STORAGE AND MEMORIAL DEVICE FOR CREMATION ASHES

DISPOSITIF DE GARDE ET COMMEMORATIF POUR CENDRES DE CREMATION

English Abstract

A storage and memorial device for cremation ashes comprises a candlestick which is modified relative to a conventional candlestick by the addition of a receptacle and closure plug for that receptacle at a base of the vertical bore of the candle stick. The receptacle is used to contain cremation ashes as a memorial for the departed loved one with the memorial effect being enhanced by the spiritual effect of burning the candle.

French Abstract

Un dispositif de garde et commémoratif pour cendres de crémation comprend un chandelier qui est modifié par rapport à un chandelier classique par l'ajout d'un récipient et d'un bouchon de fermeture pour ce récipient à une base de l'axe vertical du chandelier. Le récipient est utilisé pour contenir les cendres de crémation comme un objet commémoratif pour le défunt avec l'effet commémoratif renforcé par l'aspect spirituel des flammes de la bougie.

Claims

7
CLAIMS:
1. A storage and memorial device for cremation ashes
comprising a candlestick having a base for resting on a support surface, an
upstanding support portion carried by the base with an upper surface and a
vertical bore within the support portion defining an opening in the upper
surface, the vertical bore being arranged to receive a candle projecting into
the vertical bore and located by engagement with the vertical bore so as to
stand vertically upwardly from the upper surface, a receptacle in the
candlestick with a filler opening for receiving the cremation ashes of a
deceased person therein and a plug member for closing the filler opening.
2. The device according to Claim 1 wherein the receptacle
is provided as a counter bore at a base of the vertical bore.
3. A storage and memorial device for cremation ashes
comprising:
a candlestick having:
a base portion having a horizontal bottom surface for resting on
a support surface;
a support portion carried by the base and standing upwardly
therefrom;
the base portion being shaped so as to converge upwardly and
inwardly from a base band at the bottom surface to define a neck section
narrower in width than the base band above the base band;
the support portion being located above the neck section and
having a width less than that of the base band;
the support portion defining a horizontal upper surface and a
vertical generally cylindrical bore of substantially constant diameter within
the support portion extending to an opening in the upper surface;

8
the vertical bore being arranged to receive a candle projecting
into the vertical bore and located by engagement with the vertical bore so
as to stand vertically upwardly from the upper surface;
a receptacle in the candlestick with a filler opening for receiving
the cremation ashes of a deceased person therein and a plug member for
closing the filler opening.
4. The device according to Claim 3 wherein the receptacle
is provided as a counter bore at a base of the vertical bore which is smaller
in diameter than the vertical bore and provided with a plug at a top of the
counter bore underneath the position where the candle is normally located.
5. A method of memorializing a deceased person
comprising:
providing a candlestick having a base for resting on a support
surface, an upstanding support portion carried by the base with an upper
surface and a vertical bore within the support portion defining an opening in
the upper surface;
providing a receptacle in the candlestick with a filler opening
and a plug member for closing the filler opening;
placing the cremation ashes of the deceased person in the
receptacle and closing the filler opening with the plug member;
providing a candle;
projecting a lower portion of the candle into the vertical bore
and locating the candle by engagement with the vertical bore so as to stand
vertically upwardly from the upper surface;
and lighting the candle so that the presence of the ashes in the
receptacle and the burning of the candle combine to provide a memorial of
the deceased person.

9
6. The method according to Claim 5 wherein the receptacle
is provided as a counter bore at a base of the vertical bore.

Description

2148524
STORAGE AND MEMORIAL DEVICE FOR CREMATION ASHES
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a storage and memorial device for
cremation ashes whereby ashes from the cremation of a loved one can be
stored in a suitable container which is shaped and arranged to enhance the
memorial effect.
Cremation after death is becoming more widely accepted. Up
till now, however, the techniques for storage of the ashes have been
generally unsatisfactory in that they are often stored simply in an urn which
by itself is not entirely suitable for display since it is readily apparent
that it
is an urn. Many persons have therefore chosen to bury the urn to provide a
memorial based upon a plot of land. Yet others choose to spread the ashes
in a particularly preferred place.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is one object of the present invention, therefore, to provide
an improved device for storage of cremation ashes which provides an
enhanced memorial effect.
According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a
storage and memorial device for cremation ashes comprising a candlestick
having a base for resting on a support surface, an upstanding support
portion carried by the base with an upper surface and a vertical bore within
the support portion defining an opening in the upper surface, the vertical
bore being arranged to receive a candle projecting into the vertical bore and
located by engagement with the vertical bore so as to stand vertically
upwardly from the upper surface, a receptacle in the candlestick with a filler
opening for receiving the cremation ashes of a deceased person therein and
a plug member for closing the filler opening.

2
2148524
Preferably the receptacle is provided in a counter bore at the
base of the vertical bore of slightly smaller diameter than the vertical bore
and provided with a plug at a top of the counter bore underneath the
position where the candle is normally located.
According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided
a storage and memorial device for cremation ashes comprising:
a candlestick having:
a base portion having a horizontal bottom surface for resting on
a support surface;
a support portion carried by the base and standing upwardly
therefrom;
the base portion being shaped so as to converge upwardly and
inwardly from a base band at the bottom surface to define a neck section
narrower in width than the base band above the base band;
the support portion being located above the neck section and
having a width less than that of the base band;
the support portion defining a horizontal upper surface and a
vertical generally cylindrical bore of substantially constant diameter within
the support portion extending to an opening in the upper surface;
the vertical bore being arranged to receive a candle projecting
into the vertical bore and located by engagement with the vertical bore so
as to stand vertically upwardly from the upper surface;
a receptacle in the candlestick with a filler opening for receiving
the cremation ashes of a deceased person therein and a plug member for
closing the filler opening.
According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a
method of memorializing a deceased person comprising:

3
2148524
providing a candlestick having a base for resting on a support
surface, an upstanding support portion carried by the base with an upper
surface and a vertical bore within the support portion defining an opening in
the upper surface;
providing a receptacle in the candlestick with a filler opening
and a plug member for closing the filler opening;
placing the cremation ashes of the deceased person in the
receptacle and closing the filler opening with the plug member;
providing a candle;
projecting a lower portion of the candle into the vertical bore
and locating the candle by engagement with the vertical bore so as to stand
vertically upwardly from the upper surface;
and lighting the candle so that the presence of the ashes in the
receptacle and the burning of the candle combine to provide a memorial of
the deceased person.
Candle sticks are of course well known for supporting candles
either as an attractive ornament or as a support for burning candles as an
attractive illumination source.
However the candle stick of the present invention is modified to
incorporate a receptacle for storing the cremation ashes. Receptacles for
storing cremation ashes are also of course well known but the present
invention is more than merely an aggregation of such components since the
mounting of the receptacle for the cremation ashes within the candlestick
itself provides an enhanced memorial effect when burning the candle
mounted in the candle stick. In this way the cremation ashes of the
departed loved one can be stored in a suitable attractive container. But in
addition the burning of the candle which is often used in itself as a
spiritual
experience enhances the memorial effect since the spiritual experience of

4
2148524
the burning of the candle is associated with the memorial of the storage of
the cremation ashes. The candle can therefore be burned at suitable
occasions for example as an anniversary memorial providing the combination
or synergistic effect of the memorial of the cremation ashes with the
spiritual effect of the burning of the candle.
One embodiment of the invention will now be described in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a cross sectional view through a storage and
memorial device according to the present invention.
In the drawings like characters of reference indicate
corresponding parts in the different figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The device of the present invention comprises a candlestick
generally indicated at 10 with a base portion having a horizontal bottom
surface 11 for resting upon a suitable support surface with the candlestick
defining a support portion 12 standing vertically upwardly from the
horizontal base surface 11. The base portion generally indicated at 30
includes a base band 31 standing upwardly from the bottom surface 11.
Above the base band, the base portion converges upwardly and inwardly as
indicated at 32 to form a generally frusto conical portion. The frusto conical
portion converges inwardly to a neck portion 33 which is cylindrical. The
neck portion is thus narrower in diameter or width than the base band.
Above the neck portion is provided a raised rib 34 which separates the neck
portion 33 from the generally cylindrical support portion 12. The support
portion 12 also has a width or diameter less than that of the band portion
31. Thus the candlestick converges generally inwardly with a wider base.

5
_ 2148524
The candlestick is generally closed in its interior and when turned from
wood is generally solid apart from the openings described hereinafter.
The support member includes an upper surface 13 with a
circular opening 14 connecting with a hollow bore 15 within the support
member. The vertical bore 15 receives a candle 16 standing vertically
upwardly for burning of a wick 17 in conventional manner. At the base of
the bore 15 which is normally a blind bore having a flat base 18, there is
provided a counter bore 19 of slightly smaller diameter than the bore 15 and
extending downwardly therefrom to a position further into the support
member towards the base surface 11. The counter bore 19 defines a
receptacle with a base 20 and a circular opening 21 in the base 18 of the
bore 15. The circular opening 21 is closed by a plug 22 which is engaged
into the receptacle and thus forms a further base surface for the bottom of
the vertical bore 15. The receptacle 19 with the plug 22 thus forms a
container for cremation ashes 23.
The cylindrical bore is shaped so that it closely surrounds the
bottom portion of the candle so as to hold the candle vertical. There is
therefore little or no space surrounding the candle inside the cylindrical
bore
so that the candle is supported substantially along the full length of that
portion of the candle which is retained within the bore. The outside surface
of the support portion at the bore is also generally cylindrical so as to
closely surround the outside of the bore leaving a relatively thin wall of the
support portion surrounding the bore.
It will be appreciated that the dimension of the receptacle 19 is
not sufficient to receive the full quantity of cremation ashes which are
normally supplied from a cremation. However the small receptacle 19 can
be used to store some of the cremation ashes and thus act as a memorial
for those cremation ashes. In addition when the candle is burned, the
h

s 2148524
spiritual effect of the burning of the candle combines with the memorial
effect of the receptacle to provide an enhanced memorial for the departed
loved one.
Since various modifications can be made in my invention as
herein above described, and many apparently widely different embodiments
of same made within the spirit and scope of the claims without departing
from such spirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the
accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not
in
a limiting sense.

Representative Drawing