US1800793A - Burial casket - Google Patents

Description

April 14, 1931- A. G. HARMS 1,800,793

BURIAL CASKET Filed Aug. 24, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 14, 1931. A HARMS 1,800,793

BURIAL CASKET Filed Aug. 24, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 April-14, 1931. A. e. HARMS 1,300,793

V BURIAL GASKET I Filed Aug. 24, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet s I I w i Ill! 3 3 Patented Apr. 14, 1931 ALBERT G. HARMS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS BUBIAL CASKET Application filed August 24, 1927. Serial No. 215,101.

My invention relates to burial caskets and, more particularly, the object'thereof is to provide a novel construction of movable or false bottom, and means to raise or lower the same, whereby the corpse may be reposed or inclined in a natural, sleeping position when on view, or lowered into the casket for burial, and also to cant or tilt the body to the side from which it is viewed at the burial service, to assist in this desideratum of appearance, and especially to accommodate the remains of a stout person.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel means for operating the false bottom from the head end of the casket, which means is hidden by the lining of the casket so as not to detract from the appearance and to so construct the movable or false bottom in conjunction with the canting or tilting means, or independently thereof, which will permit one arm to drop down or be lowered at the side from which the body is viewed to add to the appearance of comfort and natural repose ofthe arms when the body is arranged in the casket. g

Another object ofthe invention is to provide a novel construction of false bottom adapted to be inclined longitudinally of the casket by raising the same at the head end and pivoting the bottom upon a. suitable fulcrum' preferably located intermediately of the length thereof together with novel leveroperated means foractuating the bottom,

and novel means for holding the bottom in a canted or tilted position transversely inclined or slanted'to one side, and to so construct the bottom that one arm may be dropped down to. avoid a cramped position.

With theabove' and other objects in view, the. invention consists of a certain novel co1nbination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more particularly pointed out.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a casket having a false bottom and means for raising and lowering the same in accordance with the invention. 7

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the construction shown in Figure 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the section line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on the section line 4-4.- of Figure 2.

Figs. 5 and 6 are fragmentary enlarged detailed sectional views showing pivotal mountings or fulcrums for the movable false bottom.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary transverse horizontal sectional view taken on the section line 7-7 of Figure 4.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary side elevation of the false bottom.

F ig. 9 is a perspective view of the false bottom.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the section line 10'10 of Figure 9. i

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary end elevation showing a modified form of canting means for the false bottom.

Fig. 12 is a vertical sectional view taken on the section line 12-12 of Figure 11, and

Figs. 13 and 14 are detail sectional views taken on the section lines 1313 and 1414 of Figure 11.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the casket 1 may be of any well known construction or shape in plan and has a bottom 2, a sectional top molding 3, the front portion 4 of which may be hinged as at 5 to drop down over the side. The casket may be fitted with the usual shirred or other lining, not shown. The end section 6 of the molding is hinged at 7 to swing outwardly as shown in Figures 1 and 2, while the back portion 8 constituting a section of the molding 3 is hinged as at 9 to swing backwardly to an inclined position and may have the usual top panel lOforming 9 part of the closure hinged to the molding 8, as shown at 11, or rigidly attached thereto in a manner common in the art. The top panel may be formed in one or two sections or the casket may be of the type having a drop side which is also well known in the art. The panel 10 is adapted to be held in an upright position by any suitable means such as a tape or cord 12 when the panel is open for v1ewing the body in the casket at the open top thereof. 7 I

Mounted within the casket on the bottom 2 is a false bottom 13 which is pivoted or ful- 5 crumed intermediately as indicated at 14 and preferably made in the form of a bed bottom with the fulcrum extending transversely. This bottom is ma'de up of a section'of angle iron or the like having a topflange14. ex-

10 tending inwardly and a verticalflange at the outside along the sides and ends thereof,

u the corners of'which are suitably bent and reinforced to sustain the weight as indicated at 16. The adjustable false bottom is. in the 15 form of abed frameadapted to take a mattress '17 and has a spring bottom 18 of suitable construction but shown as including longitudinal strips 19 connected to the ends I by means of springs 20 and preferably hav-' 26 ing transverse strips 21, two of whichare located substantially intermediately' of. the

length of the bottom and arrangedover a series .of springs 22 resting in a sheet'inetal.

trough 0r cradle 23 to which the fulcrum 14 is'attached. gThis fulcrum may bein the formof'a semi-circular piece secured to the bottom of the cradle or U-shaped member 23 I and resting transversely on the .botton1'2 to permit the necessary tilting of'the movable bottonrwhich is'adjustable to different longitudinal inclinations or adapted; .to be ar-f ranged parallel to the bottom2 in a manner hereinafter more particularly described.

v As previously stated, the bottom is'preferably made of a single section of'an'gle iron andin itspreferredconstruction has'ione end directed downwardly" as indicated at 24 and then horizontally to form the depressed portion 25 which is located-parallel to but ina plane'below the frame proper.

The innereXt-remity ofthe portion 25' is anchored to the trough or cradle 23within the end portion thereof, as indicated at 26, and'the other side portion 27 is anchored over the top edge and against the side portion or-end of the trough23 above the portion 25 as indicated at28, while the extremity .thereo'fis directed downwardly against the edge portion of-the trough 2321s indicated" at 29 to brace andre- 5o inforce this side and at the-same timev provide an opening 30 which will accommodate one arm sothatthe same may bedroppedidowri or lowered. A diagonal brace 31; may connect 4 the portions 24 and 25 lto-reinforce the same.

I This'brace is preferably bolted or riveted.-

' thereto at its ends'as indicated at 32. The portion 24 has one sideorflange eXtendingtrans-' versely, at the end and the other side or'flange extending longitudinally; The part 25 has its 6 0 bottom flange extending inwardly or transversely and the outerffiange extending'upwardly forattachmenttogether with the part 27 to a plate 33, at the points 26 and 28,as heretofore described. I i Y 85; l The false or bed bottom which forms an adjustable support in the casket,- as mounted "thebottom 2 and preferably made of angle iron,oto.which is secured, as at 35, an upright 36 which is" rigidly secured in this position by a diago'nal brace '37 c'pnnected to the upper portion of the upright 36 and one outer end ofthe base portion 34, as shown more particularly in Figure 40f the draw ings; -;A notched segment 38 is also rigidly. attached to the upper end ofth'eupright 36' and is supported in this positionby a brace; 39 between the outer end of the segment 38} and the brace 37 near its lower end but'pref 'erably spaced therefrom at the point 40,

which securing meansforms apivotfor' at i. ll 0 As shown, the bell crank lever has its main bell crank lever 41.

arm extending upwardly and is provided with a handle 42in the form of a sleeve slidable thereon and recessed or slotted at one side-to receivethenotched segment 38, the sleeve having a tooth 43 co-operating with the notches 44 at the bottom edge of the segf ment so as to prevent the lining of the casket from catching therein. In order to-hold the tooth in thenotches, an expansible coil spring 45" is "interposed between theupper, end of thelever 41 andaplug 46 is removably secured-in the upper end of thesleeve forming the handle 42, so as tolhold the sleeve upi Wardly displaced. This holds the leverin'i anadjusted positionbut' permits the sleeve to'be depressed forrdisengagiiig the teeth from the notches when it is desired to move, the lever-for raisingor lowering the false or bed'bottom. The short arm 47 of therlever is braced tothe long arm asfindicated'at 48,

although theseparts maybe made rigid with-z outthis brace, but itwill b'e noted thatthe arms are located at, an" acute angle'with' re spect to each other. The free end of the, arm T 4 7 is pivotally connected, as indicated at49, to a link 50 which in turn is pivotally cone nected, as indicated at-51, to a -flatsleeve 5 ,2. slidably mounted on the upright 36, thejsleeve having its: lower portion sp'lit and turned v back to form ears 53 and being intermediately connected to thelink; 50, While the'upper end thereof has the front portion cutaway end of the false or bed'bottom 14, as indicated at'55. The cars 53serve for the pivotal "connection therewith of *s'pringheld ratchet bars 56, the'upper free ends'of which 1 are bifurcated orforked as indicated at 57 to straddle notched plates: andheld in to provide an'ear 54 which is attached to the i engagement therewith by springs 56', the plates 58 being secured to the end of the false bottom near the opposite sides and having the teeth and notches in the bottom edges thereof to co-operate with the ratchet bars 56. i This latter mechanism is designed to permit the movable bottom to be canted or tilted to one sidethat is transversely toward the side from which the body is viewed. This is accomplished by disengaging the ratchet bar 56 at that side and shifting it outwardly along the notched plate while the other ratchet bar 56 is shifted inwardly to sustain the corresponding side of the movable bottom in a raised position tilted or inclined toward the viewing side, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 4 of the drawings. Of course, it is to be understood that the movable bottom is raised from the normal position shown in solid lines in Figures 1, 3 and 4 before it is tilted. In order to accomplish this, the lever 41 is swung over to the right from the position shown in Figure 4 after depressing the handle 42 to disengage the tooth 43 from the notch 44 in which it is seated. This rocks the lever 41 on its pivot and swings the short arm 47 upwardly to raise the sleeve 52 and with it the attached ratchet bars '56, as well as the end of the movable bottom 13 so that the latter is disposed in a longitudinally inclined position. This raises the head and lowers the feet, owing to the pivotalmovement of the false or movable bed bottom 13 on its fulcrum. By releasing the'handle 42 the tooth 43' will engage another notch 44 of the segment 38' and retain the movable bottom in the desired adjusted position. In addition to canting or tilting the movable bottom to one side, which movement is readily permitted by the flexibility of the bed bottom frame and the fact that such movement is comparatively slight, the depressed portion 25 will accommodate the arm at that side so as to permit the rc-; mains to be placed in a more natural position without cramping thea-rms as at present occurs. Of course, the bottom is straightened and lowered before the casket is closed for burial. This will avoid interference with the closing of the lid. It will also be noted that the link 50 compensates for the swing ofthe arm 47 in an arc and insures against binding of the sleeve 52 as it slides on the upright 36. a a a In Figures 11 to 14 inclusive, the adjusting means is the same aspreviously de scribed except that in lieu of the ratchet bars 56 and the notched plates 58 for canting or tilting the movable bottom, an adjusting screw 59 is swiveled or rotatably retained in the base portion 84 by means of a bracket 60 carried by the base portion and passes through a nut 61 fixed to the end of the movable bottom, the threads of the rod engaging the nut and a head 62 being provided on the rod to permit it to be turned through the nut for inclining the bed bottom transversely or for disposing the same in a normal horizontal position.

Instead of mounting the movable bottom 13 on the pivot or fulcrum 14, it may be mounted as shown in Figure 5 of the drawings, in which the sides of the frame are perforated as at 63 to receive screws or lugs 64 in the sides of the casket shell to support the center of the tilting spring bottom. These screws or pivots 64 may extend through bearing plates 65 secured to the sides of the casket shell.

In Figure 6 of the drawings, another pivotal mounting of the movable bottom is shown in which the sides are similarly perforated or apertured and the bearings 65 are attached to the inner faces of the sides of the casket shell to receive a pivot rod 66 which extends entirely across the same beneath the movable bottom and through the apertures 63 thereof. This rod is suitably anchored against endwise displacement with respect to the movable bottom and casket shell, as by means of lock nuts 67 or other enlargements on the ends thereof seated in recesses 68 in the outer faces of the walls of the casket shell.

It will thus be obvious that when the casket is lined and a mattress or other cushion arranged upon the movable spring or bed bottom, the operating mechanism will be substantially hidden from view and will not interfere with the usual lining and interior finish. Also, the false bottom of the casket may be raised so as to dispose the same in an inclined position for viewing purposes and thereafter lowered to permit the casket lid to be closed for burial purposes. The false bottom may be held in any desired adjusted position in addition to moving on the transverse fulcrum so as to incline the same longitudinally and may be canted or tilted transversely of the casket toward the side from which the remains is viewed. This will also assist in the accommodation of a stout body. The latter function is further enhanced due to the depressed portion 25 which accommodates the arm at that side and permits the arm to be lowered so as to be arranged with the other arm in a natural or comfortable position, which has heretofore been impossible. It is, of course, to be understood that other materials may be employed in the construction than those described.

While I have shown and described my invention in a preferred form, I am aware that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the principles of the invention, the scope of which may be determined by reference to the appended claims. a

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with a burial casket having a movable bottom ekt endi'ng substantially the fulllength of thecasket and means: for raising and lowering the same, said bot-. tom being mounted on a "single, transverse. fulcrum, and saidraising and lowering means including a support, a sliding member e verse fulcrum,and said raising, and lowerposition.

ing means including a support, said supporthavingan upright, a member movable onthe upright, a" lever pivoted on the support and having'connection with the movable memher on the upright to raise or lower the same, and means to hold said lever in an adjusted 3. Aburialcasket having a 'niovable:bot-' tom and means for raising and lowering the same, said bottom being, mounted on a trans verse fulcrum, and said raising and lowering means including a support, said support having an upright, a member movable on the upright, a lever pivoted on the support and having connection with the movable member on the upright to raise or lower the same,

a. notched segment carried by the support,

and av handle having a toothspring ,held in V engagement with anot'ch of the segment to;- hold the lever in adjusted position and adapted to. be depressed to" disengage the tooth from the notch.

I 4, A burial casket havingamovablebofi tom andmeans for raisingand lowering the, same,said bottom being mounted on a trans-I verse fulcrum, and saidraisingand lowering means including a support, said support havingan upright, a membermovable on the upright, a lever pivoted on the support and having connection with 1 the :movable mem-.

beron the upright to raise or lower'the same, means to hold said lever .ana'djustedposition, and means between the support and the-movable bottom to tilt the lattertranss. .versely to one side and to hold the-same-in such position.

" 5. A burialjcaske't havinga movable falsebottom, means for inclining the same longitudinally, and meansifor tiltingv said movable bottom transverselytoward one side.

"- 6. A burial caskethaving a movable falsev bottom, means for inclining the'same longitudinally," and means for, tiltingsaid "mov-- able bottom transversely toward aside and 'the casket and oo-operating with-*thead-- holding the-same in adjusted position;

7. A'burial casket having amovable'bot- 3 tom, said bottom being fulcrumed' trans, versely intermediately'of its ends and 'ha v--.

tom toward one side;

versely intermediately ofits ends and -l1a'ving-- adepressed portion at one side, and means for bracing saiddepressed portion. f 9. A burial casket having a movablefalse bottom, said falsebottomhaving a depending portion extendingfrom a ,pointl'inten mediately-to one .end.' r

' .10. A burial casket'havmg amovabletalse bottomfwithla depending portion, a spring bottom for said movable bottom, an intermediate support for the spring bottom,'*and at one end of the shell on the bottom thereof,

a slide on the -upright,'a lever pivotally supported and connected to the ,slide, said slide being connected to the movable bottom, whereby, when the lcveris; actuated, the mov-.- able bottom willbc raised or lowered at one endzto arrange the same 'inan inclined or horizontal position-and held in either position,and adjustment means betweenthe mov- 1 able bottom and the support ofthe upright to adjust the movable bottom to; a transversely tilted position-or horizontally and hold the same in either position. -V '12. A burial casket having a movable bottom, a support for the movable bottom with' in one end of the casket andadjustable-means. between said support and the movable bottom to tilt the movable, bottom transversely, said Ingvable bottom having a. depressed portion, s1 e. A 13. Aburial casket'having .a movable bot-i tom,asupport at one end of the-casket and adjustable means-between said support and the movable bottom to tiltithemovable bot-' tom transversely, said movablesbottom havinga depressed portion, and means totilt the, movable bottom longitudinally to raise the head-end thereof or lowerthe same toa substantially horizontal position. i v I 14. The combination witha burial casket having a spring bottom supported in a raised positionqwith respect to the'bottom of the] casket, and means-for tilting the spring bot- 15; The combinationwith a casket having atop'closure, a'bed bottom fulcrumed upon' the bottom of the vcasket andinclud-ing a springv structure adaptedto support a mattress, and a depressed central portion over; thefulcrum, and means at the head end of ly-intermediately-of its ends and having'ade pressedlportion at one side, and means for 17. A burial casket having a movable false bottom with a depressed portion, a spring bottom for said movable bottom, an intermediate support forthe spring bottom, and means for tilting the movable bottom from a position above the spring bottom adjacent the top of the casket and one end thereof.

18. In a device of the class described, a burial casket having a movable false bottom pivoted relative to said casket on a longitudinal axis, and means for adjustably tilting said bottom relative to said casket.

19. In a device of the class described, a burial casket having a unitary movable false bottom extending substantially the full length of the casket, said bottom being hinged to the casket, and means comprising a rack and a pivoted member engageable with said rack for adjusting said false bottom about its pivot, said rack being so arranged that loose fabric within the casket will not tend to become enmeshed therein.

20. In a device of the class described, a burial casket having a unitary movable false bottom extending substantially the full length of the casket, said bottom being hinged to said casket and having downwardly extending ratchet teeth adjacent one end thereof, and a pivoted member engageable with said teeth for adjusting said false bottom about its pivot.

21. In a device of the class described, a burial casket having a unitary movable false bottom extending substantially the full length of the casket, said bottom being hinged to the casket on a transverse axis intermediate its ends, and means comprising a rack and a pivoted member engageable with said rack for adjusting said false bottom about its pivot, said rack being so arranged that loose fabric within the casket will not tend to be come enmeshed therein.

22. In a device of the class described, a burial casket having a unitary movable false bottom extending substantially the full length of the casket, said bottom being hinged to said casket on a transverse axis intermediate its ends and having downwardly extending ratchet teeth adjacent one end thereof, and a pivoted member engageable with said teeth for adjusting said false bottom about its pivot.

ALBERT G. HARMS.

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