US2012016A - Burial vault - Google Patents

Description

F. E. NINDE BURIAL VAULT Aug. 20, 1935.

Filed June 22, 1952 (Ittorneg.

its final position, which can be manufactured,

Patented Aug. 20, 1935 UNITED STATES BURIAL VAULT Francis Earl Ninde, Tulsa, Okla.

Application June 22, 1932, Serial No. 618,649

9 Claims. (01. 27-17) The object of my present invention, broadly speaking, is the provision of a burial vault which is simple in construction, attractive and pleasing in appearance, easily operated to place it in sold, and installed at a comparative low price, and which will be highly appreciated by morticians.

More specifically stated, my object is the pro vision of a'burial vault which is adapted to be hermetically sealed, quickly, effectually, and permanently, whereby it will be absolutely impervious to both fluids and gases, or other chemical ingredients, and in which the parts, constitutingmy invention, will not be visible to the casual observer.

- Other objects and particular advantages of my invention'will suggest themselves throughout the following specification, and that which is new will be correlated in theappended claims.

The means whereby the principles of my invention may be carried out inga practical, efficient, and highly delectable manner, is shown in V porating the new and novel features of my invention. Figure 2 is a detail section, as-taken on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1, showing the parts as" secured in operative positions. I Figure 3 is a detail section, showing the same as Fig. 2, but with the parts separated, or detached with relation to each other.

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view, as taken in the line 4-4 of Fig. 1. Figure 5 is a perspective view of a burial vault, similar to that shown in Fig. 1, but with an alternative feature incorporated therein. Figure 6 is a detail section, as taken on the line 66 of Fig. 5. Figure '7 is a detail section, taken from the same line as Fig. 6, but showing the parts separated. Figure 8 is'a detail section, as taken on the line 8-4! of Fig.5; and Figure 9 is a detail section, as taken the ends, are formed integral with the bottom of the vault, will appear as in Figs. 1 2, 3, and 4. This arrangement permits the body of the vault to be placed in its final position, placing the casket therein, and finally placing the top in final position, as in Fig. 1.- Or, as an alternative arrangement my invention may be-employed around the. lower part of the vault, as shown in Figs. 5, 6, '7, 8 and 9. This latter arrangement permits the bottom alone, of the vaultjtobe placed in its final position first, placing a casket thereon, and finally placing the body of the vault, with the top integral therewith, in final position, as in Fig.5; However the means for obtaining said alternative features require no material changes in the elements of my invention, but simply the reversal, end for end, of said parts.

The basis for my invention,' and for either arrangement shown, comprises a vault, consist ing of the bottom A; the two sides B; the two ends C; and the top D, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5.

As to the invention proper I will first describe the arrangement of the parts pertaining especially to Fig. 1. Extending directly downward from around the lower edges of the top D, is the fiange or tongue I. The upper portions of the sides B and the ends C form a tongue 2, as indie cated in Figs. 2 and 3, which tongue isin sliding contact with the tongue I which extends around the vault. Secured to the undersideof the top Dis a bracket 3, which hastwo downwardly extending tongues 4 and 5, which are spaced apart, and likewise are spaced from the tongue I, thereby forming two downwardly opening slots 6 and l, as is clearly shown in Fig. 3.

Secured around to the inner face of the sides B, and the ends C, is a bracket '8, whose upper part forms'an offset tongue 9, which is parallel with and spaced from the tongue 2, forming a slot lli therebetween. 'The tongue 2 isadapted to enter the slot 5, and the tongue!) is adapted to enter the slot I, both of which areshown in Fig. 2. Formed horizontally around in the tongue 5 is a rounded concave-convex ridge 5a, with its concave face directed into "the slot 1. Likewise a companion ridge 9a is formed around in the'tongue 9, whose concavo face isdirected outwardly. When the tongue 9 is fully inserted in the slot 1, the ridge 9a will nest in the concavo channel of the ridge 5a, thereby forming an interlock. That is, as the tongue, 9 is being "inserted in the slot 1, it is evident that the ridge 90. will cause the tongue 5' to spring inwardly until the ridge 9a isente'red' in the concave ole:

pression of the ridge So, then the tongue 5 will, by its own resiliency, spring back to its normal position, thereby interlocking the members together in the relative positions shown in Fig. 2.

It is to be understood that the members I, 2, 3 and 4 extend continuously, that is entirely, around all four sides of the vault; while the member 5 is in four parts, or lengths, extending entirely around the vault, except at each corner of the vault where ashort space is provided, as indicated by the letter X in Fig. 9.

Numeral 3i) designates a curtain or the like, which is suspended from the shoulder of the bracket 8, as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, and it extends downwardly to near the bottom A, and entirely around the inside of the vault, and its function is merely to give an artistic effect and to cover the inner wall of the vault.

Turning now, more particularly, to the alternative arrangement of my vault, wherein the line of separation is at the lower part of the vault, rather than at the upper part thereof as above described, In this latter instance the structure is substantially the same, with the exception of its being oppositely disposed.

Turned upwardly from each of thesides, or

. q ger edges, of vthe bottom A, is a flange or tongue II. The lower portions of the sides 13 each forms a tongue I2, which tongues are in sliding contact with the outer face of the respective tongue II, and they extend downwardly even with the lower face of the bottom A. The lower portions of the ends C eachform a flange I3, which are adapted to rest on, or near, the surface of the bottom A, as indicated in Fig. 8.

Secured on the surface of the bottom A, and extending across each end thereof, is a bracket I4, with a tongue I5 extending therefrom, which tongues are adapted to be in sliding contact with their respective flanges I3. Secured on each of th brackets I4 is a secondbracket IS, with a tongue I! extending upwardly therefrom, and spaced from the respective tongues I5. Secured on the surface of the bottom A, and extending along each side thereof, is a bracket I8, with a tongue I9 extending upwardly therefrom, which tongue I9 is spaced from the tongues II and I5, and form a continuation of the tongue I'I. Formed between the tongues II-I9 and l5-I'I is a'slot 2B.

Secured to the inner sides of the members B and C, and extending entirely around inside the vault, is a bracket 2|, which has the two spaced apart tongues 22 and 23- depending therefrom, with the tongue 22 alsospaced from the tongue I2, and parallel therewith.

The spacing of the tongues I2, 22 and 23 form the slots 24 and 25. It is to be understood that the members I I, I2, I5 and 22 extend continuously, that is entirely, around all four sides of the vault; while the 'members IQ and 23 are in four parts, that is,.- extending entirely around they vault, except at 'eachcorner thereof, where a short space is provided, as indicated at X in Fig. 9. a

. Formed horizontally through the extent of and in the tongues I 9 and Z3, isfiarounded or concavo-convex ridge I9a and 23a, respectively, which are adapted, when the vault is fully closed, to nest together, thereby forming an interlock, as above set forth with relation to the members 5n and 9a.

Plastic, or semi-plastic, sealing material 26, such as lead or the like, is'to be placed in all. or a part of the slots 6; I, I0, 20, 24 and 25, just prior to assembling the members of the vault in their final positions.

All of said parts which are attached to the vault, are integrally secured to their respective elements of the vault and to each other, whereby there can be no leakage or seepage, either internally or externally, from or into the vault.

In practice one should first place the body of the vault, including the bottom thereof, in its final position. The casket, containingthe body to be buried, is then placed inside the vault. A small quantity of the sealing material '28 should now (or previously) be placed in the slot ID at least, and also in the slots 6 and l, and better still, the contact faces of the tongues I, 4, 5, 2 and I, should be spread with the sealing material. Now if the top of the vault be pressed'downwardly into its final position, the sealing compost will be properly distributed, by the pressure, to make absolutely tight joints to wherever it reaches.

At the instant when connection transpires, the ridge Qa will be forced into its corresponding channel of the ridge 5a, thereby automatically locking the members of the vault together in a unitary structure which, after the sealin come post has set and-hardened, can be taken apart only by the destructionof the vault. In the alternative structure embodied inFig. 5, the main difference is that the bottom portion separates from the body portion, in place of the otherwise the operation is substantially the same a as that described-inthe first instance,- and therefore further description thereof would add more to 'prolixity than toclearness of comprehension.

From the above description it will be apparent that I provide a vault having a compound Joint of separation, and of such a nature that the sealing materialis so fully protected,-and the line of demarkation is so sinuous, compounded, and in.- terlocked, that it will be impossible for it to deteriorate or leak.

his to be understood that various changes may be made in the several details herein set forth, without departing from the spirit of my inverttion or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof which are new and useful and which involve invention.

Having now fully shown and described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent'of the United States, iaa 1. In combination with a burial vault comprising an upper member and a lower member which members are adapted to fit together to provide a complete inclosure with tongues formed integral with each member of the vault and located near thedivisional line of the two members of the vault with slots opening upwardly and downwardly alternately with relation to the two members of the vault with the tongues of one of said members adapted to enter the respective slots of the other member of the vault, sealing material placed in said slots, before the tongues are placed therein; interlocking means for furthersecuring the two members of. the vault together and comprising a concavo-convex ridge formed around two of the adjoining tongues whereby the convex side of one of said ridges will nest in the Joncave side of the other one of said ridges, but only when the casket is :fully closed.

2. In combination with a burial vault; a plurality of spaced apart downwardly extending spring tongues forming a plurality of downward-' 1y opening slots extending around the vault, a plurality of spaced apart upwardly extending spring tongues forming a plurality of slots extending around the vault and adapted to interlace with said downwardly extending tongues, means provided on certain of the tongues for se-- curing the adjacent tongues together in nested position when the downwardly extending tongues and the upwardly extending tongues are inserted in the respective upwardly opening and downwardly opening slots.

3. The herein described means for providing an impervious joint entirely around a burial vault at the juncture of the upper and the lower sections thereof and consisting of a plurality of vertical tongues projecting alternately upwardly and downwardly from the upper and the lower sections respectively and resting in channels which open alternately upwardly and downward- 1y from both the upper and lower sections, and

means formed entirely by the shape of certain of said tongues for interlocking them together and for retaining all of the tongues in fully inserted position in their respective channels but per-.

mitting them to be withdrawn from looking position only by excessive force applied thereto, said interlocking means being entirely inaccessible when the vault is in closed position, substantially as shown and described.

4. A burial vault comprising a top portion and a bottom portion, a plurality of spaced apart tongues projecting upwardly from around the upper edge of the bottom portion and forming upwardly opening channels therebetween, a plurality of spaced apart tongues projecting downwardly from around the lower edge of the top portion of the vault and forming a plurality of downwardly opening channels between the last mentioned tongues and adapted to receive the tongues of the bottom portion of the vault, segmental hollow ridges formed around horizontally in certain of the upper and lower tongues with said ridges adapted to nest together when said tongues are brought to their nesting position.

5. A burial vault comprising in combination,

an upper and a lower body member which members are adapted to fit together to provide a complete inclosure, tongues formed integral with each of said members and located near the divisional line of said members and with slots formed by the spacing of said tongues and extending upwardly and downwardly alternately with relation to said members, with the tongues carried by one of said members adapted to enter the respective slots of the other member, interlocking means adapted to secure said members together, said interlocking means comprising a concavo-convex ridge formed longitudinally around in two adjoining and oppositely disposed tongues whereby when the said two members of the vault are in fully closed position said ridges will nest together and clamp said two members of the vault-together to form a tight joint and permitting said members to be forced apart only by the application of super power applied in opposite directions with relation to the two members of the vault, and means which after an interval oi.

' of a two-section vault, the adjoining portions of which are substantially identical with each other with each formed toprovide a series of spaced apart tongues whereby a socket is formed between each two of the intermediatetongues of each of the adjoining portions of the vault, and means formed wholly by the contour of certain of the oppositely disposed tongues for interlocking the adjoining portions of the vault together when the two sections of the vault are placed in their final closed position.

7. In a burial vault having an upper and a lower member which together are adapted to provide a complete inclosure, tongues extending downwardly and upwardly respectively from said members, interlocking means adapted to secure said oppositely disposed adjoining tongues to gether, said means comprising concavo-convex ridges formed longitudinally of the vault by the adjoining tongues whereby when the members of the vault are in closed condition said ridges will automatically spring into nesting relation with each other and thereby clamp the members of the vault together but permitting them to be forced apart only by outside power applied in opposite directions with relation to the upper and the lower members of the vault, and means for sealing the two members of the vault together which after an extended interval of time will permanently prevent the separation of the upper and the lower tongues by reason of the inadaptability of said tongues to move laterally to free them from nesting position with relation to each other.

8. In combination with a burial vault comprising an upper and a lower body member each of said members having tongues adapted alternately to enter a channel of the other body member, means for securing the tongues of each of said members in connection with the tongues of the other one of said members, said means comprising a hollow segmental ridge formed by pressing a portion of the material of the tongue out of alignment with the major portion thereof whereby the ridge of one tongue will spring into the hollow of the ridge portion of the tongue next thereto when the two members of the vault are brought into closing connection with each other.

9. In combination with a metal burial vault, interlocking means for the two members of the vault comprising downwardly extending tongues carried by the upper member of the vault, upwardly extending tongues carried by the lower member of the vault, hollow ridges formed horizontally around both the upwardly and the downwardly extending tongues with the ridges of either set of tongues adapted to spring into and fit tightly in the hollow formed by the ridges of theother set of said tongues with the tongues of one set of said ridges retained in the hollow of the other set of tongues by the clamping inclination of the two tongues toward each other, and means for rigidly securing said tongues in their nesting condition.

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