US2068830A - Memorial plaque - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 26, 1937. A. WAREMBOURG MEMORIAL PLAQUE Filed March 24, 19 36" 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 u m "a m I 5 a w a y 3 a 7 J m a W m m 3 w w i 4 m F l y? a w M n H 8 5 W, A 5 U7, a Z {1/ ad m E, 7I|H| 7m g L Patented Jan. 26, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

This invention relates to memorial plaques or frames of a type adapted to provide an ornamental and sightly protective mounting or frame for a likeness of one whom it is desired to particularly remember, and has as an object to provide an improved construction for and an improved arrangement of elements in such a plaque.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved ornamental memorial plaque arranged for convenient mounting, replacement and substitution of a picture or likeness therein.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved ornamental memorial plaque so arranged as to fully and completely protect a picture or likeness associated therewith from deterioration occasioned by moisture, dust, insects, or action of the elements.

A further object of the invention is to pro-- vide an improved arrangement of permanent ornamental features in a memorial plaque.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved means for mounting and positioning a picture or likeness in suitable relation with the ornamental features of a memorial plaque.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved arrangement for the cooperative association of a memorial plaque with a monument or grave marker.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved means for the removable and re placeable mounting of an ornamental memorial plaque.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved combination of memorial plaque and mounting means therefor.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved ornamental memorial plaque designed to display and protect a desired picture or likeness, which plaque is susceptible of display and mounting in a variety of specific manners and of construction in an infinite variety of specific forms, sizes, and arrangements of ornamental details.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of elements hereinafter set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which 50 Figure l is a perspective view of a conventional grave marker wherewith is associated my improved memorial plaque in its improved mounting. Figure 2 is a detail cross section, on an enlarged scale, taken on the vertical median line 55 of the plaque mounting shown in Figure 1. Figure 3 is a fragmentary, detail plan of the plaque mounting shown in Figures 1 and 2, with its cover element removed. Figure 4 is a Vertical section of the complete plaque mounting taken on the indicated line 4-4 of Figure 3. Figure 5 5 is a cross section through the plaque mounting taken on the indicated line 5-5 of Figure 4. Figure 6 is an elevation of the improved memorial plaque as arranged for practical use in one specific embodiment. Figure '7 is a cross sec- 10 tion taken on the indicated line 'I-'I of Figure 6. Figure 8 is a longitudinal section taken on the indicated line 8-8 of Figure 7. Figure 9 is a longitudinal section taken at right angles to the showing of Figure 8 and on the indicated line 15 9-9 of the latter figure. Figure 10 is an elevation, on an enlarged scale, of the reticule or picture holding and positioning means employed with the improved plaque. Figure 11 is a detail section taken on the indicated line II-Il of Figure 10. Figure 12 is an elevation, on a reduced scale, illustrating a specific form of mounting for convenient interior display of the improved plaque.

In the construction of the improvement as 25 shown, the memorial plaque assembly is illustrated as comprising a unitary mass or block of glass, or similar material, formed in any desired specific size and shape, in any suitable manner and indicated by the numeral IS. The plaque unit I5 is characterized by a transverse plane I 6 disposed in spaced, parallel relation with the base of said unit during manufacture of the latter, which plane supports ornamental features, such as floral arrangements, wreaths, 5 designs, pictorial features, and the like, preferably in color and arranged for ornamental display through the front face of the unit l5. The plane l6 does not define a line of division be tween sections of the unit [5, but merely de- 40,

notes a position for the ornamental features of the unit, which latter are permanently associated with and incorporated in the said unit during its manufacture, as is commonly the practice in the construction of related devices formed of cast or moulded glass. The front face I! of the unit I5 is preferably convex both laterally and longitudinally, and may be formed to a curvature having a lens effect operable to magnify or enhance the display of the ornamental and pictorial features employed with the unit.

The unit l5 may be provided with a continuous shallow recess or groove about its periphery wherein may be permanently seated and secured an ornamental metallic band l8 thus disposed in encircling relation with the unit, which band may conveniently be provided with suitable ears or lugs 9 whereto may be secured the ends of an ornamental chain 20, or equivalent device, to thus provide convenient means whereby the unit l may be suspended from a suitable support on a wall or other mounting. The unit I5 is formed with a cylindrical aperture or recess 2| opening through and in axially perpendicular relation with the rear face or base of said unit and extending within the unit to coincidence of its inner end with the plane IS. The recess 2| is preferably positioned substantially centrally of the unit l5 and is disposed to pleasingly cooperate with and to be encircled by the ornamental features disposed on the plane I6, said ornamental features thus constituting an artistic frame for the aperture defined by the inner end of the recess 2|. The outer end of the recess 2| is preferably formed as a threaded bore 22 of enlarged diameter, and spaced grooves 23 preferably extend axially along the walls of the recess 2| from said threaded portion 22 toward the inner end of the recess.

To provide convenient means for the removable and replaceable association of a picture or likeness with the unit l5, a picture-holding reticule assembly is provided for removable and replaceable association with the recess 2| of said unit, said reticule assembly comprising a cylindrical body portion 24 of any desired specific material and construction, which body portion is of a size to be freely received within the recess 2|, longitudinal ribs 25 being formed or provided on the exterior of the body portion 24 and spaced on the latter to engage within the grooves 23 of the recess 2| and thereby prevent rotation of the reticule assembly within its recess mounting. The forward end of the body portion 24 is preferably reduced somewhat in diameter and terminates in a plane, circular surface perpendicular to the axis of the assembly, against which surface a picture or likeness 26 may be positioned, an apertured cap 2'! being provided to telescope over the reduced end portion of the reticule body for engagement of its annular flange against outer margins of the picture 26 to clamp the latter in the desired position against the end of the reticule body, suitable bayonet type grooves 28 formed in the cap '21 being arranged to engage about pins 29 fixed in the reduced end of the reticule body 24 to lock said cap 21 to the reticule body in clamping relation with the picture 26 carried thereby. The outer end of the reticule assembly may be provided with a radially extending flange 30 adapted to seat against the base of the threaded bore 22 and thereby limit inward travel of the reticule assembly relative to the unit I 5, and a suitable loop or hinged handle 3| may be provided on the outer end of the reticule assembly to aid in the removal and replacement of the latter relative to the unit I5. The flange 3D is not an essential, since inward travel of the reticule assembly may be limited by engagement of the cap 21 with the inner end of the recess 2|. To hold the reticule assembly in the desired relation with the unit I5 and to protect the picture 26 from moisture, dust, and the like, a threaded plug 32 is provided to engage within and close the threaded bore 22 of the recess 2|, said plug 32 closing over and bearing against the outer end of the reticule assembly and serving to clamp the latter with the picture 26 closely adjacent the plane l6 and to fully close and seal the outer end of the recess 2|.

The arrangement above described constitutes a complete memorial plaque wherein a desired picture or likeness may be removably positioned in pleasing association with the ornamental features of the plaque, and which is available for such mounting or disposition as may be desired, the picture or likeness being advantageously displayed through the convex face of the unit and being fully protected by virtue of its position within the unit I5 and the sealing means provided by the plug 32, removal and replacement of the picture 26 being conveniently accomplished through the construction and relation of elements shown and described.

The improved memorial plaque is particularly adapted for permanent association with monuments, grave markers, and the like, and to that end may be combined with a suitable holder, such as is shown in Figures 1 to 5, inclusive. In these latter figures, a grave marker is conventionally indicated by the numeral 33 in supporting relation with a holder assembly especially adapted to receive and mount the memorial plaque previously described. The holder assembly is illustrated as comprising a unitary shell 34 formed of any suitable material in any convenient man ner to provide a rear plate, side portions contoured to embracingly receive a plaque unit I 5, an open front face bounded by relatively narrow marginal flanges positioned to engage over side margins of a unit l5, and an open top wherethrough a unit I 5 may be inserted within or removed from the shell 34. A suitable cover or cap 35 is provided to close the upper end of the shell 34, said cap preferably having a rear marginal flange 36 adapted to seat in a groove formed transversely in the upper end of the rear wall of the shell 34 and a depending front flange 31 adapted to be received between and cooperate with the front marginal flanges of said shell 34, said cap and shell thus cooperating to embracingly receive and house a unit IS with its front face exposed for suitable display of the features characterizing a given plaque assembly. The shell 34 may be supported in any suitable or desired manner on and relative to the marker 33, one means satisfactory for such mounting being illustrated as comprising a bolt or stud 38 permanently seated in any suitable manner in the marker 33 and provided with a threaded exterior end adapted to be received through a hole formed in the rear wall of the shell 34, a nut 39 cooperating with the threaded end of the bolt or stud 38 to clamp the shell 34 to the marker 33, said nut 39 preferably seating in a counterbore or recess of the shell wall, as shown.

Since many changes, variations and modifications in the specific form, construction, design, arrangement and combination of elements shown and described may be had without departing from the spirit and principle of my invention, I wish to be understood as being limited solely by the scope of the appended claims, rather than by any details of the illustrative showing and foregoing description.

I claim as my invention- 1. A memorial plaque comprising a unitary block of transparent material, an ornamental plane transversely of said block, a recess communicating between said ornamented plane and the rear face of said block, and removable and replaceable means cooperating with said recess for the display of a picture likeness in intersecting, substantially coplanar relation with said ornamented plane.

2. A memorial plaque comprising a unitary block of transparent material, an ornamented plane transversely of said block, a recess communicating between said ornamented plane and the rear face of said block, an insert assembly arranged for removable and replaceable association with said recess, and means for mounting a picture likeness on one end of said insert for display in intersecting, substantially coplanar relation with said ornamented plane.

3. A memorial plaque comprising a unitary block of transparent material, an ornamented plane traversing said block in spaced, parallel relation with the rear face thereof, a cylindrical recess intersecting said ornamented plane at one end and opening through the rear face of said block, a cylindrical insert assembly slidable in said recess, means operable to clamp said insert in said recess and to close the outer end of the latter, and picture likeness mounting means on the inner end of said insert.

4. A memorial plaque comprising a unitary block of transparent material, an ornamented plane traversing said block in spaced, parallel relation with the rear face thereof, a cylindrical recess intersecting said ornamented plane at one end and opening through the rear face of said block, an insert assembly slidable in said recess, ribs on said insert cooperating with grooves in the walls of said recess to rotatively fix the former relative to the latter, removable means operable to clamp said insert within said recess and to close the outer end of the latter, and picture likeness mounting means on the inner end of said insert.

5. A memorial plaque comprising a unitary block of transparent material formed with a convex frontal surface and an ornamented plane in spaced, parallel relation with its rear face, a cylindrical recess intersecting said ornamented plane at one end to define a circular opening therein and communicating through the rear face of said block, a cylindrical insert assembly nonrotatably slidable within said recess, a plug threadedly engaging the outer end of said recess and adapted to clamp said insert therein, and

picture likeness mounting means on the inner end of said insert assembly.

6. A memorial plaque comprising a unitary block of transparent material formed with a convex frontal surface and an ornamented plane in spaced, parallel relation with its rear face, a cylindrical recess intersecting said ornamented plane at one end and opening through the rear face of said block, and removable and replaceable means adapted to position a picture likeness in intersecting, substantially coplanar relation with said ornamented plane, said means comprising a cylindrical insert receivable in said recess, ribs on said insert engageable with grooves in said recess to rotatively fix the former relative to the latter, a removable cap on the inner end of said insert adapted to position and clamp a picture likeness on said insert end, and a threaded plug removably. closing the outer end of said recess in clamping relation with said insert.

7. In a memorial plaque comprising a block of transparent material formed with an ornamented plane in spaced, parallel relation with its rear face and provided with removable and replaceable means for the positioning of a picture likeness in intersecting, display relation with said ornamented plane, a shallow, continuous groove encircling side margins of said block, an ornamented metallic band fixed in said groove, and suspension means engaging said band for the mounting of said plaque in depending relation with a fixed support.

8. The combination with a memorial plaque comprising a unitary block of transparent material formed with a transverse, ornamented plane and provided with removable and replaceable means for the positioning of a picture likeness in intersecting, display relation with said ornamented plane, of an open-front casing adapted to receive and support said block, a removable and replaceable cover element for one end of said casing, and means for mounting said casing in fixed relation with a suitable support.

ARTHUR WAREMBOURG.

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