GB2266293A

GB2266293A - Head support for a coffin

Info

Publication number: GB2266293A
Application number: GB9208443A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Henry Cunninghan Doggart
Original assignee: W I Doggart & Son Ltd
Current assignee: W I Doggart & Son Ltd
Priority date: 1992-04-16
Filing date: 1992-04-16
Publication date: 1993-10-27
Also published as: GB9208443D0

Abstract

A head support 10 for a coffin 12 has a top surface 14 with a head holding aperture 16, and in use at a least part of each lateral side 22 of the surface 14 fits the dimensions at the head of the coffin. The support 10 may comprise a sheet member 18 inclined in use and having a U-shaped aperture 16, each limb 20 of the U ending in a point 24, the member 18 being of a material, for example chipboard, which is hard so as to penetrate, in use, the soft wood of the coffin. The lower end 26 of the sheet member 16 may similarly comprise two points (not shown). The support may alternatively comprise a block of, for example, dense foamed material, with a cranial shaped recess in an inclined top surface. The top surface 14 may have a textile or other covering. <IMAGE>

Description

HEAD SUPPORT This invention relates to a head support for use in resting a head of a body of a deceased person in a coffin or casket (hereinafter referred to simply as a "coffin") such that the head is position-supported particularly during transportation of the body in the coffin.

A problem arises in some areas/countries where, due to local custom, it is necessary to transport a body from a funeral undertakers where it has been embalmed, back to his/her former or a relative's residence for the deceased to be viewed in the coffin with the lid removed. In the residence, it may be necessary for the coffin to be manhandled to an upstairs room. The steepness and narrowness of the stairs determines at what angle the coffin has to be positioned to pass thereup. During transportation and manhandling of the coffin, the head of a deceased person can become displaced.

Heretofore, the head has been steadied by having support pillows, however the availability and costs of the stuffing/packing for such pillows has lessened and become more expensive respectively. This is a disadvantage and the purpose of the present invention is to provide an alternative head support.

Accordingly, the present invention is a head support for a coffin having an inclined top wall in which a head holding aperture is provided and in which at least part of the wall extends oppositely and laterally to fit the width dimensions at or adjacent to the head end of a coffin.

Preferably, the top wall is an upper surface of a sheet member fitted in an inclined attitude. The aperture is desirably a U-shaped cut-out with the limbs thereof splayed apart.

Alternatively, the top wall is an inclined upper surface of a block of material with the aperture in the top wall being a U-shaped cut-out serving as a mouth of a cranial-shaped recess.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a head support of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of a coffin withta lid removed and with a head support positioned therein; and Fig. 3 is a side view of part of the coffin shown in Fig. 2 showing the head support in two different angular attitudes.

Referring to the drawings, a head support 10 for use in a coffin 12 has an inclined top wall 14 in which a head holding aperture 16 is provided.

In this embodiment, the top wall 14 is an upper surface of a sheet member 18 of, for example chipboard, fitted in a desired inclined attitude, two inclined attitudes being shown in Fig. 3. The lateral sides 22 of the sheet member 18, at least that part of the sides 22 to be adjacent to the head end is shaped to laterally fit the width dimensions near the head end of a coffin 12 as shown in Fig. 2 to prevent movement of the member 18 laterally of the coffin 12.

The aperture 16 is a U-shaped cut-out with the limbs 20 thereof splayed apart.

In this embodiment, the shaped sides 22 and the corresponding splayed limbs 20 each meet in a point 24.

The coffin 12 is normally of a soft wood material and the points 24 penetrate the soft wood to support the higher end of the member 18. The member 18 may be covered in a plain or quilted textile or other covering (not shown).

In use, a body of a deceased person is prepared and then laid in a coffin 12. The head is lifted and a member 18 placed therebehind at a suitably inclined attitude. The lower end 26 of the member 18 rests under the body at or adjacent to the shoulders to prevent longitudinal movement and the points 24 stick-into the wood of the coffin 12. The bones of the cranium behind the ears of the body lodge ayainst the converging limbs of the aperture 16 and hold the head in the located postion.

In a first embodiment, the full sides 22 may complement the internal shape of the head end of the coffin 12, the member 18 then being of trapezoidal shape.

In a second modification (not shown), the top wall 14 is an inclined upper surface of a block of material, for example dense foamed material, with the aperture in the top wall being a U-shaped cut-out serving as a mouth of a cranial shaped recess.

In a third modification, the lower end 26 may be cut-away to form with respective sides 22, two points which will stick into the soft wood of the bottom of the coffin 12.

Variations and other modification(s) can be made without departing from the scope of the invention described above.

Claims

1. A head support for a coffin having an inclined top wall in which a head holding aperture is provided and in which at least part of the wall extends oppositely and laterally to fit, in use, the width dimensions at or adjacent to the head end of a coffin.

2. A head support as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the top wall is an upper surface of a sheet member fitted, in use, into the coffin in an inclined attitude.

3. A head support as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the aperture is a U-shaped cut-out with the limbs thereof splayed apart.

4. A head support as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the lateral sides of the member and the corresponding splayed limbs of the cut-out each meet in a point.

5. A head support as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the member is of a hard material and intended, in use, to penetrate a soft wood material of the coffin.

6. A head support as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 5, wherein the full length of the lateral sides of the member complement the internal shape of the head end of the coffin, in use, the member being of trapezoidal shape.

7. A head support as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 6, wherein the lower end of the member is cut-away to form with respective lateral sides, two points which will penetrate into the soft wood material of the bottom part of the coffin, in use.

8. A head support as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the top wall is an inclined upper surface of a block of material with the aperture in the top wall being a Ushaped cut-out serving as a mouth of a cranial-shaped recess.

9. A head support as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the wall is covered in a textile or other covering.

10. A head support substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.