Abstract:
A self-illuminated shadow box for containing mementos or the like includes a box that has an upright metallic back wall panel for attaching magnets, a transparent door spaced from the upright metallic back wall panel, a roof extending over the metallic back wall panel and the transparent wall, and a solar energized light emitting diode mounted on the roof and directed toward the metallic back wall.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    Cemeteries in the U.S.A. allow family members to place flowers at the graves of loved ones, showing the love and care of the survivors. Some of the flowers are artificial and tend to have a longer life than natural flowers. Also, some written messages are left at grave sites, such as prayers, photographs or letters to the deceased. In some instances, the messages left are for the benefit of others viewing the gravesite. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention concerns a monument that can be placed at the gravesite of a loved one or of a friend or of a famous person, with a picture or prayer or other message, with the monument being formed so as to conveniently change the message from time to time. Further, this invention concerns a monument in the form of a shadow box that may be placed at the gravesite, with a self-actuated light emitting diode supported by the shadowbox for emitting light toward the space where the message would be placed in the shadowbox. The light emitting diode may be solar energized so that an electrical source other than the sun is not needed to light the shadow box. 
         [0003]    Further, the shadow box is formed in a configuration that maintains its interior substantially closed and moisture free from most rain and other environmental conditions and that would not likely be opened by accident. 
         [0004]    Thus, it is an object of this invention to provide a self-illuminated shadowbox monument for use in cemeteries and other outdoor places, whereby messages and other items may be placed in the shadow box, with the means for illuminating the message in the time of atmospheric darkness. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is a front view of a shadowbox monument, including a message placed in the shadow box, and flowers positioned about the support of the shadow box. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the shadow box of  FIG. 1 , but with the flowers removed. 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a front view of the shadow box with the door closed and without the support post. 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the shadow box of  FIG. 3 , with the door closed. 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the shadow box with the door open, and with a written message and picture inside the box, that is typical of the use of the shadow box at a grave site. 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the shadow box showing the transparent door closed and the contents of the shadow box visible through the door. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0011]    Referring now in more detail to the drawings in which like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views,  FIG. 1  illustrates a self-illuminated portable shadow box monument  10  that may include decorative flowers  12  outside a shadow box  11 , and pictures and messages  14  may be placed in the shadow box. 
         [0012]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the shadow box monument  10  includes a shadow box  11 , its support such as support tube  20  that is cylindrical in cross section and is to be positioned in an upright attitude with an open top fitted into a support socket  17  that is rigidly mounted to the bottom wall  19  of the shadow box. The bottom end  21  of the support tube may be formed at an angle to penetrate the ground or be inserted into a receptacle, not shown, that rests on the ground. 
         [0013]    When the support tube is inserted into the ground the angled bottom end reduces the likelihood of the shadow box  11  being accidentally rotated in the earth, so that the shadow box remains facing the direction that it faced upon initial placement. 
         [0014]    However, if the support tube is to be placed on a floor or other horizontal impermeable surface, the bottom of the support tube may be positioned on a stand  16  such as shown in  FIG. 1  that has an upwardly facing socket, similar to the support socket  17 , to receive the tube  16 . For example,  FIG. 1  shows the support tube  20  made of heavy rigid material to stabilize the shadow box. 
         [0015]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the shadow box  24  includes a framework  41  that forms the support for a thin rectangular shape of the box. Flat panels are supported at their edges by the framework. The upright metallic back panel  30  is parallel to the upright transparent door  26  when the door is in its closed position that closes the shadow box. The box also includes opposed upright side walls  36  and  37  and the horizontal bottom wall  19 . 
         [0016]    As shown in  FIG. 5 , the upright back wall  30  may be made of ferrous metal that would support magnets  29  that can be used to maintain pictures and messages on the back wall. The back wall is a small distance from the upright transparent door when the door is in its closed position, as shown in  FIG. 6 . This small distance, about two inches, usually provides adequate room for posting messages and pictures in the shadow box and it makes the messages and pictures easier to read when viewing through the transparent door. 
         [0017]    The narrow side walls  36  and  37  may be formed of transparent sheet material, as shown. This arrangement usually induces a person to view the contents of the shadow box messages or pictures  14  from the front of the shadow box, through the transparent door  26  to where the contents have been arranged for viewing. This also tends to control the position of the viewer to be positioned at the transparent door when reading the message in the shadow box, so the shadow box can be positioned adjacent a pedestrian path and the items in the shadow box reviewed while the reader stays in a desired location, such as on a path in a cemetery. 
         [0018]    As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the top wall or “roof”  40  of the shadow box is formed in an inverted V-shape with light emitting diodes (LED&#39;s)  58  powered by photovoltaic cells (PVC&#39;s)  56  in translucent photovoltaic glass panels. Preferably, the LEDs are positioned in the roof  40  on the side of the roof that has more direct exposure to the upright metallic back wall  30  and its message and/or picture  14  posted on the back wall. The solar collectors  56  are positioned in the other glass panels of the other sloped section of the roof. 
         [0019]    The transparent door  26  may be formed of molded acrylic material that is transparent. As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the door  26  includes a perimeter rim  42  that has a horizontal bottom flange  44 , upright side flanges  46  and  48 , and horizontal top flange  49 . The door frame  25  surrounds the door opening and includes a frame flange  34  that extends away from the interior of the shadow box. The frame flange  25  is sized and shaped to match the size and shape of the door  26 , so when the door is moved toward its closed position, it telescopically nests with the perimeter rim of the door, thereby substantially sealing the door to its opening and retarding the entry of moisture into the interior of the shadow box. The tight fit of the door to the frame of the shadow box also reduces the likelihood that insects would enter the interior of the shadow box. 
         [0020]    Roof shields  55  form an extension of the roof  40  so that the roof extends from the edges of the framework  41  to divert rain from the shadow box. 
         [0021]    Messages, pictures and other articles  14  may be placed in the shadow box  24  on the metal back wall  30  or on the bottom wall  44  and magnets  29  may be placed against the messages and pictures to hold them against the metal back wall. If magnets are not available, adhesive connectors (not shown) may be used. 
         [0022]    The transparent door can then be closed to mount about the frame flange  34  of the shadow box. A conventional handle (not shown) may be used to hold the transparent face plate in its closed position. This locates the vertical walls and door of the shadow box under the overhang of the roof  40  and roof shields  55  so that rain usually does not enter the interior of the shadow box. 
         [0023]    Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed in detail herein, variations and modifications of the disclosed invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.