Abstract:
This invention relates generally to an assembly for ornamentation of grave monuments. This assembly is designed to be attached to a memorial vase, that is secured to a cemetery grave marker. This assembly is enabled to provide the bereaved both illuminated and non-illuminated memorials for the deceased.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention relates generally to monuments. More particularly, this invention relates to a device for ornamentation of grave monuments.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     More and more, people desire options for remembering their loved ones after they have passed away, especially when it comes to memorials at the cemetery. This may be in the form of one member of the deceased purchasing the grave marker, a second member of the deceased purchasing a flower vase for the grave marker, a third member of the deceased purchasing the artificial flowers for the flower vase for the grave marker, etc.  
         [0003]     One popular item with those who want to remember the deceased is a solar lamp that is enabled for insertion into the ground adjacent to the grave marker. This solar lamp stores up energy during the day and provides a light during the night that illuminates the grave marker.  
         [0004]     While memorials such as the solar lamp meet the needs of the bereaved to remember the deceased, cemetery maintenance staff, in order to maintain the grounds, must pick up or pull out from the ground any such memorials, then place them back in their original position. This is a time consuming process and significantly impacts the efficiency of the maintenance staff. This has resulted in an increasing number of cemetery management posting signs forbidding the placement of any memorial in the area surrounding the tombstone. Only items place directly on the memorial are allowed, such as a flower vase, with the integrated flower vase being preferred by cemetery management.  
         [0005]     An example of a grave marker including such a flower vase is found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,312,014, issued to Pfister, which pertains to the provision of a grave marker comprising a burial plaque provided with an opening wherein a vase can be secured.  
         [0006]     Examples of attempts to have additional memorials at the grave site include the following.  
         [0007]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,128,855, issued to Salamh, pertains to a cemetery vase to hold flowers at a grave site, with the cemetery vase being enabled for insertion into the ground. The apparatus is a cemetery vase constructed as a container with a spike protruding from a hole in the bottom to permit the spike to be forced into the ground for support. The container is plastic, the spike has circumferential serrations to mechanically lock it in place, and no adhesive is required for assembly. The container is formed with surface ribs adjacent to the hole to strengthen the structure to prevent damage by insertion of the spike, and the container also has internal fins to grip a foam plug which can hold the flowers.  
         [0008]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,255,170, issued to Plamp, pertains to a solar powered illuminated cross-shaped memorial which has a controller which illuminates monument with number of star-like light sources when ambient light falls below threshold level, for set period as determined by a timer.  
         [0009]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,132,054, issued to Rogers, pertains to a memorial light assembly used for video display monitor, which has a pair of candle assemblies provided with light source and housing to which battery source is accommodated for supplying power to light source.  
         [0010]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,637,911, issued to Sittner, pertains to a grave marker and lighting apparatus, has photovoltaic cell and photoconductive cell to charge the batteries in the marker box and signals electronic circuitry to turn on during night.  
         [0011]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,764,202, issued to Herring, pertains to an illuminator for illuminating a tombstone. It has a solar collector attached to the housing and a photocell light detector attached to rear of the enclosure to measure the amount of ambient light  
         [0012]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,761,465, issued to Little, pertains to a mounting assembly for an illuminated cemetery headstone. It has a lower bracket assembly which cooperates with the back panel so that the lower portion of the back panel and the vertical portion of the lower bracket assembly overlap the upper portion of the headstone.  
         [0013]     While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose an assembly that can be attached to grave marking memorial infrastructure, while providing options for illuminated or non-illuminated ornaments, as well as combinations of illuminated and non-illuminated ornaments.  
         [0014]     Also, while these and other approaches are a good start, improvements are needed to address the problem of utilizing grave marking memorial infrastructure to provide a memorial solution that permits cemetery maintenance staff to efficiently maintain the cemetery grounds.  
         [0015]     Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide the bereaved options for grave marking remembrances to remember the deceased. It is a further object of the present invention to provide options for grave marking remembrances that do not interfere with cemetery maintenance activities.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0016]     The aforementioned and other objects were achieved, and the above-mentioned disadvantages overcome, by the present invention, by providing an assembly designed to be attached to a container that is secured to a cemetery memorial. This assembly is enabled to provide both illuminated and non-illuminated memorials.  
         [0017]     In general the memorial assembly is attached to a memorial flower vase that is securely attached to a conventional vase engaging cemetery marker. The general design is for the memorial assembly to be comprised of attaching means for removably attaching the memorial assembly to a memorial flower vase, e.g. a clamp. The memorial assembly is further comprised of means for supporting at least one ornamentation device, e.g. clamp support, rod, pole, connector, and device holder. The memorial assembly is further comprised of at least one ornament e.g., an illumination device, a wind-chime, and the like. The illumination device e.g., a solar lamp, is further comprised of illumination infrastructure containing a source of illumination, a source of power, sensors and circuitry, all operably connected to provide illumination of a cemetery marker during periods of darkness.  
         [0018]     Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention will be obtained by means of instrumentalities in combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0019]     The accompanying drawings illustrate a complete embodiment of the invention according to the best modes so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof, and in which:  
         [0020]      FIG. 1  shows a top plan view of a cemetery marker with a recess into which a flower vase may be secured.  
         [0021]      FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of a cemetery marker with a flower vase attached.  
         [0022]      FIG. 3  shows a sectional perspective view of a solar lamp of the type normally inserted into the ground.  
         [0023]      FIG. 4  shows a right side view according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0024]      FIG. 5  shows a back perspective view according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0025]      FIG. 6  shows a front perspective view according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0026]      FIG. 7  shows a front perspective view according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0027]      FIG. 8  shows a right side perspective view according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0028]      FIG. 9  shows a top plan view of a clamp according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0029]      FIG. 10  shows a 3-way splitter according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0030]     The drawings show aspects of the invention. As the drawings are described, reference will be made to the present preferred embodiments of the invention. The terminology used herein to describe the present preferred embodiments is for the purpose of clarification. The invention, however, is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology used. Terminology used to describe each element should be understood to include all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner to accomplish similar functions.  
         [0031]     The present invention is described in relation to a memorial grave marker. Nonetheless, the characteristics and parameters pertaining to various embodiments the apparatus and methods described herein may be applicable to other objects.  
         [0032]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , grave marker  120 , is shown with vase receptacle  130 .  
         [0033]     Referring to  FIG. 2 , grave marker  120  is shown with memorial vase  110  securely attached to grave marker  120  via vase receptacle  130 .  
         [0034]     Referring to  FIG. 3 , solar light ornament  90  is shown as part of a conventional solar light assembly enabled for insertion into the ground.  
         [0035]     Referring to  FIG. 4 , one arrangement of clamp  10 , offset rod  30 , ornament-pole connector  50 , ornament pole  60 , ornament hook  70 , and solar light ornament  90  is shown.  
         [0036]     Referring to  FIG. 5 , one arrangement of clamp  10 , offset rod  30 , ornament-pole splitter  40 , three of ornament pole,  60  and three of ornament hook  70  are shown.  
         [0037]     Referring to  FIG. 6 , three of ornament eye-bolt  80  are shown.  
         [0038]     Referring to  FIG. 7 , two of non-solar ornament  100  are shown, as well as a solar ornament  90 .  
         [0039]     Referring to  FIG. 8 , pole connector  50  is shown.  
         [0040]     Referring to  FIG. 9 , clamp  10  is shown, with four of vase flange  10 A disposed on clamp  10 . Additionally, clamp-offset connector  20  is shown operably affixed to clamp  10 .  
         [0041]     Referring to  FIG. 10 , a threaded embodiment of ornament-pole splitter  40  is shown.  
         [0042]     The preferred embodiment of the present invention is generally comprised of clamp  10 , clamp-offset connector  20 , offset rod  30 , pole connector  50 , ornament pole  60 , ornament hook  70 , and solar light ornament  90 .  
         [0043]     A second preferred embodiment of the present invention is generally comprised of clamp  10 , clamp-offset connector  20 , offset rod  30 , ornament-pole splitter  40 , three of ornament pole  60 , three of ornament hook  70 , and three of solar light ornament  90 .  
         [0044]     An alternate embodiment of the present invention is generally comprised of clamp  10 , clamp-offset connector  20 , offset rod  30 , pole connector  50 , ornament pole  60  and ornament hook  70 .  
         [0045]     An alternate embodiment of the present invention is generally comprised of vase  110 , clamp  10 , clamp-offset connector  20 , offset rod  30 , pole connector  50 , ornament pole  60  and ornament hook  70 .  
         [0046]     An alternate embodiment of the present invention is generally comprised of grave marker  120 , vase receptacle  130 , vase  110 , clamp  10 , clamp-offset connector  20 , offset rod  30 , pole connector  50 , ornament pole  60  and ornament hook  70 .  
         [0047]     An alternate embodiment of the present invention is generally comprised of clamp  10 , clamp-offset connector  20 , offset rod  30 , ornament-pole splitter  40 , a plurality of ornament pole  60 , and a plurality of ornament hook  70 .  
         [0048]     An alternate embodiment of the present invention is generally comprised of clamp  10 , clamp-offset connector  20 , offset rod  30 , ornament-pole splitter  40 , a plurality of ornament pole  60 , a plurality of ornament hook  70 , at least one of solar light ornament  90  and at least one of non-solar light ornament  100 , e.g. wind chimes.  
         [0049]     An alternate embodiment of the present invention is generally comprised of vase  110 , clamp  10 , clamp-offset connector  20 , offset rod  30 , ornament-pole splitter  40 , a plurality of ornament pole  60 , a plurality of ornament hook  70 , and a plurality of solar light ornament  90 .  
         [0050]     An alternate embodiment of the present invention is generally comprised of vase  110 , clamp  10 , clamp-offset connector  20 , offset rod  30 , ornament-pole splitter  40 , a plurality of ornament pole  60 , a plurality of ornament hook  70 , and a plurality of non-solar light ornament  100 .  
         [0051]     An alternate embodiment of the present invention is generally comprised of vase  110 , clamp  10 , clamp-offset connector  20 , offset rod  30 , ornament-pole splitter  40 , a plurality of ornament pole  60 , a plurality of ornament hook  70 , at least one of solar light ornament  90 , and at least one of non-solar light ornament  100 .  
         [0052]     An alternate embodiment of the present invention is generally comprised of grave marker  120 , vase receptacle  130 , vase  110 , clamp  10 , clamp-offset connector  20 , offset rod  30 , ornament-pole splitter  40 , a plurality of ornament pole  60 , a plurality of ornament hook  70 , and a plurality of solar light ornament  90 .  
         [0053]     An alternate embodiment of the present invention is generally comprised of grave marker  120 , vase receptacle  130 , vase  110 , clamp  10 , clamp-offset connector  20 , offset rod  30 , ornament-pole splitter  40 , a plurality of ornament pole  60 , a plurality of ornament hook  70 , and a plurality of non-solar light ornament  100 .  
         [0054]     An alternate embodiment of the present invention is generally comprised of grave marker  120 , vase receptacle  130 , memorial vase  110 , clamp  10 , clamp-offset connector  20 , offset rod  30 , ornament-pole splitter  40 , a plurality of ornament pole  60 , a plurality of ornament hook  70 , at least one of solar light ornament  90 , and at least one of non-solar light ornament  100 .  
         [0055]     The preferred material for clamp  10  is brass or any suitable material, metal or non-metal, possessing sufficient structural strength to hold any of the embodiments of the present invention. The preferred thickness of clamp  10  is approximately 8 gauge. The preferred inside diameter of clamp  10  is between 3⅝″ and 3¾″. The preferred color is bronze. In order for clamp  10  to properly seat clamp  10  to memorial vase  110 , it is preferred to have at least three of flange  10 A as a part of clamp  10 . It is preferred that clamp  10  have a ½″ wing nut assembly permanently affixed to the tongue of clamp  10  so that the wing nut assembly enables the tightening of clamp  10  to memorial vase  110 . The preferred adjustment in the diameter of clamp  10  that is accomplished by tightening the ½″ wing nut assembly is at least ¼″.  
         [0056]     The preferred material for offset rod  30 , ornament pole  60 , pole connector  50 , ornament pole splitter  40  is aluminum alloy having a bronze color. The preferred diameter for offset rod  30  is ⅜″ diameter and the preferred connecting means to clamp offset connector  20 , pole connector  50  or ornament splitter  40  is a threaded connection. The preferred diameter for ornament pole  60  is ⅜″ and the preferred connecting means to pole connector  50  or ornament splitter  40  is a threaded connection.  
         [0057]     While the materials listed are preferred, other materials may be used, such as plastic, wood, and the like. Similarly, while threaded connections are preferred, other commercially available connection means may be used, such as, but not limited to, spring-loaded depressible buttons on ornament pole  60  and offset rod  30  and corresponding holes into which the buttons are secured in pole connector  50 . Also, while offset rod  30  and ornament pole  60  are illustrated as being non-telescoping, telescoping rods and poles may be used with means for keeping the rods and poles at the length desired. Additionally, the designs on the window panes of solar light ornament  90  may vary, e.g., crosses, stars, hearts, angels, and the like. 
        a. Place clamp  10  around the top of memorial vase  110  with wing nuts turned to the back of memorial vase  110 .     b. Tighten wing nut securely.     c. Thread the offset connector end of offset rod  30  into clamp offset connector  20  such that the offset portion faces the rear of grave marker  120  and secure offset rod  30  with clamp offset connector nut  20 A.     d. Thread pole connector  50  into the pole connector end of offset rod  30 .     e. Thread the pole connector end of ornament pole  60  into pole connector  50 .     f. Thread ornament hook  70  into the ornament end of ornament pole  60 .     g. Attach solar light ornament  90  to ornament hook  70         
 
         [0065]     To make another embodiment of the present invention for a grave marker having a memorial vase: 
        a. Place clamp  10  around the top of memorial vase  110  with wing nuts turned to the back of memorial vase  110 .     b. Tighten wing nuts securely.     c. Thread the offset connector end of offset rod  30  into clamp offset connector  20  such that the offset portion faces the rear of grave marker  120  and secure offset rod  30  with clamp offset connector nut  20 A.     d. Thread ornament pole splitter  40  into the pole connector end of offset rod  30 .     e. Thread the pole connector end of three of ornament pole  60  into each opening of ornament pole splitter  40 .     f. Thread ornament hook  70  into the ornament end of ornament pole  60 .     g. Attach solar light ornament  90  to ornament hook  70 .        
 
         [0073]     A process for making a monument assembly is comprised of the following steps: 
        a) form a clamp operable for releasable attachment to a memorial vase and to an offset rod;     b) form an offset rod operable for releasable attachment to said clamp and to a connector;     c) form said connector, operable for releasable attachment to said offset rod and to pole; and,     d) form at least one of said pole operable for releasable attachment to said connector.        
 
         [0078]     The above description and drawings are only illustrative of preferred embodiments which achieve the objects, features and advantages of the present invention, and it is not intended that the present invention be limited thereto. Any modification of the present invention which comes within the spirit and scope of the following claims is considered part of the present invention.  
         [0079]     Other embodiments, uses and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. The specification and examples should be considered exemplary only.