Abstract:
A small urn, referred to as a “pocket urn” is disclosed. The pocket urn serves as a keepsake for the survivors of a loved one. Ashes, or other material from the deceased, such as hair, are stored in the pocket urn. The pocket urn is then able to be carried in a purse, suitcase, or pocket, allowing a user to hold the pocket urn in their hand whenever they feel the need to. By holding the pocket urn, the user can make a psychological connection to their loved one which may provide comfort to the user while going through the grieving process.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to storing cremated remains, more specifically to storing cremated remains in a portable manner. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The trends of funeral practices are showing a growing acceptance of cremation. Someone who loses a loved one, such as a child, parent, close friend, or a pet, often needs to memorialize the strong emotional bond resulting from love or friendship. A common practice is to store cremation remains in a decorative urn. Often, this urn is located in the home of a surviving loved one. The urn may be displayed on a mantle or shelf, for example. 
         [0003]    While these urns provide a way to remember person or pet while at home, the effect is often not sufficient for those who feel a desire to have a connection with their departed loved ones. Therefore, what is needed is an improved means for storing cremation remains, in accordance with the psychological need of humans to mourn. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention provides a small urn, referred to as a “pocket urn.” The pocket urn serves as a keepsake for the survivors of a loved one. Ashes, or other material from the deceased, such as hair, are stored in the pocket urn. The pocket urn is then able to be carried in a purse, suitcase, or pocket, allowing a user to hold the pocket urn in their hand whenever they feel the need to. By holding the pocket urn, they can make a psychological connection to their loved one which may comfort the user while going through the grieving process. 
         [0005]    In one aspect of the invention, the invention provides an urn comprising: 
         [0006]    a body composed of an exotic hard wood; 
         [0007]    an upper cavity formed within the body; 
         [0008]    a lower cavity formed directly below the upper cavity, and having a smaller diameter than the upper cavity; and 
         [0009]    a plug composed of an exotic hard wood, and having a diameter larger than the diameter of the lower cavity, whereby the plug fits securely within the upper cavity, thereby securing contents stored within the lower cavity. 
         [0010]    In another aspect of the invention, the body and plug are made of Blackwood African wood. 
         [0011]    In another aspect of the invention, the body and plug are made of Red Mallee wood. 
         [0012]    In another aspect of the invention, the body and plug are made of Coolabah wood. 
         [0013]    In another aspect of the invention, the body is made of burl wood. 
         [0014]    In another aspect of the invention, the invention provides a method for making an urn comprising the steps of: 
         [0015]    forming a body from a piece of exotic hard wood; 
         [0016]    sanding the body with coarse sandpaper; 
         [0017]    sanding the body with sandpaper with a CAMI standard grit range of 400 to 600; 
         [0018]    sanding the body with a cushioned abrasive cloth having an equivalent CAMI grit range of 1,800 to 12,000; 
         [0019]    applying a blend of clear lacquer and lacquer thinner to the outer surface of the body; forming an upper cavity and a lower cavity within the body; and 
         [0020]    forming a plug, whereby the upper cavity has a larger diameter than the lower cavity, and the plug has a larger diameter than the lower cavity, and a smaller diameter than the upper cavity. 
         [0021]    In another aspect of the invention, the invention provides a method for making an urn comprising the steps of: 
         [0022]    inserting the urn plug into the upper cavity of the body in a desired orientation; sanding the top portion of the body with a CAMI standard grit range of 400 to 600; 
         [0023]    sanding the top portion of the body with a cushioned abrasive cloth having an equivalent CAMI grit range of 1,800 to 12,000; 
         [0024]    applying a blend of clear lacquer and lacquer thinner to the top portion of the outer surface of the body; 
         [0025]    identifying the desired orientation of the urn plug by placing a first removable indication on the urn plug and a second removable indication on the body, thereby indicating the desired orientation. 
         [0026]    removing the urn plug from the body 
         [0027]    inserting a bottom plug into the lower cavity, whereby the bottom plug is approximately flush with the outer surface of the bottom portion of the body. 
         [0028]    sanding the bottom portion of the body with a CAMI standard grit range of 400 to 600; 
         [0029]    sanding the bottom portion of the body with a cushioned abrasive cloth having an equivalent CAMI grit range of 1,800 to 12,000; and 
         [0030]    applying a blend of clear lacquer and lacquer thinner to the bottom portion of the outer surface of the body. 
         [0031]    In another aspect of the invention, the blend of clear lacquer and lacquer thinner that is applied to the body is approximately 50% clear lacquer, and approximately 50% lacquer thinner. 
         [0032]    In another aspect of the invention, the clear lacquer is a cellulous-based lacquer. 
         [0033]    In another aspect of the invention, the invention provides a carrying bag for carrying the pocket urn. This carrying bag comprises an outer layer and an inner layer. The inner layer is comprised of a cushioned abrasive, whereby the cushioned abrasive forms a lining that lines the interior of the carrying bag. 
         [0034]    In another aspect of the invention, the outer layer of the carrying bag is cloth. 
         [0035]    In another aspect of the invention, the outer layer of the carrying bag is leather. 
         [0036]    In another aspect of the invention, the outer layer of the carrying bag is vinyl. 
         [0037]    In another aspect of the invention, the outer layer of the carrying bag is plastic. 
         [0038]    In another aspect of the invention, the cushioned abrasive used for the inner layer of the carrying bag has an equivalent CAMI grit range of 1,800 to 12,000. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0039]      FIG. 1  shows a top view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0040]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing the underside of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0041]      FIG. 3  shows a side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0042]      FIG. 4  shows a cross section view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0043]      FIG. 5  shows a cross section view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , after sealing the urn with a plug. 
           [0044]      FIG. 6  shows a preferred method of storing the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0045]      FIGS. 7A-7I  show steps for making an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0046]      FIGS. 1-5  show various views of the pocket urn  100  of the present invention. The pocket urn  100  comprises a body  102 , and plug  104 . The body  102  preferably has a rounded underside as shown in  FIG. 2 . As viewed from the side in  FIG. 3 , it can be seen that the pocket urn has a generally elliptical, or “saucer shaped” side profile. Urn body  102  is preferably a round, circular body, for convenience of holding or carrying.  FIG. 4  shows the cross section of pocket urn  100 . Within pocket urn  100  is a cavity comprised of an upper urn cavity  106 , and a lower urn cavity  108 . The lower urn cavity  108  is located directly below upper urn cavity  106 .  FIG. 5  shows a cross section view of the urn with urn plug  104  installed. In this case, urn plug  104  fits within the upper urn cavity  106 , whereas the lower urn cavity  108  is not occupied by the urn plug  104 . This allows lower urn cavity  108  to store cremation remains, hair, or any other suitable material that can be used to remember a deceased loved one. 
         [0047]    Making the Pocket Urn 
         [0048]    The method of making the pocket urn will now be described in more detail. In a preferred embodiment, an exotic hard wood is used. More specifically, burl wood is preferred. The burl is the result of an unusual growth on any tree characterized by swirling grain patterns, resulting in a very beautiful wood product when finished. In particular, exotic hard woods such as Blackwood African, Coolabah, and Red Mallee yield excellent results. These woods feel heavy in the hand, and the weight of the product has an impact on the consumer&#39;s impression with regards to the quality of the pocket urn. If the item is too light, it could leave the impression that it is not worthy of holding the contents that are priceless to its owner. Therefore, heavy woods are best for making the pocket urn. These woods are very durable and will stand up to the stresses that are typically subject to a portable device that is carried in a pocket or purse. While the size of the pocket urn can vary, typically it is less than  3  inches in diameter. Therefore, it is often feasible to make the pocket urn from a piece of scrap wood, using standard woodworking techniques to form the body from a discarded piece of exotic hard wood. 
         [0049]    The sandpaper grit values specified in this disclosure are based on the CAMI (Coated Abrasive Manufacturers Institute) standard. This standard establishes the average grit size, as well as the allowable variation from the average. For example, sandpaper with a CAMI grit of 600 has an average particle size of  16  micrometers in diameter. 
         [0050]    An extensive sanding process is used in the making of a pocket urn. Sanding starts with coarse grit sandpaper. Following conventional woodworking steps, increasingly finer sandpapers are used until are followed up to a finer grit sandpaper, such as 400 to 600 grit sandpaper. Once the 400-600 grit sandpaper reveals no scratches, a special-purpose sanding cloth is utilized. This special-purpose sanding cloth is in the 1,800 to 12,000 equivalent grit ranges. 
         [0051]    The special-purpose sanding cloth used in the method of the present invention is what is known as a cushioned abrasive. A cushioned abrasive is a cloth backed material with a resilient layer upon which a layer of abrasive crystals are affixed. 
         [0052]    What is unique about cushioned abrasives is that they do not give any random deep scratches. Instead, they produce an extremely uniform scratch pattern over the entire work surface. When contact pressure is applied, the crystals recede and rotate slightly to present their sharp edges evenly across the surface. Due to the mechanisms involved with a cushioned abrasive, a much larger crystal can be used to achieve a very fine uniform scratch pattern. Therefore, an equivalent grit range is used to describe the performance characteristics of these cushioned abrasives. One suitable cushioned abrasive is MICRO-MESH, manufactured by Micro-Surface, of Wilton, Iowa, USA. The pocket urn is sanded with an increasingly finer grit of special-purpose cushioned abrasive cloth, until an equivalent grit of 12,000 is used. 
         [0053]    Once the sanding process is complete, the pocket urn is finished using a blend of 50% lacquer thinner, and 50% clear lacquer. Preferably, the clear lacquer is a cellulous-based lacquer. In a preferred embodiment, the lacquer used is Deft Clear Wood Finish, manufactured by Deft Incorporated, of Irvine, Calif., USA. The mixture of thinner and lacquer is important to provide protection for the wood, while at the same time having a surface that does not feel sticky or tacky when touched. 
         [0054]    Once finished, the cavity is formed using a step drill bit. The step drill bit forms a cavity with a smaller diameter lower portion ( 106 ,  FIG. 4 ), and a larger diameter upper portion ( 108 ,  FIG. 4 ). An urn plug ( 104 ,  FIG. 1 ) is cut from similar material that has already been sanded and finished using the aforementioned process. This provides a convenient way to create a plug that will have a reasonable match to the finish of the pocket urn. 
         [0055]    Using the Pocket Urn 
         [0056]    Remains, such as ashes or hair are placed in the lower urn cavity ( 108 ,  FIG. 4 ), and a thin layer of wood glue is then applied to urn plug  104 , which is then inserted into upper urn cavity  106 . The remains are secured firmly within the pocket urn lower cavity  108  once the glue sets. Note that while the examples used in this disclosure are primarily for a deceased person or pet, the pocket urn also has applications for storing material, such as hair from living persons. For example, if a person had a loved one such as a son or brother leaving for an extended period of time, the pocket urn could be used to store some hair from that person, to provide comfort to the user as necessary. 
         [0057]    Storing the Pocket Urn 
         [0058]      FIG. 6  shows a carrying bag  200  that may optionally be used to carry pocket urn  100  in a purse or pocket. Carrying bag  200  serves to protect pocket urn  100  from scratches. Carrying bag  200  has opening  202  on one end/ Carrying bag  200  is comprised of an outer layer and an inner layer. The outer layer may be any suitable material such as cloth, leather, vinyl, or plastic. The inner layer, which lines the interior of carrying bag  200 , provides a high grit equivalent cushioned abrasive  204 . This cushioned abrasive  204  serves to continuously polish the pocket urn  100  as it is moved within the carrying bag  200 . Consider the case where the pocket urn  100  is placed in carrying bag  200  which is then placed in a purse. As the user of the purse moves contents in and out during daily usage, the carrying bag  200  will be jostled around within the purse. This jostling motion moves the pocket urn  100  against the inner surface of carrying bag  200 , which is comprised of cushioned abrasive  204 . The result is that the pocket urn  100  is continuously in contact with, and being moved against, the cushioned abrasive  204 . This series of movements serves to continuously polish pocket urn  100 . Carrying bag  200  optionally has drawstring  208 . When the drawstring  208  is pulled, it closes opening  202 , preventing the pocket urn  100  from inadvertently coming out of the carrying bag  200 . 
         [0059]    Making an Alternative Embodiment 
         [0060]      FIGS. 7A-7I  show steps for making an alternative embodiment of the present invention. The final product is an urn  700  ( FIG. 7I ) similar to urn  100  shown in  FIG. 1 . However, the embodiment about to be disclosed as the advantage of improved matching of finish between the plug and body, as will be described in detail in the upcoming paragraphs. 
         [0061]      FIG. 7A  shows the starting point for making an urn of the present invention as a wood block  500 . The block of wood is cut using a tool, such as a lathe, to create a desired urn shape. 
         [0062]      FIG. 7B  shows an urn body  504  formed within wood block  500  after being cut by a tool. A cut is then made along line  508  to separate the urn body  504  from the wood block  500 . 
         [0063]    The urn body is then sanded and finished in accordance with the methods described previously. 
         [0064]      FIG. 7C  shows an urn body  702 , similar to urn body  504  after sanding and finishing. The next step in the process is to form a small opening  708  that will ultimately form the lower cavity of the urn. As is indicated in  FIG. 7C , small opening  708  traverses urn body  702  from top to bottom. 
         [0065]      FIG. 7D  shows a subsequent step in making an urn of the present invention. In this step, an upper cavity, or large opening  706  is formed in the top of urn body  702 . The large opening  706  extends from the top of urn body  702  to a depth H 1 , and does not extend all the way to the bottom of the urn as is the case with small opening  708 . In one exemplary embodiment, the small opening has a diameter D 2  of approximately 0.125 inches, and the large opening has a diameter D 1  of approximately 0.375 inches, with depth d being approximately 0.125 inches. Other dimensions may be used without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
         [0066]      FIG. 7E  shows a subsequent step in making an urn of the present invention. In this step, urn plug  704  is tapped into the large opening  706 . Urn plug  704  is preferably cylindrical, and has a diameter approximately the same size as diameter D 1  ( FIG. 7D ) such that it fits snuggly into large opening  706 . Urn plug  704  has a height that is approximately the same as depth H 1 . The travel of urn plug  704  is limited to depth H 1 , since urn plug  704  has a diameter larger than diameter D 2  of small opening  708 . 
         [0067]      FIG. 7F  shows a top view of urn plug  704  inserted into urn body  702 . It is desirable that urn plug  704  is cut from the same stock (e.g. the same batch or piece of wood) of wood as urn body  702 , so that the urn plug  704  blends in with the urn body  702 . When inserting urn plug  704  into urn body  702 , it is desirable to align the direction of the grain pattern (not shown) of urn plug  704  and urn body  702 . Once the urn plug  704  is inserted into urn body  702  and oriented in the desired position such that the grain of urn plug  704  and urn body  702  is aligned, the top side of urn body  702  is sanded and finished in accordance with the methods described previously. The urn plug  704  and urn body  702  are then each marked with a removable indication  720 A and  720 B respectively. This indication will help the user identify the desired orientation of the urn plug  704  when sealing the urn in an upcoming step. There are various means for making removable indications  720 A and  720 B, such as a light pencil mark, grease pencil, or stickers, to name a few. Any method will work, so long as the mark can be removed easily, and without damage to the finish of the urn plug  704  and urn body  702 . 
         [0068]      FIG. 7G  shows a subsequent step in making an urn of the present invention. In this step, urn plug  704  is removed from urn body  702 . Imaginary line E is shown, which circumscribes the urn body  702 , dividing the urn body  702  into a top portion  702 T, and a bottom portion  702 B. At this step, the top portion  702 T of urn body  702  is sanded and finished, but bottom portion  702 B of urn body  702  has not yet had its final sanding and finishing. A rod  724  is inserted into small opening  708  from the bottom side ( 702 B) of urn body  702  and is pushed against urn plug  704  to remove urn plug  704  from the urn body  702 . 
         [0069]      FIGS. 7G-2  shows a subsequent step in making an urn of the present invention. In this step, urn plug  704  is secured via plug holder  741 . Plug holder  741  comprises flange  742 , and cavity  747  which securely receives urn plug  704 . Flange  742  is preferably made of a high quality plywood. Flange  742  preferably has identification label  745  attached thereto. The plug holder  741  serves two purposes. Wood can change shape slightly when a new surface is exposed via sanding. By placing urn plug  704  into cavity  747 , the shape of urn plug  704  is preserved as substantially circular, and the “ovaling” that normally occurs with a cut or sanded circular piece of wood is prevented. The identification label  745  is used to identify urn plug  704 , and ensure that the urn plug  704  is shipped to the customer with the corresponding urn from which urn plug  704  was cut. In a preferred embodiment, the flange  742  is about the same thickness as urn plug  704 . The urn plug can therefore be easily removed from plug holder  741  when it is desired to permanently seal the contents of the urn  700 . 
         [0070]      FIG. 7H  shows a subsequent step in making an urn of the present invention. In this step, a bottom plug  728  is inserted into small opening  708  and glued into place such that it is flush with the bottom surface of urn body  702 . The bottom plug  728  is preferably cylindrical, and has diameter approximately the same as diameter D 2  ( FIG. 7D ) of small opening  708 . Bottom plug  728  has height H 2 , which is less than the distance H 3  from the bottom surface of urn body  702  to the bottom of large opening  706 . The difference between H 3  and H 2  forms the storage cavity  732  ( FIG. 71 ) of the urn when assembly is complete. The bottom portion  702 B ( FIG. 7G ) is then sanded and finished to completion. At this point, the urn  700  is complete and ready for use. In general use, the urn is shipped to a user (e.g. a funeral home) as shown in  FIG. 7H , with the urn plug  704  ( FIG. 7G ) removed. The user inserts keepsake material (e.g. ashes from a cremation) into the urn, and seals it. 
         [0071]      FIGS. 7H-2  shows a subsequent step in making an urn of the present invention. In this step, a temporary plug  753  is placed in the urn  700 . This would typically be done prior to shipping the urn  700  to a customer. The temporary plug  753  is considerably longer than the depth H 1  ( FIG. 7E ). This temporary plug  753  serves to preserve the shape of large opening  706  while the urn plug  704  is not in place. In one embodiment of the present invention, a kit is supplied to the customer. The kit comprises an urn  700  that is shipped to the customer with the temporary plug  753  in place as shown in  FIGS. 7H-2 . The kit also comprises the corresponding urn plug  704 , which is placed in plug holder  741  and shipped along with urn  700 . Upon receipt, the customer can than remove the temporary plug  753 , insert desired contents into the urn (as shown in  FIG. 71  that follows), and remove the urn plug  704  from the plug holder  741 , and use it to plug the urn  700 . 
         [0072]      FIG. 7I  shows the final step of sealing keepsake material  736  into storage cavity  732  of urn  700 . Urn plug  704  is then preferably glued into place with the alignment indicated by indications  720 A and  720 B ( FIG. 7F ). Indications  720 A and  720 B are then removed. The result is an urn with an urn plug  704  that blends in very well with the surrounding urn body  702 , since the urn plug  704  was cut from similar stock as urn body  702 , and both urn plug  704  and urn body  702  were sanded and finished at the same time, providing for improved consistency in the finish. 
         [0073]    As can be seen from the aforementioned description and drawings, the present invention provides a convenient apparatus for portably carrying cremation remains, referred to as a pocket urn. The present invention also provides a method for making the pocket urn. Finally, the present invention provides a means for storing the pocket urn, with a specially designed carrying bag. 
         [0074]    Although the present invention has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments, it will be evident that various modifications and changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.