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US 5,471,718 AGranted
Burial vault
OwnerDonald R. Harrillinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A burial vault formed of a polymeric material is disclosed. The burial vault includes a generally rectangular lower box portion and a generally rectangular upper lid portion. Each of the lid and box portions of the vault include substantially parallel lateral ribs integrally formed therein which are in alignment with and cooperate with one another to provide good strength and integrity to the vault. In addition, each of the lid and box portions include weight transferring and weight bearing ledges which assist in the strength of the vault. Fastening and sealing mechanisms are also disclosed which provide good barriers to penetration of air and water into the assembled vault.
Claims11
A burial vault formed of a polymeric material comprising:
- a generally rectangular lower box portion having a base, opposing end walls each having inner and outer surfaces, and opposing side walls each having inner and outer surfaces;
- a generally rectangular upper lid portion having a top, opposing end walls each having inner and outer surfaces, and opposing side walls each having inner and outer surfaces;
- a plurality of substantially parallel lateral ribs integrally formed with the inner surface of each of said end walls and said side walls of said lower box portion so as to form corresponding recesses in the respective outer surfaces;
- a plurality of substantially parallel lateral ribs integrally formed with the inner surface of each of said end walls and said side walls of said upper lid portion so as to form corresponding recesses in the outer surfaces and aligned with and supported by said ribs of said lower box portion;
- an outwardly extending peripheral weight bearing ledge integrally formed along the upper edge of said side walls and said end walls of said lower box portion;
- an outwardly extending peripheral weight transferring ledge integrally formed along the lower edge of said side walls and said end walls of said upper lid portion;
- and
- fastening means for fastening said upper lid portion to said lower box portion, comprising:
- a first peripheral lip downwardly extending from a distal portion of said weight bearing ledge;
- a second peripheral lip downwardly extending from a distal portion of said weight transferring ledge and adapted to cover the outer surface of said first lip;
- and
- at least one member extending inwardly from said second lip to engage said first lip of said lower box portion.
9 more elements
A burial vault formed of a polymeric material comprising:
- a generally rectangular lower box portion having a base, opposing end walls each having an inner surface, and opposing side walls each having an inner surface;
- a generally rectangular upper lid portion having a top, opposing end walls each having an inner surface, and opposing side walls each having an inner surface;
- a plurality of substantially parallel lateral ribs integrally formed with the inner surface of each of said end walls and said side walls of said lower box portion;
- a plurality of substantially parallel lateral ribs integrally formed with the inner surface of each of said end walls and said side walls of said upper lid portion adapted to be in alignment with said ribs of said lower box portion;
- an outwardly extending peripheral weight bearing ledge integrally formed along the upper edge of said side walls and said end walls of said lower box portion;
- an outwardly extending peripheral weight transferring ledge integrally formed along the lower edge of said side walls and said end walls of said upper lid portion;
- fastening means for fastening said upper lid portion to said lower box portion, comprising:
- a first peripheral lip downwardly extending from a distal portion of said weight bearing ledge;
- a second peripheral lip downwardly extending from a distal portion of said weight transferring ledge and adapted to cover the outer surface of said first lip;
- and
- latch means associated with said second lip to engage said first lip of said lower box portion;
- wherein said base of said lower box portion includes a plurality of upwardly extending substantially parallel transverse ribs integrally formed with the inner surface of said base;
- and wherein said upwardly extending substantially parallel transverse ribs include a first set of ribs extending a first distance upward from said base, and a second set of ribs extending a second distance upward from said base, said second distance being greater than said first distance.
10 more elements
A burial vault formed of a polymeric material comprising:
- a generally rectangular lower box portion having a base, opposing end walls each having an inner surface, and opposing side walls each having an inner surface;
- a generally rectangular upper lid portion having a top, opposing end walls each having an inner surface, and opposing side walls each having an inner surface;
- a plurality of substantially parallel lateral ribs integrally formed with the inner surface of each of said end walls and said side walls of said lower box portion;
- a plurality of substantially parallel lateral ribs integrally formed with the inner surface of each of said end walls and said side walls of said upper lid portion aligned with and supported by said ribs of said lower box portion;
- an outwardly extending peripheral weight bearing ledge integrally formed along the upper edge of said side walls and said end walls of said lower box portion;
- an outwardly extending peripheral weight transferring ledge integrally formed along the lower edge of said side walls and said end walls of said upper lid portion;
- and
- fastening means for fastening said upper lid portion to said lower box portion, comprising:
- a first peripheral lip downwardly extending from a distal portion of said weight bearing ledge;
- a second peripheral lip downwardly extending from a distal portion of said weight transferring ledge and adapted to cover the outer surface of said first lip;
- and
- latch means associated with said second lip to engage said first lip of said lower box portion;
- a plurality of upwardly extending substantially parallel transverse ribs integrally formed with the inner surface of said base;
- and
- a channel extending about the upper surface of said weight bearing ledge integrally formed in said ledge along the upper edge of said side walls and said end walls of said lower box portion, adapted for receiving sealing means for sealing said upper lid portion to said lower box portion.
12 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.