GB2286583A

GB2286583A - Re-usable coffin

Info

Publication number: GB2286583A
Application number: GB9503285A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William Slattery
Original assignee: MCDOWALL WALLACE Ltd
Current assignee: MCDOWALL WALLACE Ltd
Priority date: 1994-02-18
Filing date: 1995-02-20
Publication date: 1995-08-23
Anticipated expiration: 2015-02-20
Also published as: GB9503285D0; GB2286583B

Abstract

A coffin or casket comprises a re-usable outer cover (2) which is separable from a disposable inner compartment (4) housed within, the inner compartment (4) being made from a disposable material such as cardboard or the like and being adapted to fully contain a corpse. <IMAGE>

Description

"RE-USABLE COFFIN" It is a common but unfortunate requirement to require a container in which to house the deceased. For this purpose, coffins or caskets are generally available.

Traditionally, perhaps as an indication of respect rather than practicality, such coffins have been made of solid construction, utilising expensive wooden materials including oak, elm and so on. Moreover, brass or other expensive metallic fittings may be fixed to a coffin to improve its appearance and transportability. Coffins also are generally associated with expensive carvings and or finishings.

In consequence, coffins or caskets have heretobefore frequently provided considerable financial burden on relatives of the deceased.

Cremation is a commonly accepted and traditional form of disposing of the body of the deceased which, in the past, has involved the burning of both the corpse and the coffin in which it is housed. It has been found in the past that considerable temperatures and fuel are required to ensure complete combustion of the coffin in view of the materials from which it is made and its sold construction. Such a requirement increases the cost of cremation and further has an adverse affect on the environment generally.

The present invention attempts to obviate or mitigate the abovementioned disadvantages.

According to the present invention there is provided a coffin comprising an outer cover positionable separably over an inner compartment, wherein the inner compartment is adapted to encase a corpse.

Preferably, the inner compartment is made from a recycled material, such as cardboard, hardwood, or the like. The inner compartment may substantially be of rectangular construction having walls and a base of sufficient rigidity to safely support the mass of a corpse contained within.

Preferably, the outer cover is made of a solid construction, using relatively expensive wooden and, if desired, metallic materials. The outer cover may also include a removable nameplate adapted to impart information relating to the identity of the deceased.

Preferably, the inner compartment comprises a removable lid and the outer cover comprises a removable or openable lid, such that when the lid of the outer cover is opened or removed and the lid of the inner compartment is removed it is possible to view a corpse while contained in the coffin.

Preferably also the coffin includes a silk or satin lining material which is adapted to line the interior of the inner compartment preventing visibility of the material of the inner compartment, in use.

Preferably, the outer cover is open on its under side and has means at the base of its walls to releasably engage with a base member of the inner compartment.

Preferably, the engaging means also provide handle means for carrying the coffin.

Alternatively the outer cover may define an enclosed chamber sized to completely house or encase the inner compartment; the inner compartment being removable from a position entirely within the chamber to a second position removed from the chamber. With such an arrangement the coffin may also include conveyor means adapted to rest in a space between a base of the outer cover and a base of the inner compartment, such that the inner compartment may be easily conveyed or slid out of the outer cover through opening means contained at one end of the outer cover. Preferably, the conveyor means comprises a plurality of needle rollers, which are preferably made from aluminium or a plastics material.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a coffin insert suitably sized to fit within a conventional coffin, wherein the insert forms a closable chamber adapted to receive and support a corpse.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying figures, in which: Fig. 1 is a sectional side elevation of an embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 shows a part sectional top view of a coffin in accordance with the invention enabling open viewing of a corpse; Fig. 3 is a sectional end elevation of the embodiment of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional end elevation of a second embodiment of the invention; and Fig. 5 shows a part sectional top view of a coffin in accordance with the invention enabling open viewing of a corpse.

Referring firstly to Figures 1 to 3, a coffin, generally described at 1, comprises an outer cover 2 and an inner compartment 4. The outer cover 2 comprises a top and wall portions adapted to fit over the compartment 4. This gives the coffin a conventional appearance of solid wooden construction and includes carvings or other surface decorations on its outer surface, together with brass fittings or the like.

The walls of the inner compartment 4 are made from a lighter construction using, in this example, a strong recycled cardboard. The inner compartment 4 also comprises a solid wooden base.

The inner compartment 4 is sized to appropriately contain a corpse and fit snugly within the outer cover 2. In the embodiment shown, the inner compartment 4 includes a solid base which may be releasably engaged with the base or lower portions of the walls of the cover 2, using the pins 5. The pins 5 may also be extended to provide handles for carrying the coffin.

In Figure 4 the inner compartment 4 includes a lower box member 4a adapted to receive a removable lid (not shown) and is lined with a lining 6 which may be of silk, satin or the like. In use, the lining 6 is draped or fixed over the lower box member 4a such that the cardboard or other recycled material is shielded from view, when viewing within the coffin 1.

The outer cover 2 also comprises, in the embodiment shown in Fig. 4 an openable lid 3 which is hingeably attached to the top of one side of the outer cover 2.

The inner compartment 4 is sized to appropriately contain a corpse and fit snugly within the outer cover 2. In the embodiments shown in Figures 4 and 5, the inner compartment 4 rests upon a series of rollers 8 which provide conveying means to enable the inner compartment 4 to slide outwith the outer cover 2 through an opening means 7 at one end of the outer cover 2.

The opening means 7 may comprise a single swingable or pivotable door, as shown in Fig. 5, or any alternative means by which an opening may be produced of sufficient size to enable the inner compartment 4 to be slidably or otherwise removed from within the chamber defined by the interior of the outer cover 2. For example, the outer cover 2 may comprise two hinged doors or a slidable opening member at one end thereof to provide an opening means 7.

In an alternative and simpler embodiment, not shown, the rollers 8 and opening means 7 may be omitted. In such an embodiment, the inner compartment 4 may be put in a first position within the outer cover 2 and removed from the outer cover 2 through the opening provided by the openable lid 3.

The outer cover 2 is preferably adapted to receive a removable nameplate which may present information relevant to the deceased.

In use, the invention provides for a coffin having a respectful and high-quality appearance to be used to house a corpse, at such time as the coffin is in view of friends and/or relatives of the deceased. Once the coffin has been removed from sight to enable cremation of the corpse, the cover 2 is removed from the inner compartment 4 without the need to handle or disturb the corpse itself. Both the corpse and inner compartment 4, including the base, may then be cremated. The outer cover 2, which has not required to be in contact with the corpse, is preserved and may be reused.

Thus, the invention provides a means for reducing the cost of containing a corpse during a funeral or cremation service, without compromising on the quality of coffin or casket used.

The preservation of the outer cover 2 and the ability to consume a cheaper recycled material has significant environmental advantages.

Further modifications and improvements may be incorporated without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention herein intended.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A coffin comprising an outer cover positionable separably over an inner compartment, wherein the inner compartment is adapted to encase a corpse.

2. A coffin as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the inner compartment is made from a recycled material.

3. A coffin as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the outer cover is made of a solid construction, using relatively expensive wooden and, if desired, metallic materials.

4. A coffin as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the outer portion also includes a removable nameplate adapted to impart information relating to the identity of the deceased.

5. A coffin as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the inner compartment comprises a removable lid.

6. A coffin as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the outer cover comprises a removable or openable lid, such that when the lid of the outer cover is opened or removed and the lid of the inner compartment is removed it is possible to view a corpse while contained in the coffin.

7. A coffin as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the coffin includes a silk or satin lining material which is adapted to line the interior of the inner compartment preventing visibility of the material of the inner compartment, in use.

8. A coffin as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the outer cover is open on its under side and has means at the base of its walls to releasably engage with a base member of the inner compartment.

9. A coffin as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the engaging means also provide handle means for carrying the coffin.

10. A coffin as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 7, wherein the outer cover defines an enclosed chamber sized to completely house or encase the inner compartment; the inner compartment being removable from a position entirely within the chamber to a second position removed from the chamber.

11. A coffin as claimed in Claim 10, also including conveyor means adapted to rest in a space between a base of the outer cover and a base of the inner compartment, such that the inner compartment may be easily conveyed or slid out of the outer cover through opening means contained at one end of the outer cover.

12. A coffin as claimed in Claim 11, wherein the conveyor means comprises a plurality of needle rollers.

13. A coffin insert suitably sized to fit within a conventional coffin, wherein the insert forms a closable chamber adapted to receive and support a corpse.