Death care merchandise display unit

Details Death care merchandise display unit Death care merchandise display unit

2000-12-18

2002-02-05

Chin-Shue, Alvin (Department: 3634)

Supports: racks

Special article

Receptacle support

Reexamination Certificate

active

06343701

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an integrated display system for death care merchandise such as caskets, coffins, urns, burial vaults and materials for decorating or adorning the same. The display systems of the invention are particularly designed for use by prospective purchasers in a preview room. In addition, they may be useful for displaying death care merchandise during its intended use, such as in a memorial or funeral service as well as viewing room.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Various casket display systems are known in the art. The more primitive of such systems consist of a casket display rack or support. See, for instance, U.S. Pat. No. 2,937,768 which discloses a two-tiered casket display rack having a rigid C-shaped frame-like structure for the display of two caskets—one casket supported above another.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,405,017 discloses a more contemporary casket display system for full caskets. The display system of the '017 patent includes a two-tiered casket display rack retractable by means of a scissors unit which, in turn, is connected to a rod. The display rack of the '017 patent is not an integral part of the casket display system.
While the casket display system of the '017 patent offers a more serene setting than the primitive systems of the prior art, as set forth in the '768 patent, they do not permit the full display of merchandise used in the funeral and death care industry. In addition, it does not permit the display of all types of merchandise such as adornment accessories, urns and burial vaults.
Further, the display systems of the prior art containing a rollout rack onto which a full casket is mounted basically require the presence of two caskets—one on a top shelf and the second on a bottom shelf. Such systems are difficult to manage and handle especially since the lower casket is often required to be in a retracted state.
The need exists therefore for a display system which permits the exhibition of a greater volume and a greater type of death related merchandise at greater ease for the prospective purchaser. In addition, the need exists for a display system which can be more easily assembled and utilized than afforded by the systems of the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A death care merchandise display unit which maximizes the types and styles of death care merchandise comprises two vertical, parallel, spaced wing wall panels and a vertical back wall having lateral edges secured to the rear edges of the wing wall panels. The display unit may contain a retractable rack connected to the two vertical spaced wing wall panels having a slide mechanism. The slide mechanism is preferably one having one of its members attached to the inside of the wing wall panel and another member attached to the retractable rack. The retractable rack typically is employed for displaying a burial vault, coffin or casket.
The display unit may further contain a cornice. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the cornice projects from the vertical back wall of the merchandise display area.
Further, the display unit of the invention may contain one or more retractable drawers in relatively close proximity to the rack(s) displaying the burial vault, coffin or casket.
In still another embodiment of the invention, slat or slot walls comprise at least a portion of the back wall; display shelving interconnecting the ridges within the slat walls for placement of urns and other death care merchandise.
Yet another embodiment of the invention is directed to a modular death care merchandise display unit having means for interconnecting two or more modular units.


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Quarter coffin designs practiced in France (photos attached).

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