US2585403A - Casket seal structure - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 12, 1952 B. F. PAUL 2,585,403

CASKET SEAL STRUCTURE Filed Sept. 22, 1949 Patented Feb. 12, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Benjamin F. Paul. Elwood, Ind.; Mildred H. Paul,

administratrix of said Benjamin F. Paul, de-

ceased Application September 22, 1949, Serial No. 117,173

2 Claims. 1.

This invention relates to a casket seal structure.

Herein the invention is shown included in a full lid casket. Whenever full couch effect is not desired but half couch or half casket efiect is desired, a half lid may be provided and this covers the lower half of the body, and when the full lid is tilted open or detached, said half lid is exposed. When the lid is of complete detachable type the present invention insofar as controls are concerned, is disposed upon both sides and the ends if desired. Herein the casket is illustrated as of hinge lid connected type. Hence the invention is applied to the casket side opposite the hinging of the lid. It also can be applied to either or both ends and/or both sides. Thus the simplest and preferred form of the invention is illustrated herein.

The chief object of the present invention is to provide, between a casket and a full lid for the same, a peripheral cushion seal and to lock the lid to the casket in such manner that the seal is clampingly engaged between both.

The chief feature of the present invention resides in the lid pull-down and clamping pressure applying mechanism.

Other objects and features of the invention will be set forth more fully hereinafter.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims:

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a full lid closed casket with the invention applied to the near side thereof.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional view of the lid lower ledge portion, the intermediate sealing gasket, the casket body upper ledge portion and the clamp structure.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevational view of an end portion of the latter.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 and of a modified form of the invention.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 and of the form of the invention shown in Fig. 4.

In the drawings [0 indicates a full length lid having an outwardly and downwardly directed portion ll associated with lower ledge portion 12 rigid therewith and having inturned face flange [3. Portions II and 42 have inturned flanges l4 and [5, see Fig. 2, suitably secured together whereby tacking strips I6 and H, respectively, are mounted.

The body I8 of the casket includes lower ledge portion 19, sidewall portion 29 and upper ledge portion 2|. (See Fig. 1.) As shown in Fig. 2, the lower ledge of the lid projects beyond the upper ledge of the body.

Upper ledge 2| is'joined to the side 20 by outwardly and slightly upwardly directed portion 22. The upper ledge 2| includes inturned face flange 23 with a peripheral channel or well portion 24 therein. The inner end of flange 23 terminates in downturned end or skirt 25 which traps upper tacking strip 26.

Seated in the groove or well 24 is the resilient cushion seal strip 21 adapted for engagement with lid face is when the lid is lowered for closing the casket. When the casket is closed this gasket seal is compressed tightly between lid and body and completely seals the casket interior.

As herein illustrated it is assumed the lid I0 is hinged to body l8 at the far-side (Fig.1). In most cases end locks are not required. When the lid is not so hinged, locks are provided on the far side substantially as shown on the near side (Fig. l) and if desired on the casket ends as well.

The casket body sides 20 mount the usual handle fixtures 28 carrying-handle bar 29. Each endmay also mount a similar fixture 30 carrying bar 3!. Mention is here made thereof for the purpose of pointing out the disposition of the lid clamping structure.

As shown in the several figures 32 indicates a plurality of lid carried downwardly directed tongue portions with outwardly and upwardly directed ends 33. Masking, the aforesaid and providing an interior cam face 34 is the depending portion 35.

In proximity thereto the body portion 22, see Fig. 2, mounts the bracket portion 36 having pivots 31, see Fig. 3. These are in the form of confronting pockets each of which pivotally seats an end 38 of arm 39 apertured at 40. An actuating bar 4! is common to all arms of all such bracket pivoted members and extends through the aligned apertures 40.

An I-shaped strap member 42 has a slotted upper end 43, slotted as at 44, and a lower curled end 45 that embraces bar 4| between the pair of arms 39. When the bar is elevated all strap members are elevated and ride up between portions 33 and 35. When near the upper limit of travel these straps move inward so that tongue 33 engages in slot 44. When the control bar 4| is pulled down and moved over center the lid I0 is drawn down tightly to the body l8 and the seal 21 is compressed. The casket is thus locked and sealed and so held by the over center action. When desired a key operable lock may be included to hold locked the over center operable clamp lock in over center position. Casket locks being old, an illustration thereof is accordingly omitted.

In Figs. 4 and 5 there is illustrated a modified form of the invention. For purposes of illustration, the gasket, the casket body and casket lid are illustrated as previously. Identical parts herein are identically designated.

Herein 50 indicates an elongated base suitably secured as at 5| to the under face of the overhanging lid ledge. Other methods of anchorage may be employed. Projecting downwardly from said base is tongue 52 with inturned portion 53 and upturned face end 54.

A U-shaped strap has midportion 55, arms 56 and inturned pivot bearings, 51. A toggle lever arm 58 is pivotally connected intermediate its ends at the pivot point bearings. It also mounts the bar 4! as shown. The upper end 59 of said toggle lever is pivoted as at 60 to'the upper ends of arms 6! of bracket 62 secured as at B3 to the casket body portion.

Herein arms 56 mount leaf springs 64 that normally operatively bear upon casket portion 2! and serve to constrain the U-shaped member outwardly so that it can be trapped by the lid carried hook. When the toggle lever and bar 41 is elevated a predetermined amount such seating action is attained. When the bar is lowered the lock is over-center locked closed. When the bar is elevated beyond the original seating elevated position the heads 65 of rivet 60 bear inwardly upon the U-shaped member when lifted so that it then clears hook 54 so that the lock can be opened.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in great detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character.

The several modifications described herein as well as others whichwill readily suggest themselves to persons skilled in this art, all are considered to be within the broad scope of the invention, reference being had to the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:

1. A latch mechanism for a casket having lid and body sections wherein the lid section when in closed position projects outwardly beyond the sides of said body section, comprising a hook secured to the outwardly projecting portion of said lid section, an inverted substantially U-shaped member having its free ends turnedlin to form pivot bearings, the base oi'said member being operably associated with said hook, an over center typelever pivotally associated intermediate its ends with said pivot bearings, a U-shaped bracket connected to said body section and having pivot bearings formed in its free ends, the upper end of said lever being pivotally associated with said last mentioned pivot bearings, the lower end of said lever serving as a handle portion, and resilient means connected to the arms of saidinverted substantially U-shaped member and having a portion thereof engageable with said body section when said latch mechanism is in closed condition for constraining said inverted member into hooking position.

2, A latch mechanism for a casket having cooperable lid and body sections, comprising a plurality of hooks secured at spaced intervals to one side of said lid section, an inverted substantially U-shaped member for each hook having its free ends turned in to form pivot bearings, the base of each member being operably engageable with its adjacent hook, a plurality of U-shaped brackets secured to said body section and having pivot bearings formed in their respective free ends, a plurality of over-center type levers each being pivotally associated intermediate its ends with said first mentioned pivot bearings, the upper end of each lever being pivotally associated with said second mentioned pivot bearings, the lower portion of each lever having an aperture formed therethrough at a point inwardly of said pivotal connections, a longitudinal bar sized for telescopic reception within said lever apertures, and resilient means carried by the respective arms of each of said inverted members, said means having an inwardly and upwardly directed'portion engageable with said body section when the latch mechanism is in closed position for normally constraining said respective inverted members into hooking position.

BENJAMIN F. PAUL.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 834,461 Fair Oct. 30, 1906 987,906 Montross Mar. 28, 1911 1,371,422 Isidor Mar. 15, 1921 1,481,216 McMillion Jan. 15, 1924 1,483,544 Donnelly Feb. 12, 1924 1,531,487 Lundberg Mar. 31, 1925 1,594,669 Greive Aug. 3, 1926 1,610,342 Wertheim et a1 Dec. 14, 1926 2,312,184 Neunherz Feb. 23, 1943

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