Vault

A burial vault having a base of rather planar configuration, a dome like portion extending thereabove, and capable of securing with the base by means of a seat provided around the periphery of the said base that accommodates the lower continuous edge of the said dome portion; the base is provided with a pair of recesses that provide clearance for the location of the straps or other instrumentality as used during the handling and descent of the burial vault, with the dome portion of the vault having internal reinforcement, either in the form of integral ribs, or embedded rods, or a combination of each, so as to rigidify the dome and enhance its load supporting strength during usage.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates generally to a burial vault, but more specifically 
pertains to a dome configured base supported vault that is reinforced for 
providing enhanced load supporting strength during usage. 
A variety of burial vaults have been provided in the prior art, and the 
most widespread vault is of the concrete type that is designed for holding 
a casket, generally for preserving the same, as when used in the 
undertaking art. The continued usage of such a vault, this day and age, is 
believed to be a product of mere tradition, since such vaults are most 
often constructed of heavy cast concrete, have enormous weight, are 
pervious to some moisture penetration, and in general, are highly 
expensive in cost and handling. But, the concept of constructing vaults of 
other materials is slowly being approached, and as can be seen in the 
United States patent to McQuestion, U.S. Pat. No. Re. 29,114, there is 
shown one design for a burial vault being formed from a fiberglass resin 
composition. While the concept of the resin vault as shown in this prior 
patent provides what would appear to be an improvement over the prior art 
style of vault, the one concern with its structure is the fact that it is 
formed having the same configuration as the earlier style vaults, and 
therefore, is difficult to handle due to the much lesser rigidity inherent 
in any such vault constructed of a resinous material that yet must 
accommodate other significant weight, such as the cadaver and its 
enclosing casket. 
The current invention is designed as a two piece burial vault of a special 
configuration that is designed to enhance its load supporting 
characteristics, and at the same time greatly facilitate its handling over 
what is presented in the prior art. It is, therefore, the principal object 
of this invention to provide a burial vault that is formed of a dome 
configuration and constructed of molded thermosetting polymer sufficiently 
reinforced to enhance its strength not only during usage, but in 
supporting a supplemental load, such as the heavy earth, when embedded 
within the soil. 
A further object of this invention is to provide a polymer formed burial 
vault constructed of only two components, namely, a substantially planar 
base upon which a domed portion seats. 
A further object of this invention is to provide a dome shaped burial 
casket that is fully reinforced with a combination of integral ribs and/or 
reinforcement rods or bars that are arranged transversely or even 
longitudinally of the dome portion in order to enhance its structural 
strength. 
A further object of this invention is to provide a dome configured burial 
vault constructed of a reinforced polymer and therefore being of much 
lesser weight than any of the prior art style of marketed burial vaults. 
Another object of this invention is to provide a burial vault that may be 
injection molded in a minimum of time thereby lending itself very well to 
mass production. 
A further object of this invention is to provide a burial vault that is 
configured having tapered contours that enhances the stackability of the 
vault components thereby requiring only a minimum of space during shipment 
and storage. 
These and other objects will become more apparent to those skilled in the 
art upon reviewing the summary of this invention, and upon undertaking a 
study of its preferred embodiment in view of the drawings. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
This invention contemplates the formation of a burial vault by the 
injection molding process from any of the available variety of preferably 
thermosetting polymer materials. The invention comprises an exterior form 
of a burial vault which can readily accommodate the standard casket, and 
greatly facilitates the entrance of the casket into its final confines 
because the base of the vault is designed having a rather planar 
configuration, without walls, and therefore the casket need only be set 
upon the base, as when it has been erected over the site of its eventual 
embedment within the ground. The base is intended to have set upon it a 
dome like portion, also injection molded from a polymeric material, which 
setting can be easily performed by one or a couple of workmen due to its 
lightness of weight because of its construction of this type of material. 
The burial vault of this invention is intended to replace the presently 
available concrete, steel, or wood type of vaults now in vogue, as have 
been used for years, and in doing so provide a vault which is exceedingly 
light in weight, virtually indestructable, will not decay, and in addition 
may remain substantially air tight, if desirable, and perfectly 
waterproof. The vault is generally formed, as previously explained, from a 
polymer, preferably a molded thermosetting, or even thermoplastic 
material, such as a polyethylene, or perhaps polypropylene, polystyrene, 
polyurethane, or any similar type of plastic as generally used in the 
injection molding art. The weight of the unit will be in the vicinity of 
only 100 to 120 pounds, which presents a significant weight reduction over 
the type of concrete vaults presently being used in the mortuary trade. In 
addition, the burial vault of this invention, when constructed, as for 
example, from polyethylene, and to the specifications of this design, is 
sufficiently rigid to withstand high surface pressures, mainly due to the 
inherent and integrally formed ribs provided within the dome portion of 
the vault, and as yet further reinforced through the usage of rods or 
bars, such as of noncorroding aluminum, that may be embedded within the 
dome portion of the vault during its injection molding, or even 
subsequently applied by means of an adhesive, or other means of fastening, 
to the interior surface of the dome during its fabrication. Through 
analysis, the burial vault of this invention has been designed to 
withstand a soil density of eighty pounds per cubic foot, and to withstand 
an impact force of over 5000 pounds, as for example when a vehicle of some 
sort may be driven on ground over the grave site. In addition, the burial 
vault of this invention is further reinforced to the extent that four such 
vaults may be arranged vertically upon one another within the grave site, 
which is a means for burial becoming more desirable this day due to the 
lack of ground sites available for cemetery usage especially near the 
urban areas. 
The burial vault of this invention is further designed to facilitate and 
make more easily its manual handling, thereby reducing the number of 
laborers required at the grave site, and thereby significantly reduces the 
cost of a burial, which as is well known can be of rather significant 
costs. For example, the planar base portion of this burial vault contains 
at least a pair of recesses formed along its bottom surface, generally 
transverse of the same, so that the straps usually employed for lowering 
the casket and its vault within the grave can be readily removed after the 
vault comes to rest upon the bottom of the dug site. Furthermore, and if 
desirable, knock out plugs are provided within the domed portion of the 
vault as when it may be desirable to allow the admittance of air into the 
vault just prior to its covering with earth. In addition, and where it may 
be desirable to maintain a sealed closure for the vault, the knock out 
plugs can be allowed to remain in tact, and a sealing gasket may be 
provided around the seat formed of the periphery of the base of the vault, 
so that when the continuous lower edge of the dome portion is brought into 
engagement within the base seat, there may be provided a sealed and 
adhering engagement between these two components.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
In referring to the drawings, and more particularly FIG. 1, there is 
disclosed the vault 1 of this invention, comprising a base 2, designed for 
seating its domed portion 3 thereupon. The domed portion has an upper or 
top wall 4 which is integrally molded with the downwardly depending end 
and side walls 5 and 6, respectively. Also further integrally molded into 
these walls are the inwardly extending notches as at 7, and which are 
provided for facilitating a grasping and carrying of at least the dome 
portion 4 of the vault. 
As can also be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the burial vault, and more 
specifically its base 2, is of a rather planar configuration, and 
therefore facilitates its arrangement for support of the coffin as during 
the funeral ceremonies sometimes conducted at graveside. But, the base is 
provided with a seat, as at 8, entirely around its periphery, and as can 
further be seen in FIG. 6, the seat is formed of concentric lips 9 and 10 
that project slightly upwardly, leaving a space, as at 11, therebetween, 
and which provides the seat in which the lower edge, as at 12, of the 
walls 5 and 6 of the dome portion 3 may insert during a final closure of 
the vault, as when it is prepared for lowering into the grave. 
It may further be noted that the seat 8 of the base may also, if desired, 
although not necessarily, have a sealing gasket, such as of an epoxy or 
other adhesive, located therein, before the lower edge 12 of the dome 
portion is inserted therein, so as to provide a complete and hermetic seal 
of the vault for usage. On the other hand, it may not be desirable, under 
many circumstances, to completely seal the vault, and therefore, no such 
sealing gasket 13 may be located within the seat, and in addition, knock 
out plugs, as at 14 and 15, may be punched from their location within the 
molded dome and thereby provide apertures through which atmosphere may 
permeate into the vault, before it is buried. Also, knock out plugs 21 may 
be furnished in the walls 5, and similar plugs 22 may be provided through 
the base 2, for the same utilitarian purpose. 
As can also be seen from FIG. 4, the entire vault may have a rather 
rectangular configuration, and is generally designed to that size 
sufficient to accommodate the insertion and retention of a casket therein. 
Obviously, other shapes may be provided for the vault other than that as 
specifically shown in FIG. 4, which is set forth for illustrative 
purposes. And, as can further be seen clearly in FIG. 5, the seat 8 is 
formed of the inner and outer concentric lips 9 and 10, respectively, 
fully surrounding the entire periphery of the base 2 of the vault. 
It can also be noted with respect to the base, as in FIG. 2, that a pair of 
recesses 16 and 17 are formed into the underside of the base 2, extend the 
full transverse width of the same, and thereby provide a location where 
the straps for lowering of the vault into the grave may be positioned, 
with the depth of each recess desirably being slightly greater than the 
thickness of a strap, so that when the vault is lowered into position 
within the grave, there will be sufficient clearance for the straps to be 
pulled free from under the base thereby leaving just the vault properly 
positioned for burial. 
Of further significance in this invention is the properly positioned 
reinforcement provided specifically for the dome portion of the burial 
vault. As can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, a series of transversely arranged 
integral ribs 18 are provided across the interior of the top wall 4 of the 
dome, and in addition, these reinforcing ribs extend downwardly also upon 
the interior surface of the side walls 6 of the vault. Such reinforcement 
is intend to enhance the load capacity of particularly the dome portion of 
the vault, and these ribs, in the preferred design, are spaced 
approximately 6 inches, more or less, apart. And, these ribs are generally 
two inches in depth, and approximately 5/8 inch in thickness, in the 
preferred design. But, to enhance the load supporting characteristics of 
the portion 3, the ribs 18, at the upper locations, as at 20, may be 
greater in depth in order to further reinforce the said portion at this 
location. Obviously, other dimensions for these ribs may be designed into 
the structure of this invention in order to enhance, or lessen, the load 
supporting strength of the vault, and more specifically of its dome 
portion. To further supplement and enhance the load support of this vault, 
reinforcing rods, as at 19, may be provided also upon the interior surface 
of the side walls and top wall of the dome, and either be surface mounted, 
or embedded therein during the injection molding process and within 
proximity of the interior surface of the said dome portion 3. And, these 
reinforcing rods or bars 19 are spaced approximately equally distant 
between adjacent ribs 18, and therefore further enhance the strength 
withstanding abilities of the burial vault. In the preferred embodiment, 
these reinforcing means, namely, the ribs 18, and the bars 19, have been 
designed to those sizes and spacing within the structure to accommodate a 
soil density of approximately 80 pounds per cubic foot, as aforesaid, to 
withstand an impacting load, such as exerted by a vehicle, in the vicinity 
of a point load of 4500 pounds, and to withstand a live load in the 
vicinity of 9000 pounds, all which translates into a total load, both of 
soil weight and impacting forces, in the range of 630 pounds per square 
foot. This is the design provided for the preferred embodiment, although 
obviously, the reinforcing members of this invention may be varied, so as 
to further enhance, or lessen, as previously stated, the load supporting 
strength of the vault. 
It can further be seen from FIGS. 2 and 3 that the end walls 5 and the side 
wall 6 of the dome are slightly tapered downwardly, and in this manner, 
facilitates the convenience of the injection molding process in forming 
the dome 3 as a one piece item, but at the same time, and due to this 
tapering feature, a plurality of these domes may be nested together to 
minimize space requirements when they are either transported or stored, as 
before usage. In addition, since the base 2 of the vault is of a planar 
configuration, they may be simply stacked one upon the other for the 
convenience of storage or transit. 
Variations in the design of this invention may occur to those skilled in 
the art upon reviewing the subject matter of this invention. Any such 
modifications, if within the spirit of this invention, are intended to be 
encompassed by any claims issuing upon this invention in any patent. The 
preferred embodiment, as previously explained, is set forth for 
illustrative purposes only.