Ready-to-assemble casket

• US 5,709,016 A
• Filed: 06/02/1995
• Issued: 01/20/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Batesville Services Incorporated (Hillenbrand Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Batesville Casket Company Incorporated (Hillenbrand Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kirschner, James F., Smith, Leslie W., Gulick, Kenneth J., Wetzler, Carolyn, Laphan, Dennis C., Henby, Gary L., Enneking, John R., Schebler, Wilbur A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedman, Carl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Aubrey, Beth
• Application Number:
  US08/459,736
• Time in Patent Office: 963 Days
• Field of Search: 217/12 R, 217/13, 220/668, 220/4.28, 27/2, 27/14, 27/17, 27/19
• US Class Current: 27/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 17/004 specially adapted to be cremated

Abstract

A casket is assembled from prefabricated components to provide an attractive and aesthetically appealing casket design with a minimum amount of metal components so that the casket is adapted for cremation. A shell of the casket is constructed from upstanding sidewalls with a peripheral frame and facing panel secured to the frame. The respective walls are joined by cooperating cam and post connectors that they can be easily assembled without skilled personnel or specialized tooling. A cap enclosing the casket shell is constructed with a peripheral rim formed from rim members also joined by the cam and post connectors. A dish assembly is positioned on an inside surface of the cap and includes puffing members which are securely retained within cooperating grooves on the rim and dish assembly to thereby avoid the need for metal staples or other mechanical fasteners. The panels of the casket are preferably formed by hardboard to provide a structurally rigid and stable shell without the need for additional reinforcing members and which are readily consumable in the cremation process.

Claims

1. A casket comprising:

a cap; and

a shell, said shell being closeable by said cap, said shell comprising a bottom and a plurality of individual interconnected upstanding walls;

each said shell wall comprising;

a peripheral frame formed from a plurality of frame members, said peripheral frame defining an opening;

a post coupleable to a cam to join each said frame member to an adjacent frame member, said post having a head thereon and projecting from one of said frame members, a portion of said post and said head being insertable into a hole in said adjacent frame member, said hole being in communication with said cam so that when said post is inserted therein said head engages said cam and upon actuation of said cam said head is captured by said cam to thereby join said frame member to said adjacent frame member; and

a panel attached to said frame and spanning said opening.

2. The casket of claim 1 wherein said plurality of walls cooperate with said bottom to form said shell without additional structural members being required to reinforce said shell.

3. The casket of claim 1 wherein said panel is attached to an interior side of said frame on each said wall.

4. The casket of claim 1 wherein said frame members proximate an intersection of adjacent ones of said walls are generally L-shaped with first and second legs, said first leg cooperating with first frame members to form a frame of a first wall and said second leg cooperating with second frame members to form a frame of a second wall adjacent to said first wall.

5. The casket of claim 1 wherein said bottom further comprises:

a bottom frame formed by said frame members of said walls proximate said bottom, said bottom frame defining a bottom opening; and

a bottom panel attached to said bottom frame and spanning said bottom opening.

6. The casket of claim 5 wherein said wall frame members proximate an intersection between said walls and said bottom are generally L-shaped with first and second legs, said first legs cooperating with other said wall frame members to form said wall frames and said second legs cooperating to form said bottom frame.

7. The casket of claim 1 wherein each said panel is hardboard.

8. A casket comprising:

a cap; and

a shell, said shell being closeable by said cap, said shell comprising a bottom and a plurality of individual interconnected upstanding walls, said plurality of walls cooperating with said bottom to form said shell without additional structural members being required to reinforce said shell;

each said wall comprising;

a peripheral frame formed from a plurality of frame members, said peripheral frame defining an opening; and

a panel attached to said frame and spanning said opening;

each said frame having an end, adjacent frame ends being attached to one another with a fastening mechanism having first and second portions each of which is operably associated with one of said adjacent frame ends, said fastening mechanism being configured such that manipulation of one of said portions draws said portions together thereby drawing said adjacent frame ends together.

9. The casket of claim 8 wherein said fastening mechanism comprises:

a post coupleable to a cam to join each said frame member to an adjacent frame member, said post having a head thereon and projecting from one of said frame members, a portion of said post and said head being inserted into a hole in said adjacent frame member, said hole being in communication with said cam so that when said post is inserted therein said head engages said cam and upon actuation of said cam said head is captured by said cam to thereby join said frame member to said adjacent frame member.

10. The casket of claim 8 wherein said panel is attached to an interior side of said frame on each said wall.

11. The casket of claim 8 wherein said frame members proximate an intersection of adjacent ones of said walls are generally L-shaped with first and second legs, said first leg cooperating with first frame members to form a frame of a first wall and said second leg cooperating with second frame members to form a frame of a second wall adjacent to said first wall.

12. The casket of claim 8 wherein said bottom further comprises:

a bottom frame formed by said frame members of said walls proximate said bottom, said bottom frame defining a bottom opening; and

a bottom panel attached to said bottom frame and spanning said bottom opening.

13. The casket of claim 12 wherein said wall frame members proximate an intersection between said walls and said bottom are generally L-shaped with first and second legs, said first legs cooperating with other said wall frame members to form said wall frames and said second legs cooperating to form said bottom frame.

14. The casket of claim 8 wherein each said panel is hardboard.

15. The casket of claim 8 wherein manipulation of said one fastening mechanism portion by an amount less than a full turn completely engages said first and second fastening mechanism portions.

16. A kit for assembling a casket, said kit comprising:

a cap;

a plurality of frame members adapted to be joined together to form a plurality of frames, each said frame having an opening;

a plurality of fastening mechanisms each of which comprises a post coupled to a cam and adapted to join selected ones of said frame members to adjacent ones of said frame members, said post having a head thereon and projecting from one of said frame members, said adjacent frame member having a hole therein adapted to receive said post, said hole being in communication with said cam so that when said post is inserted therein said head engages said cam and upon actuation of said cam said head is captured by said cam to thereby join said frame member to said adjacent frame member;

a plurality of panels, each said panel being adapted for attachment to one of said frames and to span said opening thereof to form a wall of the casket; and

a bottom, said bottom and said walls cooperating when assembled together to form a shell of the casket, said cap being adapted to be closeable upon said shell.

17. A kit for assembling a casket, said kit comprising:

a cap;

a plurality of frame members adapted to be joined together to form a plurality of frames, each said frame having an opening;

a plurality of fastening mechanisms each of which comprises a post coupled to a cam and adapted to join selected ones of said frame members to adjacent ones of said frame members, said post having a head thereon and protecting from one of said frame members, said adjacent frame member having a hole therein adapted to receive said post, said hole being in communication with said cam so that when said post is inserted therein said head engages said cam and upon actuation of said cam said head is captured by said cam to thereby join said frame member to said adjacent frame member;

a plurality of panels, each said panel being adapted for attachment to one of said frames and to span said opening thereof to form a wall of the casket; and

a bottom, said bottom and said walls cooperating when assembled together to form a shell of the casket, said cap being adapted to be closeable upon said shell;

a peripheral rim formed from a plurality of rim members and a crown positioned atop said rim, each said rim member having a groove therein proximate an edge thereof, said crown having a groove forming a part thereof, said rim defining an opening; and

a dish assembly positioned within said rim opening;

said dish assembly including a plurality of puffing members, each said puffing member having first and second spaced edges, said first edge of each said puffing member being retained within said groove in one of said rim members, said second edge of each said puffing member being retained in said crown groove.

18. A kit for assembling a casket, said kit comprising:

a cap;

a plurality of frame members adapted to be joined together to form a plurality of frames, each said frame having an opening;

a plurality of panels, each said panel being adapted for attachment to one of said frames and to span said opening thereof to form a wall of the casket; and

a bottom, said bottom and said walls cooperating when assembled together to form a shell of the casket, said shell not requiring additional structural members to reinforce said shell, said cap being adapted to be closeable upon said shell;

each said frame having an end, adjacent frame ends adapted to be attached to one another with a fastening mechanism having first and second portions each of which is operably associated with one of said adjacent frame ends, said fastening mechanism being configured such that manipulation of one of said portions draws said portions together thereby drawing said adjacent frame ends together;

a plurality of said fastening mechanisms.

19. A kit for assembling a casket, said kit comprising:

a cap;

a plurality of frame members adapted to be joined together to form a plurality of frames, each said frame having an opening;

a plurality of panels, each said panel being adapted for attachment to one of said frames and to span said opening thereof to form a wall of the casket; and

a bottom, said bottom and said walls cooperating when assembled together to form a shell of the casket, said shell not requiring additional structural members to reinforce said shell, said cap being adapted to be closeable upon said shell;

a peripheral rim formed from a plurality of rim members and a crown positioned atop said rim, each said rim member having a groove therein proximate an edge thereof, said crown having a groove forming a part thereof, said rim defining an opening; and

a dish assembly positioned within said rim opening;

said dish assembly including a plurality of puffing members, each said puffing member having first and second spaced edges, said first edge of each said puffing member being retained within said groove in one of said rim members, said second edge of each said puffing member being retained in said crown groove.

20. A cap for a casket, said cap comprising:

a peripheral rim formed from a plurality of rim members and a crown positioned atop said rim, each said rim member having a groove therein proximate an edge thereof, said crown having a groove forming a part thereof, said rim defining an opening; and

a dish assembly positioned within said rim opening;

said dish assembly including a plurality of puffing members, each said puffing member having first and second spaced edges, said first edge of each said puffing member being retained within said groove in one of said rim members, said second edge of each said puffing member being retained in said crown groove.

21. The cap of claim 20 wherein said cap further comprises:

a frame mounted to a lower surface of said crown, said crown grooves being formed in said frame.

22. The cap of claim 20 further comprising:

a cap panel insert positioned centrally of said puffing members.

23. The cap of claim 20 wherein each said rim member is joined to an adjacent said rim member by a post coupled to a cam, said post having a head thereon and a portion of said post and said head projecting from one of said rim members, said post and said head being inserted into a hole in said adjacent rim member, said hole being in communication with said cam so that when said post is inserted therein said head engages said cam and upon actuation of said cam said head is captured by said cam to thereby join said rim member to said adjacent rim member.

24. The cap of claim 23 wherein each said post has a pair of said heads, said heads being on opposite ends of said post, said post having a joint intermediate said heads to join said rim member to said adjacent rim member and form a miter corner of said rim.

25. The cap of claim 24 wherein said joint is pivotal.

27. The kit of claim 25 further comprising:

a cap panel insert adapted to be positioned centrally of said puffing members when said dish assembly is positioned within said rim.

26. A kit for assembling a cap for a casket, said kit comprising:

a plurality of rim members adapted to be joined together to form a peripheral rim having an opening, each said rim member having a groove proximate an edge thereof;

a crown adapted to be positioned atop said rim, said crown having a groove forming a part thereof;

a dish assembly adapted to be positioned within said rim opening;

said dish assembly including a plurality of puffing members, each said puffing member having first and second spaced edges, said first edge of each said puffing member being adapted for insertion into said groove in one of rim members and said second edge of each said puffing member being adapted for insertion into said crown groove when said dish assembly is positioned within said rim.

28. The kit of claim 26 further comprising:

a post adapted to be coupled to a cam to join adjacent said rim members together, said post having a head thereon and a portion of said post and said head being adapted to project from one of said rim members, said post being capable of insertion into a hole in an adjacent said rim member, said hole being in communication with said cam so that when said post is inserted therein said head engages said cam and upon actuation of said cam said head is captured by said cam to thereby join said rim member to said adjacent rim member.

29. The kit of claim 28 wherein each said post has a pair of said heads, said heads being on opposite ends of said post, said post having a joint intermediate said heads to join said rim member to said adjacent rim member and form a miter corner of said rim.

30. The kit of claim 29 wherein said joint is pivotal.

31. A casket comprising:

a shell having a pair of side walls, a pair of end walls and a bottom wall;

a cap atop said shell and closeable thereon;

each said side and end wall being comprised of a generally rectangular peripheral frame defining an opening and a panel attached to said frame and spanning said opening;

each of said side and end walls being attached to an adjacent one of said side and end walls only at adjacent edges thereof;

each said frame having an end, adjacent frame ends being attached to one another with a fastening mechanism having first and second portions each of which is operably associated with one of said adjacent frame ends, said fastening mechanism being configured such that manipulation of one of said portions draws said portions together thereby drawing said adjacent frame ends together;

said shell thereby being assembled without additional structural members attaching adjacent ones of said side and end walls together and without additional structural members attaching said side and end walls to said bottom wall.

32. The casket of claim 31 wherein said peripheral frames are fabricated from wood and said panels are fabricated from hardboard.

33. The casket of claim 31 wherein manipulation of said one fastening mechanism portion by an amount less than a full turn completely engages said first and second fastening mechanism portions.

34. A casket comprising:

a shell having a pair of side walls, a pair of end walls and a bottom wall;

a cap atop said shell and closeable thereon;

each said side and end wall being comprised of a generally rectangular peripheral frame having sides and ends and defining an opening and a panel attached to said frame and spanning said opening;

each of said frame ends being attached to an adjacent one of said frame with a fastening mechanism having first and second portions each of which is operably associated with one of said adjacent frame ends;

said fastening mechanism being configured such that manipulation of one of said portions draws said portions together thereby drawing said adjacent frame ends together.

35. The casket of claim 34 wherein said peripheral frames are fabricated from wood and said panels are fabricated from hardboard.

36. The casket of claim 34 wherein manipulation of said one fastening mechanism portion by an amount less than a full turn completely engages said first and second fastening mechanism portions.

37. A casket comprising:

a shell having a pair of side walls, a pair of end walls and a bottom wall, and having an exterior;

a cap atop said shell and closeable thereon;

each said side and end wall being comprised of a generally rectangular peripheral frame defining an opening and a panel attached to said frame and spanning said opening;

said panel having first and second sides, both said panel sides being faced with a facing from the group consisting of paper, cloth, plastic, wood veneer, paint and printing,

said panel thereby being reversible such that when said panel is attached to said frame a faced panel side will be presented as said casket exterior;

said frame ends being attached to one another with a fastening mechanism having first and second portions each of which is operably associated with one of said adjacent frame ends, said fastening mechanism being configured such that manipulation of one of said portions draws said portions together thereby drawing said adjacent frame ends together.

38. A cap for a casket comprising:

a peripheral rim formed by a plurality of rim members and a crown positioned atop said rim;

each said rim member being joined to an adjacent rim member by a post coupled to a cam, said post having a head thereon and a portion of said post and said head projecting from one of said rim members, said post and said head being inserted into a hole in said adjacent rim member, said hole being in communication with said cam so that when said post is inserted therein said head engages said cam and upon actuation of said cam said head is captured by said cam to thereby join said rim member to said adjacent rim member; and

a dish assembly positioned within said rim opening.

39. The cap of claim 38 wherein each said post has a pair of said heads, said heads being on opposite ends of said post, said post having a joint intermediate said heads to join said rim member to said adjacent rim member and form a miter corner of said rim.

40. The cap of claim 39 wherein said joint is pivotal.

41. A casket comprising:

a shell; and

a cap closeable upon said shell, said cap comprising;

a peripheral rim formed by a plurality of rim members and a crown positioned atop said rim;

each said rim member being joined to an adjacent rim member by a post coupled to a cam, said post having a head thereon and a portion of said post and said head projecting from one of said rim members, said post and said head being inserted into a hole in said adjacent rim member, said hole being in communication with said cam so that when said post is inserted therein said head engages said cam and upon actuation of said cam said head is captured by said cam to thereby join said rim member to said adjacent rim member; and

a dish assembly positioned within said rim opening.

42. A casket comprising:

a casket shell;

a casket cap closeable upon said casket shell;

said casket shell comprising first and second shell frame members, said first frame member including a post attached thereto and said second frame member including a cam rotatably mounted thereto, said post being receivable in said cam, said cam being rotatable to an engaging position wherein said first and second frame members are secured together.

43. A casket comprising:

a casket shell;

a casket cap closeable upon said casket shell;

said casket cap comprising first and second cap rim members, said first rim member including a post attached thereto and said second rim member including a cam rotatably mounted thereto, said post being receivable in said cam, said cam being rotatable to an engaging position wherein said first and second rim members are secured together.