GB1589301A

GB1589301A - Coffins

Info

Publication number: GB1589301A
Application number: GB46023/76A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1977-10-31
Filing date: 1977-10-31
Publication date: 1981-05-13

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO COFFINS (71) I, STANLEY HOPKINS, a British Subject, of 82 School Lane, Herne, Herne Bay, Kent CT6 7AR, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- This invention relates to coffins, more particularly, but not exclusively, intended for cremation.

One of the main problems with coffins intended for cremation is the amount of smoke generated during burning the coffin and also ash left after burning thereof. Crematoria have now clearly stated that they will not accept for cremation coffins having a significant plastics material content, since the burning of most plastics material generates large volumes of totally unacceptable smoke.

It has been proposed to use cardboard to make coffins but this proposal was not accepted, because it was generally felt that it would lower the image of the trade. Coffins for cremation are now generally made of veneered chipboard but there are problems with the veneer. People have tried vinyl veneers but this has been stopped by the crematoria. There are now on the market new paper veneers and other materials such as printed hardboard but this of course needs a frame.

One of the problems with chipboard is that it is denser than wood and, therefore, more smoke is generated per unit volume.

According to the present invention there is provided a coffin wherein the bottom and both long sides comprise honeycomb board, wherein the sides are kerfed and wherein foamed plastics material is provided in the sides in the region of each kerf. Foamed plastics material tends not to collapse as readily as honeycomb material when kerfed. A foamed plastics material which is generally suitable is rigid foamed polystyrene.

Preferably, the top comprises a honeycomb board.

The preferred material is a cardboard honeycomb sandwiched between one facing of hardboard having a wood pattern printed on the surface of the hardboard or attached to the surface of the hardboard, with the interior facing being made of chipboard. Hardboard can be used for the interior facing but undertakers then experience difficulty in using their normal staplers to fasten the interior drapings to the coffin. The coffin may be provided with framing, and the framing is preferably made of chipboard on the long sides, for cheapness, and made of timber on the short sides, particularly when dealing with the side members of the coffin, so that fastenings can readily be driven into the ends of the boards during construction of the coffin itself.

It has been found that a coffin having the long sides and lid made of framed honeycomb board is approximately 20% lighter than a corresponding coffin made of normal chipboard. This of course is a significant saving of resources, since even chipboard is made of a material the stock of which is not inexhaustible, as well as leading to quicker burning times at the crematorium and also making the coffin significantly lighter to carry.

If the bottom of the coffin is made from framed honeycomb board, this will materially assist the burning of the charge, since air, and therefore oxygen, will more readily reach the charge during cremation, since the honeycomb board will burn away much quicker than a normal chipboard bottom.

An example of a suitable board for use in manufacturing coffins according to the invention is that known as cellular board.

For a better understanding of the present invention and to show how the same may be put into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows a cutting plan to provide two long boards of a coffin from a sample board, Figure 2 shows a cutting plan to provide two long sides of a coffin from another sample board, and Figure 3 shows a plan view of two end boards, the dimensions shown on each Figure being given in millimetres, by way of example.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, the sample board comprises two facings, one of for example hardboard and one of for example chipboard. The long rails 1 are made of chipboard and the short rails 2 are made of plain timber. Where the long boards 3 and 4 are to be kerfed, the normal cardboard honeycomb between the facings in the region of each kerf is replaced by a polystyrene insert 5, which will not collapse during kerfing.

Referring now to Figure 2 of the drawings, there is shown a modification of the cutting plan shown in Figure 1 with the length of boards 6 and 7 being different from the length of the boards 3 and 4 shown in Figure 1.

The reason for having two short rails 2 at the intended narrow end of the long side is so that one board can be used to make for example three different sizes of coffin. The boards of Figure 1 are intended for 5' 4", 5' 6" and 5' 8" coffins, whereas the boards of Figure 2 are intended for 5' 10", 6' 0" and 6' 2" coffins.

Figure 3 shows a cutting plan for suitable ends of coffins to be made from boards 3 and 4 and 5 and 6.

The hardboard generally used for the face is two millimetre hardboard and the backs of tlle boards are nominally made of two millimetre chipboard. The total thickness of the board is preferably sixteen millimetres.

From trials at various crematoria, coffins according to illustrated embodiment of the present invention have been found to satisfy the smoke requirements. Of course, there is nothing to stop the coffins of the present invention being used for normal burials.

WAT I CLAIM 15 1. A coffin wherein the bottom and both long sides comprise honeycomb board, wherein the sides are kerfed and wherein foamed plastics material is provided in the sides in the region of each kerf.

2. A coffin according to Claim 1, wherein the honeycomb board is cardboard honeycomb sandwiched between two facings.

3. A coffin according to Claim 2, wherein the external facing comprises hardboard having a wood pattern printed on the surface of the hardboard or attached to the surface of the hardboard.

4. A coffin according to Claim 2 or 3, wherein the interior facing comprises chipboard.

5. A coffin according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the top is made of chipboard.

6. A coffin according to any one of the preceding claims, which coffin is provided with framing.

7. A coffin according to Claim 6, wherein framing for the long sides of the coffin is made of chipboard and framing for the short sides of the coffin is made of timber.

8. A coffin substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. not collapse during kerfing. Referring now to Figure 2 of the drawings, there is shown a modification of the cutting plan shown in Figure 1 with the length of boards 6 and 7 being different from the length of the boards 3 and 4 shown in Figure 1. The reason for having two short rails 2 at the intended narrow end of the long side is so that one board can be used to make for example three different sizes of coffin. The boards of Figure 1 are intended for 5' 4", 5' 6" and 5' 8" coffins, whereas the boards of Figure 2 are intended for 5' 10", 6' 0" and 6' 2" coffins. Figure 3 shows a cutting plan for suitable ends of coffins to be made from boards 3 and 4 and 5 and 6. The hardboard generally used for the face is two millimetre hardboard and the backs of tlle boards are nominally made of two millimetre chipboard. The total thickness of the board is preferably sixteen millimetres. From trials at various crematoria, coffins according to illustrated embodiment of the present invention have been found to satisfy the smoke requirements. Of course, there is nothing to stop the coffins of the present invention being used for normal burials. WAT I CLAIM 15

1. A coffin wherein the bottom and both long sides comprise honeycomb board, wherein the sides are kerfed and wherein foamed plastics material is provided in the sides in the region of each kerf.