US2121363A - Burial vault - Google Patents

Description

June 2l, 1938.I J. F. MYERS BURIAL VAUL'I' Filed April 6, 1937 Patented June 21, 1938 NETE@ STATES PATENT ortica 3 Claims.

This invention relates to burial vaults, and it has for its object to provide a simple and inexpensive vault of substantially an imperishable nature and one in which a casket may be sealed in such manner as to be forever protected from water or moisture, even though buried in theV ground.

The invention may be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view of the base of the vault;

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section, and

Fig. 3 is a partial longitudinal sectional View of a burial vault constructed in accordance with the invention.

Like numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several gures of the drawing.

In carrying out the invention, I first form a base 5 of reinforced concrete, the reinforcing being indicated at 6. This base is provided with a groove or channel 'I in its upper face, which eX- tends all the way around the base and receives the lower edge vof the vault cover 8. This vault cover is also made of reinforced concrete and is provided with a non-corrosive metallic lining 9, which is preferably of zinc.

This lining ycovers all parts of the inner face of the cover 8 and extends downwardly to such a point that when the lower edge of the cover is seated in a rich, water-proof, cement grouting IIJ, placed Within the channel I, the lower edge of the Zinc lining will be covered by said grouting, so that no water can enter either to the interior oi the vault or between the zinc lining and the inner face of the cover 8.

In use, the casket, indicated in` dotted lines at II, is placed upon the base 5. Then the channel I is lled with the rich water-proof grouting ID, and the cover 8 is placed in position over the casket, with its lower edge seated in channel l. When the grouting hardens, cover 8 and base 5 will be converted into a substantially monolithic structure within which the casket is sealed.

I may provide handles I2upon the cover section and I3 upon the base section. I have shown these as being embedded in the concrete" and engaged with the reinforcing mesh for purposes of strength, but I wish it to be clearly understood that the invention contemplates any suitable type of handle and any point of location for the same.

In the formation ofthe cover 8, the Zinclining 9 may be caused to serve the double function of a non-corrosive lining for the cover and a form element defining accurately the inner face of the cover. That is to say, instead of having to use inner and outer forms, it is possible to make the lining itself serve as the inner form for the cover 8.

While I have shown a conventional wire mesh 6 as the reinforcing element for base 5 and a con- Ventionalwire mesh reinforcing element I4 for 5 the cover 3, I wish it to be understood that simple rods or other reinforcing elements may be used in this relation.

Further, while I have described the inner lining 9 as being made of sheet zinc (for example, 10 24 gauge), I wish it to. be understood that the invention contemplates the use of any suitable sheet metal in this relation. It is only essential that the metal employed be stiff enough to maintain its form during construction of the cover and 15 non-corrosive enough in its nature to resist dis-d integration through rust or otherwise, when buried in the ground over a long period of time.

After the cover has been applied to the base 5 to seal the casket therein, an additional sealing may be provided at I5 by the application of additional water-proof grouting or by the application of any suitable, water-resistant bituminous product such as tar, asphalt or the like.

Under these conditions it will be impossible for g any Water to ever find its way to the casket, and this is rendered doubly certain lby the fact that the cover 8, above base 5, has no openings of any kind therein for the escape of air, and consequently, even if the joint at groove 'I should 30 leak, the pressure of air in the interior of the vault would prevent the entry of any water. Further, it is well known that there is a generation of certain gases during body decomposition which would tend to build up a certain pressure in the 35 hermeticaily sealed casket which would further insure against the entry of any water.

The casket may be seated on suitable transverse cleats to be held slightly spacedfrom base 5 to prevent moisture from affecting the casket through base t. To further guard against this possibility, this base as a whole is made of a waterrepellent concrete.

A feature that I deem to be ofgreat importance is the use oi' the imperforate, non-corrosive sheet metal in a lining co-extensive in area with the entire inner surface of the cover and the extending of this lining to a point sufliciently low to insure that it will be embedded in the waterproof cement grouting which unites the cover and y base.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise construction set forth, but that it includes within its purview whatever changes fairly come within either the terms or the spirit of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim is: l 1. A burial vault comprising a base of a material impenetrable by water and having a continuous channel in its upper face adjacent the edge thereof, an impervious cover, the lower edge of which is adapted to have a seating in said channel, a lining for the cover, the lower edge of which extends into said channel, and a sealing means filling said channel and uniting cover and base and extending above the lower edge of the lining` 2. A structure as recited in claim 1 wherein said lining is of zinc.

3. A burial vault of the character described comprising a flat, water-resistant base portion, of sucient area to support a casket thereon and having a channel extending therearound in its upper face and adjacent its edges, a cover of water-resistant concrete having an open bottom and otherwise continuous and imperforate and adapted to cover and house a casket seated upon the base, the lower edges of said cover being shaped and dimensioned to have a seating in said channel, a sealing body of Water-resistant, cementitious material uniting the lower edge of the cover and the base, and a lining of Zinc coextensive in area with the interior of the cover and forming a continuous lining therefor at all points, the lower edges of said lining extending downwardly into said channel to be embedded in the cementitious material by which the cover is united to the base.

' JOSEPH F. MYERS.

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