Undertaking – Coffins – Foldable sections
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-19
2001-11-20
Browne, Lynne H. (Department: 3628)
Undertaking
Coffins
Foldable sections
C027S035000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06317944
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to packages for shipping cardboard caskets and cremation boxes, and more particularly, the present invention pertains to a shipping package comprising at least a pair of flat casket kits in which the casket-interior liner cloths are maintained in a pleated and wrinkle-free condition.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Cardboard caskets and cremation boxes are commonly shipped to funeral parlors in flat configurations, to save on transport costs and storage space. These caskets and boxes are assembled and formed by the funeral director's personnel as needed.
A number of methods and packages have been used in the past to ship cardboard caskets and cremation boxes in a configuration which requires minimum space. A common requirement regarding the shipping of caskets and cremation boxes in a flat configuration is that the casket components such as the handles, corpse supporting and positioning accessories and the interior liner cloth should be included within the package, to form a complete kit. Also, the shipping of caskets and cremation boxes in a flat configuration preferably requires that the package be sturdy enough to afford a firm handling without causing the components to becoming loose, separated, deteriorated or damaged.
In regard to prior developments in this field, the following US Patents illustrate and describe various cardboard caskets and cremation boxes that are shippable in a flat or collapsed configuration. U.S. Pat. No. 3,574,906 issued to Richard Rittenhouse, on Apr. 13, 1971; U.S. Pat. No. 3,729,786 issued to Rowland Trevor Walding, on May 1, 1973; U.S. Pat. No. 4,063,337 issued to Ambrose S. Havey, III, on Dec. 20, 1977; U.S. Pat. No. 4,151,630 issued to Ambrose S. Havey, on May 1, 1979; U.S. Pat. No. 4,156,956 issued to Roger J. Partridge et al., on Jun. 5, 1979; U.S. Pat. No. 4,176,431 issued to Ambrose S. Havey, III, on Dec. 4, 1979; U.S. Pat. No. 4,399,596 issued to Henry W. Parlour et al., on Aug. 23, 1983; U.S. Pat. No. 5,035,032 issued to Donald W. Nutting, on Jul. 30, 1991; U.S. Pat. No. 5,307,545 issued to Dennis J. Stoltz, on May 3, 1994; U.S. Pat. No. 5,353,484 issued to Stephen D. Woedl et al., on Oct. 11, 1994; U.S. Pat. No. 5,586,679 issued to Betty M. Thomas, on Dec. 24, 1996; U.S. Pat. No. 5,661,879 issued to Dean A. Kelly, on Sep. 2, 1997; U.S. Pat. No. 5,775,061 issued to John R. Enneking et al., on Jul. 7, 1998; U.S. Pat. No. 5,915,680 issued to Izuru Umemura et al., on Jun. 29, 1999.
Although the shipping methods and packages of the prior art have respective advantages and deserve undeniable merits, these packages and methods are believed to be inadequate with regards to preserving the product quality during transport of the casket or cremation box from the manufacturer's plant to the funeral director's establishment. For example, the prior art packages are believed to be inadequate for preserving the interior liner cloth against shuffling and ruffling during transport and handling thereof, especially when the packages are stacked on their edges.
Also, whether these casket kits are shipped in batches or as a single unit, each batch or unit is generally tied with straps. Edge protectors are normally used with tie straps. However, it is known that these edge protectors often slip off from under the straps during transport and handling. Consequently, it is quite common to observe strap marks and associated quality defects along the edges of cardboard caskets that are shipped by trucks or trains.
As such, it will be appreciated that there continues to be a need for a shipping package for cardboard casket folders and cremation box folders whereby the quality of the casket or cremation box and all of its components are preserved during transport from the manufacturer's facility to the purchaser's funeral parlor.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides for a sturdy package for shipping cardboard casket kits while preserving the quality of the product and all of its components after final inspection and packaging by the manufacturer, and until delivery to the purchaser's funeral parlor or warehouse.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a shipping package for casket folders, comprising a pair of casket-base folders each having stocky and stiff edges bordering the inside side of each folder. The casket-base folders are positioned against each other with their inside sides facing each other and with the edges of one casket-base folder being juxtaposed and aligned with the opposite edges of the other casket-base folder. The inside sides and the stocky edges of both casket-base folders define a hollow space therebetween, in which there are enclosed a pair of casket-cover folders and a pair of pleated and pressed casket-interior liner cloths. The casket-interior liner cloths are attached to liner-cloth stretchers which are affixed to the casket-base folders. A pair of oblong boxes enclose the ends of the casket-base folders and extend over a portion of the juxtaposed stocky edges.
The shipping package according to this aspect of the present invention is advantageous for providing substantial strength in resisting firm handling thereof and for its ability to retain the casket-interior liner cloths in a pleated and wrinkle-free condition until the package is opened again at destination.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the surface of the shipping package has semicircular handle openings therein, and each of the semicircular handle openings has a straight segment bordering one of the stocky edges. The position of these handles is advantageous for inciting the handling of the shipping package by one of the stiff and stocky edges for preserving the quality of the shipping package and of the casket kits contained therein.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, there are provided strips of mating and gripping material along the stocky edges for retaining the stocky edges together when a pair of casket-base folders are laid against each other. This assembly provides for a shipping package that has strong laminated-like edges to resist deformation associated with repeated rugged manipulations.
The use of strips of gripping and mating material along the stocky edges, for retaining two casket-base folders against each other, is also advantageous during the assembly of the shipping package at the manufacturing plant. The retention of both casket-base folders together is advantageous for affording the turning of the pair of casket kits upside down or edge to edge, during the attachment of the oblong boxes thereon for example, without causing any ruffling of the casket-interior liner cloths contained therein.
In yet another aspect of the present invention, each casket-base folder has a central crease-free portion, and each oblong box has a longitudinal dimension relative to the shipping package, which is equal to or smaller than the width of the central crease-free portion. Each oblong box is thereby usable in a flat form as a casket bottom liner, in order to reduce waste associated with this shipping package.
Furthermore, each liner-cloth stretcher is made of two symmetrical segments which are detachably connected to each other. Each segment has slots, tabs, and bending lines therein to afford a folding thereof into an alternate form which is usable as a casket accessory, in order to also reduce waste associated with the shipping package.
Still another feature of the shipping package of the present invention is that it is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to materials, equipment and labour, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low price of sale to the funeral industry.
Other advantages and novel features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3574906 (1971-04-01), Rittenhouse
patent: 3729786 (1973-05-01), Walding
patent: 3782619 (1974-01-01), Dittbenner
patent: 3955252 (1976-05-01), Reda
patent: 406
Beaulieu Benoît M.
Michaud Guillaume
Ouellet Jocelyn
Browne Lynne H.
Cercueils Alliance Caskets Inc.
Miller William L.
Theriault Mario
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