Abstract:
A vertical burial system is disclosed. The vertical burial system of the present invention comprises an outer, elongate chamber disposed substantially underground, and at least one burial capsule adapted to fit within the burial chamber. The burial chamber has a cover that is removable, so that as the need arises, additional burial capsules may be placed in the elongate burial chamber. The present invention thus simulates traditional burial, but conserves precious land by allowing multiple burials within the elongate burial chamber.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
         [0001]    Not Applicable  
         STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
         [0002]    Not Applicable.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Land use and development has become an increasingly important aspect of modern civilization. As more land is required for a variety of reasons, innovative methods of utilizing the remaining land become essential. One traditional use of land is for the burial of the dead. However, traditional methods of burial or interment do not effectively utilize land. Other methods, such as cremation, while conservative with respect to land allocation, are sometimes unacceptable to individuals or their surviving loved ones for religious or other personal reasons.  
           [0004]    Other solutions to the aforementioned land use problem have been suggested. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,381,591, issued to Ponger et al. on Jan. 17, 1995, discloses a multi-tier burial system comprising a plurality of precast elements, a first plurality of the elements being aligned to form a first tier defining a plurality of spaced-apart burial niches, and a second plurality of the elements being aligned to form a second tier supported by the first tier also defining a plurality of spaced-apart burial niches, the niches in the second tier being vertically staggered in relation to the niches in the first tier. This solution still requires a substantial area for burial, and situates distinct burial sites in a group of potentially unrelated individuals.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    In accordance with the present invention, a vertical burial system is disclosed. The vertical burial system of the present invention comprises an outer, elongate chamber disposed substantially underground, and at least one burial capsule adapted to fit within the burial chamber. The burial chamber has a cover that is removable, so that as the need arises, additional burial capsules may be placed in the elongate burial chamber. The present invention thus simulates traditional burial, but conserves precious land by allowing multiple burials within the elongate burial chamber. The burial system of the present invention is particularly well suited for grouping families or relatives within a discrete burial site. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]    The objects of the invention are achieved as set forth in the illustrative embodiments shown in the drawings which form a part of the specification.  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of an elongate burial chamber of the present invention;  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a burial capsule of the present invention;  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of ground prepared to receive an elongate burial chamber of the present invention;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of an elongate burial chamber of the present invention disposed in the ground with a single burial capsule;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of an elongate burial chamber of the present invention disposed in the ground with multiple burial capsules;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 6 is a side view of a burial capsule of the present invention;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a burial capsule of the present invention;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 8 is a front plan view of a burial capsule of the present invention;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 9 is top plan view of an array of burial chambers of the present invention; and  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of an array of burial chambers of the present invention. 
     
    
       [0017]    Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION  
       [0018]    Referring to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1, a vertical burial system of the present invention has an elongate, outer burial chamber  1  comprising an elongate chamber portion  3  and a cover  11 . The elongate chamber portion  3  is defined by an inner wall  5  and an outer wall  7 . The cap  11  has an upper end  13  and a lower end  15 . Near the top of the chamber portion  3 , internal threads  6  are adapted to receive the external threads  16  of the bottom end  15  of cap  11 . In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, an opening  19  extends from the upper end  13  through the lower end  15  of the cap  11 . A vent tube  21  is disposed toward the upper end  13  of the cap  11 , and preferably extends a distance above the upper end  13  of the cap  11 . In an especially preferred embodiment, a carbon filter  23  is situated within the vent tube  21 . The lower end  24  of the vent tube  21  extends a distance into the opening  19 , and preferably extends completely through the opening  19  and the lower end  15  of the cap  11 .  
         [0019]    Referring now to FIG. 2, a burial capsule of the present invention is generally shown at  30 . The length and width of the burial capsule  30  is determined by the remains of the deceased to be buried, so that the burial capsule may configured to hold the body of an adult, or a smaller version may be required to hold the body of a child. Preferably, the length of the burial capsule will be that length sufficient to hold a body in an extended, supine position. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the burial capsule  30  is formed as a clamshell, with an upper portion  33  and a lower portion  35 . In the closed position of burial capsule  30 , the upper portion  33  meets the lower portion  35  at seam  37 . In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a vent  39  allows gasses evolved during decomposition of a corpse to be released from the interior of the capsule  30 . In an especially preferred embodiment of the burial capsule  30 , the vent  39  allows gasses to escape without admitting gasses from the exterior of the capsule  30 . The burial capsule  30  may be fabricated in a number of colors, depending upon the wishes of the deceased or the family of the deceased.  
         [0020]    Referring now to FIG. 3, a prepared site for a burial system of the present invention is shown. The ground  43  may be prepared by digging, blasting, boring with an auger, or other effective means of creating an opening  45  in the ground  43 . The opening  45  should of course be sufficient to allow the outer surface  7  of the elongate chamber  3  to be placed within the opening&#39;s confines.  
         [0021]    Referring now to FIG. 4, a burial capsule  30  is shown inside the elongate chamber  3 . As gasses are evolved during decomposition of a corpse inside the burial capsule, those gasses escape through the vent  39  into the elongate chamber portion  3 , and finally into the atmosphere through the vent tube  21  in the cap  11 . A monument or headstone  48  may be installed at or near the burial system. Optionally, the monument  48  may partially obscure the vent  21 , and in this regard, the monument  48  may additionally be fabricated to accommodate a portion of the vent  21 , for further concealment, such as with, for example, a cavity (not shown) formed within monument  48  for partially concealing vent  21 .  
         [0022]    Referring to FIG. 5, a plurality of burial capsules  30 ,  50  and  53  are shown disposed inside the elongate chamber  3 . As can be seen from this illustrative embodiment, the lower end  24  of vent tube  21  is spaced a distance from the uppermost burial capsule  53 . It is to be understood that more than the illustrative number of burial capsules may be disposed in the elongate chamber  3  in the practice of the present invention, and that a corresponding adjustment to the length of elongate chamber  3  enables a larger or smaller number of burial capsules to be so disposed. Furthermore, the size of one or more burial capsules may be different within a single elongate chamber.  
         [0023]    Referring now to FIGS.  6 - 8 , and alternative embodiment of a burial capsule  60  is shown. Burial capsule  60  is preferably formed in two cooperating portions, and therefore has a top portion  63 , a bottom portion  65 , and a center seam  67 . Center seam  67  is the point of closure for the top portion  63  and the bottom portion  65 . Center seam may be hinged on one side, such that top the portion  63  and the bottom portion  65  are attached, or alternatively the top portion  63  and the bottom portion  65  may be separate pieces. Preferably, a vent  69  is disposed in either the top portion  63  or the bottom portion  65  of the burial capsule  60 . The vent  69  allows gasses evolved during decomposition of a corpse to be released from the interior of the capsule  60 . Of course, the burial capsule  60  may be formed without the vent  69 , and may be fabricated from a gas permeable material, or have holes incorporated for release of gasses. Furthermore, the burial capsule  60  may alternatively have no accommodation for evolved gasses, and may be sealed, for example.  
         [0024]    In this alternative embodiment of a burial capsule or the present invention, plurality of rings  71 ,  73 ,  75 , and  77  are formed in or near the center seam  67  of the burial capsule  60 . The rings  71 ,  73 ,  75 , and  77  provide convenient attachment points for raising or lowering the burial capsule  60  into an elongate chamber of the present invention. Additionally, the rings  71 ,  73 ,  75 , and  77  may be used for carrying the burial capsule  60  from a funeral home, for example, to the burial site. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the rings  71 ,  73 ,  75 , and  77  may be oriented either parallel to the plane defined by the longitudinal axis of the center seam  67  of the burial capsule  60 , or at an angle or transverse to the plane defined by the longitudinal axis of the center seam  67 . Alternatively, the rings may swivel, such that in one orientation, the rings are parallel to the plane defined by the longitudinal axis of the center seam  67  of the burial capsule  60 , for example, and movable into a position transverse to the plane defined by the longitudinal axis of the center seam  67 . In this embodiment, when the rings are placed in their parallel orientation, a rod (not shown) may be placed through the rings on each side of the burial capsule  60  for carrying the burial capsule  60  to a destination, for example to the elongate chamber. Once at the destination, one or all of the rings may then be moved into the transverse position, for receiving a hook, for example, for lowering the capsule  60  into an elongate burial chamber  3 .  
         [0025]    Referring now to FIGS. 9 and 10, a burial complex  80  comprises a plurality of interconnected burial systems  3 ,  83 ,  85 ,  87 ,  89 , and  91 . The burial systems  3 ,  83 ,  85 ,  87 ,  89 , and  91  are preferably interconnected by beams  82 ,  84 ,  86 ,  88 , and  90 , respectively. The beams  82 ,  84 ,  86 ,  88 , and  90  are preferably attached to respective burial systems  3 ,  83 ,  85 ,  87 ,  89 , and  91  at a point below the respective caps, for example. Preferably, a second set of beams,  92 ,  94 ,  96 ,  98 , and  100  interconnect burial systems  3 ,  83 ,  85 ,  87 ,  89  with burial system  91 . It is to be understood that any number of burial systems may be interconnected with corresponding beams, and the illustrative example of six burial systems is not intended to be limiting. Beams  82 ,  84 ,  86 ,  88 , and  90 , along with beams,  92 ,  94 ,  96 ,  98 , and  100  provide a strong, stable interconnection between burial systems  3 ,  83 ,  85 ,  87 ,  89 , and  91 . Alternatively, the beams may be pre-attached one to another, such that a frame is established. The frame may have round members at the remote ends of the beams, and the round members may have openings therein, for receiving respective elongate chambers.  
         [0026]    It is contemplated by the present invention that locations previously considered too inhospitable for traditional burial, such as areas with highly water saturated earth, for example may be used for burial utilizing the burial complex  80 . It is also contemplated by the present invention that one or more burial systems in the burial complex  80  may have weights or other anchoring devices for stabilizing the burial complex  80  in such environments.  
         [0027]    Numerous variations will occur to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing disclosure. For example, a traditional coffin may be temporarily used to carry a burial capsule from a funeral facility to a burial facility. The elongate burial chamber may be made from a variety of materials. The elongate burial chamber may be made in a shape other that the illustrative generally cylindrical form. The cap of the elongate burial chamber may optionally omit a vent, and the elongate burial chamber may be made of a gas permeable material, have holes, or make no provision at all for gasses evolved during the decomposition of a corpse disposed therein. The burial capsule may also be fabricated from a variety of materials. These are merely illustrative.