Patent Abstract:
A burial monument having a memorabilia storage compartment incorporated therein. A monument is solid construction has a cylindrical boring removed to provide a compartment within the solid monument. The compartment is closed to form an airtight and watertight chamber by providing a cap with a gasket affixed thereto. The cap engages a threaded inner ring or is hinge mounted to the monument in alternative embodiments. A method for modifying burial monuments to provide a memorabilia storage compartment is also disclosed.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     A memorabilia storage device incorporated in a burial monument and a method for modifying an existing monument to provide such a device is disclosed herein. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The desire to keep sentimental items close to the burial site of a person is well known, and a number of devices have been provided in the prior art for storing memorabilia in or near a tomb or grave site. The provision for memorabilia storage near a tomb or grave site is meaningful, because it gives many people peace of mind prior to death by knowing that they will still be in close proximity to objects that have sentimental value. Providing a memorabilia storage compartment that is accessible to visitors of a grave site is also important because it provides the visitors a sense of staying in touch with the decedent by changing or adding memorabilia stored therein. In this way, survivors can share major events with the deceased by placing pictures and other memorabilia in the storage compartment. 
     A number of prior art devices provide a memorabilia storage compartment as part of a casket in which the deceased will be buried or, in the case of a cremation, as part of the urn or urn storage device in which the ashes are stored. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,727,291; 5,678,289; and 5,675,876 all provide caskets having compartments therein for storage of memorabilia and artifacts that have sentimental meaning to the deceased. It is a significant disadvantage of the casket incorporated memorabilia storage compartments, though, that they are not accessible after the casket is buried. Thus, they afford no opportunity to the family and friends of the deceased to “stay in touch” with the deceased through additions or changes to the memorabilia stored in the compartment. 
     A number of other devices in the prior art disclose memorabilia storage compartments that can be viewed by visitors to the grave site. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,227,325 discloses a grave marker including a cylindrical chamber that rests on top of the marker in which memorabilia is stored and displayed to those who visit the grave site through a small opening in the cylinder. The storage cylinder is not incorporated into the grave marker, but rather is supported thereon by dual supports. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,553,426 discloses a gasketed lock-box for storage of memorabilia that is anchored into the ground near the burial site. The &#39;426 patent comprises a hollow box and is not incorporated with or into a traditional stone, granite or marble monument. A significant disadvantage of the &#39;426 patent is that it would be subject to collapse under heavy weight, such as a lawnmower and would be subjected to expansion and contraction with temperature changes, disadvantageous compared to a stone, granite or marble monument of solid construction. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,729,921 discloses a burial marker having an air and water tight container therein that is accessible to visitors of the grave site. It also includes a cylindrical container in which memorabilia is retained. The marker 12 of the &#39;921 patent is a box that is interred in the ground, like a headstone, but the box  112  is not a traditional headstone comprising stone, granite, marble or any other rigid material. Rather, the box  12  is constructed from material such as plastic that is very light and easy to mold. It is a significant disadvantage of the &#39;921 marker that it is so constructed because such an embodiment lacks the strength and rigidity to withstand the shifts and temperature changes in the surrounding ground or heavy weight placed upon it, such as a lawnmower. 
     None of the prior art devices disclose a memorabilia storage device or compartment that is formed as part of a heavy, rigid monument with closure means affixed to the monument. While it is well known that burial monuments may be raised out of the ground or buried to be flush with the ground, there is no device or method in the prior art whereby a memorabilia storage compartment can be formed in the monument itself and accessed either through the top of the marker, for those monuments that are flush with the ground, or the front, back or side of the marker for those that are raised above the ground. In addition, none of the prior art devices disclose a memorabilia storage compartment that solely comprises materials such as brass, porcelain, marble and granite that are generally accepted in cemeteries because of their resistance to weather. Many cemeteries have restrictions as to what materials may be included in burial monuments, and specifically preclude plastics and similar materials that are prone to weathering and breakage. 
     OBJECTION OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a burial monument having a compartment accessible to visitors to a grave site wherein memorabilia can be stored. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a burial monument having a memorabilia storage compartment incorporated into the monument itself. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a method for modifying an existing burial monument to provide a memorabilia storage compartment therein. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a memorabilia storage device as part of a burial monument utilizing only brass, porcelain, marble and other weather resistant materials. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a burial monument having a waterproof and weatherproof memorabilia storage compartment. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a flush mounted burial marker having a memorabilia storage compartment formed therein that is accessible to visitors to the grave site through the top face. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a raised monument or bench monument having a memorabilia storage compartment formed therein that is accessible to visitors to the grave site through a front, side or rear face. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a burial marker having a generally rectangular memorabilia storage compartment formed therein. 
     These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from a review of the following specification and accompanying drawings. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The burial marker of the present invention comprises a weather resistant monument of solid construction wherein a memorabilia storage compartment is formed. A means for closing the memorabilia storage compartment is also provided which protects the interior of the compartment and memorabilia stored therein from water and weather. In the most preferred embodiment of the present invention, the memorabilia storage compartment comprises a cylindrical boring in the weather resistant monument and the closing means comprises a removable cap providing access to the storage compartment. A recessed ring is received within an annular cut out of larger diameter than the cylindrical boring comprising the storage compartment, the ring being affixed to the monument through the use of adhesive. The recessed ring has an interior thread which corresponds to an external thread of a downwardly depending shaft of a removable cap. A gasket surrounds the downwardly depending shaft and is affixed to the cap such that, when the cap is positioned so that the exterior thread engages the interior thread of the recessed ring, rotating of the cap tightens down the cap onto the monument until the gasket is compressed to form a seal between the cap and monument. This preferred embodiment of the present invention is particularly advantageous because the memorabilia storage compartment may be formed in the top, front, or back of a monument, and so is adaptable for upright, slant, bevel, flush, bench or mausoleum monuments. The removable cap is the only element of the memorabilia storage device that is exposed so that memorabilia stored therein is not subjected to rain or weather, but rather is protected from the elements. 
     In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the closing means related to the memorabilia storage compartment is provided by a cover that is permanently affixed to the monument by a hinge. The cover is positioned on the monument such that it completely covers the memorabilia storage compartment when closed. The hinge is spring loaded to bias the cover against a flat surface of the monument. A gasket affixed to the underside of the hinged cover provides a seal between the cover and the monument. 
     In another embodiment of the present invention, the memorabilia storage compartment formed in a burial monument is generally rectangularly shaped and the hinged cover is correspondingly generally rectangularly shaped. The gasket affixed to the hinged cover is also generally rectangularly shaped and engages a face of the monument at a flat surface. The flat surface is advantageous in that the seal formed by the gasket is improved for a machined flat surface. 
     A method for storing memorabilia in close proximity to a burial site incorporating the principles of the present invention is also provided. Memorabilia is stored by first providing a weather resistant monument of solid construction. This method can be applied for new or existing monuments. A cylindrical cavity is bored into the weather resistant monument, followed by a boring of the monument on the same center as the cylindrical cavity to provide a larger diameter annular cut out. A ring having an interior thread is then positioned and affixed to a shelf formed by the larger diameter annular cut out. A cap is then provided which has a downwardly depending shaft with an exterior thread thereon that corresponds to the interior thread of the recessed ring. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a flush mount burial monument with a memorabilia storage compartment accessible on the top. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a raised burial monument having a memorabilia storage compartment accessible on the side of the monument. 
     FIG. 3 is the detailed section view of the memorabilia storage compartment. 
     FIG. 4 is the detailed section view of the memorabilia storage compartment with a hinged and gasketed cover. 
     FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of a burial marker having a generally rectangularly shaped memorabilia storage compartment therein. 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a bench monument having a memorabilia storage compartment formed therein. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention comprises a burial marker  10  comprising a monument  11  of solid construction positioned near a grave site, the monument  11  having therein a memorabilia storage compartment  18 . The burial marker  10  of the present invention embodying the principles of the present invention may be an upright, slant, bevel, flush bench or mausoleum marker. The memorabilia storage compartment  18  may be formed in a front, side or back face of the monument  11  to provide maximum accessibility to visitors to the burial site. The principles of the present invention are particularly well suited to provide memorabilia storage compartments in new burial markers or in existing burial markers through a modification embodied by the method of the present invention. 
     In the most preferred embodiment of the present invention, the memorabilia storage compartment  18  is formed in the flush mount monument  11  so as to be accessible at the upper surface  12  of monument  11 . As shown in FIG. 1, the cap  16  over the memorabilia storage compartment  18  is provided on the upper surface  12  alongside, and may be incorporated with, the monument inscription  14 . As shown in FIG. 1, the memorabilia storage compartment of the present invention comprises a cylindrical boring  18  into the monument  11  which, because of the rigidity and stability of the monument  11 , constructed from granite, stone or marble, comprises a sturdy protective cavity for the enclosure of memorabilia  20  provided by the deceased or visitors to the grave site. 
     In another embodiment of the present invention, a raised monument  30  is depicted in FIG. 2 as having an inscription  32  on its front face  34 . To enhance the aesthetic qualities of the monument  30  and to avoid interference between the memorabilia storage compartment cap  36  and the inscription  32 , the cylindrical boring  38  providing the memorabilia storage compartment  38  is made accessible at a side face  39  of the monument  30 . By providing the cap  36  to seal the memorabilia storage compartment  38 , the memorabilia  40  stored therein is protected from the weather in a stable and sturdy compartment  38  formed within the monument  30  itself. 
     In another embodiment, a memorabilia storage compartment  24  is formed in an upright portion of a memorial bench  22 . A cap  26  allows the memorabilia storage compartment  24  to be maintained airtight and watertight to protect memorabilia stored therein. 
     A more detailed view of a memorabilia storage compartment  42  embodying the principles of the present invention is provided at the sectional view of FIG. 3. A cylindrical boring  42  in which memorabilia may be stored is shown, the boring  42  having been removed from a monument  44  of solid construction. To accommodate the inclusion of a means for closing and sealing the storage compartment  42  , a larger diameter annular cutout  46  is also made in the monument  44  near the upper face  45  of the monument  44  to provide an upper shelf  48 . The closing means  50  comprises a recessed ring  52  having an interior thread  54 . The recessed ring  52  is positioned on the upper shelf  48  and permanently affixed to the monument  44  through the use of a bonding agent, such as adhesive  56 . 
     To make the storage compartment  42  of the preferred embodiment of the invention watertight and airtight, a gasket ring  58  is provided which is positioned between the recessed ring  52  and the cap  60 . The cap  60  has a downwardly extending shaft  62  having an exterior thread  64  and a larger diameter head  66 . 
     Closure and sealing of the storage compartment  42  is effected when the cap  60  is positioned near the monument  44  so that the interior thread  54  of the recessed ring  52  is engaged by the exterior thread  64  of the downwardly extending shaft  62  affixed to the cap  60 . Rotation of the cap  60  results in a screwing down of the cap  60  toward the face  45  of the monument  44 . The cap  60  is screwed down sufficiently that the gasket  58  is compressed between the face  45  and the underside  65  of the cap  60 . When sufficiently compressed, the gasket  58  forms an airtight and watertight seal to prevent any contaminants from invading the storage compartment  42 , thereby protecting the memorabilia stored therein. 
     In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a memorabilia storage compartment  80  is provided comprising a cylindrical cutout  80  formed in a monument  82  of solid construction. A closing means for the compartment  80  is provided comprising a cap  84  that is permanently affixed to the monument  82  at a hinge  88 . Attached to the underside of the cap  84  is a gasket  86  which, when the cap is rotated into engagement with the face  90  of the monument  82 , forms an airtight and watertight seal preventing contamination of the storage compartment  80  or memorabilia stored therein. The hinge  88  is spring loaded to maintain the cap  84  in a closed position so that accessing the memorabilia storage compartment  80  requires rotation of the cap  84  about the hinge  88  as shown in FIG.  4 . 
     Another embodiment of the present invention, shown in FIG. 5, is a burial monument  100  having a generally rectangularly shaped memorabilia storage compartment  102  formed therein. A generally rectangularly shaped cover  104  is provided, permanently affixed to the monument  100  at hinge  106 . The hinge  106  is spring biased to maintain the cover  104  in a closed position against the monument  100  so that the gasket  108 , affixed to the cover  104 , forms an airtight and watertight seal. To further enhance the seal formed by the gasket  108 , that portion of the side face  110  engaged by the gasket  108  is machined flat. 
     It is contemplated by the principles of the present invention that any of the memorabilia storage compartments disclosed herein may be provided with locking mechanisms without disclosing from the principles of the present invention. Specifically, a key/latch locking mechanism may be incorporated in any of the caps  16 ,  26 , 36 ,  60 ,  84 ,  104  to provide a secure memorabilia storage compartment. 
     A method for storing memorabilia in close proximity to a burial site is also embodied by the principles of the present invention which provides for storage of memorabilia not only with new monuments, but also with existing monuments through steps of modification. The first step in providing for memorabilia storage in close proximity to a burial site is to provide a weather resistant monument  11  of solid construction. Next, a cylindrical cavity  18  is formed in the monument  11  of sufficient diameter to hold memorabilia such as cards and letters that have sentimental value to the deceased or visitors to the grave site. Next, a larger diameter annular cut out is formed in the monument  11  on the same center as the cylindrical cavity  18 , an interior shelf  48  being formed near the face  45  of the monument  44  (FIG.  3 ). A ring  52  having an interior thread  54  is then affixed to the shelf  48  and a cap  60  having a downwardly extending shaft  62  with an exterior thread  64  is provided. The interior thread  54  is then engaged by the exterior thread  64  and the cap  60  is rotated to effect closure of the memorabilia storage compartment  42 . 
     The foregoing description of a preferred embodiment of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best illustrate the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto.

Technology Classification (CPC): 4