Abstract:
The present embodiment is a funerary accessory that serves as a ceremonial urn cover and/or carrier for cremated remains. A key benefit of the ceremonial cover is its ability to accommodate a great deal of personalization. A discreet pocket on the back of the bag allows for notes and/or mementos to be interred with the deceased. An accent band encircling the cover serves as a back drop for an oversized locket, a photograph or military metals; anything the decedent&#39;s family chooses to remember the life of their loved one. To aid in transporting the urn box without soiling, a handle is provided.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefits of provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/930,172, filed 2014 Jan. 22 by the present inventor. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The present invention is in the field of funerary textile goods. 
         [0003]    For millennia humans have buried their dead with tokens of respect and remembrance. Even today, mourners often place keepsakes inside of caskets as an expression of reverence for the departed. This final gesture of farewell plays an important role in the grieving process and helps provide closure for the mourners. As modern society continues the trend toward cremation and caskets are replaced by urns, the opportunity to make a final, physical connection with a loved one is lost and the opportunity to include photographs, tokens, and written sentiments for interment is absent. 
         [0004]    The recent popularity of the life-affirming funeral means that families are looking for ways to personalize the memorial service to remember and honor their loved one&#39;s life. While many urns may be engraved, they do not offer the ability to enclose or attach personal items such as a photograph, military honors, jewelry or other item that might reflect the personality, interests and achievements of the decedent. 
         [0005]    In addition, it is standard practice for the crematory to deliver the remains in a generic plastic container. A ceremonial display of the ashes currently requires the family to transfer the remains to an ornamental urn, a task that many are uncomfortable performing. The ornamental urns of today typically provide no mechanism for transporting the remains without handling the container. This exposes the urn to soiling and damage. Also, the closure on many urns is insufficient to prevent a spill should the urn be dropped or mishandled. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    In accordance with one embodiment an urn cover comprises a textile item that is configured in two parts: an inner sheath and an outer casing. The inner sheath fits over an upright urn, securing the lid and covering the sides of a generic plastic container. The outer casing provides a surface for ceremonial ornamentation and personalization, a pocket for the storage of keepsakes and mementos, and a handle to minimize damage during transport. The urn cover serves as a carrier and/or vestment that renders a generic urn suitable for funerary display. 
     
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
       Figures 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment showing the fully assembled front, top and right facing side. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of one embodiment showing the fully assembled back, top and left facing side. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a plan view of one embodiment showing the fully assembled cover. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of one embodiment showing the inner sheath in relation to a generic urn. 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of one embodiment showing the inner sheath placed over a generic urn, as viewed from below. 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of one embodiment showing the inner sheath placed over a generic urn, with hook-and-loop straps in the fastened position, as viewed from below. 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of one embodiment showing the sheathed urn in relation to the outer casing. 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of an additional embodiment showing the front of the outer casing with an integral accent band. 
           [0015]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of an additional embodiment showing the back of the outer casing with an integral accent band. 
           [0016]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment showing a detachable accent band in relation to the outer casing. 
           [0017]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment showing a fully assembled urn cover with detachable accent band. 
       
    
    
     DRAWINGS 
     Reference Numerals 
       [0018]      
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 10 generic urn 
                 11 inner sheath 
               
               
                   
                 12 sheathed urn 
                 13 outer casing 
               
               
                   
                 15 hook-and-loop strap 
                 16 hook-and-loop tab 
               
               
                   
                 17 trim 
                 18 accent ribbon 
               
               
                   
                 19 cording 
                 20 seam 
               
               
                   
                 21 casing hem 
                 22 grommet 
               
               
                   
                 23 sheath hem 
                 24 pocket 
               
               
                   
                 25 accent band 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     First Embodiment 
       [0019]    As represented in  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , the first embodiment is shown fully assembled. Referring to  FIG. 1 , what may be considered the front of the first embodiment is shown. The outer casing  13  serves as a surface on which to display a photo, locket, military metal, or other memento that memorializes the departed. What may be considered the back of the first embodiment is represented in  FIG. 2 . The key feature of note is the pocket  24 . Note cards, photos, mementos, etc. may be stored in the pocket  24  for interment with the urn.  FIG. 3  shows a top view of the fully assembled first embodiment. The top of the sheathed urn  12  is visible. 
         [0020]      FIGS. 4 ,  5 ,  6 , and  7  illustrate the components of the first embodiment. Referring to  FIGS. 4 ,  5 ,  6 , the inner sheath  11  is constructed from a predetermined number of fabric panels configured to form a five sided vestment. All seams  20  are sewn using an overlock stitch. The bottom of the inner sheath  11  is open and finished with a hem  23 . To prevent the inner sheath  11  from sliding off of the generic urn  10 , hook-and-loop straps  15  are attached at the hem  23 . The length of each hook-and-loop strap  15  is sufficient to overlap and fasten together. The number and placement of the hook-and-loop straps  15  is sufficient so as to minimize puckering and stressing of the inner sheath  11  when fastened. Each hook-and-loop strap  15  extends approximately 1¼″ inside the inner sheath  11  and is attached by two rows of stitches placed 1″ in from the finished edge and ¼″ in from the finished edge, respectively. 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , the outer casing  13  is constructed from a predetermined number of fabric panels configured to form a five-sided vestment, two grommets  22 , one piece of cording  19  and one pocket  24 . All seams  20  are sewn using an overlock stitch. The top of the outer casing  13  is open and finished with a hem  21 . A grommet  22  is attached at the top of each of two opposing sides. The cording  19  is cut to a length sufficient to form a handle that does not obstruct the outer casing  13  opening. The ends of the cording  19  are treated to prevent unraveling. The cording  19  is passed through the grommets  22  and the ends are knotted to prevent the cording  19  from passing back through the grommets  22 . In this fashion a handle is formed and the first embodiment functions as a carrier. 
         [0022]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the pocket  24  is made from a single layer of fabric. The top edge of the pocket  24  is hemmed. The pocket  24  is attached to the outer casing  13  along the side and bottom edges of the pocket. The top edge of the pocket  24  remains open to allow access to the pocket interior. 
       Operation 
       [0023]    The following method of assembly applies to all embodiments. Referring to  FIGS. 4 ,  5 , and  6  the inner sheath  11  is shown to fit over a generic urn  10 .  FIG. 6  shows the hook-and-loop straps  15  fastened across the bottom of the generic urn  10 . The generic urn  10  and inner sheath  11  are assembled and ready for placement into the outer casing  13 .  FIG. 7  shows the placement of the sheathed urn  12  into the outer casing  13 . 
       Additional Embodiments 
       [0024]      FIGS. 8 and 9  show a decorative band incorporated into the outer casing  13 . The outer casing  13  is constructed from four fabric side panels, one fabric bottom panel, four pieces of accent ribbon  18 , two pieces of trim  17 , two grommets  22 , one piece of cording  19  and one pocket  24 . The four side panels are attached to the bottom panel using an overlock stitch. The bottom edge of each piece of ribbon  18  is placed a proportional distance above the bottom seam and attached to each respective side piece. Three of the four vertical side seams  20  are sewn using an overlock stitch capturing the cut ends of the ribbon  18 . A length of trim  17  is applied along the top and bottom edges of the accent ribbon  18  with the cut ends terminating at the open seam. The remaining vertical seam  20  is sewn using an overlock stitch, capturing the ends of the ribbon  18  and trim  17 . As with the first embodiment, the top of the outer casing  13  is open and finished with a hem  21 . A grommet  22  is placed at the top of two opposing side panels. The cording  19  is cut to a length sufficient to form a handle that does not obstruct the outer casing  13  opening. The cut ends of the cording  19  are treated to prevent unraveling. The cording  19  is passed through the grommets  22  and the ends are knotted to secure the handle. 
         [0025]    As shown in  FIG. 9 , the pocket  24  is made from a single layer of fabric. The top edge of the pocket  24  is hemmed. The pocket  24  is attached to the outer casing  13  along the side and bottom edges of the pocket. The top edge of the pocket  24  remains open to allow access to the pocket interior. 
       Alternative Embodiments 
       [0026]    As shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the outer casing is embellished with a detachable accent band  25 . The accent band  25  is of a length that encircles the outer casing  13  and allows for overlapping of the ends. The accent band  25  is constructed of a single length of accent ribbon  18  and two lengths of trim  17 . Each piece of trim  17  is sewn onto the accent ribbon  18  along each of the ribbon&#39;s longitudinal edges. A hook-and-loop tab  16  is placed on one end of the front side of the accent band  25  with the hook side facing outward. A coordinating hook-and-loop tab  16  is placed on the back side of the opposite end of the accent band  25  with the loop side facing inward. The accent band  25  is placed around the outer casing  13 , pulled taut and secured by fastening the hook-and-loop tabs  16 . 
       CONCLUSIONS, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE 
       [0027]    While the above description contains many specifics, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope, but rather as an exemplification of one or several possible embodiments. For example variations are possible with regard to shape, size, construction method, material, and detailing. Generic urns are available in a variety of sizes and shapes making it necessary to alter the urn cover to fit. Shapes include, but not limited to, rectangular, cylindrical, square, etc. Urns also vary in size from small to extra-large. Modifications may be made due to factors and/or considerations such as ease of fabrication, cost of fabrication, availability of materials, and aesthetics. As circumstances dictate, features such as number of seams, type of stitching, etc. may also be subject to modification. Furthermore, variations in material, color and dimension can be applied to the detachable accent band as a means of personalizing the urn cover. Accordingly, the scope should be determined not by the embodiments illustrated, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.