Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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MEMORIALIZATION CASKET
Field Of The Invention
This invention relates generally to the death care industry, and
more particularly to personalized caskets for memorializing a deceased.
Background Of The Invention
There is a trend in the death care industry to make efforts
towards "personalizing" the funeral products and the funeral or other
memorial service purchased for the deceased to provide a more meaningful
memorial experience for the family and friends of the deceased. One of the
earlier attempts at providing a means of personalizing or customizing a casket
to the deceased may be seen with reference to the Assignee's U.S. Patent No.
4,457,054 entitled Casket Shelf. That patent discloses a casket shelf which is
mounted to the dish assembly of the head end cap when the head end cap is
in the open position. The shelf provides a surface for supporting and
displaying articles of religious or personal significance to the deceased when
the head end cap is open during viewing of the deceased. The shelf is
removed from the dish assembly when the head end cap is closed, i.e. the
shelf is not integrally formed as a part of the casket.
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More recently, caskets have been provided with memorabilia
drawers in which keepsakes of the deceased can not only be displayed, but
can be stored as well, as disclosed in the Assignee's U.S. Patents Nos.
5,611,124 and 5,727,291, both entitled Casket Having Memorabilia
Compartment. In these patents the items of memorabilia in the drawer can be
displayed when the head end cap is open during viewing of the deceased by
withdrawing the drawer from the foot end cap, and can be stored by inserting
the drawer into the foot end cap. The caskets of these patents are
commercially available from the assignee as the MemorySafe line of
caskets.
Caskets have also been provided with memorabilia trays that
pivot into and out of the casket shell in which keepsakes of the deceased can
be displayed when the tray is pivoted out of the casket shell and stored when
the tray is pivoted into the casket shell, as disclosed in the Assignee's U.S.
Patent No. 5,675,876, entitled Casket With Pivoting Memorabilia Tray.
Advances have therefore been made in the area of
"personalization" of funeral products. However, there continues to be room
for improvement in the area of personalization in the death care industry.
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Summary Of The Invention
The present invention is a casket comprising a casket shell, a
casket lid closeable upon the shell, and a memorial shelf pivoted to the lid
and
movable to and between an extended position at which the shelf is adapted to
support items of memorialization and a retracted position.
The lid can have a downwardly facing flange and the shelf can
be pivoted to the lid flange. The casket can include head and foot end lids
and
the shelf can be pivoted to the foot end lid. The shelf can be pivoted to the
foot end lid flange. The shelf can be pivoted to the foot end lid flange
adjacent
a head end edge thereof. The shelf can be pie-shaped. The pie-shaped shelf
can have two straight sides and an arcuate side, and the shelf can be pivoted
to
the foot end lid adjacent where the two straight sides intersect. The foot end
lid
can be pivoted to the shell with hinges along a hinge side of the lid and the
pie-
shaped shelf can be pivoted to the foot end lid adjacent the hinge side of the
lid. The lid can include a brace which supports the shelf
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when in the extended position. The shell can include a removable brace
which supports the shelf when in the extended position.
In another aspect, the present invention is a casket comprising a
casket shell, head end and foot end casket lids closeable upon the shell, and
a
memorial shelf pivoted to the foot end lid and movable to and between an
extended position at which the shelf is adapted to support items of
menorialization and a retracted position.
The foot end lid can be pivoted to the shell along a hinge side of
the lid, and the shelf can be pivoted to the foot end lid adjacent the hinge
side
of the lid. The foot end lid can have a free side and the shelf, when
extended,
can extend less than entirely from the hinge side of the foot end lid to the
free
side of said foot end lid. The casket can further include an overthrow having
a
first section overlying an upwardly facing surface of the foot end lid and a
second section extending downwardly from a head end edge of the first
section downwardly into the shell. The second section can include a generally
vertically oriented slit therein permitting that portion of the second section
which corresponds to the shelf to be tucked in behind the shelf when the shelf
is in the extended position.
In another aspect, the present invention is a casket comprising a
casket shell, a casket lid closeable upon the shell, and a memorialization
shelf
operably associated with at least one of the shell and the lid, the
memorialization shelf being movable to and between an extended position
where the shelf is adapted to support items of memorialization for display,
and
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a retracted position where the items of memorialization cannot be supported
thereon.
According to one aspect of the present invention there is
provided a casket comprising a casket shell; a casket lid closeable upon the
shell and having a downwardly facing flange; and a memorial shelf pivoted to
the lid and movable in a plane generally parallel to a plane defined by the
lid
flange to and between an extended position at which the shelf is adapted to
support items of memorialization and a retracted position.
According to a further aspect of the present invention there is
provided a casket comprising a casket shell; a casket lid closeable upon the
shell; and a memorial shelf pivoted to the lid and movable to and between an
extended position at which the shelf is adapted to support items of
memorialization and a retracted position; wherein the lid has a downwardly
facing flange and wherein the shelf is pivoted to the lid flange.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is
provided a casket comprising a casket shell; head end and foot end casket lids
closeable upon the shell; and a memorial shelf pivoted to the foot end lid and
movable to and between an extended position at which the shelf is adapted
to support items of memorialization and a retracted position.
According to a still further aspect of the present invention there
is provided a casket comprising a casket shell; a casket lid closeable upon
the
shell and having a downwardly facing flange; and a memorialization shelf
pivoted to at least one of the shell and the lid, the memorialization shelf
being
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movable in a plane generally parallel to a plane defined by the lid flange to
and between an extended position where the shelf is adapted to support
items of memorialization for display, and a retracted position where the items
of memorialization cannot be supported thereon.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is
provided a casket comprising a casket shell; a casket lid closeable upon the
shell; and a memorialization shelf operably associated with the lid, the
memorialization shelf being movable to and between an extended position
where the shelf is adapted to support items of memorialization for display,
and a retracted position where the items of memorialization cannot be
supported thereon; wherein the lid has a downwardly facing flange and
wherein the shelf is pivoted to the lid flange.
These and other features and advantages of the present
invention will become more readily apparent during the following detailed
description taken in conjunction with the drawings herein, in which:
Brief Description Of The Drawings Of The Invention
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present
invention.
Figs. 2A and 2B are perspective views of another embodiment;
Figs. 3A and 3B are perspective views of another embodiment;
Figs. 4A and 4B are perspective views of another embodiment;
Figs. 5A-5C are perspective views of another embodiment;
Figs. 6A and 6B are perspective views of another embodiment;
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Fig. 7 is a perspective view of another embodiment;
Fig. 8 is a perspective view of another embodiment;
Fig. 9 is a perspective view of another embodiment;
Fig. 10 is a perspective view of another embodiment;
Figs. 11A and 11B are perspective views of another
embodiment;
Figs.12A and 12B are perspective views of another
embodiment;
Fig. 13 is a perspective view of another embodiment;
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Figs. 14A and 14B are perspective views of another
embodiment;
Figs. 15A and 15B are perspective views of another
embodiment;
Fig. 16 is a perspective view of another embodiment;
Fig. 17A-17C are perspective views of another embodiment;
Fig. 18 is a perspective view of another embodiment with head
end lid open and foot end lid closed, and with the memorial shelf extended;
Fig. 19 is a view similar to Fig. 18 but with the foot end lid also
10. open and the memorial shelf retracted, and
Fig. 19A is a partial perspective view, similar to Fig. 18, but with
the memorial shelf retracted.
Detailed Description Of A Preferred Embodiment Of The Invention
Referring first to Fig. 1, there is illustrated a casket 10 according
to the present invention. Casket 10 includes a shell 12, a head end lid 14, a
foot end lid 16 and handling structure 18. Casket 10 further includes
deployable structure 20 which, when deployed, defines a memorial surface
adapted to have placed thereon items of memorialization. Deployable
structure 20 can either be operably associated with the shell 12 or the lid
(14
and/or 16), and further is integrally formed therewith, i.e. is not a separate
item but rather is constructed as a part of either the shell or lid as the
case may
be. As illustrated in Fig. 1, deployable structure 20 is operably associated
with
the shell 12, as are the other embodiments illustrated in Figs. 2-8; the
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embodiments illustrated in Figs. 9-17C have deployable structure 20 operably
associated with the lid, either head end lid 14, foot end lid 16 or one-piece,
full length lid 22 (Fig. 10). Furthermore, those embodiments illustrated
and/or
described as being associated with the head end lid 14 could just as well
function in association with foot end lid 16 and vice versa, and those
embodiments illustrated and/or described as being associated with either a
head end lid 14 or foot end lid 16 could just as well function in association
with a full length lid 22, unless otherwise indicated. Accordingly, the claims
shall embrace all such variations.
Referring still to Fig. 1 (and to all the other Figs. for that matter),
structure 20 is configured and arranged such that items of memorialization
must be removed therefrom when the structure is not deployed. In other
words, structure 20 is intended to define merely a two-dimensional surface
atop which the items of memorialization can be displayed, rather than a three-
dimensional volume in which the items can be stored as well as displayed. To
that end, the structure 20 of Fig. 1 takes the form of a roll-type shelf 30
mounted in the shell 12 at a foot end thereof. To deploy the shelf 30, one
grasps the head end 32 of the shelf 30 and pulls the shelf 30 from the foot
end
of the shell 12 toward the head end of the shell 12. To move the shelf 30 into
its undeployed position, the shelf 30 is moved in the opposite direction
toward
the foot end of the shell 12. The individual slats 34 permit the roll-type
shelf
to roll downwardly along the inside surface of foot end wall of the shell 12
and
then forwardly toward the head end wall of the shell 12, and vice versa.
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Referring now to Figs. 2A, 2B, 3A and 3B, structure 20 takes
the form of a pie-shaped shelf 40 mounted in the shell 12. Shelf 40 has first
and second edges 42, 44 having first interconnected ends forming an apex 46,
and second ends interconnected by a third arcuate edge 48. The shelf 40 is
pivoted to the shell 12 at the apex 46, and is deployed by grasping the
leading
edge (edge 42 as illustrated) and pulling the shelf outwardly. The shelf 40
can
be mounted to the shell 12 at the lower edge thereof (Figs. 2A and 2B), the
upper edge thereof (Figs. 3A and 3B), the end thereof (Figs. 2A, 2B, 3A and
3B) and/or the side thereof (Figs. 2A, 2B, 3A and 3B).
Referring now to Figs. 4A and 4B, structure 20 takes the form of
a shelf 50 pivotally mounted to the shell 12 at a forward side thereof and at
an
upper edge thereof. The shelf 50 is deployed by first opening (as illustrated)
the foot end lid 16, pivoting the shelf 50 out of the shell 12 and then
closing
the lid 16.
Referring now to Figs. 5A-5C, structure 20 takes the form of a
shelf 60 pivotally mounted to the shell 12 at a foot end thereof and at an
upper edge thereof. The shelf 60 is deployed by first opening (as illustrated)
the foot end lid 16, pivoting the shelf 60 out of the shell 12 and then
closing
the lid 16.
Referring to Figs. 6A, 6B and 7, structure 20 takes the form of
a shelf 70, 80, respectively, slidably mounted in the shell 12, the shelf 70
deployed by pulling the shelf 70 out of the shell 12. The shelf 70 can be
mounted in the shell 12 at an upper edge thereof (Figs. 6A, 6B and 7), the
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lower edge thereof (Fig. 7), the side thereof (Figs. 6A and 6B) and/or the end
thereof (Figs. 7).
Referring to Fig. 8, structure 20 takes the form of a shelf 90
pivotally mounted to a foot end wall of the shell 12 along an upper edge of
the shelf 90. The shelf 90 is deployed by pivoting the shelf 90 away from the
foot end wall.
Referring now to Fig. 9, structure 20 takes the form of a shadow
box 100 mounted to an underside of head end lid 14. Shadow box 100 has a
plurality of horizontal shelves 102 upon which the items of memorialization
can be placed and a plurality of vertical divider panels 104 defining, with
the
shelves 102, a plurality of three dimensional frames within which the items of
memorialization can be displayed.
Referring now to Fig. 10, casket 10 has a full length lid 22 which
is readily detachable from the shell 12. When detached from shell 12, and
stood upright on its end, lid 22 forms an upstanding, freestanding set of
shelves 110 upon which the items of memorialization can be displayed. To
that end, the lid 22 has a plurality of vertical (when attached to the shell
12)
divider panels 112, which form shelves when the lid 22 is stood on its end.
Referring to Figs. 11A and 11B, foot end lid 16 includes an
upper portion forming a shelf 120 pivoted to a lower portion of the lid 16 at
a
foot end edge thereof. Shelf 120 is deployed by pivoting it relative to the
lower portion of the lid 16.
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Referring to Figs. 12A and 12B, foot end lid 16 includes an
upper portion forming a shelf 130 pivoted to a lower portion of the lid 16 at
a
forward side edge thereof. Shelf 130 is deployed by pivoting it relative to
the
lower portion of the lid 16.
Referring to Fig. 13, foot end lid 16 includes an upper portion
forming a shelf 140 pivoted to a lower portion of the lid 16 at a rearward
side
thereof. Shelf 140 is deployed by pivoting it relative to the lower portion of
the lid 16.
Referring to Figs. 14A and 14B, head end lid 14 includes a shelf
150 which is both slidably and pivotally mounted therein. Shelf 150 is
deployed by first opening head end lid 14, sliding the shelf 150 out of the
lid
14 and then pivoting the shelf 150 downwardly relative to the lid 14.
Referring to Figs. 15A and 15B, foot end lid 16 includes a shelf
160 mounted atop four posts 162, themselves mounted to an upper surface of
lid 16.
Referring to Fig. 16, foot end lid 16 (as illustrated) includes a
shelf 170 pivotally mounted to an underneath side of the lid 16 along a lower
edge of the shelf 170. Shelf 170 is deployed by opening the foot end lid 16
and pivoting the shelf 170 downwardly relative to the lid 16.
Referring to Figs. 17A-17C, foot end lid 16 includes an end
panel 24 and a shelf 180 pivotally mounted to end panel 24 along a lower
edge of the shelf 180. The shelf 180 is adapted to be deployed by pivoting
the shelf 180 away from the end panel 24. The shelf can comprise three
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sections, first section 180 pivoted to end panel 24, and second and third
sections 182, 184 pivoted to the first section 180 at opposite side edges of
the
first section 180. In that case the shelf is deployed by pivoting the first
section
180 away from the end panel 24 and by pivoting the second and third
sections 182, 184 relative to the first section 180 to thereby form a
substantially planar shelf out of the first, second and third sections.
Referring now to Figs. 18, 19, and 19A, there is illustrated
another embodiment of deployable structure 20 which, when deployed,
defines a memorial surface adapted to have placed thereon items of
memorialization. More particularly, a memorial shelf 200 is pivoted to one of
the lids 14, 16 and is movable to and between an extended position (Fig. 18)
at which said shelf 200 is adapted to support items of memorialization and a
retracted position (Fig. 19).
The lid to which the shelf 200 is mounted, for example foot end
lid 16, can have a downwardly facing flange 202 to which the shelf 200 can
be pivoted as at pivot 204. The shelf 200 can be pivoted to the foot end lid
flange 202 adjacent a head end edge 206 thereof. The shelf 200 can be pie-
shaped. The pie-shaped shelf 200 can have two straight sides 208, 210, and
an arcuate side 212. The shelf 200 can be pivoted to the foot end lid 16
adjacent where the two straight sides 208, 210 intersect. The foot end lid 16
can be pivoted to the shell 12 with hinges (not shown) along a hinge side 214
of the lid 16. The pie-shaped shelf 200 can be pivoted to the foot end lid 16
adjacent the hinge side 214 of the lid 16. The lid 16 can include a brace 216
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which supports the shelf 200 when in the extended and/or retracted position.
The shell 12 can include a brace 218, for example a removable brace 218
which fits over or otherwise removably attaches to an edge 220 of shell which
supports the shelf 200 when in the extended position. The brace 218 and
shelf 200 can include cooperating locking structure, for example, a detent
type
mechanism wherein one of the shelf 200 and brace 218 include one or more
nubs or protuberances thereon, and the other of the shelf 200 and brace 218
include one or more recesses for the nubs or protuberances to engage, thereby
locking the shelf 200 into place.
Referring to Figs. 18 and 19A, an overthrow 222 can overlie the
head end portion of the foot end lid 16 and can have a skirt 224 which drapes
downwardly from the lid 16 and into the shell 12 for concealing the legs of a
deceased therein. Skirt 224 can include a slit 226 therein extending upwardly
from a lowermost edge 228 of the skirt 224 of the overthrow 222. The
portion of the skirt 224 on the side of the shelf 200 can be folded back
underneath the head end portion of the foot end lid 16 between it and the
shelf 200 during the time that the shelf 200 is in the extended position. When
in the retracted position, that portion of the skirt 224 can be allowed to
hand
downwardly into the shell 12, thereby concealing the shelf 200.
Those skilled in the art will recognize that numerous adaptations
and modifications can be made to the present invention which will result in an
improved memorialization casket, yet all of which will fall within the spirit
and
scope of the present invention as defined in the following claims. For
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example, the memorialization shelf would not have to be pivoted to the lid to
be within the scope of the invention. The shelf could be supported between
the lid and the shell flange with or without braces, pins, etc. The shelf
could
be supported on a block, for example, polystyrene block, supported by the
bed of the casket. The shelf could be supported on a bracket or brace
attached to the carrying handle of the casket and extending over the body.
The shelf could be supported on a bracket or brace extending from one side
flange of the shell to the other side flange of the shell. The scope of the
claims
should not be limited by the preferred embodiments set forth in the examples,
but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the
description
as a whole.
