US2024047A - Burial vault - Google Patents

Description

Dm, 1o, 1935.

v. G1 KROPP 2,@2345047 BURIAL VAULT .Filed Oct. 22, 1934 Z4 13 13 7 Z5' Z0 75 l a Ifernon 65. 117120107@ '5. struction and PatentedA Dec. 10, 1935 UNITEDY STATES PATENT OFFICE BURIAL VAULT Vernon G. Kropp, Winfield, Kans. Application October 22, 1934, Serial No. 749,491 2 Claims. (Cl. 'l2-7,)

form a shoulder I and a reduced upper part B. I

This invention relates to a burial vault and has for its object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a vault of such class including a cover plate sealed in covering position and capable of being readily removed when occasion requires without breakage thereof or damage thereto.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a vault of the class referred to including a lower chamber for the reception of the corpse or a casket containing the corpse, means for forming an upper chamber communicating with the lower chamber for the escape from the latter of the gases and vapors due to decomposition, and with the said means constituting a closure for the lower chamber.

A further ob-ject of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a vault of the class referred to including a sealed closure thereof and with the sealing means possessing a characteristic to permit of the closure being removed without breakage thereof or damage thereto when access is desired to the interior ofthe vault.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a vault of the class referred to including a plastic sealing means for the top thereof and which will permit of the vault being opened without .destroying or breaking the top.

Further objects of the invention are to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a vault of the class referred to which is simple in its conarrangement, strong, durable, compact, readily assembled, thoroughly efhcient in its use, and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

To the above ends essentially, and to others which may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of such parts and such combination of parts which fall Within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a longitudinal sectional vault,

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the vault, and

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of the vault at the transverse median thereof.

The vault includes a rectangular open top body I formed from reinforced and water cured concrete. The body I consists of a bottom 2, a pair of side walls 3, 4 and a pair of end Walls 5, 6. The said bottom and walls are imperforatedf Each of said walls israbbeted on its inner face to View of the The shoulder 'I on each side wall corresponds in length to the length of the latter. The shoulder 'I on each end vvall corresponds in length to the width of the latter. The ends of the shoulders on the side walls merge into the ends of the shoulders on the end Walls thereby providing an endless ledge on the inner face of the walls of body I. The should-ers on the side Walls are positioned between the longitudinal medians of the said side Walls and top edges of the latter. The shoulders on the end walls are positioned between the transverse medians of the said end walls and top edges of the latter. That part of the body I below the endless ledge forms a lower chamber 9 for receiving the corpse or a receptacle containing the corpse.

A sectional closure, generally indicated at I0 for chamber 9 is mounted on the endless edge and abuts the inner face of the part 8 of eachof the walls of body I. The closure I0 is of less height than the parts 8. The closure includes a rectangular fiat plate II of any suitable material having at the intersection of its transverse and longitudinal medians a tapered opening I2. The plate II forms that portion of the body I above the endless edge into what may be termed an upper chamber. The plate II has its upper face centrally thereof provided with an annular tapered boss I3 having a tapered inner edge IA forming a continuation of the tapered wall I5 of opening I2. The opening i2 and boss I3 provide an outlet for chamber 9. The closure I0 includes an inverted cup-shaped member I6 of rectangular contour, but of less width and length than that Y of plate II. The member I5 is of frusto-tapered contour. The member IG is formed from any suitable material and includes a top I'I, a pair of depending outwardly oppositely inclined end walls I8 and a pair of depending outwardly oppositely .f

The walls I8, I9 at theirinclined side walls i9. upper ends merge into the lower face of and are ush with the edges of top IB. The lower ends of the walls I3, ISl'are squared and seat upon plate II adjacent the side and end edges of the latter. The member I6 in connection with the plate II provides a rectangular compartment 20 in the upper chamber of body i for receiving, through the outlet for chamber 9, the gases and vapors from decomposition of the corpse within cham- .n

ber 9. Y

The walls i8, I9 of member IS are spaced from the parts 8 of the walls 3, 5, and 6 of body I. The top II of member I6 is positioned below the upper edges of the parts The sectional Cil closure I0, in connection with theparts B, form a pocket 2| having its bottom upon two levels, one provided by the top Il of member I6 and the other by the portions of the plate II which are extended outwardly from the bottom edges of the walls I8, I9. The pocket 2| is completely lled with a combined coupling and sealing means or medium 22 consisting of a fresh body 22 of plastic cement which may be of a suitable type, such as silica sand and Portland cement.

Positioned upon the top edge of the walls 3, 4, 5, and 6 is a lid 23 of rectangular contour in plan. The upper face of the lid 23 is oppositely beveled as at 24, 25. The bevel 24 is of greater width than bevel 25 and is adapted to have cut therein or applied thereto any desirable inscription.. That part 26 of the outer face of lid 23 between the bevels 24, 25 is rounded transversely so as to readily shed water. The lid 23 is formed from terra cotta, marble, granite or other desirable material. The lid 23 when mounted upon the topr edges of the walls of body I and that portion of the lower face of lid 23 between the side and end marginal portions of such face bears throughout against the means 22 whereby the lid is detachably secured in position upon the top edges of body II by the combined coupling and sealing means 22. The lid 23 is not grooved or dovetailed into any of the other parts of the vault, has its lower face smooth and uninterrupted throughout. The lid 23 preferably has its edges flush with the outer faces of the walls of body I. The lid 23 may be readily removed by driving a chisel or other wedge shape tool under it to provide for the loosening thereof from body 22 without damaging orimpairing it, after which it is lifted off of body I. When the lid 23 has been lifted off of body I, the plastic sealing body 22 may be removed and the elements of the sectional closure I may be lifted from the position shown whereby access may be had to chamber 9.

What I claim is:

1. A burial vault comprising an open top and closed bottom receptacle part of rectangular contour, theupper portions of the sides and ends of said part being oi' reduced thickness with respect to the lower portions of the sides and ends of the part to provide the latter with an internal endless rib at the junction of said portions, a flat rectangular partition plate seated upon and throughout said ledge and having its edges bearing throughout against the inner face of the said upper portions adjacent said ledge, said plate dividing said part into an upper and a lower chamber, said plate being formed centrally thereof with an opening and an annular boss on its upper face having its inner edge forming an upward continuation of the wall of said opening, an

inverted hollow open bottom frusta-tapered member mounted on and forming in connection with said plate a rectangular compartment within and of less height than said upper chamber, the top, side and end walls of said compartment being imperforate, the side and end walls of said compartment being spaced throughout from the side and end walls of said upper chamber, said boss and opening coacting to provide an intake for said compartment at the bottom of the latter, a lid seating upon the top edges of said part, and a combined coupling and sealing means within said upper chamber, said means completely enclosing said member and engaging that portion throughout of the inner face of the lid between the side Y and end marginal'portion of such face, said means 15 Yrespectively for detachably connecting the lid in edge engaging position, sealing said upper chamber and compartment and preventing the shifting of said member relative to said plate.

2. A burial vault comprising an open top and closed bottom receptacle part of rectangular contour, the upper portions of the sides and ends of said part being of reduced thickness with respect to the lower portions of the sides and ends of the part to provide the latter with an internal endless rib at the junction of said portions, a iiat rectangular partition plate seated upon and throughout said ledge and having its edges bearing throughout against the inner face of the said upper portions adjacent said ledge, said plate di- 30 viding said part into an upper and a lower chamber, said plate being formed centrally thereof with an opening and an annular boss on its upper face having its inner edges forming an upward continuation of the wall of said opening, an inverted hollow open bottom frusto-tapered member mounted on and forming in connection with said plate a rectangular compartment within and of less height than said upper chamber, the top,

side and end walls of said compartment being imperforate, the side and end walls of said compartment being spaced throughout from the side andV end walls of said upper chamber, said boss and opening coacting to provide an intake for said compartment at the bottom of the latter, a lid seating upon the top edges of said part, and a combined coupling and sealing means within said upper chamber, said means completely enclosing said member and engaging that portion throughout of the inner face of the lid between the side v and end marginal portion of such face, said means respectively for detachably connecting the lid 'in edge engaging position, sealing said upper chamber and compartment and preventing the shifting of said member relative to said plate, said boss bein-g formed with tapered inner and outer edges and the wall of said opening being tapered.

VERNON G. KROPP.

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