US20070152549A1

US20070152549A1 - Wall-mounted ash display cabinet

Info

Publication number: US20070152549A1
Application number: US11/325,163
Authority: US
Inventors: Dennis Champagne
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-01-04
Filing date: 2006-01-04
Publication date: 2007-07-05

Abstract

A wall-mounted ash display cabinet comprising: a medial wall; a first sidewall in communication with a medial wall; a second sidewall in communication with the medial wall, in opposition to the first sidewall; a front ash wall in communication with the first sidewall and second sidewall; a shelf base in communication with the first sidewall, the second sidewall, and the front ash wall; a hinge wall in communication with the medial wall, the first sidewall, the second sidewall, and the front ash wall; a front display case wall in communication with the medial wall, the first sidewall, and the second sidewall; a rear wall in communication with the first sidewall, the second sidewall, the case wall, and the shelf base; an ash door moveably attached to the front ash wall, the ash door comprising at least one ash window; a display door moveably attached to the front display case wall, the display door comprising at least one display window; and wherein the at least one ash window is configurable to show the interior of at least one sealed volume.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a wall-mounted display for cremation ashes.

BACKGROUND

As a technique for disposal of a dead body, cremation is becoming more popular for various reasons. Cremation generates ashes which are of course of greatly reduced volume relative to the volume of the original body. The ashes are wholly hygienic and have little bodily material, but it remains a problem as to how to dispose of the ashes. In some cases ashes are spread at a particularly preferred location of the deceased. In some cases the ashes are interred in an urn and subsequently buried in a burial plot which can act as a memorial, although the burial plot is of course significantly reduced in dimension relative to the conventional burial plot for the interred body.
In other cases the ashes are stored in an urn or other container which can be displayed as a memorial or ornament in the home of a relative or which can be simply stored away. Little attention has been given to the development of containers or urns suitable for this purpose and in many cases the container is simply an open container into which the ashes are poured and from which the ashes can be spilled if the container is tipped or upset.
Therefore, a cremation ash display that is needed that avoids the above mentioned and other drawbacks.

SUMMARY

The disclosed invention relates to a wall-mounted ash display cabinet comprising: a medial wall; a first sidewall in communication with a medial wall; a second sidewall in communication with the medial wall, in opposition to the first sidewall; a front ash wall in communication with the first sidewall and second sidewall; a shelf base in communication with the first sidewall, the second sidewall, and the front ash wall; a hinge wall in communication with the medial wall, the first sidewall, the second sidewall, and the front ash wall; a front display case wall in communication with the medial wall, the first sidewall, and the second sidewall; a rear wall in communication with the first sidewall, the second sidewall, the case wall, and the shelf base; an ash door moveably attached to the front ash wall, the ash door comprising at least one ash window; a display door moveably attached to the front display case wall, the display door comprising at least one display window; and wherein the at least one ash window is configurable to show the interior of at least one sealed volume.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure will be better understood by those skilled in the pertinent art by referencing the accompanying drawings, where like elements are numbered alike in the several figures, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a disclosed wall-mounted ash display cabinet;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the disclosed wall-mounted ash display cabinet from FIG. 1, with the ash door and display door opened;
FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the disclosed wall-mounted ash display cabinet from FIG. 1 with the rear wall removed;
FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of the disclosed wall-mounted ash display cabinet from FIG. 3, with a first keepsake panel installed;
FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of the disclosed wall-mounted ash display from FIG. 4, with a both the first keepsake panel and a second keepsake panel installed;
FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of the disclosed wall-mounted ash display from FIG. 5, with the rear wall installed; and
FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of another embodiment of the disclosed wall-mounted ash display cabinet, with only one ash window.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a disclosed wall-mounted ash display cabinet 10. A first sidewall 14 is visible in this view, the second sidewall 18 is not visible in this view, but is visible in FIG. 2. A display case floor 19 is not visible, but is in communication with the first sidewall 14 and second sidewall 18 at the bottom of the display cabinet 10. A shelf base 22 and shelf 26 is located at the top end of the cabinet 10. An ash door 30 is located below the shelf base 22. The ash door 30 may have an ash door opening knob 34. The knob 34 may be a simple peg, hook, or any other suitable device to allow one to pull open the ash door 30. Below the ash door 30 is a front display case wall 38. Located in the front display case wall 38 is a display door 42 with a display window 46. There may be a plaque 50 located on the front display case wall 38. The display door 42 may have a door lock 43. When the door lock 43 is locked, both the display door 42, and ash door may be configured to lock. In another embodiment, the ash door 30 may have its own door lock.
FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the disclosed wall-mounted ash display cabinet 10 from FIG. 1. In this Figure, ash door 30 has been opened revealing a front ash wall 50 with at least one ash window 55. In this embodiment two ash windows 55 are shown. Between the front ash wall 50 and front display case wall 38 is a hinge wall 54. At least one hinge 58 is coupled to the ash door 30 and the hinge wall 54. The at least one hinge 58 may be visible or hidden. Also in this Figure, the display door 42 has been opened revealing the rear wall 60 and the second sidewall 22. The interiors of the medial wall 66, first sidewall 14, second sidewall 18, front display case wall 38, and the display case floor 19 define a volume that is the display volume 70. The interior of the rear display wall 60 may be covered with a cork material or cork-like material, and over the cork material a velvet, felt or other covering may be placed which is suitable for the display of memorabilia in the display volume 70, such as, but not limited to, pictures of a loved one, items of the loved one such as a pair of glasses, lucky rabbit's foot, etc. In other embodiments, the cork material, or cork-like material may also be placed on the first and second sidewalls 18, 22, and the display case floor 19, which may then also be covered in velvet, felt or any other suitable covering. A light source 62 is shown attached to the display side of a medial wall 66 that is in communication with the first sidewall 18 and second sidewall 22. The medial wall 66 is not visible in FIGS. 1 and 2, but is visible in FIG. 3.
FIG. 3 shows a perspective view from the rear of the disclosed wall-mounted ash display cabinet 10 with the rear wall 60 removed. An ash container volume 74 is defined by the interior of the shelf base 22, the first sidewall 14, the second sidewall 18, the medial wall 66, the front ash wall 50 and the rear wall 60 (removed in this figure). Attached to the front ash wall 50 is a keepsake container 78. The keepsake container 78 comprises a plurality of walls: an upper keepsake wall 82, a lower keepsake wall 86, an inner keepsake wall 90, a first outer keepsake wall 94, and a second outer keepsake wall 98. The inner keepsake wall 90, first outer keepsake wall 94, and second outer keepsake wall 98 are all coupled to both the upper keepsake wall 82 and lower keepsake wall 86. The keepsake container 78 is configured and attached to the front ash wall 50 such that both ash windows 55 are generally centered in the openings of the keepsake container 78. The light source 62 is shown attached to a light base 102. The light base is in electrical communication with a power supply 106 via an electrical communication device 110, such as, but not limited to a wire. The power supply 106 may be, but not limited to, one or more batteries. In other embodiments, the light base 102 may be in electrical communication with a power supply located external to the cabinet 10, such as, but not limited to a home electrical system. The power supply 106 is located in a compartment located between the display case floor 19 and the cabinet bottom panel 114. The cabinet bottom 14 may have an access panel to allow access to the power supply 106.
FIG. 4 shows again a perspective view from the rear of the disclosed wall-mounted ash display cabinet 10 with the rear wall 60 removed. However, in this Figure, a first keepsake panel 118 is shown attached to the keepsake container 78. The keepsake panel 118 is attached to the keepsake container via at least one adhesive element between the panel 118 and container 78. Additionally, a plurality of screws 122 also are used to attach the first keepsake panel 118 to the keepsake container 78.
FIG. 5 shows a perspective view from the rear of the disclosed wall-mounted ash display cabinet 10 with the rear wall 60 removed, with both the first keepsake panel 118 and a second keepsake panel 126 attached to the keepsake container 78. The second keepsake panel 126 is attached to the keepsake container via at least one adhesive element between the panel 126 and container 78. Additionally, a plurality of screws 122 also are used to attach the second keepsake panel 126 to the keepsake container 78. Thus it should be clear that there are two volumes in the keepsake container 78. The first keepsake volume 91, is defined by the upper keepsake wall 82, the lower keepsake wall 86, the inner keepsake wall 90, the first outer keepsake wall 94, the front ash wall 50, and the first keepsake panel 118. The second keepsake volume 92, is defined by the upper keepsake wall 82, the lower keepsake wall 86, the inner keepsake wall 90, the second outer keepsake wall 98, the front ash wall 50, and the second keepsake panel 126.
FIG. 6 shows perspective view from the rear of the disclosed wall-mounted ash display cabinet 10 with the rear wall installed. The rear wall 60 comprises an upper section 130 and a lower section 130. The upper section 130 and lower section 134 are attached to the cabinet 10 via an adhesive element between the upper section 130 and lower section 134 on the one hand, and the cabinet 10 on the other hand. Additionally, a plurality of screws 122 also are used to attach upper section 130 and lower section 130 to the cabinet 10.
FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of the disclosed wall-mounted ash display cabinet 10. In this embodiment, the front ash wall 50 has only one ash window 55. The disclosed cabinet may be easily modified such that front ash wall 50 may have one or two ash windows 55, and the ash window 55 may be either on the left or right side of the cabinet 10.
The disclosed wall mounted display cabinet may be variously configured. For example, in one configuration, a keepsake amount of ashes, generally about one cup, may be kept in the first keepsake volume with the first keepsake panel 118 installed. The second keepsake panel 126 may be left uninstalled. In this configuration, the front ash wall 50 with only one ash window 55 installed may be used. Various mementos may be stored in the ash container volume 74 prior to the upper section 130 being installed. In another configuration, all the ashes of a person, which is generally much more than a cup, may be stored in the container volume 74, with neither the first keepsake panel 118 nor the second keepsake panel installed 126, but with the upper section 130 installed. In still another configuration, keepsake ashes for two people may be stored in the cabinet 10. In this configuration, a first person's ashes may be kept in first keepsake volume 91, with the first keepsake panel installed, and the second person's ashes may be kept in the second keepsake volume 92, with the second panel 126 installed. Various mementos of either one or both of the people may be stored in the ash container volume 74 prior to the upper section 130 being installed. The cabinet 10 may be configured to be installed on a wall, or the cabinet 10 may be configured to be recessed into a wall. In other configurations, additional keepsake volumes may be installed using the same keepsake container concept, but instead of only having two volumes 91, 92, the keepsake container may configured to have a single volume, or 3 or more volumes for separate containment of people's ashes. The use of adhesive elements, and the screws 122 provides sealed volumes such that the ashes are protected from contamination or leakage.
It should be noted that the terms “first”, “second”, and “third”, and the like may be used herein to modify elements performing similar and/or analogous functions. These modifiers do not imply a spatial, sequential, or hierarchical order to the modified elements unless specifically stated.
While the disclosure has been described with reference to several embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the disclosure. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the disclosure without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this disclosure, but that the disclosure will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A wall-mounted ash display cabinet comprising:

a medial wall;

a first sidewall in communication with a medial wall;

a second sidewall in communication with the medial wall, in opposition to the first sidewall;

a front ash wall in communication with the first sidewall and second sidewall;

a shelf base in communication with the first sidewall, the second sidewall, and the front ash wall;

a hinge wall in communication with the medial wall, the first sidewall, the second sidewall, and the front ash wall;

a front display case wall in communication with the medial wall, the first sidewall, and the second sidewall;

a rear wall in communication with the first sidewall, the second sidewall, the case wall, and the shelf base;

an ash door moveably attached to the front ash wall, the ash door comprising at least one ash window;

a display door moveably attached to the front display case wall, the display door comprising at least one display window; and

wherein the at least one ash window is configurable to show the interior of at least one sealed volume.

2. The wall-mounted ash display cabinet of claim 1, further comprising:

an inner keepsake wall, in communication with the front ash wall;

an upper keepsake wall in communication with the inner keepsake wall and the front ash wall;

a lower keepsake wall in communication with the inner keepsake wall and the front ash wall, and in opposition to the upper keepsake wall;

a first outer keepsake wall in communication with the upper keepsake wall, the lower keepsake wall, and the front ash wall;

second outer keepsake wall in communication with the upper keepsake wall, the lower keepsake wall, and the front ash wall; and

at least one sealed volume formed by a keepsake panel in communication the inner keepsake wall, upper keepsake wall, and lower keepsake wall.

3. The wall-mounted ash display cabinet of claim 2, wherein the at least one sealed volume is a first keepsake volume defined by the upper keepsake wall, the lower keepsake wall, the inner keepsake wall, the first outer keepsake wall, the front ash wall, and a first keepsake panel.

4. The wall-mounted ash display cabinet of claim 2, wherein the at least one sealed volume is a second keepsake volume defined by the upper keepsake wall, the lower keepsake wall, the inner keepsake wall, the second outer keepsake wall, the front ash wall, and a second keepsake panel.

5. The wall-mounted ash display cabinet of claim 1, further comprising:

an ash container volume formed by the shelf base, the first sidewall, the second sidewall, the medial wall, the front ash wall and the rear wall.

6. The wall-mounted ash display cabinet of claim 1, further comprising:

a light base in communication with the medial wall;

a light source in electrical communication with the light base.

7. The wall-mounted ash display cabinet of claim 6, further comprising:

a display case floor in communication with the first sidewall, the second sidewall, the rear wall, and the front display case wall;

a cabinet bottom panel located below the display case floor, and in communication with the first sidewall, the second sidewall, the rear wall, and the front display case wall, the cabinet bottom panel comprising an access panel;

a power supply located in a compartment defined by the display case floor, cabinet bottom panel, the first sidewall, the second sidewall, the rear wall, and the front display case wall, the power supply in electrical communication with the light base.

8. The wall-mounted ash display cabinet of claim 1, wherein the ash door and display door are attached to the cabinet via hidden hinges.

9. The wall-mounted ash display cabinet of claim 1, further comprising:

a display case floor in communication with the first sidewall, the second sidewall, the rear wall, and the front display case wall; and

wherein the interior of the rear display wall is covered with a surface layer of material selected from the group consisting of velvet, felt, and fabric.

10. The wall-mounted ash display cabinet of claim 9, further comprising:

a cork layer is located between the surface layer of material and the interior of the rear display wall.

11. The wall-mounted ash display cabinet of claim 1, further comprising:

a door lock located on the display door.

12. The wall-mounted ash display cabinet of claim 11, wherein the door lock is configured to lock both the display door and the ash door.