Abstract:
Provided herewith is an apparatus and means for interning a plurality of cremated remains and their accompanying urns in a single columbarium such that the ashes and urns are inaccessible once they are interned. The apparatus comprises a plurality of vertically stacked slanted trays for retaining the urns and a telescoping cylinder with built in ramps. The telescoping cylinder is raised in the columbarium, the urn placed in a ramp in the cylinder and the cylinder lowered back into the columbarium. The cylinder is then rotated and the urn rolls by gravitational force onto the tray for permanent storage. A storage container is available to store DNA or other memorabilia of the deceased that is accessible at a future date. There is a ring binder type structure on the top of the columbarium to inscribe or attached the deceased individual&#39;s particulars.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The field of this invention relates generally to the storing of cremated remains, and more specifically to storing multiple cremated remains underground in a non-accessible multi-unit columbarium pod. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Throughout recorded history, cultures and civilizations have utilized rituals and ceremonies to commemorate the loss of a loved one or a member of the community. These ceremonies can be extremely large and ornate, such as for individuals with a high public profile or high political office, or they can be simple and reserved ceremonies. The rituals and ceremonies serve a variety of needs. One of those needs is to provide a means of closure for the surviving members of the community and to aid the living in coping with the loss of someone dear to them. 
         [0003]    In many instances, a family will choose to be interned in a common plot or location for eternity. For example, a family plot may contain burial spaces for a husband and wife, their parents or grandparents, their brothers and/or sisters, their children and their spouses and so forth depending upon the circumstances and desires of the deceased. Familial plots are common and serve both to remember the deceased as well and recognizing those that have gone before them. It also provides a sense that the deceased in still with family. 
         [0004]    In many instances, the deceased has chosen to be embalmed and interned in a coffin in the ground. In other instances, the deceased has chosen to be cremated. Cremation has gained in popularity mainly because it is less costly and consumes less land space. For those electing cremation, there are many options as to what can be done with their cremated remains. Some elect to have their remains scattered over some specified location, either on earth or in space. Others elect to have their remains placed in a suitable urn, which can either be kept by the deceased&#39;s family or placed in an above ground communal columbarium or in a familial columbarium, either above or below ground. Many prefer a familial columbarium over a communal one for the sense of history and family is represents. 
         [0005]    Interning cremated remains in a communal columbarium over conventional whole-body casket burials is attractive to cemetery owners, mostly due to the reduced space requirements which frees up available space for future burials. A familial columbarium, while requiring less space than a casket burial can still consume more space than a communal columbarium as the urns are typically placed side by side in a horizontal position. In addition, when a newly deceased individual&#39;s remains are added to the familial plot, it may necessary to open the familial columbarium to place the new urn in the columbarium thereby providing access to the prior interned urns. 
         [0006]    It is desirable therefore to have a columbarium that can store a plurality of cremated remains in a more space efficient manner to better utilize the limited supply of cemetery land while assuring that there is no access to prior interned cremated remains. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The apparatus and method of the present invention is directed towards using a buried columbarium pod. In one embodiment, a hole is dug into the ground and the columbarium pod is secured into the hole by the use of base level flanges attached to the columbarium pod and over which concrete or other securing material is poured. The hole is then filled in around the columbarium pod. On one part of the columbarium pod there is a circular opening with a cylindrical tube attached thereto extending from slightly above an inner horizontal surface inside the columbarium pod to a position near the bottom of the pod. Placed inside of the cylindrical tube is a telescoping cylinder with slanted ramps within the telescoping cylinder that has open spaces at the end of the ramps in the telescoping cylinder. The top of the telescoping cylinder has a handle and means for securing the telescoping cylinder near the top of the columbarium pod. Adjacent to the telescoping cylinder there are a plurality of trays, stacked vertically along the length of the telescoping cylinder with one end of the tray open to the cylindrical tube and the ramp in the telescoping cylinder. Each tray slanting slightly downward from the telescoping cylinder ramps with partitions internal to each tray that form an “S” shaped path. The trays being separated from each other by the underside of the preceding tray. Above the top tray opening and separate from the top tray there is a separate storage container opening with a storage container lid that can be securely sealed to the storage container opening. 
         [0008]    In use, a user would un-secure the telescoping cylinder and rotate the cylinder roughly 90 degrees. The user would then raise the telescoping cylinder and place a spherical urn, with the cremated remains in the urn, onto one of the ramps in the telescoping cylinder. The user then slides the telescoping cylinder back down the cylindrical tube to its full depth. The telescoping cylinder is then rotated such that the opening in the telescoping cylinder and its ramps are in line with the opening in the cylindrical tube and aligned with the trays. Because of the downward angle of the ramp and the trays, the spherical urn rolls by gravitational force onto the specified tray to its final resting position inside the columbarium pod at the end of the “S” shaped path on the tray. The telescoping cylinder is then turned to its home position in the cylindrical tube and secured to the inner horizontal surface. The telescoping cylinder is designed with tabs at the bottom of the cylinder such that the cylinder can be rotated and raised or lowered, but it can not be removed from the cylindrical tube. Thus, once a spherical urn is placed into the columbarium, the urns are secured from any further access. Other mementos, pictures, treasures or other items significant to the deceased or family members can then be placed into a spherical container and similarly deposited next to the previously interned urn. In addition, deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA, samples or other items can be identified and placed into the storage container opening and secured with a locking storage container lid if desired. 
         [0009]    Once interned, a commemorative plaque can be engraved with the name and particulars of the deceased and their location in the columbarium and placed inside the columbarium lid on a ring binder like holder. 
         [0010]    Other features and advantages of this disclosure will become apparent to one skilled in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional features and advantages be included within the scope of the present invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    A system and a method according to the invention will be described in more detail by means of a preferred embodiment with reference to the appended drawings in which: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a cut-a-way planar view of the present invention as installed in the ground. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a planar top down view of the inside of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a planar top down cut-away view of the present invention taken at Section A-A of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a planar side view of the telescoping cylinder of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a planar cut-a-way side view of the telescoping cylinder of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a planar top view of the lid of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a planar side cut-a-way view of the lid of the present invention taken at Section B-B of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is a cut-a-way planar view of a second embodiment of the present invention as installed in the ground. 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  is a planar top down view of the inside of the second embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 10  is a planar top down view of a third embodiment of the lid of the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 11  is a cut-a-way planar view of a third embodiment of the present invention as installed in the ground. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0023]    Reference will now be made in detail to the description of the invention as illustrated in the drawings. Although the invention is described in connection with the drawings, there is no intent to limit the invention to the embodiment or embodiments disclosed therein. On the contrary, the intent is to include all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents included within the scope and spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , the cremation storage apparatus (also commonly known as a columbarium)  1  is depicted in a first preferred embodiment installed in the ground  2  with a portion of the columbarium side walls  4  projecting above the ground  2 . There are a plurality of base flanges  3  attached near the base  42  of the columbarium to the side walls  4  (only two shown) with concrete  5  poured over the base flanges  3  to secure the columbarium into the ground. Dirt and back fill are then filled in on top of the poured concrete. There are a plurality of slanted trays  6  stacked vertically inside of the columbarium  1 . A telescoping cylinder  7  is depicted in its normally lowered position in a cylindrical tube  8  that is fixed to an inner horizontal surface  10 . The telescoping cylinder  7  has a plurality of ramps  9  that align with the slanted trays  6  when the telescoping cylinder is rotated to the “Intern” position. Some urns  21  are depicted as being stored on one of the slanted trays  6 . The urns  21  are shaped such that they will roll, such as, but not limited to, cylindrical urns and spherical urns. 
         [0025]    A circular top  12  with a handle  13  is fixedly attached to the top of the telescoping cylinder  7 . The circular telescoping top  12  and handle  13  allow the telescoping cylinder  7  to be raised and lowered in the cylindrical tube  8 . There is at least one locking means  14  for securing the telescoping cylinder  7 , circular top  12  and handle  13  to the inner horizontal surface  10 . A weatherproof seal (not shown) is between the top  12  and the top of the cylindrical tube  8 . When unsecured, the telescoping cylinder  7  is rotatable within the cylindrical tube  8 . 
         [0026]    There is a storage container  11  in the inner horizontal surface  10  for use in storing various artifacts such as DNA samples or the like. There is a storage container lid  15  and handle  16  for the storage container  11  and at least one locking means  17  for securing the storage container lid  15  and handle  16  to the inner horizontal surface  10 . A weatherproof seal (not shown) is between the storage container lid  15  and the storage container  11  to prevent water and debris from entering the storage container  11 . Near the top of the inside of the columbarium  1  are a plurality of columbarium lid rests  18  for securing the columbarium lid  19 . There is also an outer ledge  20  near the top of the columbarium  1 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 2  depicts the top inside horizontal surface  10  with the outer ledge  20  and the inner rests  18 . The telescoping cylinder top  12  is depicted with an indicator arrow  22  on top of the circular top  12 . The inner horizontal surface  10  is shown with indicators for “Load”  23  and “Intern”  24  although other appropriate symbols or language could be used as indicators of the position of the telescoping cylinder  7 . The use of these indicators will be discussed in greater depth further in the description. 
         [0028]      FIG. 3  depicts a top down cut away view of the columbarium taken at section A-A on  FIG. 1 . Each slanted tray  6  has a series of guide plates  25 ,  26  and  27  and a circular cutout  28  for the telescoping cylinder  7 . As a spherical urn  21  is deposited on the slanted tray  6 , the urn  21  rolls down the slated tray  6  guided by the guide plates  25 ,  26  and  27  until the urn  21  reaches the bottom of the tray  6  or until it bumps into a prior deposited urn  21 . Although  FIG. 3  depicts the single tray  6  being able to hold twelve (12) urns  21 , it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that the tray could be designed to hold many more urns  21  by enlarging the tray  6  or as few as only one urn  21  by reducing the size of the tray  6 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 4  depicts a side view of the telescoping cylinder  7  with the circular top  12  and handle  13 . Attached to the circular top  12  in at least one location is a tab  28  for securing the telescoping cylinder  7  to the inner horizontal surface  10 . The sides of the telescoping cylinder  7  have openings  29  that correspond to each of the ramps  9  that allow the spherical urns  21  to exit the telescoping cylinder  7 . The bottom tabs  30  allows the telescoping cylinder  7  to be raised, lowered and rotated but prevents the telescoping cylinder  7  from being removed from the cylindrical tube  8  thereby preventing access to prior deposited urns  21 .  FIG. 5  is a cut-away side view of the telescoping cylinder  7  depicting the ramps  9  in the telescoping cylinder  7 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 6  is a top view of the columbarium lid  19  and  FIG. 7  is a cut away front end view of the columbarium lid  19 . The lid  19  has down turned edges  31  on all four sides to aid in preventing moisture and/or debris from entering the columbarium  1 . There is also a weatherproof seal (not shown) between the underside of the columbarium lid  19  and the top of the columbarium side walls  4  to prevent moisture and debris from entering the columbarium  1 . The doors  32  are hinged  33  at the outer edges of the doors  32 . There are door handles  34  to assist in opening the doors  32 . Underneath the doors  32  there is a holding box  35 . Fixed to the inside of the box  35  is a ring binder  36  like apparatus. Rotatably attached to the ring binder  36  are a series of plaques  37  to which the particulars of a deceased person (not shown) are inscribed or attached thereto. There is also a weatherproof seal (not shown) between the doors  32  and the holding box  35  to prevent moisture and/or debris from entering the box  35 . There are two keyed locking mechanisms  38  on the underside of the columbarium lid  19 , one facing forward and the other backward. The key holes (not shown) are protected from the weather and debris by covers  39  on the top side of the columbarium lid  19 . 
         [0031]    In an alternative embodiment of the invention depicted in  FIG. 8  as a side view of the columbarium  1 , each of the urns  21  are loaded onto a tray  6  that only has space for a single urn. Thus, the urns  21  and remains of the members of a given family or group can be placed vertically in designated spots created by the trays  6  thereby allowing members to choose whom they would like to be interned next to for all eternity. As depicted in  FIG. 9 , the top of the horizontal surface  10  has a substantially reduced foot print as compared to the columbarium  1  of  FIG. 2  thereby reducing the cemetery space required for the columbarium  1  for a given family or group. 
         [0032]    In another embodiment of the present invention as depicted in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , a side by side multi-familial columbarium  1  is depicted.  FIG. 10  depicts a top down view of the columbarium lid  19  containing two sets of doors  32 , one for each family and two familial names  40  and  41  inscribed or attached to the columbarium lid  19 . There are two (2) storage containers  11  and two (2) storage container lids  15 , one for each family. There is a single telescoping cylinder  7 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 11  depicts the cross sectional view of a multi-family columbarium wherein there are trays  6  on either side of the telescoping cylinder  7 , one set of trays  6  for each family. The telescoping cylinder  7  would be turned either clock-wise or counter clock-wise, depending upon the family, in order to position an urn  21  into a specific family&#39;s location in the columbarium. 
         [0034]    In other alternative embodiments, the columbarium lid  19  and/or the storage container lid  15  could be hinged on one side such that the lids  19  and  15  pivots open rather than being lifted off. In other embodiments, there are no doors  32 , handles  34 , hinges  33  or holding box  35  on the columbarium lid  19 , but rather a single plaque (not shown) mounted to the outer surface of the columbarium lid  19  to record the individuals&#39; particulars. It should be noted that the actual overall shape of the columbarium could take on numerous versions, such as cylindrical, rectangular, square, etc, while still embodying the scope and intent of the invention. In another embodiment, the telescoping cylinder top  12  is threaded into place on the cylindrical tube  8 . In another embodiment there is a removable table that is placed on top of the inner horizontal surface with sufficient space between the table and the lid to allow for non-rolling urns to be placed on the table for storage. 
         [0035]    For all of the embodiments of the aforementioned invention, at the time of internment for a deceased&#39;s ashes and urn  21 , the columbarium lid  19  has the lock covers  39  removed and the lid unlocked  38 . The columbarium lid  19  is then removed or lifted back. The telescoping cylinder  7  is then unsecured  14  from the inner horizontal surface  10  and lifted up to the desired position corresponding to one of the ramps  9  in the telescoping cylinder  7 . The ashes and urn  21  are then placed on the designated ramp  9  in the telescoping cylinder  7  and the telescoping cylinder  7  with ashes and urn  21  are lowered back to its bottom position. The telescoping cylinder  7  is then rotated to the “Intern” position so as to align the openings  29  in the telescoping cylinder  7  with the trays  6  in the columbarium  1 . By gravitation force, the spherical urn  21  then rolls onto the designated tray  6 . Any other mementoes can be similarly interned next to the deceased if desired. The telescoping cylinder  7  is then rotated back to its original position and secured to the inner horizontal surface  10 . The storage container  11  can then be unsecured  17  and opened for the placement of any DNA samples or other items. The storage container  11  can then be secured  17  to the inner horizontal surface  10 . The columbarium lid  19  is then placed back on top of the columbarium side walls  4  and the columbarium  1  secured. The lock covers  39  are then replaced. The doors  32  on the columbarium lid  19  can then be opened and the deceased&#39;s particulars engraved or secured to a plaque  37  attached to the ring binder  36  positioned underneath the doors  32 . The doors  32  are then closed and the internment ceremony completed.