed. on the panel or inserted in the coflin lid in accordance with this invention.

1. In a coflin, a lid, an opening through said lid, a frame fitting therein, a sheet of glass in said frame, a light modifying design on one side of said glass, a portable electric lamp and a reflector beneath said lid arranged to throw light from the lamp through the design.

2. In a coflin, a lid, a light transmitting design set therein, a drapery lining secured to the lid, an electric lamp positioned between said lining and said lid, and a reflector between said design and said lining adapted to reflect light from said lamp through said design.

3. In a coflin, a lid, an opening therethrough, a removable frame fitting said opening, a light transmitting design carried by said frame, a corrugated reflector disposed in a substantially horizontal position beneath said design and spaced therefrom, a portable electric lamp detachably secured to the inside of the lid and arranged to throw light on said reflector for transmitting through said designf ii i l 4:. In a coflin, a lid, a drapery lining within said lid, a light transmitting insignia set in said lid. an electric lamp. detachably secured to the inside of the lid between said lining and said lid, a reflector arranged between said lining and said insignia and spaced therefrom and adapted to receive light from said lamp and reflect it through said insignia.

5. In a coflin, a lid, an opening therethrough with a light transmitting design d therein, a lining secured to the lid, anda lamp positioned between said lining and said lid arranged to throw light through said design. i

6. In a coflin, a lid, a light transmitting design set therein. an electric flash lamp arranged under said lid, means for reflecting light from said lamp through said design, and means concealing the above elements from being seen from the'under side of the lid when same is open.

7 .In acoflin, a lid, a light transmitting design set therein, a lamp under said lid arranged to shed light through said 'design, and'means concealing the above elements from being seen from the under sideoit'the lid when same is open.

8. In a coffin, a lid, a viewingpanel therein, an opening through the lid adjacent said viewing panel, a light transmittingldesign in said opening, a lamp concealed'by said lid, and a reflector arranged to reflect' light from said lamp through said design.

9. In a coffin, a lid, an'openi'ng there.- through, a light transmittingdesign. therein, an electric flash lamp concealed under said lid, and a reflector arranged to reflect lightfrom said lamp through said design.

10. In a coffin, an opening.therethrough, a light transmitting designt-herein, a self contained temporary source of illumination within said 'coflin arranged to illuminate said design from within said coflin for a limited length of time. I

11. In a coflin, a recessed lid, a light transmitting design in an opening therethrough, a source of light wit-hin the recess adapted to illuminate the design from within the lid, and allining extending across. the recess. be tween the above elements andfthe lower .part otthe coffin. I

iSANFORD HOYT DE-UEL.

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