Abstract:
A method for establishing underwater burial garden comprises drilling one or more holes into an underwater floor surface to a predetermined depth. Each hole in the underwater burial garden may be located at a predetermined location, or plot, respective to any other hole, which may be in an adjacent or nearby plot. A sealed container containing ashes of a cremated individual may be positioned into a hole. The sealed container may be constructed of a material to withstand the underwater environment. A cap may be placed over the hole, thereby containing the sealed container within the hole. The cap may have a plate positioned thereon with text pertaining to the cremated individual, which may be viewable by swimmers and/or boaters.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application claims priority to now abandoned U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/677,227, which is entitled, “Underwater Burial Garden System and Method,” as filed on May 2, 2005, which is entirely incorporated by reference. This application is also related to copending U.S. patent application entitled, “Underwater Burial Garden System,” filed on Apr. 28, 2006, having Ser. No. 11/414,748, under Express Mail Label EL 993860809 US, which is also incorporated herein by reference. 

   TECHNICAL FIELD 
   The present disclosure relates to the final resting place for living beings, and more particularly, to a system and method for establishing and maintaining an underwater burial garden. 
   BACKGROUND 
   For centuries, since man has been sailing the seas of the world, people have been buried at sea. From depositing a deceased person&#39;s body in the water to sprinkling ashes into the ocean, individuals have for centuries desired their final resting place to be in the oceans of the world. 
   However, when a deceased person&#39;s body or ashes are deposited in the sea, there is generally no fixed location that loved ones may visit, as with a conventional cemetery. Because wave currents may disseminate a person&#39;s ashes or body into the ocean, loved ones may not have the ability to revisit a point of deposit or other point that may be reserved in memory of the deceased individual. 
   In attempt to accommodate some of these concerns, more recent systems have emerged wherein an individual&#39;s ashes may be added to sinkable objects that are dropped into the water at sea. These objects may be constructed such that the ashes are mixed into the materials of the sinkable object such as cement. However, these objects may be dropped at depths and/or locations wherein making a return visit for viewing by boat or even by scuba diving may be difficult, improbable, or even impossible. Plus, the size of such sinkable objects may oftentimes be sufficiently large to overcome any affects of water currents and/or other natural affects, thereby increasing both the maneuvering difficulty during manufacturing and placement at sea size and also the associated costs. 
   Thus, there is a heretofore unaddressed need to overcome the inefficiencies and shortcomings as described above. 

   
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Many aspects of the disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. While several embodiments are described in connection with these drawings, there is no intent to limit the disclosure to the embodiment or embodiments disclosed herein. On the contrary, the intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents. 
       FIG. 1  is a diagram of an exemplary underwater burial site of the present disclosure wherein a vessel shown therein may contain a person&#39;s cremated ashes. 
       FIG. 2  is a diagram of an island having a number of the underwater burial gardens positioned in the water nearby the island, each garden having a number of the underwater burial sites of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a diagram of a portion of the underwater burial garden of  FIG. 2  that has a number of the underwater burial sites of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 4A  is a diagram of at least one process for creating the underwater burial garden of  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 4B  is a diagram of an alternative embodiment for drilling a hole for creating the underwater burial garden of  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 5  is a diagram of an installed underwater burial site of  FIG. 1  further depicting an identification plate. 
       FIG. 6  is a diagram of the underwater burial site of  FIG. 1  shown such that a boat may be appropriately positioned for underwater viewing of the underwater burial site. 
       FIG. 7  is a diagram of an alternative embodiment of the underwater burial site of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 8  is a diagram depicting a method of locating and viewing an underwater burial site, such as depicted in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 9  is a diagram of a nonlimiting exemplary interactive system that may be implemented to display information about deceased individuals whose final resting place is the underwater burial garden of  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 10  is a diagram of a mapped portion of the underwater burial garden of  FIG. 2 , as displayed on the display of  FIG. 9 . 
       FIG. 11  is a nonlimiting exemplary diagram of a quadrant displayed in  FIG. 10  containing the location of a plot of a decedent buried in the underwater burial garden of  FIG. 2 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   This disclosure pertains to an underwater burial garden wherein remains of an individual may be deposited in the ground beneath water at a depth such that loved ones left behind may have an opportunity to return and pay respects after burial. In this nonlimiting example,  FIG. 1  depicts an underwater burial site  10  wherein vessel  19  may contain a person&#39;s ashes at position  13 . Vessel  19  may be deposited in container  16  and sealed or covered by a cap  17  under water  14 . Thus, living individuals may come to land  12  and either swim or boat to the location of a person&#39;s remains in vessel  19 . 
   In this nonlimiting example, container  16  may be deposited in the seabed floor under water  14  such that the currents of the water  14  do not alter the location of the container  19 . Cover  17 , in this nonlimiting example, may be an environmentally-friendly type of cover, such as to promote coral growth or a fish habitat. 
   The underwater burial site  10  of  FIG. 1  may be replicated on a larger scale so as to create an underwater cemetery or burial garden, as shown in  FIG. 2 . In  FIG. 2 , island  20  is surrounded by water  14 ; however one of ordinary skill in the art would know that the underwater burial garden  10  may be implemented at any underwater area which may or may not necessarily include a shoreline, such as the one shown in  FIG. 2  as created by island  20 . 
   A memorial center  22  may be located on island  20  such that loved ones of the deceased buried in the underwater burial garden  10  of  FIG. 2  may visit to pay respects to their loved ones. In at least one nonlimiting example, the memorial center  22  may be configured with multimedia interactive memorials dedicated to the various individuals buried in the underwater burial garden  10  shown in  FIG. 2 . As a nonlimiting example, the memorial center  22  may contain electronic media displays depicting the deceased during various times of their life, and/or other memorabilia related to the deceased, such that loved ones may enhance their visit to the underwater burial garden  10 . Additionally, the displays may also show images of the various burial sites in the underwater burial garden  10  of  FIG. 2 . 
   Island  20  may also include one or more areas  24 , which may, in this nonlimiting example, be set aside for a memorial paver area also dedicated to the deceased individuals buried in the underwater burial garden  10 . As a nonlimiting example, area  24  may contain stone, concrete, or other types of memorial items dedicated to the various individuals buried in the underwater burial garden  10 , such as may be found in a cemetery. Consequently, one of ordinary skill in the art would know that one or more other more traditional memorial techniques may be implemented on island  20  in addition to the underwater burial garden  10 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
   As a nonlimiting example, the underwater burial garden  10  of  FIG. 2  may comprise multiple sections for underwater burial of deceased individuals. In this nonlimiting example, underwater burial sections  25 ,  27 ,  29 , and  31  represent separate distinct underwater burial gardens that may be established proximate to island  20 . One of ordinary skill in the art would know that the topology of the underwater seabed may guide the placement of the various underwater burial gardens  25 ,  27 ,  29 , and  31  into the various shapes as shown. Stated another way, the type of sea floor, as well as the topology changes around the island, may make one area more desirable and another area less desirable. In addition, marketing concerns may make area  25 , in this nonlimiting example, more desirable than area  27 , which is further displaced from island  20 . Thus, in this nonlimiting example, individuals who may enjoy scuba diving may prefer area  25  over area  27  due to the depth of water in area  25  as opposed to area  27 , and/or vice versa. 
   As another nonlimiting example, individuals who desire to view the underwater memorial garden from a glass bottom boat may more easily see the sea floor in area  25  which may be in shallower water, than in area  27 , which may be in deeper water. Consequently, marketing factors may dictate various pricing schemes for flat locations within the underwater burial garden  10  within the various areas  25 ,  27 ,  29 , and  31 , of underwater burial garden  10  in  FIG. 2 . 
   Furthermore, marketing considerations may also dictate the set aside of specific areas for specific types of deceased individuals buried in the underwater burial garden of  FIG. 2 . In this nonlimiting example, area  31  may be subdivided into one or more subparts. Thus, sections  34 ,  36 ,  38 ,  41 , and  43  may be set aside for, in this nonlimiting example, branches of the military, including the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and/or Coast Guard. One of ordinary skill in the art would know that dedicated sections  34 ,  36 ,  38 ,  41 , and  43  may be established for any specific group or interest in addition to the military example provided above. 
   Also shown in  FIG. 2 . is quadrant  45 , which is located in area  25  of the underwater burial garden  10 .  FIG. 3  is a diagram of quadrant  45  depicting, in this nonlimiting example, 100 underwater burial locations in quadrant  45 , which is also in area  25  of the underwater burial garden  10 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 3 , quadrant  45  contains 100 burial plots, which may be situated proximate to each other such that the plots are sized as one of ordinary skill in the art would know. Stated another way, plot  47  may have X and Y dimensions of any shape and size, as one of ordinary skill in the art would know, sufficient to create the underwater burial garden  10  of  FIG. 2 . In at least one nonlimiting example, the X and Y dimensions of burial plot  47  which may be uniformly created for quadrant  45  may be 4′×4,′ 6′×6,′8′×8,′ or any other configuration desired. 
   Returning to  FIG. 2 , market forces may dictate the establishment of various areas  25 ,  27 ,  29 , and  31  having different plot sizes which may increase or decrease the value of the various plots in the various areas. Stated another way, the larger the plot in a particular area of the underwater burial garden, the more valuable the plot may be to obtain by the loved ones of a deceased individual. 
   Quadrant  45  also depicts plot  49 , which is shown in an enlarged view in  FIG. 3 . The cap section  17  is shown centered in plot  49 ; however, one of ordinary skill in the art would know that the cap  17  may be placed at any point within plot  49  and still be within the scope of this disclosure. Nevertheless, in this nonlimiting example, cap  17  contains a message plate  51 , which may be comprised of any suitable material for the underwater environment in which it will be placed. In at least one nonlimiting example, plate  51  may be constructed of bronze so as to endure the salt water environment in which plate  51  may be located. Plate  51  may contain identifying information about the deceased individual whose ashes or remains are stored at plot  49 , such as the individual&#39;s dates of birth and death and any other message that may be commonly located on a tombstone in a cemetery, as one of ordinary skill in the art would know. Plot  49  may be replicated for the remaining plots shown in quadrant  45  as well as all other plots in the underwater burial garden  10  of  FIG. 2 . 
     FIG. 4A  is a diagram of at least one procedure for creating the underwater burial garden, as shown in  FIG. 2 . In this nonlimiting example  55 , a boat  58  may be positioned over a desired point in the sea floor, which may be comprised of sand portion  61  and coral portion  63 . Continuing with this nonlimiting example  55 , boat  58  may be held in a stationary position by anchors  66  and  67  so that core drill  69  may be used to create hole  75  in the sand  61  and coral  63 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 4A , core drill  69  may move essentially vertically along shaft  70  so that rotating shaft  71  turns cutting bit  73  to create hole  75 . Depending upon the depth of water  14 , shaft  71  may, in this nonlimiting example, be various lengths, as one of ordinary skill in the art would know. Nevertheless, as boat  58  is held in a stationary position, core drill  69  may be used to core drill a hole  75  to a desired depth in sand  61  and coral  63 . 
   One of ordinary skill in the art would also know that other methods for creating hole  75  may be used in addition to nonlimiting example  55  shown in  FIG. 4A . As an additional nonlimiting example, a diver may swim in water  14  to a desired position and use another type of drilling apparatus, such as a tripod drill, to create hole  75 , as one of ordinary skill in the art would know. 
     FIG. 4B  depicts an alternative embodiment for drilling hole  75 . In this nonlimiting example, core drill tripod  72  may be used by a diver to create hole  75 , as one of ordinary skill in the art would know. 
     FIG. 5  is a diagram of an installed underwater burial location housing vessel  19  containing ashes of a deceased individual. In this nonlimiting example, after a hole has been established according to the nonlimiting example  55  of  FIG. 4A , a vessel  19  containing the remains of the deceased individual may be deposited in the hole  75 . Similarly, a cap  17  may be placed over the hole  75  to keep vessel  19  within the hole  75 . 
   Vessel  19  may be constructed of any material suitable for such an application, as one of ordinary skill in the art would know. In at least one nonlimiting example, vessel  19  may be configured of bronze so as to withstand the underwater environment to which it may be placed in, as well as to protect the ashes of the individual buried in this location. 
   Cap  17  may also be constructed of various materials, as one of ordinary skill in the art would know. As nonlimiting examples, cap  17  may be constructed as a reef cap, bronze cap, or a coral style. Each of these caps  17  may be configured so as to promote the underwater environment and not harm fish and other living creatures in water  14 . As a nonlimiting example, the coral style cap  17  may be installed so as to promote coral growth on the seabed floor. As an additional nonlimiting example, themed caps may be constructed according to the desires of the loved ones of the deceased individual. In a nonlimiting example, a nautical themed cap  17  may be used for an individual who may have been a sailor during his or her lifetime. One of ordinary skill in the art would know, therefore, that other themed caps  17  may be implemented according to the desires of the loved ones of the deceased individual. 
   However, the top section of cap  17  may include plate  51  with the deceased individual&#39;s name, dates of birth and death, as well as any other final words that loved ones of the deceased individual may choose for display. Plate  51  may be, in this nonlimiting example, constructed of bronze, gold, or any other material so as to withstand the environmental rigors on seabed floor  61  and  63 . 
     FIG. 6  is a diagram of the underwater burial location shown in the previous figures with boat  58  configured for underwater viewing. In this nonlimiting example, boat  58  may contain a glass bottom section  78  such that passengers in boat  58  may see through the bottom of boat  58  into the water  14  and to the sea floor  61 . Consequently, passenger boat  58  may be able to position boat  58  directly above cap  17  that may correspond to the passengers&#39; deceased loved one whose ashes may be contained in vessel  19 . As stated above, the ash remains of the deceased individual may be placed in vessel  19  in hole  75  and covered by cap  17  such that the passengers in boat  58  may position the boat  58  periodically over this location to pay respects. 
   Depending upon the depth of water  14 , the passenger boat  58  may be able to not only see but also read any information contained on name plate  51 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . Also in  FIG. 2 , the various areas of the underwater burial garden  10  may be in various depths of water, therefore making viewing through glass bottom boat  58  more or less difficult, which also may increase or decrease the marketability of certain plots in the underwater burial garden  10 . 
     FIG. 7  is a diagram of an alternative embodiment of the underwater burial site of  FIG. 1 . In this nonlimiting example, instead of core drilling a hole in seabed floor  61  and  63 , a reef ball  81  may be constructed to house the remains of the deceased individual. In this nonlimiting example, reef ball  81  may be constructed such that the individual&#39;s ashes are actually mixed into the materials used to make reef ball  81 . In this nonlimiting example, if reef ball  81  is constructed of a material that promotes coral growth, the person&#39;s ashes may be mixed in with raw materials used to form reef ball  81  such that the person&#39;s ashes become integrated and a part of reef ball  81 . 
   Alternatively, an additional nonlimiting example comprises reef ball  81  having a compartment for storing a person&#39;s ashes, much like in vessel  19 , as described above. Regardless of how the deceased individual&#39;s ashes are contained in reef ball  81 , the reef ball  81  may be deposited on the sea bed floor  61  from boat  58 , as shown in  FIG. 6 , such that it sinks and comes to a point of rest on the seabed floor  61 . 
   In this nonlimiting example, reef ball  81  is shown in a generally round shape. However, one of ordinary skill in the art would know that reef ball  81  may be constructed of any shape or size. Additionally, reef ball  81  may be constructed of material so as to promote coral growth and not otherwise harm the underwater habitat for the fish and other living creatures in water  14 . 
   Thus, returning to  FIG. 2 , one or more of the areas of the underwater burial garden  10  may be reserved for the deposited reef balls. As a nonlimiting example, one or more underwater areas around island  20  having poor topologies for the underwater burial garden  10 , as described in  FIGS. 1–6 . Therefore, these areas may be utilized for deposit of reef ball  81 . In this nonlimiting example, area  32  of  FIG. 2  may be reserved for the deposit of reef balls  81  due to its topology or other conditions that one of ordinary skill in the art would know would make that a desirable location. 
     FIG. 8  is an alternative embodiment to the diagram depicted in  FIG. 6 . In this nonlimiting example, the passenger boat  58  may locate the position of cap  17  via a global positioning system (“GPS”), which employs one or more satellites  91 ,  92 ,  93  with receiver  95 . One of ordinary skill in the art would know that the GPS coordinates for cap  17  may be previously established such that receiver  95  may assist the passengers in boat  58  to relocate that exact position so as to position boat  58  directly over cap  17 , which may correspond to the deceased loved one of the passengers of boat  58 . Alternatively, swimmers or scuba divers may also locate cap  17  with an underwater version of transceiver  95 . Nevertheless, one of ordinary skill in the art would also know that other location methods could be utilized for locating the cap for their deceased loved one. As nonlimiting examples, buoys, signs, and other devices may be employed in addition to the method depicted in  FIG. 8 . 
   Consequently, the underwater burial garden  10  as shown in  FIG. 2 , as well as the other figures of this disclosure, establish a method and system for individuals to locate their final resting place underwater, but in a method wherein individuals left behind may return and pay respects in the future. By using materials that are friendly in the underwater environment, as shown herein, the underwater burial garden  10  may last for hundreds and perhaps even thousands of years in the future. 
   As stated above in regard to  FIG. 2 , island  20  may include a memorial center  22 , which may be a structure developed with interactive areas regarding individuals who have been cremated and buried in a plot in the underwater burial garden  10 .  FIG. 9  is a diagram of a nonlimiting exemplary interactive system  105 , which may appear as display  108  that may be coupled to a computing and/or media delivery system  109 , which is hereinafter referred to as computer  109 . One of ordinary skill in the art would know that computer  109  may be a typical personal computing device with a processor, memory, and one or more peripheral devices. 
   As a nonlimiting example, computer  109  may interact with display  108  that may include a touch screen keypad  112 . (or may be coupled to another type of data entry device). Thus, a family member or friend of a deceased individual may enter the decedent&#39;s name with the touch screen keypad  112 . Upon entering the name, computer  109  may respond by presenting electronic media information, such as a short video or movie about and/or including the decedent, which may be stored in a memory coupled to the computer  109 . Thus, the experience of visitors to the underwater burial garden  10  may be enhanced in this manner. 
   In addition to displaying information about the decedent, computer  109  may be configured to provide location information and/or mapping information to enable visitors to locate a single plot in the underwater burial garden  10 . As a nonlimiting example, display  108  may be driven by computer  109  to display mapping coordinates or other location information enabling precise location of any specific plot. 
     FIG. 10  is a diagram of a mapped portion of the underwater burial garden  10  of  FIG. 2 , as displayed on display  108  of  FIG. 9 . In this nonlimiting example, wherein a visitor enters a decedent&#39;s name via keypad  112 , computer  109  may display map  115  with highlighted emphasis  118  around quadrant  120 , which may be where the cremated remains and associated cap  17  ( FIG. 5 ) with marker plate  51  ( FIG. 5 ) are positioned. 
     FIG. 11  is a nonlimiting exemplary diagram of quadrant  120  that is highlighted in  FIG. 10 , which may contain the remains of a decedent to be located. In this nonlimiting example, computer  109  and display  108  may cause quadrant  120  to be displayed in a manner indicating the exact plot  125  housing the remains of the decedent to be located. In this nonlimiting example, among others, an alphanumeric X-Y coordinate system could be implemented, as shown in  FIG. 11 , so that each plot in quadrant  120  has a separate identifier, which could be located on the cap  17 , as shown. Thus, in the nonlimiting example of  FIG. 11 , cap  17  may include the identifier “J-9.” 
   One of ordinary skill in the art would know, however, that other types of plot locating systems could be implemented without varying from the concept of this disclosure. As an additional nonlimiting example, display  108  could be configured to display global positioning system coordinates of the decedent&#39;s plot, which could thereafter be located with the assistance of receiver  95  ( FIG. 8 ). Thus, visitors to the underwater burial garden  10  could always return and pay respects to their deceased loved ones, which could be a pet as well as a person. 
   One of ordinary skill in the art would know that each hole could be configured to a predetermined depth so as to hold one or more additional vessels  19  in either a stacked or side-by-side orientation. As a nonlimiting example, the families may choose to share a single burial plot, such as plot  49  of  FIG. 3 , so that each family member is buried together. 
   Furthermore, one of ordinary skill in the art would understand that this disclosure includes situations wherein a single burial plot, such as plot  49  of  FIG. 3 , contains multiple drilled holes, such as hole  75  of  FIG. 4A . Plus, as discussed above, each hole in a plot may contain one or more vessels each with a different person&#39;s cremated remains. As a nonlimiting example, a family could elect to purchase a larger sized burial plot, such as described above, so that each person in the family could have a portion or even all of his or her cremated remains contained in a vessel in one of the holes in the larger sized plot. 
   It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments and nonlimiting examples are merely possible examples of implementations, merely set forth for a clear understanding of the principles disclosed herein. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiment(s) and nonlimiting examples without departing substantially from the spirit and principles disclosed herein. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and protected by the following claims.