Undertaking – Miscellaneous
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-23
2001-01-23
Melius, Terry Lee (Department: 3628)
Undertaking
Miscellaneous
Reexamination Certificate
active
06175995
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to funeral products, and more particularly to cremation containers for displaying cremated human remains contained therein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Cremation is a growing segment of the funeral industry. Consequently, there is an increasing demand for more and higher quality styles and designs of cremation containers.
One popular design theme for cremation urns is the outdoor/animal theme. Five such designs are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. Des. 356,421, 370,767, 370,766 and 370,768, and U.S. Patent application Ser. No. 08/733,882, all of which are assigned to the assignee of the present invention and are hereby incorporated by reference herein as if fully set forth in their entirety.
Other, more traditional styles of cremation urns are disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. Des. 344,839, 345,848, 356,422 and 360,732, all of which are assigned to the assignee of the present invention and are hereby incorporated by reference herein as if fully set forth in their entirety.
All of the above-described cremation containers are adapted to be displayed in the residence of a loved one of the deceased, for example, on a fireplace mantel, coffee table, end table or the like.
There is a continuing need for attractive, yet somewhat non-traditional, progressive or alternative, means for displaying the cremated remains of a deceased by a loved one wishing to memorialize the past life of the deceased.
Accordingly, it is a main objective of the present invention to provide an alternative means of displaying the cremated remains of a deceased for memorial purposes by a loved one of the deceased which is in contrast to the more traditional types of cremation containers presently in display.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the stated objective, the present invention is a combination lawn/garden ornament and cremation container. The combination lawn/garden ornament and cremation container comprises a decorative structure adapted to be displayed outdoors on a lawn or in a garden of a loved one of a deceased, and an openable and closable compartment adapted to contain cremated remains of the deceased.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the decorative structure comprises a hollow pedestal upon which is mounted a sundial. The openable and closable compartment comprises a tube positioned within the hollow pedestal with a cap removably secured on an end thereof. The tube is preferably fabricated of plastic and includes a flange at a lower end thereof. The flange is secured to a base portion of the pedestal with fasteners, and the cap is removably secured to an upper end of the tube. The cap is preferably a press-fit on the upper end of the tube. The sundial preferably includes an upwardly oriented face thereon including a personalized inscription thereon memorializing the deceased.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the decorative structure comprises a stepping stone, a portion of which is adapted to be displayed above a ground surface. The openable and closable compartment comprises a container, integral with the stepping stone, and extending downwardly from a lower surface thereof, and a cover removably secured to the container, the container being adapted to be positioned below a ground surface. The stepping stone and container are preferably fabricated of concrete and the stepping stone includes a stained glass inlay on an upper surface thereof. The stepping stone further preferably includes a central region on the upper surface including a personalized inscription thereon memorializing the deceased. The cover may be removably secured to a lower end of the container, or alternatively, may be removably secured to a lateral side of the container.
In yet another embodiment the decorative structure comprises a planter box. The openable and closable compartment comprises a container forming a part of the planter box and a cover removably secured to the container. The container may be formed in a bottom of the planter box, with the cover being removable from a lower side thereof; alternatively, the container may be formed in a side of the planter box, with the cover being removable from an upper side thereof. In the case of the latter, the container upper edge is preferably recessed below an upper edge of the planter box to thereby allow soil to cover the container and cover. A side wall of the planter box preferably includes a personalized inscription thereon memorializing the deceased.
In still another embodiment of the present invention, the decorative structure comprises a wind chime assembly including a plurality of chimes. The openable and closable compartment may comprise a container forming a part of an upper support from which the chimes of the assembly are suspended. Alternatively, the openable and closable compartment may comprise a container forming a part of a chime motion inducing pendulum of the wind chime assembly.
The main advantage of the present invention is that a combination lawn/garden ornament and cremation container is provided which provides a loved one of a deceased an alternative, somewhat nontraditional yet nonetheless attractive means of displaying the cremated remains of the deceased.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent during the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings herein, in which:
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