Casket display system and construction method

An automatic casket display system for displaying an upper and lower casket comprising:

• a back wall;
• two side walls connected to said back wall, each side wall having an internal support structure within a periphery thereof and having a floor-engaging support connected to and reinforced by said internal support structure;
• external, vertical, floor-engaging members connected to said internal support structure of said side walls;
• upper and lower horizontal supports connected between said side walls, said upper and lower horizontal supports being supported by said external, vertical, floor-engaging members;
• a portion of said upper horizontal support being spaced from said back wall and extending between the upper and lower caskets;
• cantilever arms depending from said upper horizontal support for supporting an upper casket;
• a dolly for supporting a lower casket, said dolly being connected to said lower horizontal support by a scissor mechanism;
• said scissor mechanism having first and second arms pivotally connected to one another, said first arm having an end pivotally connected to said lower horizontal support and said second arm having an end pivotally connected to said dolly;
• a hydraulic actuator having a first end connected to said lower horizontal support and a second end connected to said second arm of said scissor mechanism for moving the lower casket;
• and
• said floor-engaging supports of said side walls extending beyond said cantilever arms for supporting an upper casket beyond it center of gravity.

A method for constructing a casket display for upper and lower caskets comprising:

• (a) providing a back wall;
• (b) providing two side walls, each wall having an internal support structure with internal vertical wall members within a periphery thereof, and having a floor-engaging support rigidly connected to said internal support structures
• (c) connecting said side walls to said back wall;
• (d) creating a two-tiered casket support structure by:
• (i) providing two sets of steel vertical members;
• (ii) providing four steel cross bar members;
• (iii) fixing two steel cross bar members between each set of steel vertical members, said cross bar members being in upper and lower positions;
• (iv) providing two steel upper horizontal support members;
• (v) providing a steel lower horizontal support member;
• (vi) fixing said upper horizontal support members between said upper cross bar members, said upper horizontal support members being spaced-apart horizontally and being substantially parallel;
• (vii) fixing said lower horizontal support member between said lower cross bar members;
• (viii) providing two steel cantilever arms;
• (ix) fixing said cantilever arms substantially perpendicular across said upper horizontal support members;
• (x) providing a movable casket support;
• and
• (xi) attaching said movable casket support to said lower horizontal support member;
• (e) placing said casket support structure between said side walls in a position wherein said floor-engaging supports extend beyond said cantilever arms to support an upper casket beyond its center of gravity;
• and
• (f) securing said steel vertical members to said internal vertical wall members.