US1637271A - Casket - Google Patents

Description

1,637,271 July 26, 1927 A, H. NIEMEYER GASKET Filed April 25. 1925 'QQ k n Q-7 49 m 40 24 f/gj i@ /57 MQ] m @i r@ 35 "Q35 0 @Q 41 36 31 29 /5 14 l mensa' .my 26,1927.

PATENT OFFICE.

n. imnmxiin, oir cincneo, rumors Lppllltlol llell April 83, 1303. Serial lo. 106,152.

This invention relates to certain .novelr 4Ll and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawing illustrating the preferred form of construction l and in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the body receivin box embodied in the invention illustratm the same removed from the casket she Fig.. 2 is a sectional detail view of the body receiving box taken substantially on line 2-2 of Fig. 1 illustrating the body receiving box confined in the casket shell.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional detail view taken substantially on. line 3-3 of o accomplish the various objects of the invention I rovide a casket shell 1() includin side wa 11, end walls l2 and 12 and' a ttom wall 13. Theb casket shell10 includes a cover 14 comprising sectional parts 15 and 16. These sectional parts are secured to one of the side walls 11 in a manner well known in the artl and are preferably covered l by a suitable fabric covering alsoin a manner well known in the art.

The end wall 12 and the side walls-11 have recesses 17 formed in their top edge portions as best illustrated in Fig. 2, for reasons hereinafter understood.

At this point I wish it to be understood that theshape of the casket shell, as well v as the construction thereof is immaterial so u far as the it will be ereinafter understood that the invention can be associated with'casket shells of various sizes and shies without depart ing from the spirit of` e invention.

resent invention is concerned asl Confined in the casket shell, Fig. 2, is a bod receiving box which includes metallic wal portions 18 and 19 defining the body receiving compartment 20. The wall portions 18 and 18 at the head portion of the body receiving box extend upwardly above the wall portion 19 deiinin together with adjacent portions of the cas et shell a compartment 21 for reasons hereinafter understood.V The wall portions 18 and 19 are reinforcedby reinforcing stri s 22 secured t0 these wall portions by suta le securing elements 23. Iii distending the wall portions in the position illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawing it is intended that where the ady jacent edges of the wall portions meet that these edges be sealed together for the purpose of providing an air tight body receiving box. The sealin of these adjacent edges can be accomplis ed by any one of the known methods in the art.

The upwardly extending portions 19 of the wall portions 18 and 18 define a. rectangular opening 24 which ermits observation of the interior of the ead portion `of the body receiving box. The to edge portions ofthe wall portions 18 and 18 define seats 25 disposed outwardly from the outer surface of these wall portions. Certain wall portions defining these seats are confined in the recesses 17 herein mentioned.

Positioned upon these supporting seats 25 is a rectangularly shaped rubber gasket 26 sealed to the supportm seats 25 through the medium of a la er o white lead 27, Fig. 2. Above this rub r gasket is arranged a glass sheet 28 which closes the openin 24 and arranged adjacent the peripheral e ges of this glass sheet is a second rectangularly shaped rubber gasket 29, Fig. 2. This rub ber gasket 29 is disposed between the glass sheet 28 and inwardly turned flanges 30 of a cap ring 31, as best illustrated in Fig. 2. This cap ring 31 includes depending flanges 32 which are disposed adjacent the outer surfaces 33 of the wall portions 34 defining the seats 25.

The cap ring 31 is secured in position, to compress the rubber askets with the peripheral edges of the g ass sheet therebetween through the medium of a shaped clamping bolts 35 o any approved construction. These clamping bolts 35 have plurality of U- end portions 36 which engage beneath the wall portions 33 defining the seats 25. The adjustable bolts 37 of these clampin bolts have their head portions 38 dispose upon thc inwardly turned flanges 30. By adjusting these bolts 37 in a certain direction the cap ring will be forced down upon the gasket 22 and effectively seal the glass sheet between itself and the seats thereby providing an air tight frame for the glass sheet 28.

From the description herein it will be apparent that the construction provides an air tight body receiving box for a casket shell whereby the glass sheet permits 'an unobstructed view of the head portion of the body (not shown) confined in the body receiving box.

In order to preserve the body (not shown) confined in the body receiving box, to prevent the growth and spread of contagious germs I preferably remove a certain amount of air from the box to form a partial vacuum therein. This is accomplished by providing an outlet valve 38 of any approved type and attaching the hose (not shown) of a vacuum pump (not shown) thereto for thel purpose. The valve is constructed on the order of a check valve which permits the exit of air but not the admission thereof.

A vacuum gauge 39 is rovided for the purpose of determining t e vacuum ressure within the body receiving box. his vacuum gauge when in use is supported by a suitable pet cock 39 of any approvedtype. This pet cock includes the usual operating handle 40 which opens communication between the vacuum gauge and the interior of the body receiving box. A second valve is provided for testing the air tight condition of the box. This second valve is indicated at 38 Fig. 2, and likewise is of any ag` proved type. One method of testing of t e air ti ht condition of the box is accomplishe by connecting an air pump (not shown) to the valve structure 38 and Submerging the body receiving box in a tank of water durin the operation of the air pump. If bubb es appear it is evident that the box is not comp etely air tight.

The construction of the vacuum gau e as well as the valve structures has not gbeen included in the description of the invention as well as valve for the sole purpose that neither the valve structures nor the vacuum gauge constitute the essence of the present invention as it is apparent that any approved vacuum gauge structures can be used to serve the purpose.

It is known that in most States of the Union the body of a person who has died of a contagious disease cannot be placed in an open casket of the ordinary construction for obvious reasons. Therefore it is an object of the'present invention, as is evident member,

from the description herein, to provide a casketwhich includes an air sealed body receiving box for receiving the body of a person who has died of a contagious disease to permit unobstructed observation of the head portion of the body. It is also pointed out that the casket embodying the invention is one which can be used for shi ping the body of a person a considerable stance. Thls is accomplished by reason lof the fact that the body is preserved because of the air tight condition of the body receiving box. In use the cover section 15 is preferably closed to obstruct observation of the foot portion of the body including the valve structures and the pet cock 39 and as the cover section 16 is preferably open it is intended that a suitable trimming 35 be provided to hide the rough finish of the body receiving box.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carryin my invention into effect, this is capable o variations and modification without de artiug from the spirit of the invention. I t erefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of' such variations and modi fcations as come within the scope of the appended claims.

The invention havin been set forth, what I claim as newand useul is:

1. The combination with a casket shell, of sectional coversfor the shell, a vacuum body receiving box confined in the casket shell, said box including at its head portion a sight opening, and a closure frame for the sight opening, said frame including supporting seats defined by wall portions of the box, transparent sheet compressble gaskets disposed on opposite sides along the peripheral edges of the transparent sheet, a cap ring having inturned anges disposed over one of the gaskets, and a sealing material between the other of the gaskets and the supporting seats.

2. An air sealed' body receiving box including wall portions providing seats defining a sight opening a compressble member upon the seat, sealing material between the member and the seat, a transparent member having edge portions resting u on the a compressble member disposed above the transparent member along the edge ortions thereof, a cap ring having inturne flanges disposed above the second mentioned compressble member,'and clam ing members for clamping said cap ring 1n position to seal the transparent member between the cap ring and t e seats.

3. The combination with a casket shell, of a cover therefor including individual sections, a vacuum body receiving box confined in the casket shell, said box including at its head portion a sight opening and having its top wall at its foot portion arranged below the sight opening, a valve structure carried by said top Wall and in communication with the interior of the box and adapted for con- I nection with the hose of a vacuum indicating mechanism carried by the top wall and in communication with the interior of the box,

one of said sections of the cover concealing the sight openin when in closed position and the other of t e sectional covers conceal 10 ing when in closed position the valve structure and vacuum indicating mechanism.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my si nature.

ALFRED H. NIEME R.

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