Patent Publication Number: US-2002007601-A1

Title: Memorial markers and method for producing the same

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0002] The present invention relates to a new type of memorial marker for use at a gravesite in a cemetery to provide information on the deceased person that is buried there and to mark the gravesite.  
       [0003] 2. Description of the Related Art  
       [0004] Currently available memorial markers are generally of two basic types, i.e. a marker created entirely of granite, marble or concrete, or alternately, a marker created from cast metal, such as bronze, that is created by a casting process such as traditional sand casting. Manufacture of both of these types of markers is labor intensive and thus both are very expensive to make and both must be sold to the consumer for a high price. Also, both types of markers must be produced at a remote manufacturing facility and transported to the gravesite. This adds to the cost of the markers and to the time delay in getting a marker set at a gravesite. Also, both types of markers are difficult or impossible to repair when they are damaged, such as when the marker is struck by a lawn mower or run over by a vehicle. Often when this type of damage occurs, the entire marker must be removed from the gravesite and replaced. This makes these types of markers expensive to maintain. Since the damage to the marker may occur many years after the marker was initially installed, often the family of the deceased person for whom the marker was purchased will not have the money to replace the marker and the damaged marker will remain at the gravesite.  
       [0005] The present invention addresses these shortcomings by providing a new type of marker that is esthetically pleasing and is durable. This new marker looks similar to cast bronze memorial markers and can withstand the elements as well or better than currently available memorial markers. Also, the present invention is constructed with less expensive materials and by a method that is less labor intensive, making the memorial markers easier and cheaper to make, thus greatly reducing the cost of the marker to the consumer. The present invention is also assembled with modular elements that can be added to the marker by the local funeral home, making it possible to reduce the delay in having a marker installed at the gravesite and making repairs to the marker cheaper and easier. Finally, the memorial marker of the present invention offers features not presently available in currently available markers, such as a sealed and locked compartment in the marker for including mementos or information relating to the deceased person and a remote locating device for allowing family members to use a hand-held device to assist in locating a specific memorial marker in a cemetery.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006] The present invention is a new type of memorial marker for use in marking the gravesite of a deceased person and the method for producing the marker. The memorial marker is created from a top sheet of bronze and a mating bottom sheet of bronze that are each formed individually into the desired shape for the marker. The sheets of bronze may be formed by a sheet metal pressing process, by pressing the sheets between positive and negative dies, by negative bladder pressing, i.e. pressing the sheets between a negative die and a bladder, by explosive forming, or by any other suitable sheet metal forming process. In the forming process, the top sheet is normally formed so that the top surface is leather looking or smooth. The top sheet may also be formed so that it contains a lower base portion at its perimeter, contains an opening for a vase, contains downwardly facing, threaded bolt receiving slugs, and contains internal elements such as bolt receiving slugs or resealable compartments for holding memorabilia or remote locating devices. Screw receiving holes for receiving screws that will secure external elements to the top surface of the marker may be formed into the top sheet when the sheet undergoes sheet metal forming, or alternately, may be created in the top sheet after the top sheet is formed.  
       [0007] The bottom sheet is formed into a configuration so that it is provided with an upwardly extending lip at its perimeter and the top sheet is also formed into a configuration so that it is provided with a downwardly extending lip at its perimeter. The bottom sheet is slightly smaller that the top sheet so that the upwardly extending lip of the bottom sheet is capable of being received within the downwardly extending lip of the top sheet to form a void between the top and bottom sheets.  
       [0008] Once the top and bottom sheets are formed into the desired configuration, the bottom sheet is filled with a castable filler material that will harden. The top sheet is then lowered over the bottom sheet so that the castable filler material fills the void created between the top and bottom sheets. The top and bottom sheets are then secured together at the edge of the downward extending lip of the top sheet, via welding or other suitable means.  
       [0009] At this point, various external elements that will be secured to the top surface of the top sheet are created. These external elements may include the family name of the deceased person, the first and middle name or initial of the deceased person, the dates of birth and death for the deceased person, decorative edging for the marker, locking lids for any internal resealable compartments that were added to the marker when the top and bottom sheets were formed, and flower vase sleeves and vases. Each of these external elements may be formed from additional sheets of bronze by a sheet metal forming process, or alternately, if the family prefers, may be made from cast bronze. External elements of cast bronze will be more expensive and will require longer to create since they must be produced by the same labor intensive methods currently employed to create cast bronze memorial markers.  
       [0010] Screw holes will be made in the external elements as need to secure the external elements to the predrilled screw receiving holes that were previously formed in the top sheet of the marker. The screw holes may be created in the external elements when they are formed, may be created in the external elements after the elements are formed, or may be created in the external elements during the casting process for those elements that are made from cast bronze.  
       [0011] Once the external elements have been created, they are secured to the top sheet of the memorial marker via screws that insert through the screw holes in the external elements and engage the screw receiving holes in the top sheet of the memorial marker.  
       [0012] The memorial marker is then secured to a base. The base will normally be a slab of granite, marble or pre-formed concrete. The slab of granite, marble or concrete is predrilled so that it contains bolt openings extending through the slab from bottom to top and the bolt openings are aligned with the threaded bolt receiving slugs. In order to secure the marker to the slab, bolts are first inserted through large washers, then through the slab from the bottom side, and then are threaded into the threaded bolt-receiving slugs. The bolts are then turned until the marker is firmly secured to the slab.  
       [0013] Once the marker is secured to the slab, the slab and marker are ready to be installed at the gravesite. If the slab is of granite or marble, cement is generally added to a hole underneath where the slab is to be placed in order that the slab will be sufficiently supported. If the slab is of concrete, the addition of a cement pad underneath the slab is not necessary and the concrete slab can be placed directly on the ground at the desired location.  
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0014]FIG. 1 is a top plan of a memorial marker constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0015]FIG. 2 is a front side view of the memorial marker of FIG. 1, showing internal elements in outline and showing a hand held unit for communicating with a transponder within a resealable compartment of the marker.  
     [0016]FIG. 3 is a top plan of an alternate embodiment memorial marker.  
     [0017]FIG. 4 is a front side view of the alternate embodiment memorial marker of FIG. 3, showing internal elements in outline and showing a hand held unit for communicating with a transponder within a resealable compartment of the marker.  
     [0018]FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the opening to an internal resealable compartment in the memorial marker of FIG. 1, showing details of how the lid locks to seal the resealable compartment.  
     [0019]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a vase and a vase-receiving sleeve, as they appear removed from the marker.  
     [0020]FIG. 7 is perspective view of the vase and vase-receiving sleeve of FIG. 6, showing the vase inverted in its storage position within the vase-receiving sleeve.  
     [0021]FIG. 8 is perspective view of a positive die frame with die blocks that contain raised alphanumeric symbols removably inserted therein to form the family name of a deceased person within the die frame.  
     [0022]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a negative die frame with die blocks that contains recessed alphanumeric symbols removably inserted therein to mate with the positive die frame of FIG. 8.  
     [0023]FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross sectional view of a die block and positive die frame of FIG. 8 taken along line  10 - 10 , showing how the die blocks are removably secured to the die frame.  
     [0024]FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the positive die frame of FIG. 8 inverted over its negative die frame of FIG. 9.  
     [0025]FIG. 12 is a side view of the frames of FIG. 11 shown with a bronze sheet between the frames and shown with spring loaded alignment pins inserted through alignment holes provided in the frames.  
     [0026]FIG. 13 is a top plan view of the bronze sheet of FIG. 12, as it would appear after being pressed between the frames of FIG. 12.  
     [0027]FIG. 14 is a flow chart of the process for making a memorial marker in accordance with the present invention.  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
     The Invention  
     [0028] Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is illustrated a memorial marker  10  for use in marking the gravesite of a deceased person that is constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The memorial marker  10  is constructed of a bronze top sheet  12  that has been formed by a sheet metal forming process such as by pressing it between a positive mold and a mating negative mold in a large sheet metal press (not illustrated) from a flat sheet of bronze and of a bronze bottom sheet  14  that has also been formed in a similar manner from another flat sheet of bronze. The top sheet  12  and its mating bottom sheet  14  are each formed individually into the desired shape for the marker  10 . Although the marker  10  can be formed into a variety of shapes, a rectangular shape is generally preferred by consumers, as illustrated in the rectangular shaped marker  10  that is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.  
     [0029]FIG. 14 is a diagram of the process for making a marker  10 , or an alternate embodiment marker  10 ′. Box  15  in FIG. 14 shows the first step in making a marker  10  or  10 ′ is selecting the texture for the top surface  16 ; selecting the internal elements, such as resealable compartments  31  and bolt receiving slugs  32 , to be included in the marker  10  or  10 ′; and selecting the style, i.e. whether the top sheet  12  be will be made with a lower base portion  18  as marker  10  or whether the top sheet  12 ′ be will be made without a lower base portion  18  as marker  10 ′. The second step in the process, as illustrated in FIG.  14  by box  17 , is to form the top sheet  12  or  12 ′ and the bottom sheet  14  by a sheet metal forming process such as, for example, pressing or stamping.  
     [0030] In the forming process, the top sheet  12  is normally formed so that the top surface  16  either is an embossed leather-looking surface or is smooth. The top sheet  12  may also be formed so that it contains a lower base portion  18  at its perimeter  20 , as illustrated by the marker  10  that is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. Alternately, an alternate embodiment top sheet  12 ′ may be formed so that it does not contain a lower base portion  18  at its perimeter  20 , as illustrated in alternate embodiment marker  10 ′, illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4.  
     [0031] When the top sheet  12  or  12 ′ is are formed, the sheet  12  or  12 ′ may be formed so that it contains a vase opening  22 T for admitting a vase sleeve  24  and a vase  26 . The vase sleeve  24  and vase  26  are illustrated in FIG. 6 in the in use position, and the sleeve  24  and vase  26  are illustrated in FIG. 7 in the stored position. Likewise, when the bottom sheet  14  is formed, the sheet  14  may be formed so that it contains a vase opening  22 B for admitting the vase sleeve  24  and the vase  26 . The top sheet  12  or  12 ′ is provided with a downwardly extending vase lip  28  surrounding the vase opening  22 T, and the bottom sheet  14  is provided with an upwardly extending vase lip  30  surrounding the vase opening  22 B. The upwardly extending vase lip  30  surrounds the downwardly extending vase lip  28  when the top sheet  12  or  12 ′ is secured to the bottom sheet  14 .  
     [0032] When the top sheet  12  or  12 ′ is formed, it may also contain internal elements such as resealable compartments  31  and bolt receiving slugs  32 . The resealable compartments may be provided opening to the top surface  16  of the top sheet  12 , as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, or alternately, may be provided opening to the side  33  of the memorial marker  10 , as illustrated in FIG. 3. When the bottom sheet  14  is formed, it will contain downwardly facing, threaded bolt receiving slugs  32  that will be used in securing the marker  10  or  10 ′ to a base  58 .  
     [0033] Screw receiving holes  36  for receiving screws  38  that will secure external elements  40 A,  40 B,  40 C,  40 D,  40 E,  40 F etc. to the top surface  16  of the marker  10  or  10 ′ may be formed into the top sheet  12  or  12 ′ when the top sheet  12  or  12 ′ is formed, or alternately, may be created in the top sheet  12  or  12 ′ after the top sheet  12  or  12 ′ is formed.  
     [0034] The bottom sheet  14  is formed into a configuration so that it is provided with an upwardly extending lip  42  at its perimeter  44 . The top sheet  12  or  12 ′ is also formed into a configuration so that it is provided with a downwardly extending lip  46  at its perimeter  20 . The bottom sheet  14  is slightly smaller that the top sheet  12  or  12 ′ so that the upwardly extending lip  42  of the bottom sheet  14  is capable of being received within the downwardly extending lip  46  of the top sheet  12  or  12 ′, thus forming a void space between the bottom sheet  14  and the top sheet  12  or  12 ′.  
     [0035] As shown in box  47  in FIG. 14, the third step in the process is adding castable filler material between the top and bottom sheets  12  or  12 ′ and  14 . Once the top sheet  12  or  12 ′ and the bottom sheet  14  are formed into the desired configurations, the bottom sheet  14  is filled with a castable filler material  48 , such as a polymer, that will harden. Although a variety of castable filler material  48  may be employed for this purpose, polyurethane that has been mixed with marble dust has been found to work well.  
     [0036] The top sheet  12  or  12 ′ is then lowered over the bottom sheet  14  so that the castable filler material  48  fills the void created between the top and bottom sheets  12  or  12 ′ and  14 . As illustrated by box  49  in FIG. 14, the fourth step in the process is securing the top sheet  12  or  12 ′ to the bottom sheet  14 . The top and bottom sheets  12  or  12 ′ and  14  are secured together at the perimeter  20  of the downward extending lip  46  of the top sheet  12  or  12 ′, via welds  52  or other suitable securing means. If vase openings  22 T and  22 B were provided in the top and bottom sheets  12  or  12 ′ and  14 , it will also be necessary to secured the top and bottom sheets  12  or  12 ′ and  14  together at the edge  54  of the downwardly extending vase lip  28  of the top sheet  12  or  12 ′ via welds  52  or other suitable securing means.  
     [0037] As illustrated by box  53  in FIG. 14, the fifth step in the process is creating the external elements  40 A,  40 B,  40 C,  40 D,  40 E,  40 F, etc that will be attached to the top sheet  12  or  12 ′. At this point, various external elements  40 A,  40 B,  40 C,  40 D,  40 E,  40 F, etc. that will be secured to the top surface  16  of the top sheet  12  or  12 ′ are created. These external elements  40 A,  40 B,  40 C,  40 D,  40 E,  40 F, etc. may include an external element  40 A that bears the family name of the deceased person, an external element  40 B that bears the first name, middle name or initial, or a nickname for the deceased person, an external element  40 C that bears the dates of birth and death for the deceased person, an external element  40 D that bears a decorative edging for the marker, an external element  40 E that is a locking lid for an internal resealable compartment that was added to the marker  10  or  10 ′ when the top and bottom sheets  12  or  12 ′ and  14  were formed, and an external element  40 F that is the flower vase sleeve  24  with its associated flower vase  26 .  
     [0038] As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4, it is desirable for the flower vase sleeve  24  to extend through both the marker  10  or  10 ′ and a base  58  on which the marker  10  or  10 ′ secures so that water can drain out of the flower vase sleeve  24  into the surrounding gravel via openings that are provided in the bottom of the sleeve  24 . When the base  58  and attached marker  10  or  10 ′ and sleeve  24  are installed at a gravesite, it is desirable to place a layer of gravel under the base  58  to allow for proper drainage of the sleeve  24 .  
     [0039]FIGS. 8, 9 and  10  illustrate the method for making a variety of external elements  40 A,  40 B,  40 C,  40 D,  40 E,  40 F, etc. by a sheet metal forming process such as pressing sheets of bronze  66  between a positive die frame  68  and a mating negative die frame  70 . The positive die frame  68  is provided with interchangeable die blocks  72  that contain raised alphanumeric symbols  73  removably inserted therein to form words or dates. Likewise, the negative die frame  70  is provided with interchangeable die blocks  74  that contain recessed alphanumeric symbols  75  removably inserted therein to mate with the positive die frame  68  when they are placed face to face, as shown in FIG. 11.  
     [0040]FIG. 10 illustrates how each of the die blocks  72  removably inserts into the positive die frame  68 . One side  76  of the positive die frame  68  is provided with an angled protruding upper ledge  78  under which one end  80  of each of the die blocks  72  inserts. An opposite second end  82  of each of the die blocks  72  inserts into an opposite side  84  of the positive die frame  68 . The opposite side  84  of the positive die frame  68  is provided with a retaining pin  84  in association with each of the die blocks  72 . Each of the retaining pins  84  is inwardly biased by means of a spring  86  or other suitable biasing mechanism. Each die block  72  is provided on its second end  82  with a pin receiving opening  88  for removably receiving its associated retaining pin  84 . The retaining pin  84  removably secures its associated die block  72  within the die frame  68 .  
     [0041] In order to remove the die block  72  from the die frame  68 , a head  90  of the retaining pin  84  that is provided on the outside of the die frame  68  is pulled outward. This causes the retaining pin  84  to be removed from the pin receiving opening  88 . The die block  72  then can be lifted out of the die frame  68 .  
     [0042] To insert another die block  72  into the frame  68 , the head  90  of the retaining pin  84 is again pulled outward, and another die block  72  is inserted into the die frame  68 . The head  90  is then released and the inwardly biased retaining pin  84  inserts into the pin receiving opening  88  provided in the second end  82  of the die block  72 .  
     [0043] Although not illustrated, the die blocks  74  that insert into the negative die frame  70  are removeably secured therein by a similar arrangement of protruding upper ledge  78 , inwardly biased retaining pins  84  with heads  90 , and pin receiving openings  88  as those described for the positive die frame  68  and die blocks  70 .  
     [0044]FIG. 11 illustrates how the positive and negative die frames  68  and  70  fit together face to face by inverting the positive die frame  68  over the negative die frame  70 . FIG. 12 shows the positive and negative die frames  68  and  70  properly aligned by means of spring loaded alignment pins  92  that insert through alignment holes  94  provided in the frames  68  and  70 . A sheet of bronze  66  is inserted between the two frames  68  and  70  and then the entire assembly is inserted into a sheet metal press and pressed in order to form the sheet of bronze  66  into the external element  40 A that bears the family name of the deceased person, as illustrated in FIG. 13.  
     [0045] The alignment pins  92  are spring biased so that the two die frames  68  and  70  are pushed apart from each other and from the external element  40 A that has been created when the sheet of bronze  66  was pressed between the die frames  68  and  70 . By having the alignment pins  94  spring biased in this manner, it is easier to remove the external element  40 A from the die frames  68  and  70  when they are removed from the sheet metal press. It may be desirable to add castable filler material  48  to the inverted external elements  40 A,  40 B,  40 C, and  40 D in order to strengthen them.  
     [0046] The type and number of external elements  40 A,  40 B,  40 C,  40 D,  40 E,  40 F, etc. that are produced will be determined by the type of marker  10  or  10 ′ to be created. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the locking lid  40 E is provided with locking means  55 , such as for example a key lock and key, or alternately, a special type of star head screw and screw driver, to removably secure the locking lid  40 E to the resealable compartment  31 .  
     [0047] To insure that the resealable compartment  31  remains dry inside, an o-ring  57  is provided at the mouth  59  of the resealable compartment  31  so that the o-ring  57  is captured between the mouth  59  of the resealable compartment  31  and the locking lid  40 E when the lid  40 E is attached to the resealable compartment  31 . Also, the lid  40 E may optionally be provided with a tray or trough attached thereto so objects may be more easily inserted into and removed from the resealable compartment  31 .  
     [0048] These resealable compartments  31  allow a small transponder  61  to be placed in the resealable compartment  31 . By having a transponder  61  safely stored in the resealable compartment  31 , a person can use a hand held device  63  to elicit a signal from the transponder  61  that allows the person to easily locate the marker  10  or  10 ′. This is a particularly attractive feature for markers  10  or  10 ′ that are located in large cemeteries where it is often difficult for friends and family members to locate a grave site of a friend or loved one. Although the invention has been described as having resealable compartments  31 , the invention is not so limited and the compartments may be permanently sealed.  
     [0049] However, resealable compartments  31  are preferred since they can be opened to access the transponder and remove items from the resealable compartment  31 .  
     [0050] Each of these external elements  40 A,  40 B,  40 C,  40 D,  40 E,  40 F, etc. may be formed from additional sheets of bronze, or alternately, if the family of the deceased person prefers, may be made from cast bronze. External elements  40 A,  40 B,  40 C,  40 D,  40 E,  40 F, etc. formed from cast bronze will be more expensive and will require longer to create since they must be produced by the same labor intensive methods currently employed to create currently available cast bronze memorial markers.  
     [0051] As shown by box  65  in FIG. 14, the sixth step in the process is securing the external elements to the top sheet  12  or  12 ′ of the marker  10  or  10 ′. Screw holes  56  will be made in the external elements  40 A,  40 B,  40 C,  40 D,  40 E,  40 F, etc. as need to secure the external elements  40 A,  40 B,  40 C,  40 D,  40 E,  40 F, etc. to the predrilled screw receiving holes  36  that were previously formed in the top sheet  12  or  12 ′ of the marker  10  or  10 ′. The screw holes  56  may be created into the external elements  40 A,  40 B,  40 C,  40 D,  40 E,  40 F, etc. when they are formed, may be created in the external elements  40 A,  40 B,  40 C,  40 D,  40 E,  40 F, etc. after the elements  40 A,  40 B,  40 C,  40 D,  40 E,  40 F, etc. are formed, or may be formed in the external elements  40 A,  40 B,  40 C,  40 D,  40 E,  40 F, etc. during the casting process for those elements  40 A,  40 B,  40 C,  40 D,  40 E,  40 F, etc. that are made from cast bronze.  
     [0052] Once the external elements  40 A,  40 B,  40 C,  40 D,  40 E,  40 F, etc. have been created, they are secured to the top sheet  12  or  12 ′ of the memorial marker  10  or  10 ′ via screws  38  that insert through the screw holes  56  provided in the external elements  40 A,  40 B,  40 C,  40 D,  40 E,  40 F, etc. and engage the screw receiving holes  36  provided in the top sheet  12  or  12 ′ of the memorial marker  10  or  10 ′.  
     [0053] As illustrated by box  67  in FIG. 14, the seventh step in the process is securing the marker  10  or  10 ′ to the base  58 . The base  58  will normally be a slab of granite, marble or pre-formed concrete. The base  58  is predrilled so that it contains bolt openings  60  extending through the base  58  from bottom  62  to top  64  of the base  58  and the bolt openings  60  are aligned with their associated threaded bolt receiving slugs  32  previously provided in the bottom sheet  14  of the memorial marker  10  or  10 ′. In order to secure the marker  10  or  10 ′ to the base  58 , bolts  71  are first inserted through large washers  77 , then inserted through the bolt openings  60  in the base  58  from bottom  62  to top  64 , and finally are threaded into the threaded bolt-receiving slugs  32 . The bolts  71  are then rotated until the marker  10  or  10 ′ is firmly secured to the base  58 .  
     [0054] As illustrated by box  69  in FIG. 14, the eighth and final step in the process is installing the marker  10  or  10 ′ and the base  58  at the gravesite. Once the marker  10  or  10 ′ is secured to the base  58 , the base  58  and marker  10  or  10 ′ are ready to be installed at the gravesite. If the base  58  is a slab of granite or marble, cement is generally added to a hole underneath where the base  58  is to be placed in order that the base  58  will be sufficiently supported. If the base  58  is a slab of concrete, the addition of a cement pad underneath the base  58  is not necessary and the concrete base  58  can be placed directly on the ground at the desired location.  
     [0055] Although the memorial marker  10  or  10 ′ has been described as having a bottom sheet  14 , it is possible to make the invention without a bottom sheet  14 . In that case, the castable filler material  48  is simply added to the inverted top sheet  12  after the top sheet  12  has been formed.  
     [0056] While the invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is manifest that many changes may be made in the details of construction and the arrangement of components without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. It is understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments set forth herein for the purposes of exemplification, but is to be limited only by the scope of the attached claim or claims, including the full range of equivalency to which each element thereof is entitled.