US1541414A - Grave-decorating structure - Google Patents

Description

June 9, 1925. 1,541,414

c. G. GoPLlN GRAVE DECORATING STRUG'IUREl June 9, 1925. 1,541,414

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Patented June 9, 1925.

UNITED STATES CLINTON G. GOPLI1`=T, OF FAR-GO, NDBTH DAKOTA.

GRAVE-DECORATING STRCTURE.

Application led enuary7 1921i. Szral No. 690,827.

To all 'whom 'it may concern."

Be it known that CLiN'roN G. Gorras', citizen of the United States, residinn at Fargo, in the county ot Cass and of North Dakota, has invented certain new and useful improvements in Grave-Decorating Structures, of'whirh the following is a specihcation.V

ri'his invention relates to a grave decorating structure and has for its object to provide an improved device of this character by means of which graves may be maintained in sightiy and orderly condition over an indeiinite period of time and whereby they may be suitably decorated and the decorations preserved from the ravages of the weather indefinitely.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description which follows.

ln the ac ompanying drawings:

Fig. l isa plan view ot' a structure ot the character descril'iedi with the cover removed;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view there through Fig. 3 is a liorizontal sectional view through one corner of the structure 5' Fig. l is an enlarged vertical sectional view upon line of Fig. l;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged transverse sectional view on line 5--5 of Fig. l; and

Fig. G is a transverse sectional View 'upon line GWG of F 2 illustrating only the casing and omitting the curtains and curtain roller, etc.

Like inunerals designate corresponding parts in all of the igures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings 5 designates the base of the structure which is of elongated and rectangular box-like formation and which has outwardly extending teeth or blades 6 projecting therefrom to increase the area upon which the foundation will rest and to thereby prevent undesirable settling of the saine. This foundation or base is lneferably made of cast iron but it may be formed of concrete or any other suitable material. It is channeled about its upper edge, as indicated at 8, for the reception of the glass sides 9 and glass ends l0. A glass cover ll is held in place by tie bolts l2 having` the glass knobs 13 upon their upper ends. These tie bolts take into bosses 14 at their lower ends, said bosses being integral with the base 5. The side and end glass plates are secured to each other at their corners by metallic molding clips le and l5 of a: usual and well known construction, the same being preferably formed of copper though any suitable sheet metal may be employed. llheinner clips l5 are provided with inclined slots which open at the upper edges of said parts, said slots being indicated at 1G and serving to provide mountings for the pivot l-T of an ordinary spring actuated shade roller 13 upon which a curtain 19' is wound. T his curtain may be dran-,fn outwardly by a wire 2O which passes through a small openino 2l formed in onev of the end walls of the structure and when drawn out in the manner described the curtaincloses the top of the structure beneath the top Vll and conreals the contents of the structure from view. ln addition, this curtain shades the `contents-- of the structure from the sun and prevents them irombeing rapidly faded the action of the-suinit being understoml that it is the intent to place within the :structure such suitable decorations. mementoes, and the like as may be desirable, such, for. example, as crucitixes, flowers, either lartificial or naturai, artiicial grass, photographs of 'the deceased, crosses and the like. v

"lai'igers 22 of flat metal, see Fig. 5, have their upper edges bent over the glass sides of the structure, as indicated at 23, and at their lower ends these hangers are shaped to support curtain rods or strips 24. These strips carry hooks or other suitable supporting devices 26 by means of which curtains or drapes 27 may be supported along the inner side of the si de and end walls.

It is a well known fact that the majority oi" graves are poorly kept. The task of keeping the ordinary grave in good condition is an endless one. Flowers and decorations placed. upon such graves and en posed to the elements, last only a day or two and when they deteriorate they leave the grave in a more unsightly condition than if they had not been placed there at all.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the present structure provides means whereby a grave may be suitably decorated in such manner that the decorations will be concealed from the gaze of merely curious persons but may be exposed to the view of relatives and friends when ever the cemetery is visited, by merely releasing the cord or wire 20. Furthermore, even with the curtain drawn the structure CTI presents a very siglitly appearance, since I contemplate making the curtains 26 ot velvet and these velvet curtains or drapes showing through the glass sides and ends, present a pleasing and ornamental appearance and provide a structure which is not subject to deterioration.

It is to be understood that. the invention is not limited to the precise construction se forth but that it includes within its purview whatever changes fairly come withi either the terms or the spirit of the appended claims.

Having described my invention what I claim is:

l. A structure oitl the character described comprising a base, glass sides and ends, metallic hangers engaged over the upper edge of the glass sides, strips supported in said hangers and drapes supported from said strips inside ot' the structure. 2. A structure as recited in claim l in combination with a spring actuated curtain roller, a curtain thereon and means ter supporting said roller in a position to have its curtain lie in a horizontal position and beneath said top.

3. A base of elongated rectangular shape and of box-like formation lnivingl a channel formed therein about its upper edge, a glass structure comprising side and end walls having their lower edges seated in said channels and a glass top resting upon the side and end walls, said side and end walls being held together by metallic molding at their corners, the inner members ot the inetallic molding at one end oi the structure being provided with roller supporting elements, a shade roller supported horizontally therein, a curtain on said roller adapted to extend horizontally beneath the glass top and means for actuating the curtain from the exterior of the structure.

4. A device of the character described adapted to be placed upon and constitute an ornament for a grave, comprising a boxlike base of water-proof material carrying lateral extensions adapted to aid in supportingl it upon the grave and to prevent it from sinking into the ground, the upper edge of said base being channeled, glass sides and end walls seated in the said channels, a glass top, means for binding the top, side and end walls to each other and to the base, strips extending along said side walls near the top thereof, hangers by which the strips are carried, said hangers engaging over the upper edges ot the glass side wall, hooks depending from the lower faces ot said strips, curtains supported upon said hooks and extending below the upper edge of the base, a horizontally movable shade located below the glass cover, a spring actuated shade roller by which said curtain is wound up and means controllable from the exterior of the structure for drawing said shade Jfrom the roller against the tension of its spring` to thereby shade and conceal from view the contentsof the structure.

In testimony whereof he atiiXes his sigy nature in the presence of two witnesses.

CLINTON G, GOPLIN.

lvitnesses FRANK I. TEMrLE, G. A. MCINTYRE.

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