Undertaking – Miscellaneous
Reexamination Certificate
1998-08-25
2001-08-14
Price, Thomas (Department: 3643)
Undertaking
Miscellaneous
Reexamination Certificate
active
06272723
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed toward assisting the bereaved in dealing with the death of another. More particularly, the present invention is a bier system for use inside a building structure.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The funeral profession works to ease grief that often accompanies the death of a loved one. Such work has focused upon a variety of tools, including professional sympathy in combination with the use of passive displays, such as flowers, canopies or other types of display assemblies, typically set beside or around the coffin or bier arrangement, to distract the bereaved from their anguish and/or to provide the bereaved with a soothing setting within which to deal with their grief.
Professional sympathy may come across as “professional” but not “genuine.” The conventional passive displays are intended to soften the impact of death by providing an attractive and tasteful environment during the activities related to the funeral. However, passive displays have limited ability to touch and heal, or otherwise effectively reach, the human emotion and human spirit of the bereaved.
It is desirable to provide alternative or additional methods of comforting or otherwise assisting the grieving in dealing with their grief. It is further desirable to provide novel methods of lightening the funeral home and/or related environment.
It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a novel method of comforting bereaved persons, which method will be perceived by the bereaved as both genuine and uplifting.
Another object of the invention is to provide a living display including animal activity and sound perceived by humans as light-hearted sound, for use in a funeral environment.
Still another object of the invention is to provide an aviary for use in a funeral environment.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a multiple unit aviary which can be assembled in one or more configurations for use in association with a casket or bier.
A further object of the invention is to provide a portable aviary for use with a bier in a funeral home environment.
A still further object is to provide a method of lightening emotions and/or spirits of bereaved persons by specifically providing elements of a light-hearted environment in a funeral home.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention generally comprises a bier system for use inside a building structure. The bier system comprises a bier for receiving a casket thereon, and an aviary. The bier has a first length and a first width.
The aviary comprises an enclosing structure which defines at least one interior chamber for receiving birds therein. The aviary has a second length and a second width. One of the second length and the second width is at least as great as one of the first length and the first width. The aviary is juxtaposed sufficiently close to the bier that a person approaching the bier for viewing of a representation of the deceased typically perceives activity of birds in the aviary in association with the representation of the deceased.
In preferred embodiments, the aviary defines a recess in the outer perimeter, outside the enclosing aviary structure, and at least a portion of the bier disposed in the recess.
Preferably, the aviary is of sufficiently small size and weight that the aviary is substantially portable within a building.
In preferred embodiments, at least one interior chamber in the enclosing structure defines a volume of at least 50 cubic feet, more preferably at least 65 cubic feet, still more preferably at least 100 cubic feet.
In some embodiments, the bier system further comprises a left section and optionally a right section, at left and right respective sides of the bier system, the left section having a first interior chamber and the right section, when used, having a second interior chamber. Preferably, the left and right sections are disposed at opposing ends of the bier system and at opposing locations on a rear wall of the bier system.
In some embodiments, the bier system comprises an opening between first and second interior chambers, whereby the first and second interior chambers define a unitary composite interior chamber, such that birds can fly through the opening between the first and the second interior chambers.
Preferably, the bier system further comprises an opening between a third rear interior chamber and the first interior chamber, and optionally between the third interior chamber and the second interior chamber, whereby the combination of the first, second, and third interior chambers defines a unitary composite interior chamber, such that a bird can fly through the first and second openings, and thus among all of the first, second, and third interior chambers.
In the multiple chamber embodiments, it is preferable that each of the chambers defines a volume of at least 50 cubic feet, more preferably at least 65 cubic feet, and still more preferably at least 100 cubic feet.
The invention is also embodied in a method of providing comfort to bereaved persons who are associating with a representation of a deceased. The method comprises associating an aviary and a bier for receiving a casket thereon. The bier has a first length and a first width. The aviary comprises an enclosing structure defining a chamber having at least one live bird therein. The aviary has a second length and a second width. One of the second length and the second width is about at least as great as one of the first length and the first width. The aviary is juxtaposed sufficiently close to the representation of the deceased that a person approaching the representation of the deceased for viewing of the representation of the deceased can, and typically does perceive activity of the at least one bird in the aviary in association with the representation of the deceased.
Preferably, the method of providing comfort to a bereaved person includes making the association with the aviary, and thus the birds, in a building. Except for the viewing system being typically located inside a building, the building is not a significant element of the bier system.
By virtue of the portability of the aviary, and separately the conventional portability of the bier, the bier system of the invention can be moved from building to building, albeit with the assistance of equipment such as is commonly used to move furniture.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 296249 (1988-06-01), Was
patent: D. 340321 (1993-10-01), Bonn
patent: 4082384 (1978-04-01), Dold
patent: 4723512 (1988-02-01), Margolis
patent: 5305708 (1994-04-01), Keisler, Jr.
patent: 5551372 (1996-09-01), Nicholls
patent: 5704103 (1998-01-01), Crowley et al.
patent: 5794318 (1998-08-01), Parker et al.
patent: 5903961 (1999-05-01), Parker et al.
Price Thomas
Wilhelm Thomas D.
Wilhelm Law Service
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