GB2395498A

GB2395498A - Anchor for memorial assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2395498A
Application number: GB0324422A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Philip John Myatt
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-11-20
Filing date: 2003-10-20
Publication date: 2004-05-26
Anticipated expiration: 2023-10-20
Also published as: GB0324422D0; GB0227094D0; GB2395498B

Abstract

A memorial assembly 10 comprises a base member 14 and an anchor member 20. The anchor member extends downwardly from the base member into the ground. An engaging means such as a bolt 24 is arranged to substantially prevent relative movement between the anchor member 10 and the base member 14. Also claimed is a method of securing a foundation member (112, fig 3) to a base member (114, fig 3) by inter-engagement means (142, fig 3) to prevent relative movement between the two members. The anchoring and engagement devices may be used together (fig 4).

Description

Memorial Assemblies The present invention concerns memorial assemblies,

particularly but not exclusively anchored memorial assemblies.

Memorials for graveyards and cemeteries are available in a number of configurations. A known configuration comprises a base member which in use lies substantially on the surface of the ground, supported by a foundation slab, the base member supporting an upright headstone or inscription plate. The base member and inscription plate are generally of polished stone, while the foundation slab, which is largely hidden beneath the base member, may be of concrete, and may be cast in situ. The inscription plate is secured to the base member by dowel rods, and the base member is laid on a bed of cement on the foundation slab.

It is usual for the inscription plate to be located towards one end of the base member, which can lead to circumstances in which the inscription plate and base member assembly rotate relative to the foundation slab, with potentially dangerous consequences. This can happen, for instance, when sufficient force is applied to the upper edge of the inscription plate. To prevent this, it is known to provide an anchor in the form of an elongate cylindrical member extending from the base member, through the foundation slab and into the ground, the upper end of the anchor being received in a recess in the underside of the base member. While substantially preventing rotation of the inscription plate and base member assembly, this arrangement still permits some movement of the assembly relative to the slab, and this movement can result in the breaking of the bond between the cement bed and the base member.

Such movement may be caused by users of the burial ground, by vandals, or by officials of the authority with responsibility for the burial ground. Such officials may be required to perform tests upon headstones and inscription plates, the tests comprising the application of a specified test load to the top

edge of the headstone or inscription plate. With growing concerns regarding health and safety issues such testing is likely to be required on a regular basis.

For memorials in situ, the test load is 35kg applied at the apex of the memorial.

Although the anchor resists the overturning force applied, the breaking of the cement bond degrades the installation. Memorial assemblies are by their nature expected to last a very long time and such degradation is therefore likely to become progressively more severe, leading to a requirement to maintain and/or repair the installation. Such degradation can also occur due to natural weathering conditions.

There is a further requirement that it should be possible to disassemble the memorial assembly so that additional inscriptions can be applied to the inscription plate, typically following the decease of a partner or other family member. According to the present invention, there is provided a memorial assembly comprising a base member, an anchor member extending downwardly from the base member, the assembly including an engaging means arranged to substantially prevent relative movement between the anchor member and the base member.

Preferably the engaging means is releasable.

Preferably the base member includes a hole to receive one end of the anchor member. The hole may be a through hole.

Preferably the engaging means includes an engaging member which extends from the base member to engage the anchor member in the hole.

Preferably the engaging member threadably engages the anchor member.

The anchor member may be elongate, and/or may be cylindrical, and/or may be hollow or solid. The anchor member may define a threaded hole, and the engaging member may be threadably engageable with the threaded hole.

Alternatively, the hollow anchor member may include a wall, and the wall may define a hole, through which the engaging member is positionable. The anchor member may include an insert located within the hollow anchor member.

The insert may include a threaded part engageable with the engaging member.

Preferably the threaded part is in the form of a nut. Preferably the insert includes means to prevent rotation of the nut, which means may include a recess, and the nut may be a pushfit into the recess. Preferably the insert is of plastics material, and may be manufactured by moulding.

Preferably the insert includes a first locating means. Preferably the first locating means locates the insert to allow engagement of the engaging member with the insert. Preferably the first locating means comprises a laterally projecting lip which in use sits on an upper end of the anchor member.

Preferably the insert includes a guide means to guide the engaging member to the threaded part. Preferably the guide means includes a guide passage. Preferably the guide passage includes an outwardly flaring entrance.

Preferably the insert includes a second locating means, which may locate an inscription member. The second locating means may comprise an upwardly directed projection.

Preferably the base member includes a base member passage extending from the hole to an external surface of the base member, and the engaging member extends along the base member passage to the external surface. The base member passage may be substantially horizontal in use, and the external surface may be a side surface. Preferably the engaging member includes a head which abuts the external surface of the base member. The base member

passage may include a counter bore to accommodate the head. A cap may be provided to close the base member passage and/or counter bore.

The engaging member may be manufactured from corrosion resistant material and desirably is of stainless steel. The engaging member may be a bolt.

Preferably, the assembly includes a foundation member, which mounts the base member, and the foundation member may define a hole aligned with the base member hole into which the anchor member extends. The anchor member may include an engaging formation which engages the foundation member. The formation may comprise a collar which may be tapered. The foundation member may include a corresponding formation to receive the engaging formation, which corresponding formation may comprise a tapered lead-in at the in use upper rim of the hole in the foundation member.

The invention further provides an anchor member for a memorial assembly as described in the preceding twelve paragraphs.

According to the present invention there is provided a method of anchoring a memorial assembly, the memorial assembly being according to any of the said preceding paragraphs, the method comprising the steps of inserting an anchor member into the ground so that an end of the anchor member protrudes from the ground, laying a base member on the ground on top of the anchor member, and arranging an engaging means to substantially prevent relative movement between the anchor member and the base member.

Further according to the present invention, there is provided a method of anchoring a memorial assembly, the method comprising forming or laying a foundation member on or in the ground, mounting an inscription member to a base member, mounting the base member to the foundation member, and providing a means of inter-engagement between the foundation member and the base member, in which the inter-engagement means substantially prevents

- relative movement between the foundation member and the base member when a specified test load is applied to the in use upper edge of the inscription member. The inter-engagement means may comprise a fastening member, and the method may include the steps of forming a passage in the base member, forming an aligned passage in the foundation member and inserting the fastening member through the base member passage to engage with the passage in the foundation member. The fastening member may be an expansion fixing. A plurality of fastening members may be provided.

The memorial assembly may include an elongate anchor member, and the method may include the step of forming a hole in the foundation member to receive the anchor member, and inserting the anchor member through the hole to extend into the ground, an end of the anchor member protruding above the foundation member and receivable within a hole in the base member. An engaging means may be provided to substantially prevent relative movement between the anchor means and the base member, the engaging means being according to the said preceding paragraphs.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a sectional view of a memorial assembly; Figure 2 is an enlarged detail of the sectional view of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a sectional view of another memorial assembly; Figure 4 is a sectional view of a further memorial assembly; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail of a sectional view of another memorial assembly. Figures 1 and 2 show a memorial assembly 10 comprising a foundation slab 12, a base member 14 mounted on the foundation slab 12, and separated from the foundation slab by a cement layer 13. An upstanding headstone or inscription member 16 is mounted on the base member 14. The foundation slab 12 and base member 14 include aligned holes 32, 22 respectively in which an elongate anchor member 20 is located, the anchor member 20 passing through the foundation slab 12 into the ground, an upper end of the anchor member 20 protruding into the hole 22 of the base member 14. The anchor member 20 is provided with an engaging formation in the form of a tapered collar 34 which engages with a corresponding formation in the form of a tapered lead-in 33 at the in use upper end of the hole 32. The position of the collar 34 on the anchor member 20 controls the length of anchor member 20 protruding above the foundation slab 12 and into the base member 14. The collar 34 is formed of a resilient plastics material.

The base member 14 includes a substantially horizontal base member passage 26 extending from an exterior side face of the base member 14 into a side wall of the hole 22.

An engaging means is provided comprising an engaging member in the form of a bolt 24 which extends along the passage 26. The head of the bolt 24 locates against a side face 36 of the base member 14, and is spaced from the side face 36 by a washer 25. A threaded portion 30 of the bolt 24 extends into the hole 22 to threadably engage a threaded hole 28 provided in the upper end of the anchor member 20.

In use, the foundation slab 12 is bedded into the ground 18 and a hole 32 bored through the foundation slab 12 into the ground 18. The tapered leadin 33 is then formed around the rim of the hole 32, and the anchor member 20 inserted

through the hole into the ground, until the tapered collar 34 locates in the tapered lead-in 33. A cement layer 13 is laid on the foundation slab 12 and the base member 14 placed on the foundation slab 12 so that the protruding end of the anchor member 20 is received in the hole 22 of the base member 14.

The bolt 24 is inserted into the base member passage 26 and the threaded portion 30 of the bolt 24 engages the threaded hole 28 in the anchor member 20. The bolt 24 is tightened, clamping the upper end of the anchor member 20 against the side wall of the hole 22, so that relative movement of the anchor member 20 and the base member 14 is prevented.

When a test load is applied to the top edge of the inscription member 16 as indicated in Fig 1 by arrow A, the overturning force will be resisted by the anchor member 20, and the tendency of the base member 14 to move relative to the foundation slab 12 will be prevented by the clamping of the base member to the anchor member. The collar substantially prevents movement of the anchor member in the foundation slab, so that movement of the base member 14 relative to the foundation slab is also substantially prevented.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The base member passage 26 may be counterbored so that the head of the bolt 24 does not protrude out of the side face 36. A cap may be provided to blank off the counterbored hole, or the hole may be filled with a filling material. The base member 14 may be placed directly on the foundation slab 12 without a cement layer 13, or a bead or layer of mastic, adhesive or sealant may be provided. The anchor member may be of any suitable shape and of any suitable material. It may be a solid cylindrical member, or may be hollow.

An alternative method of controlling the depth of penetration of the anchor member may be used. For instance, a projection may be provided on the anchor member such as a plate, pin or dowel which is located between the upper surface of the foundation slab 12 and the under surface of the base member 14.

The hole 22 in the base member may be a through hole, or alternatively may be a blind hole.

Other engaging means may be provided of different form to that described above. The foundation member may extend across several cemetery plots, and may support several memorial assemblies.

The positive clamping of the anchor member 20 to the base member 14 provided by the bolt 24 substantially prevents relative movement of the anchor member 20 and the base member 14 when the assembly is put under turning forces such as those experienced when the top edge of the inscription member 16 is tested. Such forces can otherwise cause loss of bond between the cement layer 13, the base member 14 and the foundation slab 12, leading to degradation of the installation and the requirement for maintenance and/or repair. The invention provides an increased integrity of installation; the assembly is more resistant to the test forces likely to be encountered and thus provides an installation with a lower expected maintenance requirement. This is particularly important when suppliers and installers are expected to provide on site maintenance as part of a guarantee or other contract. In addition, the bolt 24 can easily be removed so that the assembly can be taken apart as necessary if the inscription member 16 is required to be removed for the application of additional inscriptions. The assembly has the advantage that the engaging means is simple to fit and unobtrusive. The position of the head of the bolt 24 is effectively below the back face of the inscription member 16 so that it does not detract from the appearance of the memorial, but is easily accessible.

Fig. 5 shows another memorial assembly 310, many features of which are similar to those of the assembly shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Where features are the same, the same reference numerals have been retained, and only those features

which are different will be highlighted. The memorial assembly 310 comprises a hollow cylindrical anchor member 320, having a wall 321. The wall 321 defines a hole 322 and an interior 319. The anchor member 320 includes an insert 350 located at the upper end of the interior 319 of the anchor member 320. The insert 350 fits closely to the wall 321 of the anchor member 320.

The insert 350 includes a guide means comprising a guide passage 352 into which the bolt 26 is receivable. At an end of the guide passage 352 away from the wall hole 322, the guide passage enlarges to form a recess 356 in which a threaded part in the form of a nut 358 is receivable. The nut 358 is a push fit within a recess 356, so that the recess 356 prevents rotation of the nut 358.

The insert 350 includes first locating means in the form of a laterally projecting lip 360 which sits on the upper end of the cylindrical wall 320. The location of the lip 360 ensures that the insert passage 352 corresponds with the wall hole 322.

The end of the passage 352 adjacent the hole 322 includes an outwardly flaring entrance 354.

In use, the assembly is assembled as previously described, up to the point at which the base member 14 is placed on the foundation slab 12, so that the protruding end of the anchor member is received in the hole 22 of the base member 14. At this point, the insert 350 is located within the upper end of the anchor member 320. An upper face of the insert may include a marking or other form of indication to allow the orientation of the passage 352. The guide passage 352 is roughly aligned with the base member passage 26, and the bolt 24 inserted into the base member passage 26, through the wall hole 322, into the guide passage 352 to threadably engage the captive nut 358. The bolt 24 is tightened, clamping the insert 350, the wall 321 and the base member 14 together, preventing relative movement of the anchor member 320 and the base member 14.

The insert 350 is formed from a moulded plastics material. The flared entrance 354 guides the end of the bolt 24 into the insert passage 352, so that accurate location of the insert passage 352 and of the nut 358 relative to the base member passage 26 is not required. The use of the insert 350 therefore reduces the time and skill required in assembly on site. Use of the insert also reduces the machining operations required on the anchor member 320, since threading of the anchor member hole is not required.

Optionally, the insert 350 includes second locating means comprising an upwardly directed projection in the form of a cone 362. A corresponding recess may be provided in the underside of the inscription member 16, the projection 362 and recess serving to guide the inscription member 16 as it is assembled to the base member 14.

The invention includes a method of anchoring a memorial assembly, the memorial assembly being as shown in Fig. 3, the memorial assembly 110 comprising a foundation member 112 which is formed in situ in the ground or alternatively laid in the ground, an inscription member 116 mounted to a base member 114, the base member 114 mounted to the foundation member 112. A means of inter-engagement is provided between the foundation member 112 and the base member 114 by forming a passage 140 through the base member 114, forming an aligned passage 148 in the foundation member, and inserting a fastening member through the base member passage 140 to engage with the foundation passage 148. The fastening member is in the form of an expansion bolt 142, having an expanding tip 146, which as the bolt is tightened grips the foundation member passage 148, to secure the base member 114 against the foundation member 112. A plurality of expansion bolts may be used to hold the base member 114 to the foundation member 112. The expansion bolts may be of stainless steel, and may be provided with caps, or there may be recesses recessed into the surface of the base member, and the recesses may be filled with a suitably coloured material to disguise the presence of the bolts.

When the overturning force is applied at the top edge of the inscription plate as indicated by arrow A, the tendency of the base member 114 to move relative to the foundation slab 112 will be prevented by the expansion bolt 142, and thus the integrity of the installation will be maintained.

Figure 4 shows a memorial assembly 210, in which the memorial assembly of Figures 1 and 2 is additionally anchored by the method of Figure 3.

When the test load is applied to the top edge of the inscription member 16 as indicated by arrow A, the overturning force is resisted by the combination of the anchor member 20, the engaging means in the form of the bolt 24 clamping the anchor member 20 to the base member 214, the expansion bolt 142 securing the base member 214 to the foundation slab 12, and the fit of the collar 34 in the tapered lead-in 33 of the foundation member hole 32. This combination provides an additional safety factor, providing a stronger installation having greater resistance to both testing forces and natural weathering and therefore ensuring that future maintenance and repair costs are minimised, while still allowing disassembly. Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to

those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

1. A memorial assembly comprising a base member, an anchor member extending downwardly from the base member, the assembly including an engaging means arranged to substantially prevent relative movement between the anchor member and the base member.

2. An assembly according to claim 1, in which the engaging means is releasable.

3. An assembly according to claims 1 or 2, in which the base member includes a hole to receive one end of the anchor member.

4. An assembly according to claim 3, in which the hole is a through hole.

5. An assembly according to claims 3 or 4, in which the engaging means includes an engaging member to engage the anchor member in the hole.

6. An assembly according to claim 5, in which the engaging member threadably engages the anchor member.

7. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the anchor member is elongate.

8. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the anchor member is cylindrical.

9. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the anchor member is hollow.

10. An assembly according to any of claims 1 to 8, in which an anchor member is solid.

11. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the anchor member defines a threaded hole.

12. An assembly according to claim 11, in which the engaging member is threadably engageable with the threaded hole.

13. An assembly according to claim 9 and any claim dependent thereon, in which the hollow anchor member includes a wall.

14. An assembly according to claim 13, in which the wall defines a hole through which the engaging member is positionable.

15. An assembly according to claim 9 and any claim dependent thereon, in which the anchor member includes an insert located within the hollow anchor member.

16. An assembly according to claim 15 when dependent on claim 5, in which the insert includes a threaded part engageable with the engaging member.

17. An assembly according to claim 16, in which the threaded part is in the form of a nut.

18. An assembly according to claim 17, in which the insert includes means to prevent rotation of the nut.

19. An assembly according to claim 18, in which the means to prevent rotation of the nut may include a recess.

20. An assembly according to claim 19, in which the nut is a pushfit into the recess.

21. An assembly according to any of claims 15 to 20, in which the insert is of plastics material.

22. An assembly according to claim 21, in which the insert is manufactured by moulding.

23. An assembly according to any of claims 15 to 22, in which the insert includes first locating means.

24. An assembly according to claim 23 when dependent on claim 5, in which the first locating means locates the insert to allow engagement of the engaging member with the insert.

25. An assembly according to claims 23 or 24, in which the first locating means comprises a laterally projecting lip which in use sits on an upper end of the anchor member.

26. An assembly according to claim 16 and any claim dependent thereon, in which the insert includes a guide means to guide the engaging member to the threaded part.

27. An assembly according to claim 26, in which the guide means includes a guide passage.

28. An assembly according to claim 27, in which the guide passage includes an outwardly flaring entrance.

29. An assembly according to any of claims 15 to 28, in which the insert includes a second locating means.

30. An assembly according to claim 29, in which the second locating means locates an inscription member.

31. An assembly according to claims 29 or 30, in which the second locating means comprises an upwardly directed projection.

32. An assembly according to claim 5 and any claim dependent thereon, in which the base member includes a passage extending from the hole to an external surface of the base member, and the engaging member extends along the passage to the external surface.

33. An assembly according to claim 32, in which the base member passage is substantially horizontal in use.

34. An assembly according to claims 32 or 33, in which the external surface is a side surface.

35. An assembly according to any of claims 32 to 34, in which the engaging member includes a head which abuts the external surface of the base member.

36. An assembly according to claim 35, in which the base member passage includes a counter bore to accommodate the head.

37. An assembly according to any of claims 32 to 36, in which a cap is provided to close the base member passage and/or counter bore.

38. An assembly according to claim 5 and any claim dependent thereon, in which the engaging member is manufactured from corrosion resistant material.

39. An assembly according to claim 38, in which the corrosion resistant material is stainless steel.

40. An assembly according to claim 5 and any claim dependent thereon, in which the engaging member is a bolt.

41. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the assembly includes a foundation member, which mounts the base member, and the foundation member defines a hole aligned with the base member hole into which the anchor member extends.

42. An assembly according to claim 41, in which the anchor member includes an engaging formation which engages the foundation member.

43. An assembly according to claim 42, in which the formation comprises a collar.

44. An assembly according to claim 43, in which the collar is tapered.

45. An assembly according to any of claims 42 to 44, in which the foundation member includes a corresponding formation to receive the engaging formation.

46. An assembly according to claim 45, in which the corresponding formation comprises a tapered lead-in at the in use upper rim of the hole in the foundation member.

47. An anchor member for a memorial assembly according to any of the preceding claims.

48. A method of anchoring a memorial assembly, the memorial assembly being according to any of the preceding claims, the method comprising the steps of inserting an anchor member into the ground so that an end of the anchor member protrudes from the ground, laying a base member on the ground on top of the anchor member, and arranging an engaging means to substantially prevent relative movement between the anchor member and the base member.

49. A method of anchoring a memorial assembly, the method comprising

forming or laying a foundation member on or in the ground, mounting an inscription member to a base member, mounting the base member to the foundation member, and providing a means of inter-engagement between the foundation member and the base member, in which the inter-engagement means substantially prevents relative movement between the foundation member and the base member when a specified test load is applied to the in use upper edge of the inscription member.

50. A method according to claim 49, in which the inter-engagement means comprises a fastening member.

51. A method according to claim 50, in which the method includes the steps of forming a passage in the base member, forming an aligned passage in the foundation member and inserting the fastening member through the base member passage to engage with the passage in the foundation member.

52. A method according to claims 50 or 51, in which the fastening member is an expansion fixing.

53. A method according to any of claims 50 to 52, in which a plurality of fastening members are provided.

54. A method according to any of claims 49 to 53, in which the memorial assembly includes an elongate anchor member according to any of claims 1 to 47.

55. A method according to claim 54, in which the method includes the step of forming a hole in the foundation member to receive the anchor member, and inserting the anchor member through the hole to extend into the ground, an end of the anchor member protruding above the foundation member and receivable within a hole in the base member.

56. A method according to claims 54 and 55, in which an engaging means is provided to substantially prevent relative movement between the anchor member and the base member, the engaging means being according to any of claims 1 to 47.

57. A memorial assembly substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to Figs. 1 and 2, or Fig. 3, or Fig.4 or Fig. 5 of the accompanying drawings.

58. An anchor member substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to Figs. 1 and 2, or Fig 4 or Fig 5 of the accompanying drawings.

59. A method of anchoring a memorial assembly substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

60. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed herein, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.