Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Burial vault – Compartmented
Reexamination Certificate
1997-09-10
2001-01-09
Stephan, Beth A. (Department: 3635)
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Burial vault
Compartmented
C052S741110, C052S741120, C027S035000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06170201
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to burial vaults generally and, in particular, to burial vaults suitable for interment in the ground and sized for receiving a casket containing a cadaver, and methods of manufacture and use thereof.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
Various burial vaults are known, including burial vaults formed from wood, concrete, metal, and fiberglass. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,159,901 issued to A. C. Harrington, et. al. on Dec. 8, 1964. However, burial vaults formed of wood may float to the surface. Other burial vaults such as those formed of concrete are often built to be extremely heavy, either due to the weight of materials used or due to requirements for structural strength (e.g., having thick burial vault walls). Such heavy burial vaults cannot be easily or safely handled or manipulated by a single person, and often a crane or other similar device suitable for manipulating heavy objects must be located at a burial spot for positioning the burial vault into the ground.
Furthermore, conventional burial vaults typically do not provide an extremely reliable and/or efficient hermetic seal at a cost effective price over an extended period of time. For example, wood and concrete are both porous materials and so a burial vault made of one of these materials may allow moisture to conduct through the walls of the burial vault. Such moisture, if allowed to reach a casket and/or a cadaver contained within a casket, will accelerate deterioration of the casket and/or the cadaver. Condensation within the grave tends to accumulate when a conventional burial vault is used, and such condensation can corrode or rot the conventional burial vault. If this happens, dangerous contaminants may escape from the burial vault into the surrounding earth, and/or contaminants may enter the burial vault and accelerate the deterioration of the cadaver therein. In addition, temperature variations and oxygen expedite the deterioration process of the cadaver. Building a casket to be water tight, air tight, and insulated from temperature variations can be a very expensive endeavor as compared with building a burial vault to be hermetically sealed. This is because a casket is designed for presentation of the cadaver, and thus it often has a separate hinged lid for display of the cadaver and is often made of materials in such a manner so as to be as aesthetic and tasteful as possible. For example, it is difficult and expensive to built a hermetically-sealed casket that has a hinged lid.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of one or more aspects of the invention is to provide an improved burial vault structure which solves one or more of the above problems.
In some aspects of the invention, a burial vault provides an extremely reliable and/or efficient hermetic seal at a cost effective price over an extended period of time.
In further aspects of the invention, the burial vault is designed to prevent or reduce moisture from conducting through its walls, thus preventing or reducing detrimental excess moisture and/or condensation from accumulating in the grave and/or within the burial vault itself.
In further aspects of the invention, the burial vault is constructed to be of considerably less weight than a typical conventional burial vault. This feature allows the burial vault to be easy to handle by even one person, including handling in transporting and lowering the burial vault into the earth. Furthermore, there is no need for a lot of handling equipment such as a crane or a boom.
In some aspects of the invention, the burial vault is constructed using inner and outer layers made of a polymer material with an insulation material disposed there between. These aspects allow for temperature stability within the vault and a casket therein. Thus, the cadaver within the casket is preserved for a longer period of time than with conventional burial vaults. Furthermore, such a construction provides for a durable burial vault that is resistant to the elements and which will not to corrode or rot. Also, such a construction prevents contaminants from escaping and/or entering the burial vault.
In further aspects of the invention, an anchor extending either horizontally or vertically from the burial vault may anchor the burial vault into the ground.
In additional aspects of the invention, the burial vault may have slanted walls such that the burial vaults may be stackable so that they are able to be stored one on top of the other in a small area.
In yet further aspects of the invention, the burial vaults include a separate weight material sufficient to prevent the burial vault from coming out of the ground.
In further aspects of the invention, the burial vault is constructed to be durable and structurally strong. Strength and durability allows the burial vault to stand up to the test of time and to withstand the weight of earth and equipment that may be above the vault once it is buried.
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Holsopple Mark E.
Mason George E.
Banner & Witcoff , Ltd.
Stephan Beth A.
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