Patent Publication Number: US-6904651-B2

Title: Burial casket with curved-corner through-fitting and method of manufacture

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention pertains to the field of through-fittings for burial caskets, and in particular to through-fittings for curved corner portions of burial caskets. 
   BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Metal burial caskets often include a shell formed from relatively thin metal, stamped and formed into a desired shape. A relatively thin exterior metal wall of the casket which may be painted or covered in some manner. 
   Through-fittings for burial caskets are desired for a number of reasons including providing access through the exterior wall to a casket latch/lock mechanism, and for providing access to a portion of the interior of the burial casket for the storage of mementos and other memorabilia without the need to open the casket lid. 
   Through-fittings that provide access to casket latch/lock mechanisms are commonly referred to as lock end tubes. Lock end tubes are typically disposed on an end wall of the casket and provide a cylindrical orifice through the casket end wall to access and articulate the casket lock mechanism. The casket lock mechanism often includes a shaft that extends into the lock end tube. The lock mechanism is actuated by inserting a tool into an appropriately-shaped recess in an end portion of the shaft and rotating the shaft. The lock end tube often may be closed and sealed by a threaded cap. 
   Through-fittings for providing storage space for mementos and other memorabilia commonly form an aperture in the casket end wall for receiving a capsule holding memorabilia of the deceased. The aperture is typically covered with a cap or other closure device and may be accessed without opening the lid of the casket. 
   Caskets may be provided with curved, or arcuate corner portions, which provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance to the casket. The exterior surface of the casket wall in the curved corner is substantially convex in shape, whereas the interior surface of the casket wall in the curved corner is substantially concave. 
   Often, a desirable location for through-fittings for access to lock mechanisms or memorial capsules is the corner portion of the casket. However, for caskets with curved corners, the curved surfaces of the corner present some difficulties in mounting the through-fitting structures. 
   To overcome difficulties in mounting a through-fitting to the curved portion of the casket, a prior through-fitting for a lock end tube for a curved corner of a casket has inner and outer tubes and a pair of complimentary-shaped parts. One shaped part conforms to the convex exterior surface of the casket wall and the other conforms to the concave interior surface. The complimentary-shaped parts are disposed on opposite sides of the exterior wall of the casket and are clamped together by a screw thread to affix the through-fitting to the casket wall. This through-fitting structure provides certain benefits over previous structures, however, this prior structure requires an undesirable number of parts and manufacturing steps. 
   A prior through-fitting for a memorial tube has an integral mounting tube affixed to a flat (i.e., planar) portion of the casket corner by a crimping step. A capsule or similar container may be threaded into the mounting tube and sealed. This through-fitting structure provides certain benefits over previous structures however the structure is not suitable for mounting on an arcuate surface (i.e., a curved corner). 
   The present invention overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art and provides a through-fitting for curved corners of burial caskets suitable for a variety of uses including providing access to casket lock mechanisms and for providing storage within the casket for mementos and memorabilia of the deceased. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a complete understanding of the above and other features of the invention, reference shall be made to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention and to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded, top view of a first embodiment of a through-fitting made in accordance with the invention, showing the inner and outer tubes; 
       FIG. 2  is a top view of the through-fitting of  FIG. 1 , showing the inner and outer tubes in an assemble configuration; 
       FIG. 2A  is a top view of a second embodiment of a through-fitting, showing the inner and outer tubes in an assemble configuration; 
       FIG. 3  is a top, cross-sectional view of the through-fitting of  FIG. 1  prior to a crimping step; 
       FIG. 4  is a top, cross-section view of the through-fitting of  FIG. 1  during the crimping step; 
       FIG. 5  is a top, cross-section view of the through-fitting of  FIG. 1  after the crimping step; and 
       FIG. 6  is a top, cross-section view a memorial capsule inserted within the through-fitting of FIG.  5 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a first embodiment of a through-fitting  10  constructed according to the present invention includes inner and outer metal tubes  12 ,  14  sized and shaped such that the inner tube  12  fits snugly coaxially within the outer tube  14 . A first end  16  of the inner tube  12  has external threads  18  and a first end  20  of the outer tube  14  has internal threads  19  that mesh with those of the inner tube  12 . 
   Preferably, a body portion  19  of the inner tube  12  has an outer diameter  21  substantially equal to an outer diameter of the threads  18  of the inner tube  12  and a body portion  23  of the outer tube  14  has an internal diameter  25  sized to closely receive the body portion of the inner tube  12 . 
   Second end portions  22 ,  24  of each of the inner and outer tubes  12 ,  14  have substantially concave, annular end faces  26 ,  28 . The second end portion  24  of the outer tube  14  which conforms to a curved corner portion  36  of a casket  30 . 
   As a first step in assembling the through-fitting  10 , the first (i.e., threaded) end  16  of the inner tube  12  is inserted through the end face  28  of the outer tube  14  and threaded into the outer tube  14  such that the concave end faces  26 ,  28  thereof are spaced a predetermined distance apart (as shown in FIG.  2 ). In this position, centers of curvature of the end faces  26 ,  28  are located at substantially the same point. Further, the end face  26  of the inner tube  12  is disposed axially outwardly from the end face  28  of the outer tube  14  a predetermined distance of preferably about {fraction (1/10)} th  of an inch, or most preferably about 0.094 inches. 
   Preferably, the threads of the inner and/or outer tubes  12 ,  14  are disposed such that when the inner tube  12  is fully threaded into the outer tube  14 , the end faces  26 ,  28  are in the above-described proper alignment and are spaced the proper predetermined distance from one another. The inner and outer tubes  12 ,  14  may be secured in the proper relative position by thread locking compound or by some other mechanical or adhesive means at this point in the assembly process. 
   Referring to  FIG. 2A , a second embodiment of the through-fitting  110  is formed as an integral, metal piece. The integral through-fitting  110  has a preferably cylindrical main body portion  112  having a through hole  114 . A threaded, cap-receiving end  116  extends from a first end  118  of the body portion  112  for receiving a threaded cap. The body portion  112  has a shape-conforming, annular shoulder portion  120 , which is similar in shape and location to the second end face  28  of the outer tube  14  described with respect to the first embodiment above. A neck portion  122  having an outside diameter less than that of the body portion  112  extends axially outwardly from the body portion  112 . The neck portion  122  is similar to the protruding portion of the inner tube  12  described above. A shape-conforming, annular end face  124 , similar to the end face  26 , is disposed at the end of the neck portion  122 . 
   As described with respect to the first embodiment, the shape-conforming, annular shoulder portion  120  and the shape-conforming, annular end face  124  are concave in shape to conform to the curved corner portion  36  of the casket  30 . Further, centers of curvature of the shape-conforming, annular shoulder portion  120  and the shape-conforming, annular end face  124  are located at substantially the same point. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 3-5 , the process for mounting a through-fitting constructed according to the present invention is described hereinafter with respect to the two-piece, first embodiment described above. However, it can be appreciated that the method and result is similar for a through-fitting formed as an integral piece. 
   The metal burial casket  30  is substantially rectangular in shape and has a relatively thin metal outer wall  33 . The curved corner portion  36  of the casket  30  joins a substantially straight side wall  32  to a substantially straight end wall  34 . An interior surface  40  of the curved corner portion  36  has a substantially concave shape, whereas an exterior surface  42  of the curved corner portion  36  has a substantially convex shape. A hole  38  is formed in the curved corner portion  36  for mounting the through-fitting  10 . 
   Preferably, the hole  38  in the curved corner portion  36  of the casket  30  is sized and shaped such that the through-fitting  10  may be mounted substantially parallel to the side wall  32  of the casket  30 . That is, when mounted, a longitudinal axis of the through-fitting  10  is preferably substantially parallel to the side wall  32 . As can be appreciated, to mount the (substantially cylindrical) through-fitting  10  in such an orientation, the hole  38  must have a substantially elliptical shape. 
   To mount the through-fitting  10  to the casket  30 , the second end portion  22  of the inner tube  12  is inserted through the hole  38  from the exterior of the casket  30  until the end face  28  of the outer tube  14  abuts the exterior surface  42  of the casket wall  33 . The end face  28  of the outer tube  14  is concave in shape to conform to the convex shape of the exterior surface  42  of the curved corner portion  36  of the casket  30 , and in particular to conform to a rim  50  defining the hole  38 . Preferably substantially the entire end face  28  abuts the rim  50  such that substantially the entire periphery of the second end portion  24  of the outer tube  14  is in contact with the casket wall  32 , forming a seal. When fully inserted, the inner tube  12  projects inwardly from the interior surface  40  of the outer wall  33  of the casket  30  a predetermined distance. 
   To affix the tube assembly to the casket  30 , a shape-conforming crimping tool  52  is directed toward the end face  26  of the inner tube  12  from within the interior of the casket  30  in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the inner tube  12 . The crimping tool  52  includes an end portion  54  having a radius less than an inside diameter of the inner tube  12  and has a flange-forming portion  54  disposed around a periphery of the crimping tool  52 . The flange-forming portion  54  has a substantially U-shaped cross-section and has an outer rim  55  spaced radially outwardly from the outside diameter of the inner tube  12  prior to crimping. The flange-forming portion  54  is shaped to conform to the concave interior surface  40  of the casket wall  33 . 
   When the crimping tool  52  is directed toward the inner tube  12 , the end portion  54  of the tool  52  is received within the inner tube  12  and the flange-forming portion  54  contacts the end face  26  of the inner tube  12 . Upon the application of a sufficient amount of force, the flange-forming portion  54  of the crimping tool  52  deforms the second end portion  22  of the inner tube  12  radially outwardly and against the interior surface  40  of the casket wall  33 , and in particular against the rim  50  surrounding the hole  38 . As can be appreciated, during the crimping process, the assembly of the inner and outer tubes  12 ,  14  is held in place by a balancing force applied outside the casket  30 . After the crimping step is complete, the tool  52  is withdrawn. 
   The concave shape of the end face  22  of the inner tube  12  and the conforming shape of the flange-forming portion  54  of the crimping tool  52  produce a shape-conforming flange  60  around the periphery of inner tube  12 , which shape-conforming flange  60  is in contact with the interior surface  40  of the curved corner portion  36  of the casket wall  33  around substantially the entire periphery of the inner tube  12 . This contiguous, shape-conforming flange  60  permanently affixes the through-fitting  10  to the casket  30  in a robust and secure manner. 
   Once the through-fitting  10  is assembled and attached to the casket  30 , a shaft of a locking mechanism (not shown) can be directed through the through-fitting  10 , in a known manner. A decorative cap (not shown) can be threaded over the outward end of the through-fitting  10 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 6 , the through-fitting  10 , once assembled and mounted, can also be used to contain a memorial capsule  200 . The capsule  200  is preferably in the form of a plastic, cylindrical tube with a closed end  202 , an open end  204  and an integral, annular flange  206  extending radially outwardly from the open end  204 . The flange  206  has an outer diameter greater than the inner diameter of the inner tube  12 , such that when the closed end  202  of the capsule  200  is inserted into the through-fitting  10 , the flange  206  provides a stop. 
   Once the capsule  200  is inserted into the through-fitting  10 , a threaded cap  208  can be threaded over the end  16  of the inner tube  12 . As can be appreciated, the threaded cap covers both the capsule  200  and the through-fitting  10 . Preferably, the flange  206  has a diameter sized substantially equal to, or slightly less than an inside diameter of threads in the threaded cap  208  such that when the threaded cap  208  is removed, the threads of the cap  208  catch the flange  206  thereby conveniently withdrawing the capsule  200  from the through-fitting  10 . 
   The present invention provides a multi-purpose, secure through-fitting for arcuate corner portions of burial caskets. The through-fitting can be readily assembled and mounted with a single crimping step. It should be understood, of course, that the specific form of the invention herein illustrated and described is intended to be representative only, as certain changes may be made therein without departing from the clear teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, reference should be made to the following appended claims in determining the full scope of the invention.