US2976599A - Casket - Google Patents

Description

March 28, 1961 J. s. OVERLAND EFAL 2,976,599

CASKET Filed April 10, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 r. MI

H I INVENTORS Jo/m 5. Over/and BY .fames 77 H/// fi6.2 '9 I Arro 6Y5 March 28, 1961 J. s. OVERLAND ETAL 2,97 ,599

CASKET Filed April 10, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 J I E IN V EN TORS Jab/1 5. Over/and States Unite CASKET Filed Apr. 10, 1959, Ser. No. 805,510

Claims. (Cl. 27-17) This invention relates to a casket of the type having separate cover or top lid sections for the head and foot portions thereof, and more particularly to constructions for perfecting a. hermetic seal for such a casket.

Caskets having separate top lid sections, individually hinged to permit independent opening and closing thereof, are generally provided with a gasket or other sealing means extending around the upper margin of the body of the casket and engageable' by the top lid sections when closed. Additional transverse sealing means, in the form of a gasket carried either by one of the top lid sections or by a transverse bridge on the casket body, is generally provided to effect a seal between the adjacent ends of the top lid sections. The marginal and transverse sealing means serve to hermetically seal the casket, with the top lid sections being drawn down and held tightly against the sealing means by suitable clamps or latches.

An object of this invention is the provision in a casket having separate hinged covers or top lid sections of a novel and improved construction whereby the closure or sealing of the casket can be accomplished economically and effectively, and including hinge means adapted to shift one or both of the lid sections, upon the closing thereof, longitudinally of the casket and into compressing engagement with a transverse gasket.

It is another object of this invention to provide a casket having two separate lid sections for individually closing the head and foot portions of the casket body, the lid sections having inner end plates or fillets extending transversely of the casket body and adjacent one another when closed, and wherein a transverse gasket member is carried by one of those end plates, and the lid sections embody cam means in the hinges thereof by which the lid sections are moved longitudinally of the casket upon their being closed so that the transverse gasket is clamped in a horizontal direction between the end plates, thereby forming a tight seal which is relatively independent of clamping forces applied by draw down and retaining means acting to hold the top lid sections in sealing engagement with the marginal sealing means extending around the upper edge of the casket body.

As a further object this invention aims to provide in a casket of the above described character simple and economical cooperating means, carried by the top lid sections and by the casket body at the front side thereof, for drawing the lid sections into tight sealing engagement with the marginal sealing means and with the transverse sealing means, the cooperating means being in the form of studs having conical depressions and locking bolt or screw elements having complementary conical projections, the screw elements being arranged to advance the conical projections into wedging engagement with the depressions in the studs, thereby affording a quick and ther and additional objects and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description of a invention with the top section or lid at the head end of the casket in raised or open position while the top section or lid at the foot end of the casket is in closed position,

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary end view of a hinge element.

of the sealing structure taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the hinge structure shown in Fig. 2 taken along line 3-3 thereof,

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary front view of the casket ShOWe ing the longitudinal displacement of the top section or lidat the head end of the casket when in a raised position,

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but showing the decreased displacement of the top section or lid when lowered to a position between its open and closed positions,

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Figs. 4 and 5 but showing both top sections infully closed positions with the transverse gasket clamped therebetween,

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 4. but illustrates the displacement of both the head and foot top sections,

when in open position,

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 but with thehead and foot topsections partially closed,

Fig. 9.. is a view following the sequence of Figs. -7 and 8, showing the head and'foot sections fully closed,

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view of a locking bolt and a stud element of the sealing structure in a; position before closing of a top section and taken along a line substantially the same as 12512 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 10 but showing the locsing bolt and stud in a partially engaged condition, an

Fig. 12 is a View of. the locking bolt and stud in a Igully 1closed position and taken along line 1212 of;

The casket 10 has a body portion 11 which may be of any of the usual constructions having a front wall 12, a back wall 13, and end walls, the upper edges of which have mounted thereon a marginal sealing means which may be in the form of a compressible gasket 14.

A hinged top section or lid 15 is provided at the head end of the casket 1t and a similar hinged top section or lid 16 is provided at the foot end of the casket, each of which may be opened and closed independently of the other.

Between the top sections or lids 15 and 16 there is provided a transverse sealing means or' gasket 17 for effecting a seal when both of the top sections are closed, the gasket 17 being compressed between the top sections or lids through the action of hinges 19 by which the top sections are secured to the rear wall 13 of the casket as seen in Fig. l. The construction of the hinges 119, later described in detail, provides a shifting or lateral motion of the top sections 15 and 16 during opening or closing thereof, thereby permitting the transverse sealing gasket 17 to be supported by one lid and to be horizontally engageable by the other lid. 7 i i The casket it} is further provided, as a part of its novel sealing arrangement, with simple and eff cient Patented i. 23,1961,

elements or studs 23 located on the upper edge of the front wall 12 of the casket body 11.

The hinges 19, which impart a lateral or shifting motion to the top sections upon opening and closing thereof, and which are best seen in Figs. 2 and 3, comprise a tubular portion or elongated eye 25 presented by a mounting pad or butt plate 26. The plate 26 is suitably secured to the upper edge of the back wall 13 as by welding or the like, with the long axis of the tubualr eye 25 extending longitudinally of the casket 10. The tubular eye 25 is provided with a cam slot 28 inthe wall thereof, the long dimension of the slot being disposed at an angle to the axis of the eye 25.

A hinge pin means or pintle 29 is slidably and rotatably received in the elongated eye 25 and is provided with an arm in the form of a threaded pin or stud 30 extending therefrom normal to the long axis of the hinge pin or pintle and through the angularly disposed cam slot 28. The hinge pin 29 is secured to the top section or lid such as 15 by clamping nuts 31, 32 on the threaded stud or pin 30. The hole into which the pin 30 is inserted into the top section is advantageously sealed with rubber washers or gaskets 33 between the clamping nuts 31, 32 and the top section.

Each of the hinges 19 serving the top section 15 have their cam slots 28 so disposed that upon the closing of the top section, rotating the hinge pin 29 about its axis, the stud 30 will be constrained to follow the cam slot 28, shifting the hinge pin 29 to its dotted line position of Fig. 3. The hinge pin will carry with it the top section 15 into its dotted line position of Fig. 3, and into horizontal sealing engagement with the transverse gasket 17.

The gasket 17, just mentioned, may conveniently be of the split type and is carried by an inner end plate or fillet 35 of the top section 16 serving the foot end of the casket 10. A similar inner end plate or fillet 36 is provided on the top section 15 and it is this portion of the section 15 which when closed is adjacent the section 16 and in compressing engagement with the gasket 17. Obviously the gasket 17 could also be carried by the top section serving the head end of the casket, or a gasket could be carried on each top section, thereby aifording a rubber to rubber transverse seal. It will be noted here that the transverse gasket 17 is adapted to be contacted by a surface lying in a single plane, thereby avoiding the unnecessary complications of attempting to seal along the irregular path described by the downwardly facing surfaces'37 of the inner end plates 35 and 36.

The nature of the motion of one or both of the top sections or lids 15 and 16 upon closing is illustrated in Figs. 4 through 9. As indicated by the distance 40 in Fig. 4, 41 in Fig. 5, and 42 in Fig. 6, the top section 15 is shifted laterally upon the closing thereof to bring it into sealing engagement with the gasket 17 in a single plane and without danger of displacing or disrupting the gasket 17. Likewise, as indicated by the distances 5%, 51, and 52 in Figs. 7, 8, and 9, the top section 16 at the foot portion of the casket 10 will be shifted longitudinally of the casket by reason of the cam slots 28 of the hinges 19 serving that section being disposed at an angle opposite to those of the hinges supporting the section 15. Thus either or both of the hinged top sections may be selectively opened without special attention to the transverse gasket 17.

The top sections or lids 15 and 16 when closed may be locked or dogged in that position by means of the locking bolts 22 and the studs 23, as illustrated in Figs. 10, 11, and 12. The studs 23 are secured in an upright position along the edge of the front wall 12 by nuts 54 and are adapted to be received through openings 55 in the lower front edges of the top sections. Each stud 23 is provided with a conical depression 56 opening to the front of the casket 10.

The locking screws 22 are threadedly received by the top sections 15 and 16 and are each provided with a conical projection 57, complementary to the depressions 56 in the studs 23. As may be seen from Fig. 10, the screw 22 is not by the normal weight of the top section 15 axially aligned with the conical depression 56, how ever upon inward advancement of the screw 22, the conical projection 57 will enter into wedging engagement with the depression as shown in Fig. 11. Continued advancement of the locking bolt or screw 22 will draw the top section 15 down into a tight sealing engagement with the marginal gasket 14 as shown in Fig. 12. The screw 22 is advantageously provided with a shouldered head 59 and an O-ring or other sealing washer 60, the washer 60 being adapted to be deformed by the head 59 against the top section 15, or 16, and to create a seal therebetween. 7

When drawn down and secured or clamped as shown in Fig. 12, the top sections 15 and 16 tightly engage the marginal sealing means or gasket 14 and the transverse gasket 17 between the sections, thereby effecting a complete and hermetic seal, the casket 10 however, being capable of being opened and closed at the head or foot thereof selectively without further consideration of the transverse seal 17.

The casket of this invention will be seen from the foregoing detailed description to be of novel and effective construction, offering certain advantages in case and flexibility in use through the provision, in combination,

of the cam action hinges 19 and the simple but effective laterally engaged transverse seal 17, together with the cooperating conical screw elements 22 and studs 23 by i which the top sections are drawn into and secured in their closed and sealed positions.

Although the casket of this invention has been described with reference to a specific embodiment and in considerable detail, it is understood that the invention is not to be limited thereby but rather the invention includes such changes and modifications as are embraced by the scope of the claims appended hereto. Having described our invention, we claim: 1. In a casket of the type having a body, separate top lid sections connected by hinge means to said body at the rear longitudinal side thereof and covering when closed the head and foot portions of said body,- sealing means extending around the upper marginal edges of said body and engageable by said lid sections when closed and cooperating clamping means carried by said top lid sections and by said body at the front side thereof for drawing said lid sections into tight sealing engagement with said sealing means and into lateral engagement with one another; a transverse seal extending between the adjacent ends of said lid sections when closed and comprising an end plate on the adjacent end of each of said lid sections and extending transversely of said body, a sealing gasket carried by one of said end plates and laterally engageable by the other of said end plates when said lid sections are closed; said hinge means comprising cooperating cam means and binge pin means connected to said body and one of said lid sections respectively, said one of said top lid sections being shiftable longitudinally of said bodyby said cam means and hinge pin means toward said other top lid section during closing whereby said gasket is horizontally compressible between said end plates, and said clamping means being adapted to permit longitudinal shifting of said one top lid section while drawing said one top lid section into said tight sealing engagement.

2. A casket as defined in claim 1 and wherein said cooperating means for drawing said lid sections into tight sealing engagement with said sealing means comprises studs mounted on said body and extending above said upper marginal edges, said studs having conical depressions therein opening toward the front of said body, screw elements threadedly mounted on said lid sections and having conical projecting ends complementary to said conical depressions, said screw elements being arranged to advance said projecting ends into engagement with said studs and into said depressions for drawing said lid sections into said tight sealing engagement.

3. A casket as defined in claim 1 and wherein said cooperating cam means and hinge pin means comprise hinge members each including a tubular eye portion having a cam slot defined in the wall thereof, a hinge pin movable in said eye portion and having a connecting arm extending therefrom and through said cam slot for connection with one of said lid sections, said connecting arm being constrained to motion along said cam slot, said cam slot being disposed to shift said hinge pin means and the lid section connected thereto longitudinally of said body throughout opening and closing thereof.

4. In a casket of the type having a body, separate top lid sections connected by hinge means to said body at the rear longitudinal side thereof and covering when closed the head and foot portions of said body ,sealing means extending around the upper marginal edges of said body and engageable by said lid sections when closed and cooperating means carried by said top lid sections and by said body at the front side thereof for drawing said lid sections into tight sealing engagement with said sealing means; a transverse seal extending between the adjacent ends of said lid sections when closed and comprising an end plate on the adjacent end of each of said lid sections and extending transversely of said body, a sealing gasket carried by one of said end plates and laterally engageable by the other of said end plates when said lid sections are closed; said hinge means comprising cooperating cam means and hinge pin means connected to said body and both of said lid sections respectively, said cam means and hinge pin means being effective to shift both of said top lid sections longitudinally of said body toward one another throughout the closing movement thereof whereby said gasket is horizontally compressed between said end plates; said cooperating means for drawing said lid sections into tight sealing engagement with said sealing means comprising studs mounted on said body and extending above said upper marginal edges, said studs having conical depressions therein opening toward the front of said body, screw elements threadedly mounted on said lid sections and having conical projecting ends complementary to said conical depressions, said screw elements being arranged to advance said projecting ends into engagement with said studs and into said depressions for drawing said lid sections toward said body and toward each other into said tight sealing engagement with said body and with each other.

5. A casket as defined in claim 4 and wherein said cooperating cam means and hinge pin means comprise hinge members each including a tubular eye portion hav ing a cam slot defined in the wall thereof, a hinge pin movable longitudinally and about its own axis in said eye portion and having a connecting arm extending therefrom and through said cam slot for connection with one of said lid sections, said connecting arm being constrained to motion along said cam slot, said cam slot being entirely angularly disposed with respect to said axis to shift said hinge pin means and the lid section connected thereto longitudinally of said body upon opening and closing movements thereof.

References'Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,046,209 Mercer Dec. 3, 1912 1,090,883 Schott Mar. 24, 1914 1,768,364 Lawton June 24, 1930 2,124,763 Clark July 26, 1938 2,284,921 Purkiss June 2, 1942 2,869,216 Overland et a1. Jan. 20, 1959

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