US1842437A - Burial vault - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 26, 1932. 1 J, WELCH 1,842,437

BURIAL VAULT Filed NOV. 2l, 1930 wumtoa l 'Patented Jan. 26, 17932 UNITED STATES PATENT; OFFICE Application `filed Novembengl, 1930. Serial No. 497,086.

This invention relates to improvements in burial vaults or coffin receptacles.`

The main object of the invention 1s to provide a bural-vault adapted to be set in the f ground and includinga sealed coflin chamber and a sealed air chamber above the coffinv chamber, the latter being exposed to the sun and air whereby the air therein and in the casket chamber is kept dry and warm.

Another object is to provide means in both the casket and air chamber whereby the effec- -tive surfaces of the wall or closure between the chambers are increased in sizeto greatly facilitate the warming and drying of the air in the casket chamber, the said wall or closure being for this purpose provided with pyramids or projections extended upwardly and downwardly into the air chamber and casket chamber respectively.

A further object is to provide a burlal vault of the character described in a simple and durable form. i

The foregoing and other objects together with means whereby the same may be carried into effect will best be understood from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the vault. Y,

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the vault.

Figure 3 is a vertical crosssection thereof. l Referring now more particularly to A the drawings the reference character 1 designates the casket chamber comprising the receptacle 2 formed of the bottom 3, opposed ends 4 and opposed sides 5, the top of the receptacle being open. The receptacle is constructed of cement or the like, is waterproof and air tight, and is of such size that the'coflin will set therein with a space remaining entirely around it to permit the free circulation of air, the said cofln for this reason being set on the raised transverse ribs 6 on the bottom 3. Inwardly extending ledges or shoulders 7 are provided on the sides 5 at some distance below their upper 'margins and a lower plate or closure 8 is seated on these shoulders to close the casket chamber 1. After the casket (not shown) 5 has been placed in the chamber 1 and the plate Vthe latter is set upon the seal 9 placed over the plate 8. This space is filled as shown at 13 with a sealing material similar to that before described. An upper plate 14 is set wlthin the form 10 upon the sealing material 9 and is held thereby in spaced relationship above the plate 8. A cover 15 is provided, the same having a marginal fiat edge 16 and the center upwardly arched or convexed portion 17. A 11p or tongue 18 is provided around the vunderside ofthe cover 15 and is so disposed that it will lit downward and seat in the seal or filling around the form 10 to make the joint between the cover and receptacle air and water tight. The fiat edge 16 extends beyond the margins of the receptacle 2 and contacts the same as shown, the upper edges of the receptacle being preferably covered with fresh cement before the cover is put in place to further seal the cover in place. A sealed air chamber 19 is thus provided between the plate 14 and cover 15 and within the form 10. f

The burial vault thus formed is set in the ground with the flat edge 16 of the cover 15 disposed flush with the surface of the ground to facilitate the mowing of the grass around the vault.

The cover l5 is thus exposed to the sun and a-ir causing the air in the aii` chamber 19 to become heated and to remain dry. This warm air then heats the air in the coln chamber 1 and causes the same to remain dry and warm at all times as will be understood. To

facilitate this warming and drying of the air inthe chamber 1 the lower plate 8 is provided with a plurality of spaced depended pyramids or projections 2O on its underside and the upper plate 14 is similarly provided with upwardly extended pyramids or projections 21. The effect lof these pyramids 2O and 21 is to increase the effective surfaces of the lates 8 and 14 exposed to the air in the chamrs 1 and 19 thus facilitating the abso tion and radiation of the heat from the air c amber 19 into the coiiin chamber 1.

The plates 8 and 14 are formed of cement similar to the receptacle 2 and the cover 15 is made of marble, granite or compositions thereof, the entire vault being reinforced with rods 22 and metal fabric or mesh 23 in the usual manner. The cover 15 is provided-with a depression 24 adapted to receive a suitable inscribed marker or heat stone (not shown).

While I have herein set forth a certain referred embodiment of my invention it is understood that I may vary from the same in minor structural details so as best to construct a practical device for the purpose intended, not departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a device of the receptacle, ceptacle beneath the upper margins thereof, a plastic filling over the to plate, an upper plate seated in the plastic ling, and a cover mounted on the rece tacle,

2. In a device of t e kind described, a receptacle, a lower plate seated in the receptacle beneath theupper margins thereof, a plastic filling over the top plate, an upper plate seated in the plastic filling, and a covel` mounted on the receptacle, and means whereby the effective upper and lower surfaces of the upper and lower plates respectively are increased.

3. In a, device of the kind described, a receptacle, a lower plate seated in the receptacle below the upper margins thereof, a plastic filling over the lower plate, an upper plate seated on the said filling, a cover mounted over the receptacle above the said u per plate, projections extended downward rom i the underside of the lower plate and similar projections extended upwardly from the upper side of the upper plate.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature. JAMES J. WELCH.

kind described, t a lower plate seated in the re-

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