US 12,305,412 B2 · Monolithic columbarium unit

Abstract

System and for interment of cremated remains with module above-ground columbariums. Columbariums are formed from either a monolithic block of stone or individual blocks that are stacked on top of each other. Spacers may be used between adjacent blocks in the vertical stack to enable two adjacent units to be interleaved. Support rods may extend through interleaved portions to enable adjacent units to be rotated with respect to each other as well as penetrating down into a below-ground foundation to provide resistance to overturning. Modularity may be achieved at the single-block level where each block contains only one niche, minimizing the capital expenditure operators must make to increase capacity for the facility. A separate six-sided columnar columbarium unit may also be provided with faces that alternate between pairs of drilled niches and corresponding memorials. Multiple layers of this may be stacked vertically together. Water or other fluid may flow up through a channel within the vertical column, exiting the top and flowing down over the faces into a catchment basin below where it is captured and recirculated.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A cemetery system comprising:

a plurality of interconnected above-ground columbarium units, wherein each above-ground columbarium unit comprises a plurality of stacked blocks of natural stone sitting on a foundation with a plurality of niches drilled partially through each block from a first face and a plurality of memorials etched into a second face opposite to the first face, each memorial on a portion of each block in front of one of the niches;
and
at least one separate columnar columbarium unit comprising a six-sided columnar block of stone extending upward from a foundation and having six outer faces carved into the columnar block, said outer faces alternating between pairs of adjacent pre-drilled niches extending partially through the block and pairs of memorializations, and a central passage extending from a top surface of the columnar block to a bottom surface, wherein said central passage is connected to a fluid pump for dispensing fluid out of the top surface.

A system for the interment of cremated remains in a memorialization facility, the system comprising:

a first above-ground columbarium unit sitting on a first foundation comprising a vertical stack of blocks interspaced by spacers, each block of the stack having a first plurality of niches drilled partially therethrough for receiving cremated remains and a plurality of memorials etched onto a portion of the block opposite to the first plurality of niches, each one of the first plurality of memorials in front of one of the niches;
a second above-ground columbarium unit sitting on a second foundation proximate to the first foundation, the second above-ground columbarium unit comprising a second vertical stack of blocks interspaced by spacers, each block of the second unit comprising a second plurality of niches drilled partially therethrough for receiving cremated remains and a second plurality of memorials etched onto a portion of the second block opposite to the first plurality of niches, each one of the second plurality of memorials centered over one of the niches, wherein respective blocks of the first and second above-ground interment units are interleaved with at least one support rod passing through the first and second units where they are interleaved into one of the foundations to prevent them from tipping over while allowing one above-ground columbarium unit to be rotated relative to the other above-ground columbarium unit.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Monolithic columbarium unit

Life of this patent

Monolithic columbarium unit

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17