Patent Publication Number: US-6904721-B1

Title: Cremated remains holder and marker combination

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to grave markers and more particularly pertains to a new grave marker for providing an economical alternative to conventional cremation markers, which could be employed for multiple burials. This invention is designed to provide a more affordable means of burying ashes of departed loved ones to eliminate the need for multiple burial posts. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   The use of grave markers is known in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 5,371,984 describes a tombstone with cells for interring urns. Another type of grave marker is U.S. Pat. No. 6,167,600 having a columbarium system for the storage of human remains that includes a plurality of similarly configured storage containers. U.S. Pat. No. 5,729,921 describes a burial marker and display box for the preservation of memorabilia and or ashes of an individual. U.S. Pat. No. 3,758,999 describes a grave marker protective structure. U.S. Pat. No. 6,279,212 describes a cremation and record burial system for burial of a deceased&#39;s remains and personal artifacts. 
   While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the need remains for a device that is designed to contain ashes of several family members and can support multiple identification plates which are changeable. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention meets the needs presented above by having multiple receptacles for holding a plurality of urns. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide a new grave marker that would help reduce the financial burden placed on surviving family members. 
   Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new grave marker that would save space by having multiple marker plates and multiple receptacles such that multiple members of the same family may be buried in one spot. 
   To this end, the present invention generally comprises a panel having a top side and a bottom side. The panel has at least one opening extending through the top and bottom sides. Indicia are selectively engraved in the top side for identifying cremated remains. At least one receptacle includes a bottom wall and a peripheral wall attached to and extending upwardly from the bottom wall. The peripheral wall has an upper edge attached to and extending along a length of a perimeter edge of the at least one opening. The receptacle is adjacent to the bottom side of the panel and defines a receiving device for receiving cremated remains. A plate is positionable over the at least one opening and is removably attached to the panel for selectively closing the at least one opening. 
   There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
   The objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a cremated remains and marker combination according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  2 — 2  of  FIG. 3  of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a third embodiment the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the first embodiment of present invention. 
       FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  6 — 6  of  FIG. 5  of the present invention. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIGS. 1 through 6  thereof, a new grave marker embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
   As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 6 , the cremated remains and marker combination device  10  includes a panel  12  having a top side  14  and a bottom side  16 . The panel  12  has a plurality of openings  18  extending through the top  14  and bottom  16  side. The panel  12  comprises a substantially rigid material which preferably comprises a metallic material. At least one of the openings  18  is resealable and defines a resealable opening  19 . A cap  20  for selectively opening or closing the resealable opening  19  preferably has a threaded perimeter edge  22  for threadably engaging threads  24  on a peripheral edge  26  of the resealable opening  19 . A container  28  has an open end  30  that is attached to the cap  20 . The container  28  has a size and shape for selectively positioning in through the resealable opening  18 . 
   Each of a plurality of plates  32  has a first side  34  and a second side  36 . Each of the plates  32  has a size and shape adapted for removably fitting over one of the openings  18  such that the second side  36  is abutting the top side  14  of the panel  12 . Indicia  38  are positionable on the first side  34  of the plate  32  for indication purposes. A plurality of securing members  40  selectively secures the plates  32  to the panel  12 . Each of the securing members  40  preferably comprises a bolt. The bolts are extendable through a selected one of the plates  32  and into the top side  14  of the panel  12 . 
   A base  44  has an upper surface  46 . A plurality of coupling members  48  is attached to the base  44  for selectively attaching the upper surface  46  of the base  44  to the bottom side  16  of the panel  12 . The coupling members  48  are preferably bolts that are extending through the panel  12  and secured with nuts  50  having a convex outer surface. The upper surface  46  of the base  44  has a plurality of wells  52  extending therein. Each of the wells  52  is aligned with one of the openings  18  in the panel  12 . The base  44  preferably comprises a concrete block, though other man made or natural materials (e.g. granite, stone) may be used. 
   A receptacle  54  is positioned in one of the wells  52  not positioned adjacent to the resealable opening  19 . The receptacle  54  has an open upper edge  56  that is flush with an upper surface  46  of the base  44 . The receptacle  54  extends downward through a bottom of the base  44 . 
   The device may have a plurality of embodiments, three of which are depicted in the Figures.  FIGS. 1 ,  5  and  6  depict a first embodiment that includes a base  44  and a panel  12  with only one opening  18  therein which is a resealable opening  19 . The base  44  has two wells  52 , one that holds cremated remains, and a second opening  58 , which is aligned with the resealable opening. The container  28  is extendable into the second well  60  when not in use and the cap  20  inserted into the resealable opening  19 . To use the container, the cap  20  is turned upside down and inserted into the resealable opening  19  so that the container  28  extends upwardly and flowers may be inserted therein. The panel  12  covers the well  52  when it is attached to the base  44 . 
   The second embodiment, shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , includes additional openings  18  in the panel  12 , which are each alignable with one of the wells  52 . To cover the wells  52 , plates  32  are attachable to the panel  12 . The plates  32  may or may not have indicia  38  thereon. Additionally, the receptacle  54  is positioned in one of the wells  52  and extends through the base  44 . The receptacle  54  is adapted for holding a plurality of containers  28  each holding the cremated remains of a different person. This allows the remains of multiple family members to be positioned in the same well  52 . 
   The third embodiment, depicted in  FIG. 4 , includes the multiple openings  18  and plates  32  of the second embodiment, but does not have the receptacle  54 . This embodiment, as the second embodiment, may include more than one well  52 , each adapted for holding cremated remains. 
   The panel  12  itself may have indicia  38  thereon for indicating the person or persons whose remains are positioned there below. 
   With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
   Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.