US2162435A - Burial vault - Google Patents

Description

June 13; 1939. E. HOPKINS 2,

' BURIAL VAULT Filed Aug. 11, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor Z2129 fi o akin s and My am? A itorneys June 13; 1939. E. HOPKINS BURIAL VAULT Filed Aug. 11, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 w e i I, Q 7 Inve ntor E e; l e A 5 K Q 132.4

AiiomeyE Patented June 13, 1939 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFHCE,

1 Claim.

My invention relates to improvements in burial vaults for use more particularly in graves.

The invention is designed with the particular purpose in View of providing a durable vault which may be economically manufactured and which is especially designed for stacking one on top of another and for hermeticallysealing under pressure.

My invention also comprehends other objects more or less subordinate in nature, and which,

together with the precise character of my improvements will become readily apparent when the succeeding description and claim are read with reference to the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a view illustrating the vault of my invention in cross section arranged in stacked relation in a grave,

Figure 2 is a view in top plan of the vault,

Figure 3 is a view in longitudinal section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows, and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view in transverse section illustrating a modification of the invention.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, the vault of my invention is of the usual rectangular shape and comprises a bottom I, sidewalls 2, end walls 3, and a closure lid 4. Preferably the vault is constructed of concrete, reinforced as indicated at 5. Short legs 6 are provided at the corners of the vault for supporting the same. The under side of the bottom I, between the legs 6, is arched upwardly, or concaved, as at l, and the upper, or outer, side of the lid 4 is correspondingly arched into convex formation as indicated at 8 to interfit with the bottom I of a vault stacked thereon.

The upper edges of the side walls 2 and end 40 walls 3 are rabbeted along their outer sides, as at 9, and the lid 4 is flanged on the under side thereof and around its edges, as indicated at H], to fit into the rabbet 9. Inwardly of the rabbet 9, the side walls 2 and end walls 3 are grooved in the top edge thereof, as at ll and the lid 4 is provided in the under side thereof with a continuous groove 12 adapted to mate with the groove II when said lid is applied. The grooves Hand l2 are designed to receive a suitable seallng material, shown at l2, introduced therein under pressure, as from a pressure-type gun. For

introducing such sealing material into said grooves ll and i2 threaded nipples, as at H, are provided in the sides and ends of the lid 4 which open into ducts, as at l4, extending to the groove H2, in a downwardly inclined direction. 5

As shown at l5 in Figure 4, the inside of the described vault may be lined with sheet metal preferably copper.

In the use of the described invention, the lid 3 is first sealed by injection into the grooves ll 10 and I2, the sealing material introduced therein in the manner described. The grave l6 is lined on the bottom thereof with a concrete slab ll. A plurality of vaults may then be stacked on the slab I! with the lid 4 of the subjacent vault nest- 16 ing in the bottom I of the upper vault. In this position, as will be clear, the vaults are arranged in interlocking relation against relative displacement and by virtue of this feature a large number of vaults may be so stacked and the stack 20 balanced.

If desired studs 18 may be provided on the bottom I of the vault for supporting the coffin IS in a position clear of said bottom. Preferably the entire vault is molded in two parts such as de- 25 scribed.

My invention will, it is believed, be readily understood from the foregoing without further explanation.

Manifestly the invention, as described, is sus- 3Q ceptible of modification in details other than as disclosed herein and right is reserved to all such modifications falling within the scope of the subjoined claimh What I claim is:

A burial vault comprising a casing having sides and ends, and a lid for closing the casing, and means to seal said lid comprising a depending edge flange extending around the lid, the sides and ends of the casing having an external edge rabbet therein for receiving said flange, said lid having a groove extending around the bottom face thereof and the casing having a groove extending around the tops of the sides and ends thereof mating with the groove in said lid, and a sealing medium in said grooves, the lid being provided with ducts extending inwardly from the edge thereof and downwardly to the groove thereof for introducing the sealing medium under pressure into said grooves.

EUGENE HOPKINS.

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