US2504210A

US2504210A - Skirt support for corpses

Info

Publication number: US2504210A
Application number: US793085A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jr George F Mcloughlin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1947-12-22
Filing date: 1947-12-22
Publication date: 1950-04-18
Anticipated expiration: 1967-04-18

Description

April 1950 G. F. MCLOUGHLIN, JR

SKIRT SUPPORT FOR CORPSES Filed Dec. 22, 1947 "A W W a, a w "m m WA V m u a IN V EN TOR.

eorge /-T' A" AT TOP/V5 Y Patented Apr. 18 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SKIRT SUPPORT FOR CORPSES George F. McLoughlin, Jr., Troy, N. Y.

Application December 22, 1947, Serial No. 793,085

My invention relates to the art of undertaking and particularly to skirt supports for corpses.

At the present time, so far as I am aware, there is no form or support for holding the skirt of a corpse in a satisfactorily arranged condition. Padding material is usually packed around the lower part of the corpse beneath the skirt but it is difficult, if not impossible, so to arrange the packing that the skirt, and particularly the folds therein, are disposed in a natural manner.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive form which may be positioned over the legs and lower portion of a female corpse to form a support for a skirt, and over which the skirt will lie smoothly and properly with folds therein of the character which naturally develop when a skirt is worn.

I accomplish this object by means of the novel element described below and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a blank from which my support may be formed, and showing fragmentary portions of tying strings or tape;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the finished form;

Fig. 3 is a section of Fig. 1 in the plan 3-3 drawn to an enlarged scale; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged end view of the bottom of the form.

Referring to the drawing:

The blank from which my support is formed may be cut out of paperboard or other fairly stilf but flexible material to the shape shown in Fig. 1. The blank I, as out, is planiform, and comprises a truncated isosceles triangle of a length adapted to extend approximately from the waist to the ankles. The width at the top 2' preferably is such as to permit the top of the form to be curved partially about the front of the corpse adjacent the waist, and the width at the bottom 2 is preferably somewhat wider than the inside width of the average cofiin so that, when the form is flexed transversely, as shown in Fig. 4, the bottom corners 3 and 4 thereof may be wedged between the sides 5 and 6 of the cofiin to hold the support in flexed condition. Extending upwardly from the bottom of the form are a plurality (here shown as 4) of triangular cut-outs 1 which are adapted to allow folds of the skirt to depend therethrough. Extending beyond the straight portion of the bottom edge 2 of the support, and integral therewith, are portions 8 and 9. Where these portions join the edge 2, the support may be scored, as shown at It, to facilitate the downward folding of the portions 8 and 9 into positions substantially at rightangles to the main body 8 Claims. (Cl. 223-66) of the support. The portions 8 and 9 are arcuate with the portions 9 extending across the bottoms of the cut-outs 1, although the portions 9 are interrupted or cut, as shown at H. The width of that portion of the bottom of the support, indicated at H, between the openings 1 which are adjacent the center of the support, should be sufiicient to permit the ankles of the corpse to be arranged therebetween.

In use, the support is flexed transversely, as best shown in Fig. 4, so that it forms a portion of a conical surface. When the support is thus flexed with the portions 9 at right angles to the main body of the support, the portions 9 at each side of each cut or interruption II therein, move into overlapped position, as shown in Fig. 2, and also in Fig. 4, and may be secured together by staples 12 or other means, as shown in Fig. 4. When secured together, they hold the bottom of the support in transversely flexed condition as shown.

Where the width of the support at the bottom is sufficient to allow it to be wedged between the sides of the coffin, the portions 9 need not be secured together; but where the arched width of the bottom of the support is less than the inside width of the coffin, the portions 9 may be secured together. The portions 8 form legs or supports which rest upon the bottom [3 of the coffin.

In order to secure the support about the corpse, longitudinally-spaced holes [4 and I5 adjacent the lateral marginal edges thereof may be provided through which strings or tapes It may be passed under the corpse and tied to hold the support in position.

While I prefer to form the support of paperboard because it is inexpensive and efficient, it is to be understood that the support may be made of thin metal, plastic sheet material or even molded in transversely curved condition from papiermach or the like.

What I claim is:

1. A skirt support for a corpse comprising an elongated form adapted to extend from about the waist line to about the ankles; said form being wider at the bottom than at the top, formed of fairly stiff but flexible sheet material, and provided in the lower portion thereof with a plurality of transversely-spaced, longitudinallyextending cut-outs through which folds of said skirt are adapted to hang.

2. A skirt support for a corpse comprising an elongated form adapted to underlie and support the front of a skirt on said corpse; said form being provided in the lower portion thereof with a plurality of transversely-spaced, longitudinallyextending openings adapted to have folds of said skirt hang therethrough.

3. A skirt support for a corpse comprising an elongated form adapted to underlie and support the front of a skirt on said corpse; said form being provided in the lower portion thereof with a plurality of transversely-spaced, triangular openings extending upwardly from the bottom thereof through which folds in said skirt are adapted to hang.

4. A skirt support for a corpse comprising an elongated element formed of comparatively stiff but flexible sheet material adapted to be flexed to form a transversely-curved, smooth-surfaced support for said skirt when positioned thereunder and provided with a plurality of transversely-spaced, longitudinally-extending, triangularly openings therein extending upwardly from the bottom thereof through which folds of said skirt may hang.

5. A skirt support for a corpse comprising an elongated element formed of cardboard adapted to underlie said skirt and to be flexed transversely to form a convex covering overlying the legs of said corpse; said support being substantially wider at the bottom than at the top and being provided on each side of the center thereof with a triangular openin extending upwardly a substantial distance from the bottom edge thereof and adapted to retain a depending fold of said skirt.

6. A skirt support for a corpse comprising an elongated element formed of comparatively stiif but flexible sheet material adapted to underlie said skirt from about the waistline to about the ankles of the corpse and provided in the lower portion thereof with skirt fold receiving means extending upwardly from a zone adjacent the bottom edge thereof; and means on said form for securing it in transversely flexed condition over the lower portion of the corpse.

7. A substantially plane blank adapted to form a skirt support for a corpse and comprising a truncated, triangular element formed of stiff but flexible material adapting it to be flexed transversely to form a convex support for said skirt when positioned thereunder; said element being provided with a plurality of transverselyspaced openings extending upwardly from the bottom thereof adapted to receive depending folds of said skirt, and with laterally-spaced portions attached to the bottom thereof and adapted to be bent downward substantially at right angles to the plane of said support and to move into overlapped relation when said blank is flexed transversely; whereby said portions may be secured together when said blank is so flexed to hold the bottom thereof in flexed condition.

8. A substantially plane blank adapted to form a skirt support for a corpse and comprising a truncated, triangular element formed of stifi but flexible material adapting it to be flexed transversely to form a convex support for said skirt when positioned thereunder; said element being provided with integral, co-planar portions extending from the bottom thereof adapted to be bent downwardly substantially at right angles to said support and to overlap and be secured together when said support is flexed transversely for holding said support in flexed condition.

GEORGE F. McLOUGHLIN, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 845,840 Worden Mar. 5, 1907 1,697,617 Stringfield Jan. 1, 1929 2,256,043 Cohen Sept. 16, 1941 2,452,353 Brownson Oct. 26, 1948