US2167001A - Casket construction - Google Patents

Description

July 25, 1939.

D. OPPENHEIM CASKET CONSTRUCTION f Filed July 8, 19:57

I l4 INVENTOR Byflarzd' o v rzzzez'ng.

A TTORNEYS Patented July 25, 1939 UNITED STATES OFFICE Claims.

Thisinvention relates to caskets and more particularly to casketswhich consist of an ornamental outer shell forming a shroud for an inner burial pox, said shell being used repeatedly as adecorative cover for the relatively inexpensive "burial boxes.

Since the purchase of an ornamental casket 'is'an'item of relatively large expense, it is one of the objects of the present invention to 'provide a casket construction whereby the cost of funerals may be greatly decreased without sacrificing'the beauty of an expensive casket con- 'struction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a two-piece casket in which there is provided improved means for connecting the shroud and the inner burial box, said means permitting easy and convenient disconnecting and lowering of the burial box into the grave.

'It'is an' additional object of the invention to provide a casket of the foregoing character which is simple in construction and is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and in which the box suspending or connecting means are simple and dependable in operation.

"Other objects of this invention will appear in thefollowing description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawing' forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

Fig. l is a perspective view of the casket in its assembled position, the cover being partly opened to show theinterior thereof.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the casket, showing the suspension means.

. Fig. 3is a sectional view illustrating the method of lowering the burial box into the concrete vault.

Before explaining in detail the presentlinvention it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawing, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, and it is not intended to limit the invention claimed herein beyond the requirements of the prior art.

In the drawing there is shown by way of example a casket construction embodying the present invention. Referring to the drawing, the same comprises generally an ornamental outer shell or shroud I!) having the general appearance bfanfordinarycasket without a bottom, a burial 'box" I I,"'and suspension means generally indicated by the'numeral IZ'bywhich the burial "box ll isoperativelysuspendedin the shell and"'canbelowered' therefrom onto the straps 5 [Siorlowering into 'theconcrete vault 14. Thus, "the'buri'al'box' ll is'actually'buried inthe con- "jcretefvault' |4,"wl'iile the ornamental shell Ii] "whichis' relatively expensive is'preserved for repeated use.

The cover ofthe shell 10' comprises a fixed part "I fi'arida'hingedpart I6 which can be opened to permitdisplay of the remains of the deceased. 'Handles"llareprovidedon the shell as shown for thepurpose ofconvenient carrying and handling""of"the"'shell and burialbox as a unitary "casket. The'suspension means are provided at 1 each" of the ends "of the -shelland connect with the ends bf the burial box to form the casket. The-mechanism provided at the respective ends ==of the casket -are ineffect complemental clamps which are substantially'similar in construction. -Eachaofsaid mechanisms comprises a bracket '=l8 -secured-to-the shell -l0,-and a bolt I9 sup- .portedby the bracket I8, the bolt l9 passing l- 'through thehole provided in the bracket. A -nut -2fl.-operatively engages the bolt [9 and is prevented from rotation by a guide pin 2| provided on 'the' bracket '18. Thus, rotation of the bolt l9 may be effected bymeans of a wrench- 22 adapted to pass through small concealed holes 23 'provided'in the cover of the shell I0, the wrench 22 engaging the square heads 24 of the boltswhich upon'turning causes vertical move- 'ment" of the *nut'20.

-The' burialbox' II is. provided with two loop brackets or eyes25 which are engaged by the hook'portions' of the hook rods 26, two of such "hook"'rodsb'eing provided at each end of the casket, said rods being hinged at the nut 20 asa4 indicated at" 21.

"Theactualtprocess of disconnecting the shell "and"the"burial*'boxand burying the burial box is illustrated in Fig. 3. Referring thereto, 28 indicates the grave pit at the bottom of which there is provided a concrete or other suitable vault M for receiving the burial box. The casket is placed on the frame 30 which provides a firm footing therefor and which prevents caving in of the edges of the pit. The lowering straps !3 are of any desired conventional construction and may be secured in and operated by the drums 3| provided with suitable spring mechanisms (not shown) to produce the desired tension on the straps to enable gradual lowering of the burial box ll .into the vault 29. It should be noted that the sliding cover 32 of the box is moved from under the fixed top part 33 for closing the box H before the hinged cover I6 is closed.

It is also important to note that when the box II is suspended in the shell [0, it may be raised by the bolts against the stops 34 secured to the shell. It], and therefore it is held in the shell very tight and secure.

It is an important feature of the present invention that with the aid of my improved suspension meanslowe'ring of the burial box onto the straps is eflected gradually and with full concasket which causes tilting of the burial box, or

possible breakage of the straps.

From an examination of Figs. 2 and 3 it can be seen that as the bolts 19 are rotated, preferably by means of two wrenches from both sides of the casket simultaneously, the burial box is lowered onto the straps and tension is put on said straps until they fully support, the burial box. Further rotation of the bolts will move the .hook portions of the rods 26 downward with respect to the loop brackets 25. Since the hook rods 25 in their engaged position are disposed at an angle, as soon as their hook portions clear the loop brackets 25, the rods swing away from from the brackets and the burial box may be lowered without interference from said rods. Construction and operation of the lowering straps and their drums is well known in the art 40 and therefore need not be described in detail as the features of such devices do not comprise a part of the present invention.

Thus, the present invention provides an improved means whereby suspension of the burial box in the outer decorative shell is made dependable and secure, and the lowering of said box onto the strap may be effected gradually and positively controlled at all times during the disconnecting of the burial box from the shroud.

I claim:

1. In a casket construction having an outer decorative shell and an inner burial box, means detachably connecting said shell and. said box, said means comprising a plurality of vertically arranged bolts carried by said shell and a corresponding plurality of travelling nuts engaging said bolts, means preventing rotation of the nuts when the respective bolts are rotated, and rigid hook rods connected with said nuts and depending therefrom for suspending and lowering said burial box, said hook rods being hooked into loops upon the said burial box and automatically disengageable therefrom after the burial box is supported by lowering straps.

2. In a casket construction having an outer decorative shell and an inner burial box, means operatively connecting said shell and said box, said means comprising a plurality of vertically arranged bolts carried by said shell and a corresponding plurality of travelling nuts engaging said bolts, guides preventing rotation of said nuts when their respective bolts are rotated, brackets on said burial box, and hook rods carried by said nuts and fitting about said brackets at their inner, outer, and lower surfaces to detachably secure the burial box to the shell.

3. In a casket construction having an outer decorative shell and an inner burial box, means concealed in said shell and operable from the outside thereof for detachably connecting said shell and said box and comprising a plurality of vertically arranged bolts carried by said shell and a corresponding plurality of travelling nuts engaging said bolts and detachably supporting said burial box through swingable but rigid connecting links hooked within eye portions thereof, and means for rotating said bolts to'effect a gradual lowering of the burial box relative tothe shell before disconnection of the burial box from the shell takes place as a result of the lowering of the links relative to the eye portions.

4. In a casket construction having an outer decorative shell and an inner burial box, means concealed in said shell and operable from the outside thereof for detachably connecting said shell and said box, said means comprising a plurality of vertically arranged bolts carried by said shell and a corresponding plurality of travelling nuts engaging said bolts, guides preventing rotation of said nuts when their respective bolts are rotated, brackets on said burial box, and hook rods carried by said nuts and engaging said brackets to detachably support the burial box in the shell.

3. In a casket construction having an outer decorative shell and an inner burial box, means provided at each end of the casket for operatively connecting said shell and said box, said means being concealed in said shell but operable from the outside thereof and comprising a bracket secured to said shell; a vertically disposed bolt supported by said bracket; a guide pin on said bracket; a travelling nut operatively engaging said bolt and said pin, whereby rotation of the bolt causes vertical movement of said nut;

loop brackets on said burial box; and hook rods lowered onto lowering straps prior to disengagement of the hook rods from. the loop brackets. DAVID OPPENI-IEIM.

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