Dispersal of cremated remains

Methods for preparing, transporting and dispersing cremated remains via balloon, and a container providing a clean environment for carrying out this method. Cremated remains are deposited into a balloon, the balloon is filled with gas, transported to a launching site and released. To provide an environment that assures substantially complete and safe transfer of the cremated remains to the balloon as well as to provide a sealed chamber for inflation and transport of the balloon, a special container having interior surfaces of vinyl or other barrier materials is used.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to methods and apparatuses for the dispersal 
of cremated remains. More particularly, the present invention is directed 
to methods for respectfully preparing, transporting, and releasing 
balloons having cremated remains contained therein, and apparatuses for 
effectively carrying out these methods. 
2. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
Final disposition of the deceased is one of the oldest institutions of 
nearly every civilization. The philosophical, religious, and/or 
socio-political implications of death have continuously led to highly 
structured belief systems centered on ritual and ceremony to properly and 
respectfully mark the passing of life. One concept which lies at the heart 
of many of these belief systems is the final journey to a better place. 
Whether or not literally enacted, as practiced by the Vikings who launched 
their dead in longboats, this concept provides innate comfort for those 
whose lives have been touched by the deceased. Another concept commonly 
expressed is the desire for a final resting place that reflects an 
appropriate environment which may be dear to the deceased. 
Currently, the usual practice of ceremonial burial, which may be preceded 
by cremation, seems to many to be inappropriate or insufficient for 
meeting these concepts. For example, cemeteries are both restrictive in 
their locations, and to some, a depressing and solemn resting place. 
Accordingly, the practice of cremation followed by scattering of cremated 
remains is often willed or otherwise desired. To carry out this practice 
often creates a burden in properly preparing, transporting, and 
disseminating the remains, which may lead to such desires being 
unfulfilled. This may be especially true when the deceased is a pet or 
other domesticated animal, for which proper and respectful final 
disposition is not normally provided for. 
Various methods and apparatuses for the transport and/or dissemination of 
cremated remains have been the subject of earlier patents. For example, 
U.S. Pat. No. 44,877,203, issued Oct. 31, 1989 to B. Harden describes 
airborne scattering of cremated remains. This patent also describes 
placing ashes in a sealed fabric container that may be opened at the 
desired location/altitude. To use this device, a moving aircraft must be 
used. U.S. Pat. No. 5,393,253, issued Feb. 28, 1995 to D. Humble et al. 
describes a wind driven transport device for cremated remains. This 
seaborne vessel does not provide for dissemination, but includes 
identification for return of the remains for subsequent interment. A 
burial/cremation case that may be used to transport a dead animal is 
described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,341,548, issued Aug. 30, 1994 to J. Zerick. 
Devices and methods for filling balloons have also been the subject of 
earlier patents. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,088,267, issued Feb. 18, 
1992 to A. Gee describes an apparatus for filling balloons, where various 
items are placed in an interior cavity. Another device for inflating 
balloons is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,121,595, issued Jun. 16, 1992. 
U.S. Pat. No. 5,295,891, issued Mar. 22, 1994 to A. Schalk describes a 
holding device for balloons which may include illumination means. 
Devices for filling bags or the like with granular material are described 
in UK Patent Specification 1,199,580, published Jul. 22, 1970, assigned to 
Fr. Hessr Maschinenfabrik Aktiengesellschaft; and UK Patent Application GB 
2,181,400 A, published Apr. 23, 1987, assigned to Corrugated Products 
Limited. None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or 
in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention provides a method for preparing, transporting and 
dispersing cremated remains via balloon, and an apparatus specifically 
suited for carrying out this method. The method includes the steps of: 
depositing the cremated remains into a balloon having dimensions 
preselected to contain sufficient quantity of gas to lift the quantity of 
remains to at least a preselected altitude and bursting substantially at 
that altitude from the decreased exterior air pressure; filling the 
balloon with at least the aforementioned quantity of gas; sealing the 
remains within the balloon; transporting the balloon to a preselected 
launch site; and releasing the balloon into the air. 
To provide an environment that assures substantially complete and safe 
transfer of the cremated remains to the balloon as well as to provide a 
sealed chamber for inflation and transport of the balloon, a special 
container is used. This container has interior surfaces made of or lined 
with barrier materials. The container includes an opening sized to allow 
an inflated balloon to be removed therefrom, which is sealed by one or 
more doors, also made or lined with barrier materials. The container 
further includes an influent gas tube with an outlet. Ports are provided 
in the container that allow an operator to insert their arms within the 
sealed container to manipulate the balloon during filling and/or tying 
operations. To maintain the seal around these ports, sleeves may be used 
to accommodate the users arms and hands. 
Should rupture or spillage occur, substantially all of the cremated remains 
within the container, and may be recovered. Pressure release valves may be 
provided to equalize pressure within the container, so long as they are 
provided with a device to capture cremated remains in the event of 
rupture. Control of the influent gas supply may be provided as an integral 
part of the container. 
Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a method 
for dispersing cremated remains in a satisfying respectful manner. 
It is another object of the invention to provide an apparatus which allows 
such a method to be carried out safely and efficiently. 
It is a further object of the invention to provide a method which is 
environmentally compatible. 
It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and 
arrangements thereof in an apparatus for the purposes described which is 
inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended 
purposes. 
These and other objects of the present invention will become readily 
apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
The present methods and apparatuses are carried out using biodegradable, 
environmentally safe balloons. These balloons are made from materials 
selected from natural latex rubbers, which have been shown to decompose at 
a rate at least as high as displayed by tree leaves, and which are 
substantially nontoxic to wildlife. To achieve this biodegradability, it 
is important that the balloons burst into small fragments, at a height at 
which brittle fracture of the latex occurs. 
For example, latex balloons filled to about 500% elongation, rise to about 
28,000 ft where the volume of the balloon increases to the point where the 
elastic limit of latex rubber is reached. Typical elongation at this 
elastic limit, or break point, may vary with the specific latex materials 
chosen, and the thickness of the balloon material, but these may be 
assessed by measuring the diameter of the balloon in its deflated state 
and at the point of rupture. 
Typically, elongation at rupture have been reported which vary from about 
600 to about 800 percent. The internal pressure and external pressure in a 
filled state and at rupture may also be measured to approximate the height 
at which such rupture would occur on release, since external air pressure 
is inversely proportional to altitude. Once determined, these parameters 
need not be recalculated for each balloon release for a given balloon. The 
physics of balloons and balloon releases are known in the art and have 
been disclosed in, for example, Burchette's paper "A Study of the Effect 
of Balloon Releases on the Environment," portions of which have been 
incorporated in the present disclosure. 
The size of balloons suitable for the present method will vary with the 
mass of cremated remains to be dispersed, and the gas chosen, but is 
preferably from about 0.5 meters for the cremated remains of small pets 
like birds, to about 2 meters in diameter for large animals and/or humans, 
when helium is used. Of course, larger balloons than necessary to lift the 
cremated remains to a rupture height may be used. Accordingly, balloons of 
from about 1 to 2 meters in diameter are most preferred. 
To practice the present method, the appropriate balloon in its deflated 
state and cremated remains are placed within a container which may be best 
seen in FIG. 1. This substantially cubical container 1 has five square 
walls defining the back 2, top 3, bottom 4, and sides 6 and 7. The side 
length of the container is chosen to be at least as large as the diameter 
of the biggest balloons for which the container is to be used. 
Accordingly, a plurality of container sizes may be provided, depending on 
the amount of cremated remains contemplated. These walls may be unitarily 
constructed or joined together. The interior surface defined by these 
walls are made of, or lined with, a barrier material, preferably a 
polymeric material such as vinyl or plexiglass. The one open side may be 
sealed through doors 8 and 9, which are also made of a barrier material. 
The doors are sized to snugly close the opening to provide an interior 
clean space protected from the outside environment. Preferably at least 
one of the walls or the doors is transparent. As seen in the figures, the 
doors are preferably transparent, and may be made of any clear barrier 
material, such as plexiglass. Ports 10 and 11 are provided into the 
interior space defined by the doors and the walls, each sized to 
accommodate an arm there through. Preferably, these ports are provided in 
one or more walls or doors which are transparent, so that manipulations 
may be clearly observed. Most preferably, the ports are provided one each 
in transparent doors, as shown, and positioned in the lower half of each 
door. A sleeve 12 or 13, having an open end and a closed end is attached 
to the periphery of each port such that each sleeve substantially seals 
the respective port. 
The container further includes an influent gas tube 14 with an outlet 15. 
An O-ring seal 16 may be used to insure clean conditions of the interior 
space. Gas flow is controlled through a inlet valve 17. One or more 
pressure release valves 18, may be positioned through one or more of the 
walls, to equalize pressure within the container. As best seen in FIG. 2, 
these valves have a trap 19 for capturing any cremated remains which would 
otherwise escape. 
In operation, the cremated remains may be weighed to determine the 
necessary gas volume to lift the remains to a predetermined altitude. The 
gas selected must of course be lighter than air, and is preferably 
hydrogen, or helium; most preferably helium. A balloon 20 is selected that 
will contain this volume, as well as just enough additional volume to 
accommodate expansion due to reduced external air pressure up to a 
preselected altitude. The balloon and remains are placed within the 
container, and the container is closed and sealed. An operator then 
inserts his or her arms through the ports, into sleeves 12 and 13 attached 
thereto. The operator then places the cremated remains 21 into the 
balloon, places the balloon on the outlet 15 of the influent gas tube, and 
fills the balloon, as shown in FIG. 2. By activating and controlling the 
inlet valve 17 the rate of filling may be controlled. Proper inflation may 
be easily determined when the balloon is seen to float inside the 
container. The balloon is then tied shut, which may be accomplished by 
knotting the open end of the balloon upon itself, or using a biodegradable 
string, strap, or like. 
The container with the filled balloon inside is then transported to a 
launch site, where the balloon is released. Should rupture or leaks occur 
at any point of the process prior to release, the remains are easily 
collected from within the container and placed in a new balloon, by 
repeating the present method. To assure that the process may be repeated 
spare balloons may be provided within the container, and a portable, gas 
source, such as a pressurized helium tank may be transported with the 
container. 
The balloon once launched will travel with the prevailing winds, and rise 
to the preselected altitude. There, the balloon will rupture, scattering 
the remains to the winds. If desired, or if the mass of cremated remains 
requires a greater lifting volume than can be provided by a single 
available balloon, the remains may be divided and placed in a multiplicity 
of balloons. Preferably, each balloon is prepared in separate containers, 
and transported therein to the launch site. 
It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the 
sole embodiment described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments 
within the scope of the following claims.