US 4,237,590 A · Combination burial vault and casket and funeral and burial method or system

Abstract

A combination burial vault and casket and funeral and burial method or system using the same in a funeral and burial service. An interiorly decorated "surround" or false casket frame having a hinged top is disposed over the base of the vault and cooperates with the interiorly decorated base of the burial vault to provide a casket during visitation at the funeral home. Carrying handle structures are provided for carrying either the assembled base and the surround or false casket or the assembled base and cover of the vault, with the remains of the deceased therein, to the cemetary after the visitation and funeral services at the funeral home. In one practice of the invention, when the base and cover of the vault are assembled at the close of services at the funeral home, the surround or false casket with the carrying handle structures thereon is retained at the funeral home for reuse. In another practice of the invention, the surround or false casket, assembled over and with the base of the vault, with the remains of the deceased therein, is carried to the cemetary, whereupon the surround or false casket with the carrying handle structures thereon, is returned to the funeral home for reuse. The assembled base and cover of the vault are hermetically sealed prior to interment of the vault and generally U-shaped resilient clamping and reinforcing members are attached to the sealed mating marginal or peripheral sealing flanges of the assembled vault prior to interment.

Claims29

Dependent claims

A combination burial vault and casket comprising

(a) a burial vault including
(1) a base adapted to be arranged over and mounted on a supporting member at a funeral home during visitation and the funeral service at the funeral home including
a. upright side walls and end walls having
1. marginal upper edge portions;
(b) a surround or false casket arranged over and assembled with the said base of the said burial vault at the funeral home during visitation and the funeral service at the funeral home and cooperating with the said base of the burial vault at the funeral home to provide a casket in which the remains of the deceased are rested during visitation and the funeral service at the funeral home;
(c) the said surround or false casket including
(1) a generally rectangular-shaped open frame which is substantially dimensionally coextensive with the said marginal upper edge portions of the said upright side and end walls of the said base of the said vault and including
a. a front side wall;
b. a rear side wall;
and
c. end walls;
and
(2) a top or closure member hingedly connected to the said rear side wall of the said generally rectangular-shaped open frame of the said surround or false casket;
(d) the said vault including a cover adapted to be arranged over the said base of the vault and to be hermetically sealed thereto with the remains of the deceased enclosed within the said burial vault after removal of the said surround or false casket from the said base of the said vault, and including
(1) side walls and end walls having
a. lower marginal edge portions;
(e) the said vault including cooperating sealing means on the said upper marginal edge portions of the said side walls and end walls of the said base of the said vault and on the said lower marginal edge portions of the said side walls and end walls of the said cover of the said vault for hermetically sealing the said base and the said cover together in assembled position with the remains of the deceased enclosed therein prior to interment.

14 more elements

A funeral and burial method or system which employs a burial vault formed of molded plastic resinous material and which includes a base including side walls and end walls, and having an open top and a cover or closure member for the said base, and a surround or false casket which includes a generally rectangular-shaped open frame which is substantially dimensionally coextensive with the said side walls and end walls of the said base of the vault and has a top or closure member hingedly mounted on and connected to the said generally rectangular shaped open frame of the said surround or false casket, and the said generally rectangular-shaped open frame of the said surround or false casket having carrying handle structures mounted on the side walls thereof, the said funeral and burial vault method or system comprising the steps of:

(a) mounting the said base of the said burial vault on a supporting member in a funeral home or like place;
(b) assembling the said surround or false casket and its generally rectangular-shaped open frame and the carrying handle structures mounted thereon over the said open top of the said base of the vault so that the said surround or false casket cooperates with the said base of the said vault to provide a display casket in which the remains of the deceased are rested for viewing during visitation and the funeral service at the funeral home, or like place;
(c) removing the said surround or false casket and the said carrying handle structures attached thereto from the said open top of the said base of the said burial vault prior to interment;
(d) arranging the said cover of the said burial vault over the said open top of the said base of the said burial vault;
and
(e) hermetically sealing the said cover of the said burial vault to the said base thereof prior to interment.

3 more elements

A combination burial vault and carrying handle structures therefor comprising:

(a) a burial vault including a base having
(1) a bottom wall;
(2) upright side walls and end walls having marginal upper edge portions;
(b) a cover including
(1) a top wall;
(2) side walls and end walls having lower marginal edge portions;
(c) said upper marginal edge portions of the said side walls and end walls of the said base and the said lower marginal edge portions of the said side walls and end walls of the said cover having formed integrally therewith and projecting laterally outwardly therefrom
(1) mating marginal sealing flanges;
and
(d) carrying handle structures removably mounted on the said mating marginal sealing flanges of the said base and the said cover for carrying the assembled base and the said cover of the said vault from the funeral home to the cemetery for a graveside or other cemetery service;
and
(e) mounting means for removably mounting the said carrying handle structures on the said mating marginal sealing flanges of the said base and said cover of the said vault prior to interment.

9 more elements

A burial vault comprising

(a) a bottom wall;
(b) upright side walls and end walls having marginal upper edge portions;
(c) a cover including
(1) a top wall;
(2) side walls and end walls having lower marginal edge portions;
(d) said upper marginal edge portions of the said side walls and end walls of the base and the said lower marginal edge portions of the said side walls and end walls of the said cover having formed integrally therewith and projecting laterally outwardly therefrom
(1) mating marginal sealing flanges;
and
(e) generally U-shaped resilient clamping and reinforcing members mounted on the said mating marginal sealing flanges of the said base and cover of the said vault to enchance the structural strength thereof and resistance to the separation of the said cover and base of the said vault in the grave opening.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Combination burial vault and casket and funeral and burial method or system

Life of this patent

Combination burial vault and casket and funeral and burial method or system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims29