US20190284829A1 - Columbarium assembly - Google Patents
Columbarium assembly Download PDFInfo
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- US20190284829A1 US20190284829A1 US16/170,839 US201816170839A US2019284829A1 US 20190284829 A1 US20190284829 A1 US 20190284829A1 US 201816170839 A US201816170839 A US 201816170839A US 2019284829 A1 US2019284829 A1 US 2019284829A1
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- Prior art keywords
- face plate
- niche
- cabinets
- columbarium
- face
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- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E04—BUILDING
- E04H—BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL
- E04H13/00—Monuments; Tombs; Burial vaults; Columbaria
- E04H13/006—Columbaria, mausoleum with frontal access to vaults
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- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E04—BUILDING
- E04H—BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL
- E04H13/00—Monuments; Tombs; Burial vaults; Columbaria
- E04H13/008—Memorials for cremation ashes
Definitions
- a columbarium is a structure for storing ashes from cremation of the dead.
- the typical columbarium may be found, e.g., in a church or cemetery, and comprises multiple niches.
- Each niche is a cabinet in which ashes of a particular person or family may be stored.
- the niches are typically arranged in multiple columns and rows.
- columbaria should be sturdy, long lasting, tamper proof, weatherproof, cost effective, fault tolerant, and customizable to fit individual site designs.
- columbarium There is a need in the industry for a columbarium system which meets these and other design objectives.
- the columbarium system may comprise a plurality of five-sided niche cabinets which are stackable in columns and rows to form a columbarium.
- Each niche cabinet may have an open front end surrounded by a front lip extending therefrom.
- a plurality of braces may each fit between front lip segments of adjacent niche cabinets. The braces may be secured at the corners of the niche cabinets by brackets.
- Each bracket may comprise bracket arms and a face plate knob.
- Each of the arms may extend into a brace, and the face plate knob may extend outwardly away from the brackets to support face plate corners.
- the face plate knobs may also comprise face plate positioning dividers, in order to guarantee proper face plate spacing.
- a face plate may cover a front side of each niche cabinet. Each face plate may be supported and positioned by face plate knobs on brackets adjacent to the niche cabinet. Face plates may be secured in place by face plate security hardware, referred to herein as face plate security assemblies. Each face plate security assembly may attach to a bracket face plate knob. The face plate security assemblies may extend over portions of face plates, in order to secure the face plates against adjacent braces. Further aspects of the invention are shown in the attached pictures and described below.
- FIG. 1 is a front view of an example columbarium made from the disclosed columbarium system
- FIG. 2 is a side view of the example columbarium
- FIG. 3 is an exploded view of example components of the columbarium system
- FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C, and 4D illustrate example brackets which may be included in the columbarium system
- FIG. 5 illustrates niches having angled front ends in order to impart a non-linear shape to a columbarium
- FIG. 6 illustrates a niche having a tapered shape.
- the columbarium system may be used to build columbaria having an unlimited number of different designs.
- columbaria built using the disclosed columbarium system may comprise any number of columns and rows, and may be flat/planar in shape or may have non-linear contours.
- the columbarium system includes a number of features, including for example: niche cabinets, braces, brackets with face plate knobs, face plates, and face plate security assemblies.
- all of the disclosed features may be incorporated into a columbarium system.
- any one of the disclosed features, or any subset of the disclosed features may also be incorporated into other columbarium systems.
- the features disclosed herein may be modified, removed, or supplemented by other columbarium system features. Therefore, the invention is not limited to the disclosed combination of features, but instead extends to any individual one of, or any subset of, the novel columbarium system features disclosed herein.
- FIG. 1 is a front view of an example columbarium made from the disclosed columbarium system, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.
- FIG. 1 illustrates a columbarium 100 , comprising a plurality of niche cabinets (not visible in FIG. 1 ) which are stacked in columns and rows.
- the front ends of the niche cabinets are covered by face plates 101 , as seen in FIG. 1 .
- the face plates 101 are secured against braces 102 , at least in part by face plate security assemblies 103 .
- FIG. 2 is a side view of the example columbarium 100 , in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.
- the stacked niche cabinets 201 are visible.
- FIG. 2 provides a side view of the face plates 101 , braces 102 , and face plate security assemblies 103 introduced in FIG. 1 .
- FIG. 2 furthermore provides a side view of brackets 202 and shims 203 .
- Shims 203 may comprise thin strips of material, e.g., polyethylene, between back ends of adjacent niche rows of cabinets 201 .
- Shims 203 may bear the weight of niche cabinets 201 and maintain spacing between the backs of niche cabinets 201 similar to spacing at the front of niche cabinets 201 .
- FIG. 3 is an exploded view of components of the columbarium system, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.
- the components described in connection with FIG. 3 may be used to build an individual niche 300 , or an entire columbarium 100 such as illustrated in FIG. 1 , or an unlimited number of other columbaria having different designs, as will be appreciated.
- the illustrated components include a niche cabinet 201 comprising a front lip 301 , braces 102 , brackets 202 , a face plate 101 , and a face plate security assembly 103 A, 103 B and 103 C.
- the columbarium system may comprise a plurality niche cabinets such as 201 .
- the niche cabinets are stackable in multiple columns and rows to form a columbarium.
- Niche cabinet 201 may be five-sided, comprising a back side, a top side, a bottom side, a right side and a left side, as shown. The right side of niche cabinet 201 is removed from FIG. 3 in order to show contents, such as the illustrated urns, inside of niche cabinet 201 .
- niche cabinet 201 may generally include five sides, including a right side which is generally identical to the illustrated left side of niche cabinet 201 .
- Niche cabinet 201 may be generally rectangular, although variations are possible (see, e.g., FIG.
- niche cabinet 201 is not limited to any particular length, width, or height dimensions.
- niche cabinet 201 may be made of a material comprising polyethylene.
- Niche cabinet 201 may optionally be molded (e.g., by roto-molding or otherwise) as a single individual unit.
- Niche cabinet 201 may comprise a front lip 301 extending from a front end of the niche cabinet 201 .
- the front lip 301 has a top segment, a bottom segment, a right segment and a left segment. Each respective segment extends from a respective side (top side, bottom side, right side or left side) of the niche cabinet 201 .
- the segments of the front lip 301 may be inset a distance from the top side, bottom side, right side and left side of the niche cabinet 201 , such that the area defined by front lip 301 is smaller than the area defined by the entire front end of the niche cabinet 201 .
- the columbarium system may further comprise a plurality of braces 102 .
- braces 102 are illustrated in FIG. 3 , although a columbarium system may comprise any number of braces as appropriate for the number of niche cabinets involved.
- Each brace 102 comprises a straight tube extending along a front lip segment of niche cabinet 201 .
- the ends of braces 102 may fit over, or otherwise couple with, arms of brackets 202 .
- the arms of brackets 202 may be inserted into braces 102 , thereby holding the braces 102 and brackets 202 in place.
- Each brace 102 may fit between front lip segments of adjacent niche cabinets, for example, the top brace 102 illustrated in FIG. 3 may fit between the top segment of front lip 301 , and a bottom segment of a front lip on a second niche cabinet stacked above niche cabinet 201 . Likewise, the left brace 102 may fit between front lip 301 and a niche cabinet to the left of niche cabinet 201 , etc.
- the braces 102 may be made of extruded aluminum rectangular tubing. Of course, it will be appreciated that any suitably rigid, strong, and durable material may be appropriate.
- braces 102 may optionally be made from any shaped or welded metals, or in some embodiments, plastics, woods, or a wide variety of composite materials.
- the braces 102 may be adapted to be fastened to niche cabinets.
- sidewalls of braces 102 and, e.g., the front lip 301 of niche cabinet 201 may optionally be pre-drilled with holes so that fasteners, such as rivets or bolt and nut assemblies, may be used to fasten braces 102 in place on niche cabinet 201 .
- the columbarium system may further comprise a plurality of brackets 202 .
- Brackets 202 are illustrated in FIG. 3 , although a columbarium system may comprise any number of brackets, and different types of brackets, as appropriate for the number of niche cabinets involved and for the desired columbarium design.
- the brackets 202 fit at front lip segment corners, and each bracket 202 comprises a plurality of arms which extend into or may otherwise couple with braces 202 .
- FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C, and 4D illustrate example brackets which may be included in the columbarium system, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.
- FIG. 4A illustrates an example “straight” four arm interior bracket 202 A.
- FIG. 4B illustrates an example “straight” corner bracket 202 B.
- FIG. 4C illustrates an example “straight” edge bracket 202 C.
- FIG. 4D illustrates a side view of an example “single concave” four arm interior bracket 202 D.
- Each bracket type 202 A, 202 B, 202 C, and 202 D includes a plurality of arms 401 and a face plate knob 402 .
- the arms 401 extend orthogonally, at right angles from one another.
- the face plate knob 402 extends outwardly away from a front side of the niche bracket to support a corner of a face plate 101 .
- the face plate knob 402 also comprises at least one face plate positioning divider 403 .
- the face plate knob 402 may be rectangular in shape, as illustrated in FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C, and 4D , and the face plate positioning divider 403 may comprise a triangular shape, as illustrated.
- a first divider 403 may extend upwardly from the middle of the face plate knob 402
- a second divider 403 may extend downwardly from the middle of the face plate knob 402 .
- the face plate positioning dividers 403 may have a width, e.g., at the base of the triangles, that substantially matches a height of the face plate knob 402 , e.g., the height at the far left or far right side of the face plate knob 402 .
- the width of the face plate positioning dividers 403 and height of the face plate knob 402 may be, e.g., about 1 ⁇ 2 inch.
- Bracket type 202 A is an example “straight” four arm interior bracket.
- Bracket 202 A is a “straight” bracket because all of its arms 401 are in a same plane, as illustrated in FIG. 4A .
- “Straight” brackets may be used to build planar portions of a columbarium.
- Bracket 202 A is a four arm interior bracket because it comprises four arms 401 extending orthogonally outward from a square center portion of the bracket 202 A.
- Four arm interior brackets such as 202 A may be deployed at interior connecting points within a columbarium, that is, points at which four corners meet, namely, the four corners of four adjacent niche cabinets 201 .
- one or more arms of a bracket may angle forward or backward, such as illustrated in FIG. 4D .
- FIG. 4D illustrates a side view of an example “single concave” four arm interior bracket 202 D.
- a “single concave” bracket has one arm 405 which is angled forward.
- Such angled arms 405 support non-linear columbarium shapes.
- one or more portions of a columbarium may angle forward or backward, towards or away from a viewer standing in front of the columbarium, e.g., as illustrated in FIG. 5 .
- brackets may be included in the disclosed columbarium system.
- any of the brackets disclosed herein may be modified to implement “straight”, “single concave”, “double concave”, “single convex”, or “double convex” embodiments.
- the face plate knob 402 may be oriented at a 90° rotation from its illustrated orientation, in any bracket design, to produce still further bracket embodiments. Any subset of bracket types, or all possible bracket types, may optionally be included in a columbarium system in order to support a desired variety of columbarium design possibilities.
- Bracket type 202 B is an example “straight” two arm corner bracket. Bracket 202 B is suitable for use at bottom right and top left corners of a columbarium. For bottom left and top right corners, the face plate knob 402 may be oriented at a 90° rotation from its illustrated orientation. Also, one or more arms 401 of bracket 202 B may be angled forward or backward, to support non-linear columbarium designs, as described herein.
- Bracket type 202 C is an example “straight” three arm edge bracket. Bracket 202 C is suitable for use at right and left edges of a columbarium. For top and bottom edges, the face plate knob 402 may be oriented at a 90° rotation from its illustrated orientation. Also, one or more arms 401 of bracket 202 C may be angled forward or backward, to support non-linear columbarium designs, as described herein.
- FIG. 5 illustrates niches having angled front ends in order to impart a non-linear shape to a columbarium, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.
- the illustrated niche cabinets 501 are generally similar to niche cabinets 201 , described herein. Like niche cabinets 201 , niche cabinets 501 are stackable in multiple columns and rows to form a columbarium.
- Niche cabinets 501 may be five-sided, comprising a back side, a top side, a bottom side, a right side and a left side, as shown.
- Niche cabinets 501 may be generally rectangular, and are not limited to any particular length, width, or height dimensions.
- niche cabinets 501 may be made of a material comprising polyethylene.
- Niche cabinets 501 may optionally be molded (e.g., by roto-molding or otherwise) as a single individual niche cabinet.
- niche cabinets 501 may comprise front lips 301 (see FIG. 3 ) extending from front ends of the niche cabinets 501 .
- the front lip 301 has a top segment, a bottom segment, a right segment and a left segment, each respective segment extending from a respective side (top side, bottom side, right side or left side) of the niche cabinet 501 .
- the segments of the front lip 301 may be inset a distance from the top side, bottom side, right side and left side of the niche cabinet 501 , such that the area defined by front lip 301 is smaller than the area defined by the entire front end of the niche cabinet 501 .
- niche cabinets 501 may comprise an angled front end in order to impart a non-linear shape to the columbarium.
- FIG. 5 is considered as a side view
- the top side of each of niche cabinets 501 may be longer than the bottom side, and the front ends of the right and left sides may be formed at an angle.
- FIG. 5 is considered as a top view, and the left side of each of niche cabinets 501 may be longer than the right side, and the front ends of the top and bottom sides may be formed at an angle.
- a “single convex” bracket 202 D is illustrated at the bottom of FIG. 5 .
- the illustrated bracket 202 D will allow the columbarium shape to transition, e.g., from the illustrated angled section to a planar section (not shown) of flat-faced niche cabinets such as 201 , below the illustrated niche cabinets 501 .
- a “straight” bracket 202 D is illustrated at the top of FIG. 5 , and so an additional row of angled-face niche cabinets 501 may be stacked on top of the illustrated columbarium section.
- FIG. 6 illustrates a niche having a tapered shape, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.
- Tapered niche cabinet 601 may generally have many of the properties described herein with respect to niche cabinets 201 and niche cabinets 501 . As shown in FIG. 6 , the back end of tapered niche cabinet 601 may be smaller in surface area than the front end. When FIG. 6 is considered as a side view, the top and bottom of tapered niche cabinet 601 angle inward, while the right and left sides of tapered niche cabinet 601 are shaped to taper to the back. When FIG. 6 is considered as a top view, the right and left sides of tapered niche cabinet 601 angle inward, while the top and bottom of tapered niche cabinet 601 are shaped to taper to the back. Tapered niche cabinets 601 may be used for example to make rounded portions of columbaria, resulting from stacking multiple rows or columns of tapered niche cabinets 601 adjacent one another.
- bracket types described herein along with flat-faced niche cabinets 201 , angled-face niche cabinets 501 , and tapered niche cabinets 601 , columbaria may be designed with any desired combination of flat, curved, or angled portions.
- the columbarium system may further comprise a plurality of face plates 101 .
- One face plate 101 is illustrated in FIG. 3 , although a columbarium system may comprise any number of face plates 101 , as appropriate for the number of niche cabinets involved and columbarium design.
- Each face plate 101 covers a front side of a niche cabinet 201 .
- Face plate 101 may comprise, e.g., plexiglas, clear glass, granite, marble, or other sturdy and preferably attractive materials.
- Each face plate 101 may be supported and positioned by face plate knobs 402 on brackets 202 adjacent to the niche cabinet 201 .
- face plate knobs 402 For example, each of the four corners of face plate 101 rests against a portion of a face plate knob 402 extending from one of the four brackets 202 surrounding the face plate 101 .
- Face plate 101 may be positioned by the face plate positioning dividers 403 on the brackets 202 .
- the columbarium system may further comprise a plurality of face plate security assemblies.
- an example security assembly comprises rosette plate 103 A, bolt 103 B, and sleeve 103 C.
- One face plate security assembly is illustrated in FIG. 3 , however a columbarium system may comprise any number of face plate security assemblies, typically one for each bracket 202 .
- Each face plate security assembly 103 A, 103 B, and 103 C attaches to a bracket face plate knob 402 .
- face plate knob 402 may be pre-drilled with a bracket hole extending from the front of the face plate knob 402 through to the back of the bracket 202 .
- the rear portion of the bracket hole may be larger in diameter than the forward portion thereof, allowing the sleeve 103 C to fit into the rear portion of the bracket hole, without sliding out of the front of the bracket hole.
- the sleeve 103 C may be inserted in the rear portion of the bracket hole, and the bolt 103 B may be inserted into the forward portion of the bracket hole.
- the bolt 103 B passes through the bracket hole to couple with the sleeve 103 C disposed opposite the bolt 103 B.
- the bolt 103 B and sleeve 103 C may be threaded, so the bolt 103 B turns into sleeve 103 C.
- the rosette plate 103 A may be attached at the end of bolt 103 B, so that as bolt 103 B is tightened into sleeve 103 C, rosette plate 103 A tightens against the face plate 101 . Rosette plate 103 A extends over portions of adjacent face plates, e.g., face plate 101 , in order to secure adjacent face plates 101 against adjacent braces 102 .
- sleeve 103 C may be omitted in some embodiments, in favor of a threaded bracket hole. Clips, rivets, or other fasteners may also be substituted for bolt 103 B. In some embodiments, sleeve 103 C may be inserted in the front of the bracket hole, and secured in place with rivets, welding, adhesive, friction, or other means.
- security assembly configurations are possible and embodiments of this disclosure are not limited to any particular security assembly configuration.
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Abstract
Description
- This is a continuation which claims priority of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/919,446, entitled “COLUMBARIUM SYSTEM” filed on Mar. 13, 2018. The prior application is incorporated by reference herein.
- A columbarium is a structure for storing ashes from cremation of the dead. The typical columbarium may be found, e.g., in a church or cemetery, and comprises multiple niches. Each niche is a cabinet in which ashes of a particular person or family may be stored. The niches are typically arranged in multiple columns and rows.
- Cremation of human and animal remains is on the rise worldwide, resulting in an increased demand for columbaria. There are a number of important criteria in the design of columbaria. For example, columbaria should be sturdy, long lasting, tamper proof, weatherproof, cost effective, fault tolerant, and customizable to fit individual site designs. There is a need in the industry for a columbarium system which meets these and other design objectives.
- A columbarium system and corresponding method of assembly is disclosed. In some examples, the columbarium system may comprise a plurality of five-sided niche cabinets which are stackable in columns and rows to form a columbarium.
- Each niche cabinet may have an open front end surrounded by a front lip extending therefrom. A plurality of braces may each fit between front lip segments of adjacent niche cabinets. The braces may be secured at the corners of the niche cabinets by brackets.
- Each bracket may comprise bracket arms and a face plate knob. Each of the arms may extend into a brace, and the face plate knob may extend outwardly away from the brackets to support face plate corners. The face plate knobs may also comprise face plate positioning dividers, in order to guarantee proper face plate spacing.
- A face plate may cover a front side of each niche cabinet. Each face plate may be supported and positioned by face plate knobs on brackets adjacent to the niche cabinet. Face plates may be secured in place by face plate security hardware, referred to herein as face plate security assemblies. Each face plate security assembly may attach to a bracket face plate knob. The face plate security assemblies may extend over portions of face plates, in order to secure the face plates against adjacent braces. Further aspects of the invention are shown in the attached pictures and described below.
- Various features and attendant advantages of the disclosed technologies will become fully appreciated when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:
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FIG. 1 is a front view of an example columbarium made from the disclosed columbarium system; -
FIG. 2 is a side view of the example columbarium; -
FIG. 3 is an exploded view of example components of the columbarium system; -
FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C, and 4D illustrate example brackets which may be included in the columbarium system; and -
FIG. 5 illustrates niches having angled front ends in order to impart a non-linear shape to a columbarium; and -
FIG. 6 illustrates a niche having a tapered shape. - Prior to explaining embodiments of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that this disclosure is not limited to the details of construction or arrangements of the components and method steps set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. Embodiments of this disclosure are capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of the description and should not be regarded as limiting.
- A novel columbarium system and corresponding method of assembly is disclosed. The columbarium system may be used to build columbaria having an unlimited number of different designs. For example, columbaria built using the disclosed columbarium system may comprise any number of columns and rows, and may be flat/planar in shape or may have non-linear contours. The columbarium system includes a number of features, including for example: niche cabinets, braces, brackets with face plate knobs, face plates, and face plate security assemblies. In some embodiments, all of the disclosed features may be incorporated into a columbarium system. However, it will be appreciated by those of skill in the art that any one of the disclosed features, or any subset of the disclosed features, may also be incorporated into other columbarium systems. Likewise, the features disclosed herein may be modified, removed, or supplemented by other columbarium system features. Therefore, the invention is not limited to the disclosed combination of features, but instead extends to any individual one of, or any subset of, the novel columbarium system features disclosed herein.
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FIG. 1 is a front view of an example columbarium made from the disclosed columbarium system, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.FIG. 1 illustrates acolumbarium 100, comprising a plurality of niche cabinets (not visible inFIG. 1 ) which are stacked in columns and rows. The front ends of the niche cabinets are covered byface plates 101, as seen inFIG. 1 . Theface plates 101 are secured againstbraces 102, at least in part by faceplate security assemblies 103. -
FIG. 2 is a side view of theexample columbarium 100, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. InFIG. 2 , the stackedniche cabinets 201 are visible. Likewise,FIG. 2 provides a side view of theface plates 101,braces 102, and faceplate security assemblies 103 introduced inFIG. 1 .FIG. 2 furthermore provides a side view ofbrackets 202 andshims 203.Shims 203 may comprise thin strips of material, e.g., polyethylene, between back ends of adjacent niche rows ofcabinets 201. Shims 203 may bear the weight ofniche cabinets 201 and maintain spacing between the backs ofniche cabinets 201 similar to spacing at the front ofniche cabinets 201. -
FIG. 3 is an exploded view of components of the columbarium system, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. The components described in connection withFIG. 3 may be used to build anindividual niche 300, or anentire columbarium 100 such as illustrated inFIG. 1 , or an unlimited number of other columbaria having different designs, as will be appreciated. The illustrated components include aniche cabinet 201 comprising afront lip 301,braces 102,brackets 202, aface plate 101, and a faceplate security assembly - The columbarium system may comprise a plurality niche cabinets such as 201. The niche cabinets are stackable in multiple columns and rows to form a columbarium.
Niche cabinet 201 may be five-sided, comprising a back side, a top side, a bottom side, a right side and a left side, as shown. The right side ofniche cabinet 201 is removed fromFIG. 3 in order to show contents, such as the illustrated urns, inside ofniche cabinet 201. However, it will be appreciated thatniche cabinet 201 may generally include five sides, including a right side which is generally identical to the illustrated left side ofniche cabinet 201.Niche cabinet 201 may be generally rectangular, although variations are possible (see, e.g.,FIG. 5 ), andniche cabinet 201 is not limited to any particular length, width, or height dimensions. In some embodiments,niche cabinet 201 may be made of a material comprising polyethylene.Niche cabinet 201 may optionally be molded (e.g., by roto-molding or otherwise) as a single individual unit. -
Niche cabinet 201 may comprise afront lip 301 extending from a front end of theniche cabinet 201. Thefront lip 301 has a top segment, a bottom segment, a right segment and a left segment. Each respective segment extends from a respective side (top side, bottom side, right side or left side) of theniche cabinet 201. The segments of thefront lip 301 may be inset a distance from the top side, bottom side, right side and left side of theniche cabinet 201, such that the area defined byfront lip 301 is smaller than the area defined by the entire front end of theniche cabinet 201. - The columbarium system may further comprise a plurality of
braces 102. Four braces 102 are illustrated inFIG. 3 , although a columbarium system may comprise any number of braces as appropriate for the number of niche cabinets involved. Eachbrace 102 comprises a straight tube extending along a front lip segment ofniche cabinet 201. The ends ofbraces 102 may fit over, or otherwise couple with, arms ofbrackets 202. The arms ofbrackets 202 may be inserted intobraces 102, thereby holding thebraces 102 andbrackets 202 in place. - Each
brace 102 may fit between front lip segments of adjacent niche cabinets, for example, thetop brace 102 illustrated inFIG. 3 may fit between the top segment offront lip 301, and a bottom segment of a front lip on a second niche cabinet stacked aboveniche cabinet 201. Likewise, theleft brace 102 may fit betweenfront lip 301 and a niche cabinet to the left ofniche cabinet 201, etc. - In some embodiments, the
braces 102 may be made of extruded aluminum rectangular tubing. Of course, it will be appreciated that any suitably rigid, strong, and durable material may be appropriate. For example, braces 102 may optionally be made from any shaped or welded metals, or in some embodiments, plastics, woods, or a wide variety of composite materials. Thebraces 102 may be adapted to be fastened to niche cabinets. For example, sidewalls ofbraces 102 and, e.g., thefront lip 301 ofniche cabinet 201 may optionally be pre-drilled with holes so that fasteners, such as rivets or bolt and nut assemblies, may be used to fastenbraces 102 in place onniche cabinet 201. - The columbarium system may further comprise a plurality of
brackets 202. Fourbrackets 202 are illustrated inFIG. 3 , although a columbarium system may comprise any number of brackets, and different types of brackets, as appropriate for the number of niche cabinets involved and for the desired columbarium design. Thebrackets 202 fit at front lip segment corners, and eachbracket 202 comprises a plurality of arms which extend into or may otherwise couple withbraces 202. -
FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C, and 4D illustrate example brackets which may be included in the columbarium system, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.FIG. 4A illustrates an example “straight” four arminterior bracket 202A.FIG. 4B illustrates an example “straight”corner bracket 202B.FIG. 4C illustrates an example “straight”edge bracket 202C.FIG. 4D illustrates a side view of an example “single concave” fourarm interior bracket 202D. - Each
bracket type arms 401 and aface plate knob 402. Thearms 401 extend orthogonally, at right angles from one another. Theface plate knob 402 extends outwardly away from a front side of the niche bracket to support a corner of aface plate 101. Theface plate knob 402 also comprises at least one faceplate positioning divider 403. - In some embodiments, the
face plate knob 402 may be rectangular in shape, as illustrated inFIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C, and 4D , and the faceplate positioning divider 403 may comprise a triangular shape, as illustrated. Afirst divider 403 may extend upwardly from the middle of theface plate knob 402, and asecond divider 403 may extend downwardly from the middle of theface plate knob 402. The faceplate positioning dividers 403 may have a width, e.g., at the base of the triangles, that substantially matches a height of theface plate knob 402, e.g., the height at the far left or far right side of theface plate knob 402. In some embodiments, the width of the faceplate positioning dividers 403 and height of theface plate knob 402 may be, e.g., about ½ inch. -
Bracket type 202A, illustrated inFIG. 4A , is an example “straight” four arm interior bracket.Bracket 202A is a “straight” bracket because all of itsarms 401 are in a same plane, as illustrated inFIG. 4A . “Straight” brackets may be used to build planar portions of a columbarium.Bracket 202A is a four arm interior bracket because it comprises fourarms 401 extending orthogonally outward from a square center portion of thebracket 202A. Four arm interior brackets such as 202A may be deployed at interior connecting points within a columbarium, that is, points at which four corners meet, namely, the four corners of fouradjacent niche cabinets 201. - In some embodiments, one or more arms of a bracket may angle forward or backward, such as illustrated in
FIG. 4D .FIG. 4D illustrates a side view of an example “single concave” fourarm interior bracket 202D. A “single concave” bracket has onearm 405 which is angled forward. Suchangled arms 405 support non-linear columbarium shapes. For example, one or more portions of a columbarium may angle forward or backward, towards or away from a viewer standing in front of the columbarium, e.g., as illustrated inFIG. 5 . - It will be appreciated with the benefit of
FIG. 4D that numerous additional bracket types may be included in the disclosed columbarium system. For example, any of the brackets disclosed herein may be modified to implement “straight”, “single concave”, “double concave”, “single convex”, or “double convex” embodiments. Furthermore, theface plate knob 402 may be oriented at a 90° rotation from its illustrated orientation, in any bracket design, to produce still further bracket embodiments. Any subset of bracket types, or all possible bracket types, may optionally be included in a columbarium system in order to support a desired variety of columbarium design possibilities. -
Bracket type 202B, illustrated inFIG. 4B , is an example “straight” two arm corner bracket.Bracket 202B is suitable for use at bottom right and top left corners of a columbarium. For bottom left and top right corners, theface plate knob 402 may be oriented at a 90° rotation from its illustrated orientation. Also, one ormore arms 401 ofbracket 202B may be angled forward or backward, to support non-linear columbarium designs, as described herein. -
Bracket type 202C, illustrated inFIG. 4C , is an example “straight” three arm edge bracket.Bracket 202C is suitable for use at right and left edges of a columbarium. For top and bottom edges, theface plate knob 402 may be oriented at a 90° rotation from its illustrated orientation. Also, one ormore arms 401 ofbracket 202C may be angled forward or backward, to support non-linear columbarium designs, as described herein. -
FIG. 5 illustrates niches having angled front ends in order to impart a non-linear shape to a columbarium, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. The illustratedniche cabinets 501 are generally similar toniche cabinets 201, described herein. Likeniche cabinets 201,niche cabinets 501 are stackable in multiple columns and rows to form a columbarium.Niche cabinets 501 may be five-sided, comprising a back side, a top side, a bottom side, a right side and a left side, as shown.Niche cabinets 501 may be generally rectangular, and are not limited to any particular length, width, or height dimensions. In some embodiments,niche cabinets 501 may be made of a material comprising polyethylene.Niche cabinets 501 may optionally be molded (e.g., by roto-molding or otherwise) as a single individual niche cabinet. - Furthermore,
niche cabinets 501 may comprise front lips 301 (seeFIG. 3 ) extending from front ends of theniche cabinets 501. Thefront lip 301 has a top segment, a bottom segment, a right segment and a left segment, each respective segment extending from a respective side (top side, bottom side, right side or left side) of theniche cabinet 501. The segments of thefront lip 301 may be inset a distance from the top side, bottom side, right side and left side of theniche cabinet 501, such that the area defined byfront lip 301 is smaller than the area defined by the entire front end of theniche cabinet 501. - Unlike
niche cabinet 201,niche cabinets 501 may comprise an angled front end in order to impart a non-linear shape to the columbarium. For example, ifFIG. 5 is considered as a side view, the top side of each ofniche cabinets 501 may be longer than the bottom side, and the front ends of the right and left sides may be formed at an angle. In another orientation,FIG. 5 is considered as a top view, and the left side of each ofniche cabinets 501 may be longer than the right side, and the front ends of the top and bottom sides may be formed at an angle. - A “single convex”
bracket 202D is illustrated at the bottom ofFIG. 5 . The illustratedbracket 202D will allow the columbarium shape to transition, e.g., from the illustrated angled section to a planar section (not shown) of flat-faced niche cabinets such as 201, below the illustratedniche cabinets 501. Meanwhile, a “straight”bracket 202D is illustrated at the top ofFIG. 5 , and so an additional row of angled-face niche cabinets 501 may be stacked on top of the illustrated columbarium section. -
FIG. 6 illustrates a niche having a tapered shape, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.Tapered niche cabinet 601 may generally have many of the properties described herein with respect toniche cabinets 201 andniche cabinets 501. As shown inFIG. 6 , the back end of taperedniche cabinet 601 may be smaller in surface area than the front end. WhenFIG. 6 is considered as a side view, the top and bottom of taperedniche cabinet 601 angle inward, while the right and left sides oftapered niche cabinet 601 are shaped to taper to the back. WhenFIG. 6 is considered as a top view, the right and left sides oftapered niche cabinet 601 angle inward, while the top and bottom of taperedniche cabinet 601 are shaped to taper to the back.Tapered niche cabinets 601 may be used for example to make rounded portions of columbaria, resulting from stacking multiple rows or columns of taperedniche cabinets 601 adjacent one another. - It will be appreciated that using different bracket types described herein, along with flat-faced
niche cabinets 201, angled-face niche cabinets 501, and taperedniche cabinets 601, columbaria may be designed with any desired combination of flat, curved, or angled portions. - With reference to
FIG. 3 , the columbarium system may further comprise a plurality offace plates 101. Oneface plate 101 is illustrated inFIG. 3 , although a columbarium system may comprise any number offace plates 101, as appropriate for the number of niche cabinets involved and columbarium design. Eachface plate 101 covers a front side of aniche cabinet 201.Face plate 101 may comprise, e.g., plexiglas, clear glass, granite, marble, or other sturdy and preferably attractive materials. - Each
face plate 101 may be supported and positioned by face plate knobs 402 onbrackets 202 adjacent to theniche cabinet 201. For example, each of the four corners offace plate 101 rests against a portion of aface plate knob 402 extending from one of the fourbrackets 202 surrounding theface plate 101.Face plate 101 may be positioned by the faceplate positioning dividers 403 on thebrackets 202. - The columbarium system may further comprise a plurality of face plate security assemblies. In
FIG. 3 , an example security assembly comprisesrosette plate 103A,bolt 103B, andsleeve 103C. One face plate security assembly is illustrated inFIG. 3 , however a columbarium system may comprise any number of face plate security assemblies, typically one for eachbracket 202. - Each face
plate security assembly face plate knob 402. In the illustrated embodiment,face plate knob 402 may be pre-drilled with a bracket hole extending from the front of theface plate knob 402 through to the back of thebracket 202. The rear portion of the bracket hole may be larger in diameter than the forward portion thereof, allowing thesleeve 103C to fit into the rear portion of the bracket hole, without sliding out of the front of the bracket hole. Thesleeve 103C may be inserted in the rear portion of the bracket hole, and thebolt 103B may be inserted into the forward portion of the bracket hole. Thebolt 103B passes through the bracket hole to couple with thesleeve 103C disposed opposite thebolt 103B. Thebolt 103B andsleeve 103C may be threaded, so thebolt 103B turns intosleeve 103C. - The
rosette plate 103A may be attached at the end ofbolt 103B, so that asbolt 103B is tightened intosleeve 103C,rosette plate 103A tightens against theface plate 101.Rosette plate 103A extends over portions of adjacent face plates, e.g.,face plate 101, in order to secureadjacent face plates 101 againstadjacent braces 102. - It will be appreciated that the illustrated face plate security assembly is one example approach to secure
face plate 101 againstbraces 102, and other face plate security assembly configurations may be included in some embodiments. For example,sleeve 103C may be omitted in some embodiments, in favor of a threaded bracket hole. Clips, rivets, or other fasteners may also be substituted forbolt 103B. In some embodiments,sleeve 103C may be inserted in the front of the bracket hole, and secured in place with rivets, welding, adhesive, friction, or other means. A wide variety of security assembly configurations are possible and embodiments of this disclosure are not limited to any particular security assembly configuration. - While various embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in art.
Claims (11)
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US16/170,839 US10422151B1 (en) | 2018-03-13 | 2018-10-25 | Columbarium assembly |
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US15/919,446 US10138650B1 (en) | 2018-03-13 | 2018-03-13 | Columbarium system |
US16/170,839 US10422151B1 (en) | 2018-03-13 | 2018-10-25 | Columbarium assembly |
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US15/919,446 Continuation US10138650B1 (en) | 2018-03-13 | 2018-03-13 | Columbarium system |
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US16/170,839 Active US10422151B1 (en) | 2018-03-13 | 2018-10-25 | Columbarium assembly |
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Cited By (2)
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USD891814S1 (en) * | 2018-05-01 | 2020-08-04 | Columbarium By Design, Llc | Niche cabinet |
USD922862S1 (en) * | 2018-01-29 | 2021-06-22 | Columbarium By Design, Llc | Niche bracket |
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CA2955760C (en) * | 2016-01-21 | 2024-02-06 | Eickhof Columbaria, Inc. | Columbarium with inner ossuary |
IT201800005885A1 (en) | 2018-05-31 | 2019-12-01 | FUNERAL STRUCTURE FOR THE CONTAINMENT OF FUNERAL OBJECTS. | |
US11136782B2 (en) | 2018-05-31 | 2021-10-05 | Biondan North America Inc. | Funerary structure for containing funerary objects |
USD902023S1 (en) * | 2019-02-08 | 2020-11-17 | Ged Integrated Solutions, Inc. | Muntin cross joiner clip |
US11585148B2 (en) | 2019-02-08 | 2023-02-21 | Ged Integrated Solutions, Inc. | Muntin assembly and method of manufacture |
IT201900011826A1 (en) * | 2019-07-16 | 2021-01-16 | Biondan North America Inc | FUNERAL STRUCTURE FOR CONTAINING FUNERAL OBJECTS. |
US11976486B1 (en) | 2023-03-22 | 2024-05-07 | Robert Cecil McElroy, Jr. | High-density sub-surface columbarium |
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US2574938A (en) * | 1949-01-03 | 1951-11-13 | John B Sinner | Fastener for crypt fronts |
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USD922862S1 (en) * | 2018-01-29 | 2021-06-22 | Columbarium By Design, Llc | Niche bracket |
USD891814S1 (en) * | 2018-05-01 | 2020-08-04 | Columbarium By Design, Llc | Niche cabinet |
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US10422151B1 (en) | 2019-09-24 |
US10138650B1 (en) | 2018-11-27 |
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