Patent Publication Number: US-8966725-B2

Title: Funeral urn system and method of using same

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to the field of cremation, and, more particularly, to a funeral urn system and a method of using same. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The prior art proposes numerous funeral urn systems usable for burying a plurality of funeral urns in the ground. The funeral urn systems of the prior art generally comprise one or more closable tubular elements buried or otherwise formed in the ground of a burial site, and in which are inserted one or more funeral urns. 
     While these prior art devices can generally fulfill the main objective of allowing the burial of one or more funeral urns in the grounds, they also entail one or more of the following disadvantages. 
     The funeral urn systems of the prior art generally require the digging of a bore or multiple bores in the ground, which inevitably involves additional costs related to managing the thus excavated earth and sometimes providing post-earthworks and land terracing. In the case of recycled burial sites, additional costs may be related to managing bone pieces and coffin material excavated therefrom. 
     The maximum number of funeral urns that can be buried in a single bore provided in the ground is generally limited to depth of the latter. 
     The funeral urn systems of the prior art generally do not provide a relatively simple means of retrieving the urns from the burial site once they have been inserted are buried therein. 
     Some funeral urn systems of the prior art further require expensive drilling equipment and additional headstone elements for providing a burial site ready to receive funeral urns. 
     Against this background, there exists a need for an improved funeral urn system. An object of the present invention is to provide such an improved funeral urn system. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In a broad aspect, the invention provides a funeral urn system, the funeral urn system comprising: a funeral urn defining an urn proximal attachment and a substantially opposed urn distal attachment, the funeral urn including an urn body defining an ashes receiving cavity and an urn aperture leading into the ashes receiving cavity, the funeral urn also including an urn cap selectively securable to the urn body in register with the urn aperture to seal the ashes receiving cavity; and a spear head cap, the spear head cap defining a cap proximal attachment and a substantially opposed cap distal end section tapering in a direction leading away from the cap proximal attachment. The urn proximal and distal attachments are configured and sized to be selectively attachable respectively to the urn distal and proximal attachments of an other urn similar to the funeral urn; and the urn distal and cap proximal attachments are configured and sized to be selectively attachable to each other. 
     In a variant, the funeral urn system further comprises a burial sleeve having a substantially elongated tubular configuration, the burial sleeve being configured and sized for slidably receiving thereinto, for example substantially freely slidably, the funeral urn with the spear head cap attached to the urn distal attachment. 
     In some embodiments of the invention, the burial sleeve defines substantially longitudinally opposed sleeve proximal and distal apertures and a sleeve passageway extending therebetween, the sleeve proximal and distal apertures being configured and sized to allow movement of the funeral urn therethrough with the spear head cap attached to the urn distal attachment. 
     In some embodiments of the invention, a burial marker cap is positionable across the sleeve proximal aperture and attachable to the burial sleeve. 
     In some embodiments of the invention, the burial sleeve is configured and sized for receiving a stack of urns including a plurality of the funeral urn attached to each other through the urn proximal and distal attachments. 
     In some embodiments of the invention, one of the urn proximal and distal attachments includes an attachment protrusion extending substantially longitudinally away from the remainder of the funeral urn and a locking prong extending substantially laterally away from the attachment protrusion spaced apart from the remainder of the funeral urn so as to define an attachment gap between the remainder of the funeral urn and the locking prong; and an other one of the urn proximal and distal attachments includes an attachment recess extending substantially longitudinally into the urn body from an attachment recess outer end to a substantially longitudinally opposed attachment recess inner end, the other one of the urn proximal and distal attachments also defining a locking channel extending substantially laterally from the attachment recess and a locking groove extending substantially circumferentially from the locking channel peripherally relative to the attachment recess and spaced apart from the attachment recess outer end, the attachment recess and the locking channel being respectively configured and sized for longitudinally receiving the attachment protrusion and the locking prong thereinto, the locking groove being also configured and sized for receiving the locking prong thereinto when said attachment protrusion is in said attachment recess. 
     For example, the attachment protrusion and the attachment recess each have a substantially cylindrical configuration. 
     In a specific embodiment of the invention, the locking channel extends over an arc segment that is between about 45 degrees and about 270 degrees in angular extent. 
     In some embodiments of the invention, the one of the urn proximal and distal attachments is the urn proximal attachment and the other one of the urn proximal and distal attachments is the urn distal attachment. 
     In some embodiments of the invention, the cap proximal attachment is similar to the urn proximal attachment. 
     In some embodiments of the invention, the urn body defines an urn body proximal surface adjacent the urn proximal attachment, the urn aperture extending through the urn body proximal surface, the urn proximal attachment being defined by the urn cap. 
     In some embodiments of the invention, the cap distal end section defines a point opposed to the cap proximal attachment. For example, the cap distal end section is substantially conical. 
     In a variant, the funeral urn system further comprises a burial marker cap, the burial marker cap including a marker distal attachment selectively attachable to the urn proximal attachment. 
     In a variant, the funeral urn system further comprises a burial sleeve having a substantially elongated tubular configuration, the burial sleeve being configured and sized for substantially freely slidably receiving thereinto the funeral urn with the spear head cap attached to the urn distal attachment, the burial sleeve defining substantially longitudinally opposed sleeve proximal and distal apertures and a sleeve passageway extending therebetween, the sleeve proximal and distal apertures being configured and sized to allow the funeral urn to go therethrough with the spear head cap attached to the urn distal attachment; and a burial tool for inserting the burial sleeve into a ground, the burial tool including a driving stake, the driving stake including a driving element defining a driving element point and configured and sized so as to be substantially fittingly received in the burial sleeve, the driving stake also including a spacing member extending from the driving element substantially away from the driving element point, the spacing member being configured and sized so as to extend along about the whole length of the burial sleeve and protrude proximally therefrom when the driving element is positioned in the burial sleeve with the driving element point protruding from the sleeve distal aperture. 
     In some embodiments of the invention, the burial tool further includes an impact anvil of a larger diameter than the burial sleeve and positionable across the burial sleeve opposed to the driving element, the impact anvil defining a spacing member receiving portion for receiving part of the spacing member thereinto. 
     In a variant, the impact anvil defines an anvil recess for receiving the urn cap and an anvil shoulder extending peripherally relative to the anvil recess for abutting against the urn body with the urn cap is received in the anvil recess. 
     In a variant, the urn proximal and distal attachments are configured and sized to be selectively reversibly attachable respectively to the urn distal and proximal attachments of the other urn. 
     In another broad aspect, the invention provides a method of burying a funeral urn, the method comprising: burying in the ground part of a substantially tubular burial sleeve, the burial sleeve defining a sleeve proximal aperture, a substantially longitudinally opposed sleeve distal aperture and a sleeve passageway extending therebetween, the sleeve passageway being substantially empty after the burial sleeve has been buried into the ground; and inserting the funeral urn in the burial sleeve. 
     In a variant, the method further comprises closing the sleeve proximal aperture using a burial marker cap. 
     In a variant, the funeral urn is part of an urn stack including a plurality of the funeral urn attached to each other, the urn stack terminating in a point, inserting the funeral urn in the burial sleeve including inserting the urn stack in the burial sleeve. 
     In a variant, the urn stack is longer than the burial sleeve, the method further comprising pushing the urn stack into the ground such that the urn stack protrudes from the sleeve distal aperture. 
     Some advantages of the funeral urn system and method of the present invention are as follows. 
     In typical use, the funeral urn system does not require any digging at all since a bore in the ground for the funeral urns is formed through the use of the burial tool. Thus, the use of the funeral urn system described above avoids costly operations deriving from digging burial graves, post-burial earthworks and land terracing, as well as costs related to the management of bone pieces and coffin material excavated from recycled burial sites. 
     The number of funeral urns that can be serially buried in the ground at a single location is relatively larger than for other funeral urn systems of the prior art since additional funeral urns may be serially buried in an already filled up burial bore provided in the ground, by using the burial tool. 
     The funeral urn system may be advantageously used to recycle disused burial sites since the impact resistant and spear-shaped head cap positioned at a distal end of the burial tool and at the distal end of serially engaged funeral urns, can relatively easily drive its way through earth, gravel, multiple buried coffins and loose rocks. 
     Serially buried funeral urns at a single location may be relatively easily retrieved from a burial site, for examples, when a forensic examination and analysis on a particular funeral urn is required, or a particular funeral urn needs to be relocated at another site. 
     Prior to, or alternatively to, the burial operation, the funeral urns may as well be individually used for conventional display on a horizontal surface at home or at a mausoleum. 
     The components of the funeral urn system of the present invention are typically relatively simple and economical to manufacture. 
     Other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading of the following non-restrictive description of some embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1 , in a bottom perspective, exploded view, illustrates an impact anvil, a driving stake, and a burial sleeve part of a funeral urn system; 
         FIG. 2 , in a side cross-sectional view, illustrates the impact anvil, driving stake and burial sleeve of  FIG. 1  in an assembled state; 
         FIG. 3 , in a partial, bottom perspective exploded view, illustrates a funeral urn part of the funeral urn system, the funeral urn including an urn body, an urn cap and a spear head cap; 
         FIG. 4 , in a top perspective view, illustrates the funeral urn of  FIG. 3  with the funeral urn sealed by the urn cap and attached to the spear head cap; 
         FIG. 5 , in a partial, top perspective view, illustrates an urn cap attached to, and sealably closing, an urn aperture of the urn body; 
         FIG. 6 , in a partial, bottom perspective exploded view, illustrates the spear head cap in position for twist and lock engagement with a attachment recess of the funeral urn; 
         FIG. 7 , in a partial, bottom perspective exploded view, illustrates the urn distal end section of the funeral urn in position for lockable engagement with the urn cap of another sealed funeral urn; 
         FIG. 8 , in a bottom perspective view, illustrates a first sealed funeral urn in position for twist and lock engagement above a second sealed funeral urn, which in turn is lockingly engaged with the spear head cap; 
         FIG. 9 , in a top perspective view, illustrates the sealed funeral urns of  FIG. 8  in an assembled state; 
         FIG. 10 , in a top perspective view, illustrates an additional sealed funeral urn in position for twist and lock engagement with the proximal end of the pair of assembled funeral urns illustrated in  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 11 , in a top perspective, exploded view, illustrates a burial marker cap and a sealed funeral urn equipped with a spear head cap, in position above a burial sleeve partially buried in the ground; 
         FIG. 12 , in a bottom perspective, exploded view, illustrates the assembly of a cap member and a sealed funeral urn attached to a spear head cap, in position above a burial sleeve partially buried in the ground; 
         FIG. 13 , in a top perspective exploded view, illustrate the assembly of  FIG. 12 , wherein only the cap member is lockingly engaged with the urn cap of the sealed funeral urn; 
         FIG. 14 , in a top perspective exploded view, illustrates a burial marker plate in position for assembly on a proximal surface of the cap member, and the assembly of the latter with a proximal end of a burial sleeve (hidden from view) that is partially buried in the ground; 
         FIG. 15 , in a top perspective view, illustrate the elements shown in  FIG. 14  in an assembled state; and 
         FIG. 16 , in a partial side elevational, cross-sectional view, illustrates the use of an impact anvil and a sledge hammer for burying deeper in the ground a series of mutually engaged stacked sealed funeral urns and spear head cap, all slidably engaged in a burial sleeve, itself partially buried in the ground. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIGS. 1 to 16  show various aspects of a funeral urn system  11  usable for the burial of one or more funeral urns  10  in a stackable manner at a single vertical location in the ground  13 , as seen for example in  FIG. 16 . 
     The funeral urn system  11  generally includes a burial sleeve  40  having a substantially elongated tubular configuration that can be partially buried in the ground  13  and closable with a burial marker cap  60  (seen in  FIG. 15 ). The funeral urn system  11  further comprises at least one funeral urn  10  and a spear head cap  26 . Typically, the funeral urn system  11  is used by assembling one or a series of more than one serially engaged funeral urns  10  that are in turn serially engaged between the burial marker cap  60  and the spear head cap  26 . The burial sleeve  40  is configured and sized for substantially freely slidably receiving thereinto the funeral urn  10 , or the series of funeral urns  10 , with the spear head cap  26  attached to the distalmost funeral urn  10 . In some embodiments of the invention, the funeral urn system  11  further comprises a burial tool  50 , seen for example in  FIG. 1 , usable for burying in the ground  13  the burial sleeve  40  as well as burying deeper in the ground  13  a series of mutually engaged funeral urns  10  assembled with a spear head cap  26  that are slidably engaged in the burial sleeve  40  buried in the ground  13 . 
       FIGS. 3 to 10  show more particularly various aspects of an embodiment of a funeral urn  10  part of the funeral urn system  11 , according to the present invention. As best illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the funeral urn  10  generally includes an urn body  12  for containing the funeral ashes of a deceased individual (not shown in the drawings), and an urn cap  14  for sealing the funeral urn  10 . 
     The urn body  12  and urn cap  14  are typically made of a substantially impact resistant and rust proof material, or combination of materials, such as, for example, stainless steel, a rust-proof iron, wood, a polymeric material, a bio-degradable material, and the likes. In a specific embodiment of the invention, the urn body  12  and urn cap  14  are made of stainless steel for extended durability once the funeral urn  10  is buried, for example, in the ground  13  or in a sea bottom, or simply dropped in the sea. 
     Typically, the urn body  12  has a generally cylindrical and hollow configuration defining an ashes receiving cavity  15 . The urn body  12  also defines an urn proximal end  16  and an urn distal end  18 . The urn body  12  defines an urn aperture  20  leading to the ashes receiving cavity  15  through which the ashes may be poured in. The urn aperture  20  is shaped and sized for receiving and selectively sealingly securing thereto the urn cap  14  in register therewith. Typically, the urn aperture  20  is provided at the urn proximal end  16  and has a relatively smaller diameter with respect to the diameter of the urn body  12 , thus defining an urn proximal surface  22  (seen for example in  FIG. 4 ) therearound. 
     The terminology distal and proximal refers to the distance from an intended user of the funeral urn system  11  in a typical use in which the funeral urns  10  are inserted vertically in the ground  13 . Therefore, distal elements are buried deeper in the ground  13  than distal elements. This terminology is used to facilitate the description of the funeral urn system  11  and should not be used to restrict the scope of the present invention. Also, the terminology “substantially” is used to denote variations in the thus qualified terms that have no significant effect on the principle of operation of the funeral urn system  11 . These variations may be minor variations in design or variations due to mechanical tolerances in manufacturing and use of the funeral urn system  11 . These variations are to be seen with the eye of the reader skilled in the art. 
     The funeral urn  10  defines an urn proximal attachment  17 , better seen for example in  FIG. 5 , and a substantially opposed urn distal attachment  19  (seen in  FIG. 6 ). The urn proximal and distal attachments  17  and  19  are configured and sized to be selectively attachable, typically reversibly, respectively to the urn distal and proximal attachments  19  and  17  of another urn  10  similar to the funeral urn  10 . 
     Also, as seen for example in  FIG. 3 , the spear head cap  26  defines a cap proximal attachment  25  and a substantially opposed cap distal end section  44  tapering in a direction leading away from the cap proximal attachment  25 . The urn distal attachment  19  is configured and sized to be selectively attachable to the cap proximal attachment  25 . 
     A specific embodiment of the urn proximal and distal attachments  17  and  19  is described hereinbelow. In this embodiment, the urn proximal attachment  17  is a “male” attachment defining a protrusion and the urn distal attachment  19  is a “female” attachment defining a recess for receiving the protrusion. However, it is within the scope of the present invention to reverse the locations of the male and female attachments. Also, other types of attachments can be used without departing from the scope of the invention. 
     More specifically, referring to  FIG. 6  for example, the urn distal attachment  19  includes an attachment recess  24  extending substantially longitudinally into the urn body  12  from an attachment recess outer end  27  to a substantially longitudinally opposed attachment recess inner end  29 . In other words, the attachment recess  24  extends in a proximal direction. The attachment recess  24  is shaped and sized for selectively engaging, in a twist and lock relation, either an urn cap  14  that is typically sealingly attached to another funeral urn  10 , as best illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , or the cap proximal attachment  25  of a spear head cap  26 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  6 . Typically, the attachment recess  24  has a cylindrical configuration. 
     The urn proximal attachment  17  is defined by the urn cap  14 . To that effect, as seen for example in  FIG. 3 , the urn cap  14  is typically generally cylindrical and defines an urn cap proximal end  28  and an urn cap distal end  30 . The urn cap distal end  30  is configured and size for abutting against and sealingly closing the urn aperture  20  of the urn body  12  using any conventional means such as a soldering process, a thermal bonding process, glue, or the likes. The attachment recess  24  is configured and sized for longitudinally receiving the urn cap  14  thereinto. 
     The urn cap  14  therefore forms an attachment protrusion extending substantially longitudinally away from the remainder of the funeral urn  10 . The urn cap proximal end  28  is closed with a circular proximal wall member and provided with a locking prong  32  extending laterally away from a circumferential portion thereof, or in other words from the attachment protrusion. The locking prong  32  is spaced apart from the remainder of the funeral urn  10  so as to define an attachment gap  31  (seen for example in  FIG. 5 ) between the remainder of the funeral urn  10  and the locking prong  32 . The locking prong  32  is shaped and sized for slidably engaging in a compatibly shaped and sized locking channel  38  (seen for example in  FIG. 6 ) extending substantially laterally from the attachment recess  24 . The locking channel  38  is configured and sized for longitudinally receiving the locking prong  32  thereinto. 
     The attachment recess  24  has a substantially cylindrical configuration extending inwardly in a proximal direction relative to the urn distal end  18 , thus defining a distal circumferential edge  36 . The attachment recess  24  has a diameter that is suitably sized for substantially freely slidably receiving therein the urn cap  14 . 
     A locking groove  34  extends substantially circumferentially from the locking channel  38  peripherally relative to the attachment recess  24  and spaced apart from the attachment recess outer end  29 . The locking groove  34  is therefore a partially-circular groove extending along an proximal inner cylindrical surface portion of the attachment recess  24 , with one end originating at the locking channel  38 . The locking groove  34  may extend around the inner cylindrical surface of the attachment recess  24 , for example, between one eighth (⅛) and three-quarter (¾) of a circle. This corresponds to the locking groove  34  extending over an arc segment that is between about 45 degrees and about 270 degrees in angular extent. For example, the locking groove  34  extends one-quarter (¼) of a circle. The locking groove  34  is configured and sized for receiving the locking prong  32  thereinto. 
     Furthermore, and for esthetic reasons, when the urn cap  14  is sealingly attached to the urn aperture  20 , the locking prong  32  is typically longitudinally aligned with the locking channel  38 . Thus, the funeral urn  10  may be conveniently positioned and radially oriented for display, for example, on a shelf, such that both the locking prong  32  of the urn cap  14  and the locking channel  38  of the urn body  12  are substantially hidden behind the funeral urn  10 . 
     The funeral urn  10  typically has a diameter that is relatively slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the burial sleeve  40  selectively used for the burial of one or more funeral urns  10  in a longitudinal serial fashion into the ground  13 . Referring to  FIG. 1 , the burial sleeve  40  defines substantially longitudinally opposed sleeve proximal and distal apertures  70  and  80  and a sleeve passageway  71 , better seen in  FIG. 2 , extending therebetween. The sleeve proximal and distal apertures  70  and  80  are configured and sized to allow movement of the funeral urn  10  therethrough with the spear head cap  26  attached to the urn distal attachment  19 . Typically, the burial sleeve  40  is configured and sized for receiving a stack of urns including a plurality of the funeral urn  10  attached to each other through the urn proximal and distal attachments  17  and  19 , as seen in  FIG. 11 . 
     Furthermore, in some embodiments of the invention, the funeral urn  10  may have an overall longitudinal length, which includes the urn body  12  and the urn cap  14 , that is roughly between 6 inches and 2 feet (roughly between 15.2 cm and 60.9 cm). For example, the funeral urn  10  has an overall longitudinal length of roughly one foot (30.5 cm). 
     In an alternative embodiment of a funeral urn system  11  (not shown), according to the present invention, the funeral urn  10  has the locking channel  38  replaced with a channel extending vertically along an inner circumferential portion of the attachment recess  24 , and which is having sufficient dimension for allowing the locking prong  32  of an urn cap  14  to be substantially freely slidably inserted vertically therealong in order to reach one end of the horizontally extending locking channel  38 . Thus, there is no notch that is visibly apparent along the outer circumferential surface of the urn body  12 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the spear head cap  26  defines a cap proximal end  42  and a cap distal end section  44  opposed thereto. The spear head cap  26  is substantially identically shaped and sized as the urn cap  14  adjacent the cap proximal end  42 , including a spear head cap locking prong  32 . The cap proximal attachment  25  is for lockingly engaging into the attachment recess  24  of a funeral urn  10 . Therefore, the cap proximal attachment  25  is similar to the urn proximal attachment  17 . 
     The cap distal end section  44  defines a point  45  opposed to the cap proximal attachment  25 . For example, the cap distal end section  44  is substantially conical and usable as an impact boring head in cooperative relation with an impact anvil  46 , which will be described further below. 
     The spear head cap  26  is made of a substantially impact-proof and rust proof material. Typically, the spear head cap  26  may be made of the same material as the funeral urn  10 . 
     In an alternative embodiment of a funeral urn system  11 , according to the present invention, the attachment recess  24  and spear head cap  26  may both be provided with more than one locking prong  32  with corresponding locking channel  38  and locking groove  34  combinations. For example, in alternate embodiments, the attachment recess  24  and spear head cap  26  may be provided with either two or three locking prongs  32 , locking channel  38  and locking groove  34  combinations. 
     Various aspects of a burial tool  50  for inserting the burial sleeve  40  into a ground  13  are illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The burial tool  50  is usable, in cooperative relation with the substantially elongated and tubular burial sleeve  40  and a burial marker cap  60 , for the burial in the ground  13  of one or more funeral urn  10 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 11 to 16  inclusively, as described hereinbelow. 
     The burial tool  50  generally includes an impact anvil  46  and a driving stake  52 . The driving stake  52  includes a driving element  78  defining a driving element point  79  and configured and sized so as to be substantially fittingly received in the burial sleeve  40 . The driving stake  52  also includes a spacing member  74  extending from the driving element  78  substantially away from the driving element point  79 . The spacing member  74  is configured and sized so as to extend along about the whole length of the burial sleeve  40  and protrude proximally therefrom when the driving element  78  is positioned in the burial sleeve  40  with the driving element point  79  protruding from the sleeve distal aperture  80 . 
     The impact anvil  46  is typically represented by a solid body made of a substantially impact resistant and relatively heavy material such as, for examples, steel, cast iron, brass or any suitable metal alloy. The impact anvil  46  is of a larger diameter than the burial sleeve  40  and positionable across the burial sleeve  40  opposed to the driving element  78 . The impact anvil  46  typically defines a substantially flat anvil proximal surface  56  and a substantially flat anvil distal surface  58 . 
     The anvil distal surface  58  is provided with a spacing member receiving portion  62  for receiving part of the spacing member  74  thereinto. For example, the spacing member receiving portion  62  takes the form of a centrally disposed and perpendicularly proximally extending recess that is shaped and sized for receiving and engaging therein, in a substantially substantially freely slidable relation, a proximal end portion  64  of the spacing member  74 , as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
     Furthermore, as best illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 16 , the impact anvil  46  defines an anvil recess  66  for receiving the urn cap  14  and an anvil shoulder  67  extending peripherally relative to the anvil recess  66  for abutting against the urn body  12 , and more specifically the urn proximal surface  22  with the urn cap  14  received in the anvil recess  66 . Typically, the anvil recess  66  is coaxially disposed relative to the spacing member receiving portion  62 . 
     In some embodiments of the invention, the anvil distal surface  58  further defines a centrally disposed and concentric sleeve engaging groove  68  that is shaped and sized for receiving and stably engaging therein the burial sleeve  40  adjacent the sleeve proximal aperture  70 . The sleeve engaging groove  68  is typically relatively shallower than the spacing member receiving portion  62 . 
     In specific embodiments of the invention, given as example only, the impact anvil  46  has overall dimensions that are ranging roughly between 3 to 5 inches (7.6 to 12.7 cm) of height, and between 3 to 5 inches (7.6 to 12.7 cm) in lateral diameter. Other dimensions are also possible. The spacing member receiving portion  62  may have an overall longitudinal length, including the anvil recess  66  that is roughly between 2 to 3 inches (2.5 to 7.6 cm). 
     Now referring more particularly to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the spacing member  74  is typically generally elongated. In some embodiments of the invention, the spacing member  74  is provided with a transversal opening  76  (seen only in  FIG. 1 ) proximally located for attaching thereto a conventional puller means (not shown) usable for pulling the driving stake  52  out of the ground  13 . For example, a relatively simple and commercially available puller means may be represented by a relatively short chain link having one end attachable to the spacing member  74 , for example using a screw and nut combination, and the opposite end provided with a transversal handle bar or the like. 
     The driving element  78  includes a sleeve engaging portion  81  and a ground penetrating element  83 . The sleeve engaging portion  81  has a lateral diameter that is slightly smaller than the inner circumferential diameter of the burial sleeve  40  such that the driving stake  52  may be substantially freely slidably inserted therein. The ground penetrating element  83  extends distally from the sleeve engaging portion  81  and is, for example, conical. 
     Furthermore, the overall longitudinal length of the driving stake  52  is such that, when the driving stake  52  is inserted inside the burial sleeve  40  in an operative configuration, the sleeve engaging portion  81  extends through the sleeve distal aperture  80  and the spacing member  74  protrudes proximally from the burial sleeve  40  such that the spacing member  74  is receivable in the spacing member receiving portion  62  with the burial sleeve  40  received in the sleeve engaging groove  68 . 
     The tubular burial sleeve  40  is represented by a substantially elongated and open ended tubular member having preferably a circular transversal cross-section. 
     In other embodiments of a funeral urn system  11 , according to the present invention, the transversal cross-section of the burial sleeve  40 , and consequently the compatibly shaped transversal cross-section of the anvil recess  66  of the impact anvil  46 , the urn body  12  of the funeral urn  10 , and outer circumference of the driving element  78 , may have any other suitable configuration than circular. For examples, an oval transversal cross-section, or a polygonal transversal cross-section such as a hexagonal transversal cross-section or an octagonal transversal cross-section. 
     In some embodiments of the invention, the burial sleeve  40  is provided with a plurality of burial sleeve screw holes  82  equidistantly disposed around the circumference thereof adjacent the sleeve proximal aperture  70 . The burial sleeve screw holes  82  are usable in cooperative relation with a burial marker cap  60  positionable across the sleeve proximal aperture  70  and attachable to the burial sleeve  40  using a corresponding number of screws  84  for closing the sleeve proximal aperture  70 , as best illustrated in  FIG. 11 . The burial marker cap  60  will be described further below. 
     Thus, with the spacing member receiving portion  62  and the sleeve engaging groove  68  that are stably engaged with the spacing member  74  and the tubular burial sleeve  40  respectively, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the combination represented by the burial tool  50  and the burial sleeve  40  generally forms an elongated member whose pointed distal end can be hammered into the ground  13  using a conventional sledge hammer  90  or the like. 
     In a specific embodiment of the invention, the burial sleeve  40  may have a longitudinal length of roughly between 6 inches (about 15 cm) and 12 feet (about 3.6 meters). Other length dimensions of the burial sleeve  40  are also possible. For example, the burial sleeve  40  has a longitudinal length of about 5 feet (about 1.5 meters). Furthermore, the burial sleeve  40  may have a diameter of roughly between two inches and 10 inches (roughly between 5 cm and 25.4 cm), although other dimensions are possible. For example, the burial sleeve  40  has a diameter of about three inches (about 7.6 cm). 
     Once the combination described above has been hammered into the ground  13 , with the burial sleeve  40  protruding thereof by, for example, a length of roughly between one inch and two feet (roughly between 2.5 cm and 61 cm), the impact anvil  46  may be removed, followed with the removal of the driving stake  52  by hand or with the help of a conventional puller means if required. 
     Afterward, the burial marker cap  60  is attached, typically removably, to the burial sleeve  40  using screws  84 , for securely closing the sleeve proximal aperture  70 , as best illustrated in  FIGS. 11 and 14 . 
     Now referring more particularly to  FIGS. 11 to 15  inclusively, the burial marker cap  60  generally includes a cap member  92  defining a cap member proximal end portion  94  and a cap member distal end portion  96 . The burial marker cap  60  further includes a burial marker plate  100  defining a base portion  102  that is removably attachable to the cap member proximal end portion  94  of the cap member  92  using screws  84 . 
     As best illustrated in  FIG. 12 , the burial cap distal end portion  96  defines a substantially flat surface that is provided with a marker distal attachment  104  selectively attachable to the urn proximal attachment  17 . The marker distal attachment  104  is shaped similarly to the urn distal attachment  19 . Also, typically, a centrally disposed and concentric cap member engaging groove  106  is also formed in the cap member  92 . 
     The marker distal attachment  104  is for engaging, in a similar fashion as the attachment recess  24  (e.g. in a twist and lock relation) an urn cap  14  that is typically sealingly attached to the proximal end of a funeral urn  10 , as best illustrated in  FIGS. 12 and 13 . 
     The cap member engaging groove  106  is configured, shaped and sized similar or identical to the sleeve engaging groove  68  of the impact anvil  46  described further above. The cap member engaging groove  106  is for engaging the burial sleeve  40  adjacent the sleeve proximal aperture  70 . 
     The cap member  92  further includes a plurality of cap member screw holes  108  for removably attaching the latter to the burial sleeve  40  using screws  84 . The cap member screw holes  108  extend radially inwardly between outer peripheral portions of the cap member  92  and the cap member engaging groove  106 . The cap member screw holes  108  are in corresponding number and are equidistantly disposed around the outer peripheral portion of the cap member  92  such that they are substantially in register with the burial sleeve screw holes  82 . The cap member proximal end portion  94  is further provided with burial plate screw holes  110 , for removably attaching thereto the burial marker plate  100 . 
     As exemplified in the drawings, the burial marker plate  100  may be represented by an angular plate member generally defining a proximal plate portion  112  for inscribing thereon burial markings, epitaphs and the likes, and a base portion  102  that is provided with a plurality of marker plate screw holes  114  for removably attaching the burial marker plate  100  to the cap member proximal end portion  94  of the cap member  92  using screws  84 . 
     It is to be understood that the burial marker plate  100  may have any other suitable configuration such as, for example, a three-dimensional element such as a sphere-shaped member, a cube-shaped member, a cylinder-shaped member, an abstract form, a figurine-shaped form, or the likes. 
     In some embodiments of the invention, the screws  84  used for removably attaching the burial marker plate  100  to the cap member  92  and the cap member  92  to the burial sleeve  40  have a screw-head key configuration of the temper-proof type that is not compatible with standard screwdriver configurations, for preventing vandalism or unauthorized removal of the burial marker plate  100  and/or the cap member  92 . This type of temper-proof screws and compatible screwdrivers are commercially available through specialized markets for original equipment manufacturers (OEM). 
     The burial sleeve  40 , the cap member  92 , the burial marker plate  100  and screws  84  are typically made of a substantially rigid and rust proof metal such as, for example, stainless steel, brass, a suitable metal alloy, or the likes. 
     In an alternate embodiment of a funeral urn system  11  (not shown), according to the present invention, the burial marker cap  60  is removably attached to the burial sleeve  40  in any other suitable manner, for example through a pair of hook members fixedly attached on diametrically opposite sides of the burial sleeve  40 . These hook members are used in cooperative relation with an elongated strip of metal bent in a substantially U-shaped configuration for diametrically encompassing the cap member  92  and which is provided with suitable openings at each distal end thereof for engaging the hook members, and a pair of padlocks for selectively locking the burial marker cap  60  on the burial sleeve  40 . 
     In another alternative embodiment of a funeral urn system  11 , according to the present invention, the burial marker cap  60 , instead of being removably attached to the burial sleeve  40 , is fixedly attached thereto using rivets, a conventional soldering process, a conventional thermal bonding process, a suitable glue, or the likes. Thus, the burial marker cap  60  may require thereafter a drill tool, a grinder tool, a blowtorch, or the likes, for removing the latter from the burial sleeve  40 . 
     In yet other alternate embodiments of a funeral urn system  11 , according to the present invention, the burial marker plate  100  may be made of stone material such as granite, marble or the likes, that is screwed, glued or otherwise rigidly attached to the cap member proximal end portion  94 . 
     A typical mode of usage of the funeral urn system  11 , according to the present invention, generally consists of the following steps. 
     In a first step, funeral ashes of a deceased person or persons are poured in the urn body  12  of a funeral urn  10 , followed with sealing the urn aperture  20  with an urn cap  14 , for example using a suitable soldering process. 
     At this point, the funeral urn  10  may simply be put permanently or temporarily for display, for example, on a horizontal surface at home or at a mausoleum. Optionally, the sealed funeral urn  10  containing the ashes may be buried using the following steps. 
     In a second step, the burial tool  50  and burial sleeve  40  may be coaxially assembled, along with the impact anvil  46  stably engaged adjacent the sleeve proximal aperture, as illustrated in  FIG. 1  to bury the tubular sleeve  40  into the ground  13 . For example, this is performed with impacting the anvil proximal surface  56  with sufficient force using, for example, the sledge hammer  90  or the like, for simultaneously driving the driving stake  52  and the burial sleeve  40  into the ground  13  until only a portion of the burial sleeve  40  protrudes from the ground  13 . 
     In a third step, the impact anvil  46  and driving stake  52  are removed using, if required, a puller means attached through the transversal opening  76 . The sleeve passageway  71  is therefore substantially empty after the burial sleeve  40  has been buried into the ground  13 . 
     In a fourth step, a first sealed funeral urn  10  has its urn cap  14  lockingly engaged in the marker distal attachment  104  of the burial marker cap  60 , and the cap proximal attachment  25  of a spear head cap  26  lockingly engaged into the attachment recess  24  of the funeral urn  10 . 
     In a fifth step, the funeral urn  10  is inserted in the burial sleeve  40  and the burial marker cap  60 , sealed funeral urn  10  and spear head cap  26  assembly is engaged and securely attached to the burial sleeve  40  partially buried in the ground  13  using, for example, temper-proof screws  84 . The sleeve proximal aperture  70  is thus closed using the burial marker cap  60 . 
     Optionally, additional sealed funeral urns  10  may be buried in a same burial sleeve  40  using the following steps. 
     In a sixth step, the burial marker cap  60  is unscrewed and removed from the burial sleeve  40 , additional sealed funeral urns  10  are serially lockingly engaged to one another, and between the burial marker cap  60  and the spear head cap  26 , and the resulting assembly is engaged and securely attached to the burial sleeve  40 . The attached funeral urns  10  form an urn stack including a plurality of the funeral urns  10  attached to each other, the urn stack terminating in a point due to the spear head cap  26 . 
     Optionally, in a seventh step, and when the urn stack is longer than the burial sleeve  40 , or in other words when the spear head cap  26  abuts at the bottom of the bore created by the driving stake  52 , and the last funeral urn  10  at the proximal end of an assembled series protrudes above the burial sleeve  40 , as illustrated in  FIG. 16 , the impact anvil  46  is engaged on top of the proximalmost funeral urn  10 , and the sledge hammer  90  or the like is used to impact sufficient force to push the series of sealed urns  10  deeper in the ground  13  until the anvil distal surface  58  abuts against the burial sleeve  40 . 
     While the burial sleeve  40  may be for example only 5 feet long (1.5 meters), an elongated series of mutually engaged sealed urns  10  may thus be relatively easily additionally buried much deeper, and at the same burial site, to reach 25 feet or more (7.6 meters) into, for example, a soft burial ground  13  such as a clay, silt or sand based ground  13 , or the like. 
     In an eighth step, the burial marker cap  60  is lockingly engaged, in a twist and lock relation, with the urn cap  14  of the proximalmost sealed funeral urn  10 , and simultaneously engaged on top of the burial sleeve  40 , after which the burial marker cap  60  may again be securely attached thereto using temper-proof screws  84 . 
     Optionally, in a tenth step, or simultaneously with any of the steps described above, only the burial marker plate  100  may be temporarily removed for updating the inscriptions appearing on it or replaced altogether with a new one. 
     Furthermore, serially buried funeral urns  10  at a single location may be relatively easily retrieved from a burial site, for examples, when a forensic examination and analysis on a particular funeral urn is required, or a particular funeral urn needs to be relocated at another site. 
     In some alternative embodiments of the present invention, a relatively short burial sleeve  40  may have a longitudinal length that is substantially equivalent to the longitudinal length of one sealed funeral urn  10 , e.g., comprising an urn body  12  sealed with an urn cap  14 . Thus, when a sealed funeral urn  10  is coaxially engaged within such a relatively short burial sleeve  40 , one end of the burial sleeve  40  substantially coincide with the urn cap proximal end  28  of the urn cap  14 , and the opposite end of the burial sleeve  40  substantially coincides with the urn distal end  18  thereof. Typically, the burial sleeve  40  and sealed funeral urn  10  may both have a longitudinal length of roughly one foot (30 cm). Thus, an alternative method of burying one or more such assembly of a sealed funeral urn  10  and a relatively short burial sleeves  40  is as follows. 
     In a first step, a spear head cap  26  is lockingly attached to the urn distal attachment  19  of the sealed funeral urn  10 , and this assembly is coaxially engaged within a burial sleeve  40  that is substantially the length of the funeral urn  10 . 
     In a second step, a user may abut the spear head cap  26  of the assembly of the previous step on the ground  13 , followed with engaging the impact anvil  46  on the urn cap  14  and burial sleeve  40 , and driving the assembly in the ground  13  using the sledge hammer  90  or the like. 
     In a third step, the impact anvil  46  is removed and a burial marker cap  60  is engaged and fixedly attached to the thus protruding burial sleeve  40  and urn cap  14 . Thus, a single funeral urn  10  is advantageously and effectively buried requiring only a minimum number of manual operations. 
     Optionally, in a fourth step, the burial marker cap  60  may be removed, followed with one or more subsequent assembly comprising only a sealed funeral urn  10  that is coaxially engaged in a relatively short burial sleeve  40  (e.g. without a spear head cap  26 ). 
     In a fifth step, the assembly of the previous step has its distal end positioned in register and abutting against the proximal end of the burial sleeve  40  and urn cap  14  protruding from the ground  13 , followed with driving this additional urn and sleeve assembly, along with the one already buried, deeper in the ground  13 . 
     Using the method described above, there can be typically four to five such urn and sleeve assemblies that are subsequently buried in the ground  13 , followed with even more additional sealed urns  10  that are buried therewith, and this time, without additional short burial sleeve  40 , depending on the softness of the burial ground  13 , using the seventh step of the first method described further above. 
     Furthermore, it will be appreciated that a person skilled in the art may advantageously use the burial tool  50  for driving, for example, fence stakes in the ground  13 . For example, the impact anvil  46  and driving stake  52  may be used to drive in the ground  13  a series of equidistantly disposed burial sleeves  40  along a user defined fence line, followed with inserting the distal end of a fence stake into each hollow sleeve thus buried in the ground  13 . 
     Although the present invention has been described hereinabove by way of preferred embodiments thereof, it can be modified, without departing from the spirit and nature of the subject invention as defined in the appended claims.