Abstract:
A folding church truck surround having a center panel, a pair of front panels, a pair of corner panels and a pair of side panels, wherein the front panels are hingedly attached to the center panel, and wherein the side panels are hingedly attached to the pair of corner panels extending from the front panels, to allow the surround to maintain both an open and closed position through the folding and unfolding of the various panels.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The instant invention relates generally to chapel furniture, and more particularly to a folding church truck surround that is disposed to be preferably arranged around a church truck and casket by the folding and unfolding of various panels. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Prior Art 
         [0004]    Caskets are used for the interment of the bodies of deceased persons. Prior to interment, the body of the deceased is typically displayed in a casket for the benefit of loved ones at a funeral home. The use of a bier to support the casket at the funeral home is known in the art. Typically, the lifting of the displayed casket from the church truck to the bier then is flanked by floral arrangements and personal effects of the deceased. A church truck surround should have a high quality finished furniture appearance. Further, the surround could have a display top cover for displaying the personal effects of the deceased in a tasteful and meaningful manner in the event of cremation. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The instant invention, as illustrated herein, is clearly not anticipated, rendered obvious or even present in any of the prior art mechanisms, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
         [0006]    A primary object of the instant invention is to provide a folding church truck surround that is disposed to be arranged around a casket through the folding and unfolding of various panels. 
         [0007]    Another object of the instant invention is to provide a folding church truck surround that includes a plurality of interchangeable graphic panels removeably attached to a center panel, a pair of front panels, a pair of corner panels, and pair of side panels. 
         [0008]    Another object of the instant invention is to provide a folding church truck surround wherein a pair of front panels are disposed to be hingedly attached to the center panel, preferably at a ninety degree angle with respect to the center panel and disposed for inward rotation to assume both an open and closed position. 
         [0009]    Another object of the instant invention is to provide a folding church truck surround wherein a pair of side panels are disposed to be hingedly attached to pair of corner panels extending outwardly from the front panels preferably at a ninety angle with respect to the front panels, and disposed for inward rotation to assume both an open and closed position. 
         [0010]    There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of a church truck surround in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
         [0011]    In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
         [0012]    These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty, which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of the instant invention, wherein the instant invention is shown in an “open” position. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  illustrates a pair of locking mechanisms substantially located on a center panel of the instant invention, wherein each locking mechanism is receivable in a corresponding recess. 
           [0015]      FIGS. 3A-3B  illustrate locking mechanisms substantially located on a pair of side panels of the instant invention, wherein each locking mechanism is disposed to secure in place each side panel to a corresponding corner panel extending from each front panel. 
           [0016]      FIGS. 4A-4B  illustrates the pair of side panels of the instant invention in a “closed” position with respect to a pair of front panels attached to the side panels through each corner panel. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  illustrates the instant invention in a closed position during non-usage and a top locking mechanism of the instant invention between the pair of front panels to place the instant invention in a “closed” position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0018]    The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of presently preferred embodiments of the invention and does not represent the only forms in which the present invention may be constructed and/or utilized. The description sets forth the functions and the sequence of steps for constructing and operating the invention in connection with the illustrated embodiments. 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  illustrates a diagrammatic perspective view of the instant invention  10 , wherein a center panel  12  is in communication with a pair of front panels  14 A and  14 B, wherein each individual front panel  14 A and  14 B is attached to an opposing portion  16 A and  16 B of the center panel  12  with respect to the other individual front panel  14 A and  14 B. In one preferred embodiment, the center panel  12  includes at least one wheel  18  substantially located on a bottom portion  20  of the center panel  12 . Furthermore, each individual front panel  14 A and  14 B of the pair of front panels  14 A and  14 B is in communication with the center panel through an attachment means  22 , wherein each front panel  14 A and  14 B is preferably hingedly attached to the center panel  12  to allow for inward rotation of each front panel  14 A and  14 B with respect to the center panel  12 . In one embodiment, each individual front panel  14 A and  14 B includes a pair of wheels  22  substantially located on a bottom portion  24 A and  24 B of each front panel  14 A and  14 B. 
         [0020]    Each individual front panel  14 A and  14 B further includes a corresponding corner panel  26 A and  26 B extending outwardly preferably at a ninety angle with respect to the corresponding front panel  14 A and  14 B from the free end  28 A and  28 B of each corresponding front panel  14 A and  14 B. The instant invention  10  further comprises a pair of side panels  30 A and  30 B, wherein each individual side panel  30 A and  30 B is hingedly attached to a free end  32 A and  32 B of each corresponding corner panel  26 A and  26 B, to allow for inward rotation of each side panel  30 A and  30 B with respect to each corresponding front panel  14 A and  14 B and corner panel  26 A and  26 B. In one preferred embodiment, each side panel  30 A and  30 B includes a pair of wheels  34  substantially located on a bottom portion  36 A and  36 B of each side panel  30 A and  30 B. 
         [0021]      FIG. 2  illustrates a diagrammatic perspective view of the center panel  12  and the corresponding front panels  14 A and  14 B hingedly attached to opposing sides  16 A and  16 B of the center panel  12 . In this embodiment, the center panel includes a pair of opposing locking mechanism  38 A and  38 B, wherein each individual locking mechanism  38 A and  38 B is disposed to be received in a corresponding recess  40 A and  40 B substantially located on each individual front panel  14 A and  14 B. In one embodiment, each locking mechanism  38 A and  38 B is disposed to maintain the center panel  12  in uniform parallel alignment with respect to each front panel  14 A and  14 B. 
         [0022]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  illustrate the pair of side panels  30 A and  30 B attached to the free end  32 A and  32 B of each corresponding corner panel  26 A and  26 B extending outwardly from the front panels  14 A and  14 B. In this embodiment, each individual side panel  30 A and  30 B includes a locking mechanism  42 A and  42 B, wherein each individual locking mechanism  42 A and  42 B is disposed to be received in a corresponding recess  44 A and  44 B substantially located on each individual corner panel  26 A and  26 B. In one embodiment, each locking mechanism  42 A and  42 B is disposed to maintain each side panel  30 A and  30 B in a substantially ninety degree angle alignment with respect to each corresponding front panel  14 A and  14 B. 
         [0023]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  illustrate a diagrammatic perspective view of the pair of side panels  30 A and  30 B in a closed position with respect to each corresponding front panel  14 A and  14 B wherein each side panel  30 A and  30 B is in a substantially parallel alignment with respect to each corresponding front panel  14 A and  14 B. 
         [0024]      FIG. 5  illustrates a diagrammatic perspective view of the instant invention  10  in a closed position, wherein the pair of side panels  30 A and  30 B are in a substantially parallel alignment with each of the corresponding front panels  14 A and  14 B, and the pair of corner panels  26 A and  26 B are in a substantially parallel alignment with the center panel  12 . Furthermore, the pair of front panels  14 A and  14 B, along with the pair of side panels  30 A and  30 B is in a substantially perpendicular alignment with respect to the center panel  12  and the pair of corner panels  26 A and  26 B. Additionally, in one embodiment, the instant invention  10  further includes a locking tab  46 , wherein the locking tab  46  includes a pair of knobs  48 A and  48 B extending downwardly from the locking tab  44  and disposed to be received in a pair of cavities  50 A and  50 B located in the front panels  14 A and  14 B to maintain the instant invention  10  in a closed position. In yet another embodiment, each side panel  30 A and  30 B further includes a rotatable bar  52 A and  52 B to limit the inward rotation of each side panel  30 A and  30 B with respect to each corresponding front panel  14 A and  14 B. Additionally, each side panel  30 A and  30 B further includes a pair of stop tabs  54 A and  54 B and stop knobs  56 A and  56 B to prevent the side panels  30 A and  30 B from contacting each other and to ensure a proper alignment of the various panels when the instant invention assumes a closed position. In yet another embodiment, a top rail  58  is disposed to extend along a top portion  60  of each side panel  30 A and  30 B, each corner panel  26 A and  26 B, each front panel  14 A and  14 B, and the center panel  12 , wherein the top rail is disposed to provide support for a casket. 
         [0025]    While several variations of the present invention have been illustrated by way of example in preferred or particular embodiments, it is apparent that further embodiments could be developed within the spirit and scope of the present invention, or the inventive concept thereof. However, it is to be expressly understood that such modifications and adaptations are within the spirit and scope of the present invention, and are inclusive, but not limited to the following appended claims as set forth.