THE ILLUMINATED REMEMBRANCE MONUMENT

MONUMENT COMMEMORATIF ILLUMINE

English Abstract

This invention is so designed as to allow a completely new format
relating to Remembrance Monuments or Gravesite Markers.
At present, in most cemeteries or graveyards, polished marble
limestone plaques or monuments identify the remains of a
particular individual. Generally, as is the case on most of
these remembrance monuments, the name of the deceased individual,
date of birth, date of death, and at times a small notation, such
as "May he/she rest in peace", is conveyed.
The Illuminated Remembrance Monument is so designed as to allow
for much more information, basically, a biographical account of
the person's life, family, and other information of interest.
Also, a favourite photo of the person and any symbol, i.e. World
War Veteran or plaque of regiment, etc, and if requested a photo
of a religious icon or any such preference so chosen. The self
contained illuminated screen can be permanently lighted for
viewing or a one hour timer can be used for a more personalized
viewing (discreet) or if so desired solar energy for daylight
viewing only.
The permanently set screen would be no bigger than the average
headstone monument now in existence, in order to allow a
dignified respect for the deceased. The purpose of the
Illuminated Remembrance Monument is to allow family members and
other visitors a respectful understanding of the deceased person
as to his/her noteworthy accomplishments in life.
It should also hopefully provide a small upliftment for family
members or friends by way of a less sombre or morbid headstone
plaque. In essence it should give the deceased an identify
which he/she would not otherwise have at the gravesite.
The lightness of the hard plastic, while permanently set, can if
so desired be changed should family members request it at any
time interval they may wish.
This is in essence a biographical account of one's life with the
information put together by the deceased as his/her own epitaph
before death, or by one's family members or friends.

Claims

Claims:
The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property
are defined as follows:
(1) An apparatus which is so designed as to be a fully modernized
version of a cemetery remembrance monument, that is an
illuminated screen in place of a present day marble stone/granite
stone, or plaque. This device is activated by day through solar
energy or at night, if desired, by a battery powered light with
an automatic timer to be activated to turn on at dusk or to turn
off at daylight. An Illuminated Remembrance Monument can be so
mechanized as to allow a one hour timer for the viewer while at
the gravesite, thus if requested the screen is darkened while not
being viewed.
(2) An apparatus which is so designed as to be a biographical
remembrance account of the deceased individual at the gravesite.
This would include a favourite photo of the deceased in one upper
corner, and/or a photo of a religious icon or any symbol of one's
choice in the opposite corner, date and place of birth, date of
death, nature of death if so desired, i.e. accidentally killed,
passed away from cancer, died suddenly, etc.; family members left
to mourn, educational background, date of marriage, number of
children, wife's maiden name, if so desired, brief employment
history, social interests and/or sports, hobbies, etc. Basically
as much information as requested or as little as requested. This
montage or obituary can be prearranged by the deceased before
death or put together by family members or friends of the
deceased after death.
(3) An apparatus which is so designed as to be a permanent
fixture in that it is of a durable transparent shatter proof
plexiglass (lexon plastic) or similar hard plastic so as to
prevent vandalism or desecration of a grave remembrance marker.
Specially designed steel/aluminum/or plastic rods which screw in
or clip in to the bottom assembly are inserted into the soil
approximately two feet below the surface. Much similar to a
gyproc screw, once inserted, a series of outer edged protruding
fragments make it extremely difficult to remove upwards unless
using a heavy piece of equipment thus preventing movement due to
weather or vandalism.

(4) An apparatus which is so designed as to be of a lightweight
material. Present day remembrance monuments are generally made
from marble hundreds of pounds. They required a backhoe or heavy
machinery to transport and generally need three to four people
to lift one such item. The Illuminated Remembrance Monument can
be easily carried by a single individual and is very lightweight.
To allow for permanency of the Illuminated Remembrance Monument
an auger or some such device would be used to allow two
fence-like post holes to a depth of approximately twenty-four to thirty
inches below the soil. Two concrete fence post-like settings
would then be poured, allowing the two rods attached to the
Illuminated Remembrance Monument frame to be permanently set.
This would better prevent any vandal from pushing over the
apparatus, and also would help keep natural forces, such as wind,
snow, sleet, etc. from damaging the mounted structure.
The mounted screen would tire enclosed by an aluminum, fibreglass,
hard plastic or any similar durable mounted frame. A base stand
would allow the Illuminated Remembrance Monument to sit atop the
base and further give it a more pleasing appeal.
The two cods would be inserted through the pre-drilled holes
allowing for better stability and these rods would then be
inserted below the ground surface and encased in concrete molds,
similar to fence post concrete attachments.
(5) This apparatus is so designed as to allow a montage of
information including photographs, as well as graphic designs and
general information, to be placed on a spreadsheet which when
completed will be permanently affixed to the inner portion of the
Illuminated Remembrance Monument screen for illuminated viewing.
(6) An apparatus which is so designed as to be used from a
computer design including typing, spacing, colour photos,
symbols, and a list of graphic designs to be viewed in order to
enhance the right selection for the user.
(7) An apparatus so designed as to allow as little corrosion as
possible due to weather conditions including wind, rain, snow,
sleet, sun, and a host of other possible combinations of climate
conditions. Present day remembrance tablets over a period of
years tend to obscure the lettering within the marble and thus
make it difficult to read.

(8) An apparatus which is so designed as to cut costs as related
to present day remembrance monuments. This is primarily due to
the present cost involved in marble or stone monuments as opposed
to the less expensive plastic products used for the Illuminated
Remembrance Monument.
(9) An apparatus which is also so designed to allow for a more
personal touch in so far as who the deceased individual was and
in some respects the contributions he/she has made to society
during their life time.

Description

CA 02268488 1999-04-09
Spec 1 t'ic~r.~.~,~ras~
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~ er ez~ col.lll
of tile dE-!ceased irtdW idu~i i.
At the present. time many types of v~lrious headstones cart he
viE,wed in cemeteries throughout the world . Most grave'-:, ito
rernembl°ance markers are glow n3ade from polished :Limestone marblE~,
granite crystallirle> igneous rock, st.ecel plaques or any oi.her su~~ru
products . In order to service the needs of such remembrance
monuments minixlg operations are necessary at v~.rri.ous <tuarries in
order to extract var i our, slabs of rock or stonfe.
As with any such operation labour costs are high due to the
necessity of mining eqlzipment, Labourers, transportation, anci t:he
follow up process of manu.f'acturin;:, the finished product for
i_ nd iviciua.:1 usage .
The more modE,rn version of tile gr'avesit.e rnarkc~r has no raced of
such ~~ast,i_y expenditures. Tle I I ILlmirlatced RentetnkiranC;e Monulatent
i~-> made f'ron3 kr:~.r'<i t~l~stir~, i.e.LEyxC,fl }>i.~fa; iEV oL' t>iE
a.i~1<:~s:-;.,
sc:mrirwlo~i, =>illtil;:fr to <>13d if' !>f>.ssii>le si 'ml~~;er' !l,r~t~
Ci.fa~~~I~.,~; nc>W
l.isett W i~tc:W':ItEey tIr'F't1:-1.5 t.ci t>Y>Eyerll: [1rwhF>; tmf-i<:=.
f'twiu }>f>rtE~l.t';-t1 ir!'
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., t r,:reu itrz;t3trr3~;.i.rF~.> t)m>
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trlnf~t"n~~i ~ail.vti
mE,i-flan-isnt cean l;;_> ae t.iv~t~>,1 _ t,c,r :~ s i rnt7 i ~, c:>rt.% r.>j.
t' }>r'c,ct>. ikzre , a
cr~ntinuous d:zs~1 i_.~kll... v iPW:ir3g E~r'r>c~e~_iume, or ;a, t~E~rf>i~t
ft,l ) 1y Ii~;kti E~r_i
screen inc-~.lnlsive to daylight and ni;_;rlt,tinT~~ hour's.
If' and when necess,3.ry the inner mounted bTrlb alld k>att,erir~s c~-an
bE: changed once tkley no longer serve their ustvfulness. The
Illuminated Rerrtentbrance Monument. will be so designed =ls t.o tr'L
.Lnd prevent desecration of tile gravesite t:>y way of vandalisnt.
Since no product is ewer one hundred percent t.Inkoreakabl.E7, a.ll
stE>ps evil i be taken t:o try and p>revent tarnper:ing or n3amagi.ng the
I:l.lrzminat,ed RernEemk>ranC'.e MeanLrnlent I-~y vandals.

CA 02268488 1999-04-09
The averaged sized Illuminated Liememk?ranc;e Mom.mttent. will be
similar to present: day marble remembraruce rnorruments. Once the
spreadsheet:, film artwork and/or ~?hotogr~aph is conlplet.e arid
proofi'read by tk-le client, it is then mounted on t.iie inner side c_tf
the oui=side plexiglass for viewing. Various shapes including
square, rectangular, t:riangu.lar, round, heart shaped, etc. will_
be designed to meet. the specified reqcaesi:,s. 1_~ikewi_se any
graphics chosen by tLie cl_ie:nt can be enhanced by way of computers
or animation procedures o:r can simply be of a simple layovat
written or pri_rlted as dF>sired. Various solid colc7urs or
combinai;ions c>f co:iour can be used to better illolstrate photos,
s,ymk>ols, icons, or the printed or wril_ten word. The whole
purpose of the Illuminated Remr;mbranee Monl.tment. is to give the
user an extharrced rf>memkrrance.
No rnatt er the shah>e ot- the I11 !aminai_er_~ Hetnenlk>r~rm~e Mc?n2umorut
most.
shol~l_c3 be at.~l~rc~xi!~!;~tei two, to -3hrte f°r_f-~t in widt.l~
wit.ln t. he c?ne
,e y~:~irlr~rl t r»rfetimr. 'Tlnt~ ~»c I L'
i r-~x~tt c~ c .~ ra k? F ~i_ i~ o sN i s Ee
i i lLl!Ilrlwt.( Ci or l?F'T'il~3pS> .)tla tklt' rl%~!!IE° c.u°
t 11~' ,A~~~ ~??~.~t t.i Sti~?W1Y!~_',
f~e~sir~dle~;s, t.h,-, wltr.;if-a of k.Lre' t i!trrtin;3lr~rj iterl!E=~rui~r_-
wrl~ t~ ~1~~ru.tr!m1H_
wit! i>t~ peal and t rs.!,c~-ILO'r ~:r5 c?ttF:° !.~n i i .
TLte twa rod insert.:'!ol-ns or .~;t;~rmi~-. ~~ril1 ~,F., s~~l.:~d 2'rwm t=lmr
arl~>icie
buttc~m portion and dc:pressF~d. irei!~ t11~' ,~-;o:i1 . '~ ~rir_>>.ns
olntwor:~d
anglf>d at.tac:hmcm-is l?sing part of t.ilo soir<.~ piece roc; yxw~vent !easy
l_ift,ing -back to tkte s«il ~.-;uri'ace.
Thin metal hlat.ing may cove t:~ the pl.exig_lass jo:irts and also hide
screw and bol t~ f ixtmres .

CA 02268488 1999-04-09
I.W-? A W t. NC:;
Br'iaf' cla~;ori~>1.i<zrl of dr~wira~;~:
Ttue enolosec~ c.irv~wirl,~;:; .~~1-!_i~_~iv' for ;-~ lltim~-, ci~'i,;,-~
~F,~~ ,t,,,~,..r.i~,t:imtlm-1'
tilt' Lrlv'4'1.1t- I-CI I'1 .
EiErW'S'°:~.7V.LOW <.->i' ~ L-II.t(tIIl1%-~L~!'(~
li,F'IIIU°11~~!t'?1t-Im.(,-> ~~:i!~tliilllf'I'1~ ;.LS rt..
WU!! 1 n I t:>i;?~ Lrl F:i Yy=(Ilo-'' I E'IVZ ,
f'r'ont ;1I2('t S_rl.~t-' V 1 E3W C)l tl1 i111tl.nt~.L',eOt
~iPTCt~=III~JT','LrlW ' ~-Font-iICl F:rlY:
lnC.~_LidlIl~ 111SF: r't rodS .
( 4 j 1 . Basic. frame ir1c111ding 1. fighting and bat: ter'y,~ for' power'
so!.trce .
2 . Glass f'rant panel whi ch al. lows p l exi glass t:o be-
inserted.
3. l~exon, 11.1xus, or ~~lexigl.ass fronted for vi.ewi.ng.
(5) Disp.lav view of Illuminated Remembrance Monumeni:
looking directly from front.
(6) Drawing showing base stared to which Lllu.minated
Remembrance Monument is attached by way of insert, rods
and mc.>unted k~ol.ts on inside frame.

Representative Drawing