Abstract:
A collapsible cremation casket is formed of cardboard and has the appearance of a typical wood or plastic casket. The casket is assembled by folding along pre-scored lines to form a two-piece domed lid having a plurality of slots on the bottom and a set of slots in the back edge. The slots engage a plurality of tabs extending upward from the top of the back wall of the tray. Tabs within the slots on the back wall of the lid and the slope of the back wall of the tray provide support for the lid to stand in an upright position. When the tray is covered with the lid, the tabs engage the slots in the bottom wall of the lid, thereby securely holding the lid in place. During a ceremony, one lid section may be closed position and the second lid section is upright, thereby giving the appearance of a standard two-part casket lid.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to caskets. More particularly, it relates to an environmentally-friendly, collapsible cremation casket suitable for viewing during a funeral service. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   As population increases and land becomes more valuable, cremation has become more popular in the United States and around the world. For environmental reasons, it is preferred to use only materials that are fully combustible and non-toxic when cremating a body. For this purpose, cardboard containers have been created. The current cardboard containers are configured similar to a standard cardboard box. However, if a funeral service is held, the appearance of the container holding the body is important. For most people, the current cardboard container designs are insufficient in appearance for a service. Therefore, the cardboard containers are typically only used when a funeral service will not be held. 
   Another alternative is to use a rental casket for the funeral service and use a disposable insert that is taken out with the body and cremated. However, rental caskets are still quite expensive and shipping considerations may make it difficult or prohibitively expensive to use. 
   There are also several versions of caskets that use fiberboard or other materials. However, these versions have one or more of the following problems: non-combustible hinges, inadequate appearance for a funeral service, high shipping costs and/or limited availability areas. 
   Therefore, there is a clear need in the industry for an environmentally-friendly, entirely combustible, cremation casket that can be shipped economically, while maintaining a suitable appearance for a funeral service. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In keeping with these objectives, the present invention takes the form of a cremation casket formed entirely of cardboard and useable with a combustible and environmentally friendly fabric liner. The cardboard casket is formed to have the appearance of a typical wood or metal casket, but is collapsible for easy shipping and storage and is formed completely of combustible, non-toxic materials. The casket may be shipped in a flat bundle then folded along pre-scored or pre-folded lines to form a two-piece domed lid having a plurality of slots on the bottom and a set of slots in the back side. The slots engage a plurality of tabs extending upward from the top of the back wall of the tray. Tabs within the slots on the back wall of the lid and the slope of the back wall of the tray provide support for the lid to stand in an upright position. When the tray is covered or closed with the lid, the tabs engage the slots in the bottom wall of the lid, thereby securely holding the lid in place. During a ceremony, one section of the lid may be placed in the closed position and the second section of the lid may be placed in the upright position, thereby giving the appearance of a standard two-part casket lid. The inside of the casket and one or more sections of the lid may be lined with any suitable material such as is typically used in caskets. 

   
     Other objects and advantages of the invention will no doubt occur to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the following detailed description along with the accompanying drawings. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an assembled view of the cremation casket with one of the lid sections standing upright. 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the cremation casket. 
       FIG. 3  is a bottom perspective view of one lid section of the cremation casket. 
       FIG. 4  is a front end view of a lid section of the cremation casket. 
       FIG. 5  is a back view of the lid section of the cremation casket. 
       FIG. 6  is a top view of a lid section of the cremation casket. 
       FIG. 7  is a front view of the lid section of the cremation casket. 
       FIG. 8  is a bottom view of a lid section of the cremation casket. 
       FIG. 9  is a back end view of a lid section of the cremation casket. 
       FIG. 10  is a left side view of the tray section of the cremation casket. 
       FIG. 11  is a right side view of the tray section of the cremation casket. 
       FIG. 12  is a back view of the tray section of the cremation casket. 
       FIG. 13  is a front view of the tray section of the cremation casket. 
       FIG. 14  is top view of the tray section of the cremation casket. 
       FIG. 15  is a bottom view of the tray section of the cremation casket. 
       FIG. 16  is a perspective view of a headrest for the cremation casket. 
       FIG. 17  is a front view of the headrest. 
       FIG. 18  is a back view of the headrest. 
       FIG. 19  is a right side view of the headrest. 
       FIG. 20  is a left side view of the headrest. 
       FIG. 21  is a top view of the headrest. 
       FIG. 22  is a bottom view of the headrest. 
       FIG. 23  is a plan view of the cut-out cardboard blank ready for folding into the tray section of the casket. 
       FIG. 24  is a plan view of the cut-out cardboard blank ready for folding into the lid insert piece of the casket. 
       FIG. 25  is a plan view of the cut-out cardboard blank ready for folding into the outside lid piece of the casket. 
       FIG. 26  is a plan view of the cut-out cardboard blank ready for folding into the end wall of the lid of the casket. 
       FIG. 27  is a plan view of the cut-out cardboard blank ready for folding into the headrest of the casket. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1  is an assembled view of the cremation casket  20 , and  FIG. 2  an exploded perspective view of the cremation casket  20 .  FIG. 3  is a bottom perspective view of one lid section  40  of the cremation casket  20 .  FIGS. 4-9  are front end, back, top, front, bottom and back end views of the lid section  40  of the cremation casket  20 .  FIGS. 10-15  are front end, back end, left, right, top and bottom views of the tray section  60  of the cremation casket  20 . 
   The cremation casket  20  is formed of three main sections: a tray  60  and two lid sections  40 . The tray  60  has a solid bottom  62  and four generally upstanding walls  64 ,  66 ,  68 ,  70  extending therefrom. A plurality of tabs  72  extend upward from the top edge of the front wall  64  and the back wall  66  of the tray  60 . The back wall  66  of the tray  60  is slanted from vertical. The back wall  66  forms an angle to the bottom panel  62  of the tray  60 . The angle may be anywhere from about 60 to 100 degrees making the angle from vertical from 0 to 30 degrees, more preferably from 70 to 85 degrees making the angle from vertical from 5 to 20, most preferably between 75 to 85 degrees making the angle from vertical from 5 to 15. The embodiment show has an angle of approximately 80 degrees making the angle from vertical approximately 10 degrees. For additional support one or more stiffening panels  74  may be added to the inside and outside surfaces of the bottom panel  62 . The stiffening panels  74  are preferably also made of cardboard, but having a honeycomb configuration for additional strength. In the embodiment shown, there are a total of five stiffening panels  74 : three on the inside and two on the outside surface. An additional benefit of the stiffening panels  74  on the outside surface, is that the panels  74  raise the edges of the tray  60  thereby allowing a person to easily slip their fingers, a strap or bar under the edge of the tray  60  for lifting. The tray section also has one or more fold lines  76  to allow the prefolded cut-out to be folded down to form a smaller dimension bundle for shipping. The embodiment shown has two fold lines  76  allowing the cut-out to be folded into thirds. 
   The lid  40  is a two-part lid  40 ,  41 . Each lid  40 ,  41  is dome shaped, similar to a standard casket. The dome portion  42  is formed of cardboard with a plurality of folds  44  forming oblique angles. The dome section  42  may be formed with anywhere between two and an infinite number of folds  44 , more preferably between three and eleven folds  44 , most preferably between three and seven folds  44 . In the embodiment shown, the dome  42  has three folds  44 , forming four sections. The bottom edge  46  of the lid  40  has a flat surface with a plurality of slots  48  extending therethrough. The slots  48  are sized and configured to match the tabs  72  extending upward from the front and back walls  64 ,  66  of the tray  60 , thereby locking the lids  40 ,  41  in position when the lids  40  are placed over the tray  60  to close the casket  20 . The flat surface of the bottom edge  46  of the lid  40  also creates the appearance of depth as is seen in standard caskets. On one side of the outer edge  50  of the lid  40  is a plurality of slots  52  extending through the upstanding wall  50 . These slots  52  also are sized and configured to match the tabs  72  extending upward from the back wall  66  of the tray  60 . In this case, when the tabs  72  are secured within the slots  52 , the lid  40  is held in the upright position. The angle of the back wall  66  assists in holding the lid  40  upright. With the configuration shown, an angle of 10 degrees holds the lid  40  approximately vertical. However, depending on the configuration of the lid  40  and the corresponding location of the center of gravity of the lid  40  with relation to the back wall  66  and tabs  72  of the tray  60 , the angle may be more or less to hold the lid  40  generally vertical. Alternately, the user may want to hold the lid  40  somewhat off of vertical, in which case, the angle of the back wall  66  would again be adjusted to create the chosen angle. Although slots  52  in the upstanding wall  50  are not necessary for the second lid section  41 , for ease of manufacturing, both lid sections  40 ,  41  may be the same and have both sets of slots  48 ,  52 . In alternate embodiment, the lid  40  may be formed of a single longer section. The single lid  40  version would be applicable for closed casket services. 
     FIG. 16  is a perspective view of a headrest  80  for the cremation casket  20 .  FIGS. 17-22  are front, back, right side, left side, top and bottom views of the headrest  80 . The headrest  80  is an optional piece that may be used beneath the head of the body within the casket  20  to put the head in a natural position. In order to allow the headrest  80  to adjust along the length of the casket  20 , there is a cut-out section  82  in the front wall of the headrest  80 . The cut-out  82  is sized and configured to fit over the stiffening panel  74  attached to the tray  60 . 
     FIG. 23  is a plan view of the cut-out cardboard blank  100  ready for folding into the tray section  60  of the casket. The cut-out for the tray  60  has a central bottom section  62  that forms the rectangular bottom  62  of the tray  60 , a back side section  104 , a front side section  106  and a pair of end wall sections  108 . The back side section  104  is connected to the bottom section  102  along a fold line  112  and is formed of three panels: a central rectangular section  66  which forms the back upstanding wall  66  of the tray  60  and two trapezoidal sections  114  extending from the ends of the central rectangular section  66 . The trapezoidal sections  114  are each connected to the central rectangular section  66  at a fold line  116 . The angle of the bottom edge  132  of the trapezoid section  114  to the fold line  116  is the same as the angle of the back wall  66  to the bottom  62  of the tray  60 , in this case approximately 80 degrees. The outer edge  130  forms right angles to the top  134  and bottom  132  edges of the trapezoidal section  114 . A small tab  136  extends out from the top edge  134  of the trapezoidal section  114 . The front section  106  extends from the opposite side of the bottom section  62  from the back section  104 . The front section  106  is also formed of three panels: a central rectangular section  64  forming the front upstanding wall  64  of the tray  60  and two generally square sections  124 . The rectangular section  64  is connected to the bottom panel  62  at fold line  122 . The square sections  124  are connected to the rectangular section  64  at fold lines  126  located at each end of the rectangular section  64 . A tab  140  extends from the top edge of the square section  124 . If a wider or narrower casket were formed, the square sections  124  could be narrower or wider and would then be rectangular. 
   At each end of the bottom section  62  are endwall sections  108 . Closest to the bottom section  62  are trapezoidal sections  68 ,  70  that form the endwalls  68 ,  70  of the tray  60 . The trapezoidal sections  68 ,  70  are connected to the bottom section  102  at fold lines  130 . On each trapezoidal section  68 ,  70 , the outer edge of the trapezoid is parallel to the fold line  130 ; the edge of the trapezoid proximate the front wall  64  is perpendicular to the fold line  130 ; and the edge of the endwall proximate the back wall  66  is at an angle to the fold line  130 , the angle being approximately equal to the angle of the back wall  66  to the bottom panel  62 , in this case approximately 80 degrees. The outer edge of the trapezoidal section  68 ,  70  is parallel to the fold line  130 . The outer edge forms a fold line with a narrow rectangular section  160  that forms the top edge of the endwall  68 ,  70 . A slot  162  in the top edge  160  is sized and configured to retain the tabs  136 ,  140  on the trapezoidal sections  114  and the square sections  124  when the tray  60  is assembled. Extending out from the top edge of the endwall is a trapezoidal flap  170 , which helps interlock the sections together. Tabs  172  extend out from the edges and when the flap  170  is folded over the trapezoidal section  114  and the square section  124 , the tabs  172  engage the slots  138 ,  142  in the front wall  64  and the back wall  66 . 
   To assemble the tray section  60 , the user places the bottom side of the tray section blank  100  face down. The user then fold up the front upstanding wall panel  106  and the back upstanding wall panel  104 . The trapezoidal end pieces  114  and the square end pieces  124  are folded inward. The endwalls  108  are then folded up at fold line  130  the top edge of the endwall is folded over the top of the end pieces  114 ,  124 , with the tabs  136 ,  140  extending through the slot  162 . The flap  170  is then folded down and the tabs  172  on the edges of the flap  170  engage the slots  138 ,  142  in the front wall panel  120  and the back wall panel  110 . Finally the second endwall is folded with the same procedure. 
     FIG. 24  is a plan view of the cut-out cardboard blank  200  ready for folding into the lid insert piece of the casket,  FIG. 25  the dome section  300  and  FIG. 26  the end piece  400  of the lid  40 . The insert piece  200  has a rectangular central panel  201 . A plurality of slots  202 ′,  210 ,  212 ,  214 ′ are located near the edges of the central panel  201 . Rectangular stiffening panels  220  are connected at fold lines  222  to the front and back edges of the central panel  201 . The stiffening panel  220  is folded along each of the fold lines to form a hollow rectangular tube along each side. The ends of the stiffening panel  220  have cuts running partially through allowing the tube to fold at line  226  such that the inner tabs  202  extend through the slots  210 ,  202 ′ running parallel to the major portion of the rectangular tube, and the outmost two tabs  214  extend through the slots  214 ′ running perpendicular to the major portion of the rectangular tube. The tabs  202  fit into the slots  202 ′ on the central portion  201 . The tabs  214  on the ends fit within the slots  214 ′ near the sides of the insert  200 . The side sections  224  are fold at a right angle to the central panel  201 . When the rectangular tube is folded the cuts  228  in the insert piece  200  form small tabs which extend outward to engage the slots  52  in the dome section seen in FIG.  25  and leave the openings which align with the remaining portion of the slots  52  in the dome section. 
   The dome section  300  has a plurality of fold lines  44  within central portion. The dome section is creased along the fold lines  44  to create the simulation of the dome shape. The dome-shaped piece is then fitted over the insert piece  200 . The front and back sections  310  of the dome section  300  fold around the hollow rectangular tube formed of the rectangular stiffening members  220 . The tabs  210 ′ are pressed into the holes  210  on the central portion of the insert piece  200 . The holes  48  in the tube and the holes  48  in the dome section  300  are sized and configured to receive the tabs  72  on the tray section  100 . The trapezoidal sections  312  on the side edges of the dome section  300  are folded down. Finally the end sections  400  are prepared by folding the tabs  306 ′,  404  at a right angle to the rest of the panel  400 . The dome tabs  306 ′ are pressed into the receiving holes  306  on the dome section  300 . At the same time, the side tabs  404  are pressed into openings near the based of the dome. The flap  406  at the bottom of the end piece  400  is then folded over the end sections  224  of the insert  200  and the tabs  212 ′ are pressed into the slots  212  in the insert  200 . The same procedure is used to apply a second endpiece  400  to the opposite end of the lid  40 . The lid  40  is now ready to be placed on the tray  60  in either the closed or open position. When the lid  40  is placed in the closed position, the tabs  72  on the tray  60  extend through the slots  48  in the edge of the dome section  300  and the slots  48 ′ in the insert  200 . When the lid  40  is placed in the open position, the tabs  72  on the tray  60  extend through the slots  52  in the dome section and the openings formed by the cuts  228  in the insert  200 . The slots  52  on one side of the dome section form the openings into which the tabs  72  from the tray  60  extend when the lid  40  is in the upright position shown in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 27  is a plan view of the cut-out cardboard blank  500  ready for folding into the headrest  80  of the casket  20 . The cut-out  500  for the headrest  80  has a rectangular central section  502 , which forms to angled top surface of the headrest  80 . A rectangular front wall section  504  is connected to the central section  502  along a fold line. At each end of the front wall section  504  are trapezoidal tabs  510  foldably connected thereto. A rectangular back wall section  506  is also connected to the central section  502  along a fold line. At each end of the back wall  506  are trapezoidal tabs  508 . Two first trapezoidal sidewalls  512  are foldably connected to the central section  502 , one at each end. A slot  516  is located in the central section  502  adjacent each of the fold lines. A second trapezoidal section  514  is attached to each of the first trapezoidal sections  512  along the fold lines. On the opposite end of the second trapezoidal section  514  is a tab  518  that is sized and configured to fit in the slot  516  within the central section  502 . 
   To assemble the headrest  80 , the user folds the trapezoidal tabs attached to the front wall and back walls upward, then folds the front and back walls upward. With the trapezoidal tabs located near and approximately parallel to the slot in the central section, the user folds up the side wall, then folds the section trapezoidal section over the trapezoidal tabs and down until the tab engages the slot in the central section. 
   Many features have been listed with particular configurations, options, and embodiments. Any one or more of the features described may be added to or combined with any of the other embodiments or other standard devices to create alternate combinations and embodiments. 
   Although the examples given include many specificities, they are intended as illustrative of only one possible embodiment of the invention. Other embodiments and modifications will, no doubt, occur to those skilled in the art. Thus, the examples given should only be interpreted as illustrations of some of the preferred embodiments of the invention, and the full scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.