US1853772A - Grave marker - Google Patents

Description

Plll 12 a J4 M M CCOMA GRAVE MARKER s l 8 Fil TTORNEYl Patented Apr. 12, 1932 PATENT vFFICE JOE' M. McCoMAs, lor LIBERTY, MissoURI GRAVE MARKER Application led July 417,

Myinvention relates to grave markers and has for its principal objects to provide an attractive, inexpensive and durable marker that may be securely retained in either horie zontal or vertical position in suitablerelation to a grave, without requiring conspicuous and unsightly anchoringm ans. i

Many4 cemeteries require horizontal grave markers, lowv enough to permit passage of le mowers thereover. A further object of my invention therefore, is to provide a metal marker that will meet requirements of cemeteries and that when positioned horizontally will have desired qualities of visibility and '5 permanence.

In accomplishing these and other objects of my invention, I have provided improved details of structure, the preferred form of which is illustrated in the accompanying 20 drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a marker embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective View of the device shown in vertical section, one of 2D the indicia being partly placed.

Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of one of the indicia members.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of a grave provided with my improved mark- 30 er shown in vertical position.

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the marker in horizontal position.

Referring in detail to the drawings:

1 designates a hollow marker body including a back member comprising a plate 2 having edge flanges 3, and a front or cover member 4 having a peripheral flange 5 forming a lid-like housing into which the back member is inserted to form a casing. The flanges 40 3 and 5 have sufficient width to elevate the face of the front member substantially above a surface on which the marker is horizontally positioned, for example about one inch above the ground surface at the edge of a grave as 45 illustrated in Fig. 5.

The front member is provided with integral extensions or attaching flaps 6 and 7 on the flanges at upper and lower ends thereof forming retaining wings hinged to the front member and provided with slots 8 adjacent 1930. Serial No. 468,599.

their free ends to .receivev retainers suchv as pins or spikes ,9 having heads 10 and insertable into the vertical end wall 11 of a grave 12 when a wing overlies said wall, to anchor the mark-er to the ground, as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5.

The back member is preferably formed of steel to provide a relatively rigid and inflexible base for the marker, andthe front member of aluminum to provide'a weather proof and attractive frame for indicia as later described, and to render the wings flexible for facilitating bending the vwings for purposes presently describe Y One wing, forexample the4 upper wing,

m'ay'therefore easily be bent rearwardly to engage the back member and retain the same securely in assemblywith the front vframe member,l when the lower wing is anchored to the grave wall to support the marker vertically as illustrated infFig. 4, or the lower wing may serve to latch t-he casing members together and the upper wing may be'bent at right angles to the` front frame and anchored to the grave wallto retain a horizontally positioned 'marker as illustrated in Fig. 5.

` A portion 13 ofthe front member is outstrucl to provide an outwardly vodset indicia-receiving panel having instruck areas formingV transverse elongated recesses or socketshaving bottoms 14 lying substantially in theplane of the body of the member, and edge walls 15 provided with slots 16 to receive relatively long tapering iiexible tongues 17 having bent tips'18 on the Lipper ends of metal indicia or letter members 19 and short broad tongues 2O at the lower ends of the letter members. The indicia members have height corresponding toV thevertical dimensions of the sockets to enable the members to seat snugly therein. f y

A similar raised area 21 of the front member is indented t0 provide a recessed panel 22 which is provided with slots 23 to receive flexible ears 24 of plates 25 bearing suitable indicia, for example, an undertakers business address.

The unindented raised portions of the-front plate forms bordersV around the indicia-receiving sockets, and provide webs spacing the letter-receiving sockets.

In using the invention, an undertaker may stock a supply of the markers and letters, and provide a. marker for installation at a grave in either vertical or horizontal position. Suitable letters may be arranged in the display panel `to forni an inscription, the short lower tongues being inserted first in slots in the lower walls of the recesses, and the longer tongues then being inserted in the upper walls.

The different shapes of the tongues thus obviate interference of the tongue of one letter with the tongue of a vertically aligned and adjacent letter. Acard may then be p0- sitioned in the lower recess. The back member may then be mounted the front frame member. p

Vhen vertical positioning of the marker is desired and permitted, the upper wing 6 will then be bent rearwardly to engage the back member, and the lower wing will be located against an end wall of the grave and anchored thereto by the pin. Should horizontal positioning of the marker be desired or required, the lower wing will be bent to latch the members together, and the upper wing will be bent at right angles to the casing whereby the marker may be located in horizontal position at the edge of the grave with the upper wing anchored to the end wall thereof, so that the inscription will be properly related to the grave.

The marker casing may be pressed against the earth so that mowers may pass thereover and the display surface of the marker will be located at a sufficient elevation to be clearly visible and not obscured by grass growing over and around the grave.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A grave marker comprising a front member formed of flexible material having an edge flange, a base member having an edge flange formed of relatively rigid material, means includin-g said edge flange of the base member for spacing base and front members from each other, and opposite wings on said front member flange, one wing adapted to act as a support for said marker and the other `wing adapted to be folded against said base member for latching said front and base members together.

2. In a device of the character described, a display plate having an outstruck panel with selectively depressed portions to form recesses and edge walls, said edge walls being provided with slots, and metal indicia members having relatively long and narrow tongues at the upper ends thereof and short and wide tongues at the lower ends thereof insertable in said slots for retaining said members in said depressions.

3. A grave marker comprising a front lnember formed of flexible material having an edge flange and an outstruck panel with selectively depressed portions having slots in the edge walls thereof, a base member with an edge flange, means including said base member edge flange for spacing said front and base members, and opposite wings on the edge flanges of the front member, one of said wings being adapted to extend into a grave for supporting said marker, and the remaining wing adapted to be folded against said base member for securing said front and face members together.

4:. A grave marker comprising a front member formed of exible material having a peripheral Yedge flange and an instruck panel forming edge walls having slots, indicia members having tongues insertable in said slots, a base member including a flange for spacing said front and base members, and opposite integral attaching wings continuing from the flange of the front member, one of said wings being adapted to extend into a grave .and the other to be folded against said base member for securing said front and base members together.

' In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

J OE M. MCOMAS.

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