US2100582A - Casket placer - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 30, 1937 s. A. WILLIAMS 2,100,582

GASKET PLACER Filed Jan. 22, 1936 5 Sheets-sheaf v1 Nov. 30, 1937.

S. A. WILLIAMS CASKET PLACER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 22; 1936 9&

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S. A. WILLIAMS CASKET PLACER Nov. 30, 1937.

Filed Jan. 22, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Nov. 30, 1937 r anassz UNETED STATES PATENT GFFEE CASKET PLACER Shepp A. Williams, Bristol, Va. Application January ZZ, 1936, Serial No. 60,318

17 Claims. (01. 2r-s2i This invention relates generally to burial apparatus, and more particularly to a device which may be attached to and removed from the ordinary grave lowering device, the function of my improvements being supplemental to that of the ordinary grave lowering device to which .it is attached. The purpose of the present 'im-' provements is to render existing grave lowering apparatus more safe, and to provide for the proper and easy placing of the coffin upon said lowering apparatus.

An object of the invention is to provide means whereby one end of the coflin or casket may be placed in position over one end of the frame or shaft of the cofiin lowering apparatus, the coffin being then pushed or slid longitudinally of the grave into its proper position above the straps ordinarily provided for supporting the coffin.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus supplemental to that of the ordinary belts which are provided for supporting the cofiin which will permit the coffin to be readily pushed or slid longitudinally of the grave into position and to support the co-iiin in this position above the level of the belts ordinarily provided until the lowering operation begins, whereupon the belts gradually take the load from said apparatus as the casket is lowered into the grave.

A further object of the invention is to provide means forming a rigid support for the coflin as it is slid into position longitudinally of the grave.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which performs the above objects, and additionally acts as a safety. chain in such manner as to support the coffin should one or both of the ordinary belts provided for this purpose break during the lowering operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus including a series of rollers, preferably longitudinally aligned. upon which the grooves or runners on the underside of the casket may be rolled to thereby prevent the side movement of the casket while it is being slid longitudinaliy of the grave into position above the straps upon which it is subsequently supported.

Finally, it is an object of the invention to provide a casket placer which accomplishes three 7 purposes, namely, to function as an ordinary casket placer; to act as a safety chain, and to provide a side rail or shaft bracer which eliminates the jump of the casket when the lowering device is tripped.

Referring to the drawings:-

Figure 1 is a plan view of a device embodying my invention as attached to agrave lowering de 1 Figure 2,is a longitudinal, vertical section of i the device shownin Figure 1, taken on theline Figure 6 is a detail view-of one of the placer belts disconnected, and

' Figure '7'is an elevation partly in section, of the cofiin supporting rollers which are attached to the placer belts, and showing parts of the turnbuckles.

It has long beenrecognized that the placing by the pallbearers of the coflin containing the deceased upon the belts of the ordinary coffin lowering device now being used during burial ceremonies, is a difficult operation. For sometime past it has been usual to place the coffin on these belts by carrying the coflin in a direction sidewise or transverse to the grave. This is ordinarily accomplished by those pallbearers on that side of the coflin nearest the grave, placing their side on the belts on the near side of the grave and going around to the far side to adjust the coflin as it is slid by the remainder of the pallbearers onto the belts. This method is somewhat awkward and detracts from the dignity of the ceremony which includes the last rites of the deceased, and is attended withrmany difficulties.

Somewhat recently it has been proposed to provide rollers adjacent to or mounted on one of the ends or shafts of the grave" lowering de vice, such as shown at 20 in the patent to Canady, No. 1,828,391,,October 20, 1931. Additional rollers have been placed so as to be supported by the side shafts. These latterrollers act to support or partially support the coflin after it has been pushed or slid longitudinally of the grave into position above the straps. Now, when the side shafts of the grave lowering device are released so that the Weight of the coffin on the straps turns said shafts and unwinds the straps, the shifting of the weight of the coflin from the rollers to the straps as the coffin is thus lowered,

causes a distinct jump or jar to the cofiin as the Weight of the coffin is shifted from these rollers and the arms supporting the same onto the belts, thus to some extent marring the last rites which are in progress at this time.

With the device of the present invention, due to the provision of a number of small rollers which engage in grooves or follow rails usually provided on the bottom of each coffin, there is no tendency for the, coflin to slide sidewise as in the prior devices, while it is being slid longitudinally of the grave. Moreover, due to the construction of my grave placer, said placer operates to transfer the load from the grave placer belts of this invention Without jar onto the ordinary belts provided for lowering the coffin.

The device of this invention may beused with prior Patent No. 1,916,941, patented July 4, 1933, although the present apparatus is not limited 7 in its use to either of these improvements;

Referring to the drawings, the usual loweringimechanisrn may be of any type whatever, such as is disclosed in my prior patent, above noted. In these lowering mechanisms there are provided bearing members indicated by the numeral I in the several figures, which have been placed at the four corners of the grave for the duration of the burial ceremonies until the lowering operation has been performed. They are connected by shafts 2 and 2a which are usually fourinnumber, comprising two, one at the head and one at the foot of the grave, these nonrotating shafts being numbered 2a; and two, one

' on each side extending longitudinally of the ing the bolts 6.

grave and numbered 2. Belts 3 wound on the rotating shafts 2, are used for supporting and lowering the. coffin. There is a handle 4 which is connected to the interior 'mechanism of one of the bearing members to control the starting and stopping of the rotation of the shafts 2 in the ordinary manner. This handle may or may not be provided with the remote control mechanism, not shown, disclosed in my application, Serial No. 57,834, above referred to. In order to support that end of the oofifin which is nearest to the lowering mechanism, as the coffin is brought up to the burial apparatus by the pallbearers, I have provided two metal straps 5. These may be detached from one of the shafts 2a upon which they are mounted, by releas- Usually, however, they remain in place, as shown in Figure 1, after having once been attached to the lowering mechanism.

Each of these straps has a bearing portion 1, which supports a shaft 8. This shaft has a larger diametered portion located between the two rollers 9 to prevent sidewise movement of saidrollers' along the shaft and to hold them in' position, as shown in Figure 1, adjacent to the respective straps 5, so as to be in proper alignment at all times with other rollers located adjacent the ordinary lowering belts, which rollers will hereinafter be described.

Rigidly mounted on each of the shafts 2 so as to turn therewith, are a plurality of drums hook into loops l2 on the endsof the shafts l3. These straps are connected to each belt by rivets l5. The opposite ends of the belt shafts are in screw-threaded engagement with upper turnbuckles it. By this arrangement, the placer belts and shafts may be tightened to adjust the apparatus for graves of different widths and to the proper tension so as to support the rollers l7 and I8, in such manner that they will remain above the horizontal level of the usual lowering belts 3 at the time the coffin is run into position above the straps 3. Rollers l! are held in proper aligned position with the rollers 9 by suitable collars to prevent longitudinal movement of said rollers along the links is. By this construction, two of the rollers ll are held in proper alignment with one of the rollers 9 to one side of the longitudinal center of the lowering mechanism, whilst the other two rollers ll are held in proper alignment with the other roller 9 on the opposite side of the longitudinal center of the lowering mechanism, thereby insuring the proper location of the coflin-as' it is pushed or slid longitudinally of the grave into position above the said straps. The cofiin is prevented from moving sidewise as it is slid into position above the straps by these rollers, particularly where the bottom or underside of the and placer belt rollers during the operation of moving the coflin into position, and to support the coflin above the belts 3 prior to lowering the same, I have provided the following device: L0- cated below the placer belts and shafts is a lower turnbuckle l9 having screw-threaded rods 2?]. The oppositev ends of these rods are rigidly attached to plate members 2i having upper horizontal flat portions 22 which support the placer belts and lower curved portions 23.

Preferably integrallymounted on the rods 2!] are links 24. The upper portions of these links are'provided with eyes 25 which surround the shaft. It will thus be noticed that the lower turnbuckle construction rigidly supports, by means of the plates, (after the turnbucklesl9 have been adjusted to bring the plates into tight engagementlwith the rolled up portions of belts i2 on the drums), the four placer belts, whilst the links 24'rigidly support the rollers I! and i8. In this manner, each of the two placer constructions' which include the two belts l2, and pairs of rollers H and I8, is supported at four points by the. lower turnbuckle construction,

thereby providing a most rigid construction for supporting the coffin as it is rolled in place, and while in place. This is an important feature of my invention, as coflins are usually quite heavy, and including the weight of the deceased in the cofiin, often make an aggregate load of from five hundred to one thousand pounds.

The lower turnbuckle construction l9 and 20 may be tightened up so that they form a rigid all-metal construction, extending below the supporting rollers, and supported by the drums If! through the medium of the rolled portions of the belts l2. An additional important function of the lower turnbuckle construction is to prevent the shafts 2 from bowing inwardly and to hold them straight when the load of the coffin is supported by them.

Operation in Figure 3, and it is now desired to lower the coffin to the position indicated in the lower dot ted lines of this figure, the operating handle 4 isv actuated torelease the shafts and due to the weight of thecoffin the same will be lowered into the grave. As this operation takes place the plate members automatically slide off. of the wound belts i2 and pass below the drums. and both turnbuckle mechanisms move downwardly. As they do so the load is gradually shifted from the rollers I1 and I8 onto the regular belts 3. This shifting of the load from the placer belts onto the belts 3 is accomplished by reason of the fact that the drums (between side flanges H),

are approximately one-half inch larger indiameter than the diameter of the shafts 2. Assuming that the number of turns of the placer belts around the drums is the same as the number of turns of the belts 3 about the shafts 2, the placer belts and the rollers mounted thereon will move downwardly at a faster rate than the belts 3. As this takes place the weight of the cofiin will be gradually shifted to the belts 3 until the coffin assumes the position shown by dotted lines in Figure 3. At this point the placer belt rollers are in a horizontal plane below that portion of the belt 3 upon which the cofiin now rests and now act as safety chains. At this point during the ceremonies the movement of the coffin is stopped by the operating handle 4 as it is usual at this time to strew flowers on the coffin whereupon the final prayers are said. At this point also, the upper and lower turnbuckle mechanisms and sections of the belts I2 are detached from other sections of said belts. This is accomplished by unhooking the metal hooks 26 which at this time have been wound off of the drum [0. After this operation the handle 4 is again moved to permit the belts 3 which now have assumed the entire load, to lower the coffin to its final resting place. It will be noticed that up to this time the placer belts and rollers have been in a position to take the load of the cofiin should one or both of the belts 3 break.

The construction herein disclosed provides for the supporting of the upper turnbuckle and rollers by the lower rigid turnbuckle construction at the time when the coffin is placed in proper position for lowering. They are so supported until moved into place above the open grave, but additionally serves as a safety device for supporting the cofiin during the lowering operation and while the load of the coffin is being taken by the belts 3. It will further be appreciated that the present invention is directed to a device which will add to the solemnity of the rites accorded the deceased, by the provision of the positive means for rigidly supporting the coflin in place and preventing any untoward accident during these rites. In other words, the improvements; herein described insure that during the final funeral ceremonies there can be no incident which will mar or detract from these ceremonies. Further, it will be appreciated that it is comparatively easy forthe pallbearers to place the coffin on'the rollers 9 and shift the same. intoproper position 'above the belts 3. This is. ac complished without strain or extra effort on the. part of those who are carrying the casket towards. its final resting place;

I have illustrated and described one form of my invention, but it is to be understood that such has been shown and described. for illustrative purposes only, and that my invention is susceptible to forms other than that illustrated and described. I therefore desire to comprehend all modifications of my invention. which may come within the scope of the appended'claims.

- What I claim is:-

1. In combination, a. casket lowering mech-- anism, including a plurality of rotatable shafts, belts mounted on said shafts for lowering the coffin. to its final resting place, placer belts mounted on said shafts for assuming the load of the coffin as it is moved into position for lower-- ing, and means for unwinding said placer belts at a faster speed when said shafts are rotated during the lowering operation.

2. In combination, a casket lowering mechanism, including a plurality of rotatable shafts, belts mounted on said shafts for lowering. the; coffin. to its final resting place, placer belts mounted on said shafts for assuming the load of the coffin as it is moved into position for lowering, means for unwinding said placer belts at a faster speed when said shafts are rotated during the lowering operation, and means for rigidly supporting said placer belts prior to the lowering operation. g

3. In combination, a casket lowering mechanism, including a plurality of rotatable shafts, belts mounted on said shafts for lowering the coffin to its final resting place, placer belts mounted on said. shafts for assuming the load of the coffin as it is moved into position for lowering, means for unwinding said placerv belts at a faster speed when said shafts are rotated during the lowering operation, and means supported on said shafts for rigidly supporting said placer belts prior to. the lowering operation,

4. In combination, a casket lowering mechanism, including a plurality of rotatable shafts, belts mounted on said shafts, placer belts mounted on said shafts, rollers supported by said placer belts, and means for lowering said placer belts and rollers at a faster rate of speed than said 5. In combination, a casket lowering mechanism, including a plurality of rotatable shafts,

belts'mounted on said shafts, placer belts mounted on said shafts, rollers supported by said placer belts, means for lowering said placer belts and rollers at a faster rate of speed than said first named belts duringthe lowering operation, and means for rigidly supporting said-placer belts on said shafts and for preventing said shafts from bending prior to the lowering operation and whilst the coffin is supported thereby.

6. In combination, a casket lowering mechanism, including a. plurality of rotatable shafts, belts mounted on said shafts and placer belts also mounted on said shafts for supporting the coffin prior to the lowering operation, rigid means located beneath said placer belts. for initially supporting said placer belts by means of said shafts, and means for automatically releasing said rigid means during the lowering operation.

I 7. In combination, 'a casket lowering mechanism, including a plurality of rotatable shafts, belts mounted on said shafts and placer belts also mounted on said shafts for supporting the coflin prior to the lowering operation, rigid means for initially supporting said placer belts by means of said shafts, and means for automatically releasing said rigid means during the lowering operation.

8. In combination, a casket lowering mechanism, including a plurality of rotatable shafts, manual means for permitting or stopping the rotation of said shafts, a plurality of belts on said shafts, a plurality of drums on said shafts, placer belts wound on said drums, rollers supported by said placerbelts, upper tu'rnbuckle mechanism for adjusting said rollers and placer belts, supporting mechanism for said rollers and placer belts comprising lower turnbuckles, plates on the ends of said turnbuckles having their side portions in frictional engagement with the wound portions of said placer belts and theupper portions of the said 'plates having flattened portions for supporting said placer belts, means on said drums whereby said placer belts and rollers will;

be lowered at a faster speed than said belts first named so as to shift the load of the cofiin being lowered from said rollers onto said belts first named.

9. In combination, a casket lowering mechanism, including a plurality of rotatable shafts, means for operating said shafts, means on said shafts for supporting a cofifin during the lowering operation and additional means mounted on said shafts and connecting the same for initially assuming the load of the coflin during the lowering operation, said 7 additional means having means-for shifting the load as the coffin is lowered to said second named means, said additional means having means for bracing said shafts prior to the lowering operation.

10. In combination, a casket lowering mechanism including a plurality of rotatable shafts, means for operating said shafts, means on said shafts for supporting a coffin during the lowering operation and additional means including a plurality of belts mountedon said shafts and connecting the same for initially assuming the load of the coflin during the lowering operation, said additional means having means for shifting the load as the coffin is lowered to said second named means.

11. In combination, a casket lowering mechanism, including a plurality of rotatable shafts, meansfor operating said shafts, means on said shafts for supporting a coffin during the lowering operation and additional means mounted on said shafts and connecting the same for initially assuming the load of the coffin during the lowering operation, said additional means having -means for shifting the load as the coffin'is lowered to said second named means, and rigid means supported on said shafts for supporting said additional supporting means. 7

12. In combination, a casket lowering mechanism, including a plurality of rotatable shafts, and means for supporting a coffin during the later stages of the lowering foperatiommeans for initially supporting the coffin including placer belts, means for adjusting said placer belts, said initial supporting means including automatic means for shifting the weight of the cofiin from said initial supporting means onto said cofiin supporting means first mentioned.

13, In combination, a casket lowering mech anism, includinga plurality of rotatable shafts,

means for supporting a 'cofiin during the later stages of the lowering operation, initial means for supporting a cofiin when placed in position forj lowering said initial means, including auto-' matic means for shifting the weight from said initial supporting means to said supporting means first mentioned as the lowering operation pro gresses, said initial means including a plurality of, rollers and adjustable means for moving certain of said rollers toward or away from other of said rollers.

14. In combination, a casket lowering mechanism, including a plurality of rotatable shafts, means for supporting a cofiin during the later stages of the lowering operation, initial means for supporting a coflin when placed in position for lowering said initial mansQincluding automatic means for shifting the weight from said initial supporting means to said supporting means first mentioned as the lowering operation progresses, and rigid means located below said initial supporting means for supporting the same prior to the lowering operation, said initial means including a plurality of rollers and adjustable means for moving certain of said rollers toward or away from other of said rollers.

15. In combination, a casket lowering mechanism, including a plurality of rotatable shafts, means for lowering a coffin during the last stages of the lowering operation and initial supporting means comprising a plurality of drums, belts on said drums, shafts on said belts and rollers on said shafts, the diameter of said drums being greater than the diameter of said shafts whereby the weight of the coffin will be shifted from said rollers to said cofiin' supporting means first named.

16. In combination, a casket lowering mechanism, including a plurality of rotatable shafts,

means for lowering a coifin during the last stages of the lowering operation and initial supporting means comprising a plurality'of drums, belts on said drums, shafts on said belts and rollers on said shafts, the diameter of said drums being greater than the diameter of said shafts whereby the weight of the coflin will be shifted from said 7 rollers to said cofiin supporting means first named,

and rigid means for supporting said belts prior to the beginning of the lowering operation.

17. In combination, a casket lowering mechanism, including a plurality of rotatable shafts, means for lowering a cofiin during the last stages cf the lowering operation and initial supporting means comprising a plurality of drums, belts on said drums, shafts on said belts and rollers on said 7

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