Abstract:
A crypt lid with lifting means for applying a vertical force to lift the lid is provided. The lid is preferably cast of concrete with one or more lifting holes extending vertically through the lid. The holes may be lined with a corrosion resistant material, such as a hard plastic, PVC, or other suitable material. The lining is preferably threaded, and sealing plug is adapted for threaded engagement with the lining of the holes. The plug is provided with a recessed drive receptacle and preferably fits flush with the surface of the crypt lid. This feature prevents damage to the plug, the lining, or the lid itself when a crypt is exhumed with heavy machinery like a backhoe. An easily removed privacy partition between upper and lower sections of the burial vault is also provided.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to the field of cemetery crypts and, more particularly, to a cemetery crypt with easily removable lid and privacy partition in a multiple level vault. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Double burial vaults typically provide a concrete enclosure deep enough to hold two caskets in vertically spaced chambers. Typically, particularly in national cemeteries, thousands of such vaults are placed side by side and row after row. Lids are placed on the vaults, and then earth is moved by heavy machinery to cover the vaults. 
     For the burial of a first body within a vault, the vault is first uncovered by removing the overlying earth and the lid is removed from the vault. This is the second time that the lid of the vault must be manipulated. The first casket is then lowered onto the bottom or floor of the vault. An intermediate floor is then lowered into the vault and seats on an intermediate ledge extending around the inner peripheral walls of the vault at the appropriate height. The lid is then placed back over the vault. At the time of the next interment, the lid is again removed, the second casket is lowered onto the intermediate floor, and the lid is once more placed over the vault. Even without subsequent exhumations, the represents a number of times that the lid must be lifted from and replaced onto the vault. 
     This arrangement suffers certain disadvantages since each of the lid and the intermediate floor is heavy and bulky. It is sometimes difficult to lower the intermediate floor flat into position in the vault without jamming or binding against the walls of the vault. 
     It is also difficult to lower the flat concrete floor into the vault, typically requiring two or more workers to lower it by hand. 
     Sannipoli, Sr., in U.S. Pat. No. 5,746,030, taught a burial crypt with guide grooves extending from the open end of the crypt toward the floor and terminating at a location corresponding to a desired intermediate floor height. A means was also provided for coupling a removal mechanism to horizontally extending recesses in the crypt lid to assist in the removal of the lid. Unfortunately, the ground in which the burial crypt is placed is invariably subject to subsidence, and the crypt lid and intermediate divider floor often become canted. This phenomenon jams the lid and intermediate floor in place, and makes the subsequent removal of the lid very difficult if a body is to be exhumed, and exhumations are surprisingly common. Further, the horizontally extending recesses formed in the crypt lid become filled with earth which hardens in place, rendering the removal mechanism difficult or impossible to install, rendering the removal tool ineffective. The subsidence underground can also jam the intermediate floor in place, making its removal difficult or impossible. 
     Thus, there remains a need for crypt closure lid that accounts for subsidence and permits the lid to be easily and safely removed. There is a further need for an intermediate privacy partition that can be as easily removed. The present invention is directed to this shortcoming in the art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a crypt lid with lifting means for applying a vertical force to lift the lid. In a preferred embodiment, the lid is cast of concrete with one or more lifting holes extending vertically through the lid. The holes may be lined with a corrosion resistant material, such as a hard plastic, PVC, or other suitable material. The lining is preferably threaded, and sealing plug is adapted for threaded engagement with the lining of the holes. The plug is provided with a recessed drive receptacle and preferably fits flush with the surface of the crypt lid. This feature prevents damage to the plug, the lining, or the lid itself when a crypt is exhumed with heavy machinery like a backhoe. 
     Other lifting structures are also shown in the following detailed description and are fully within the scope and spirit of the invention. 
     The present invention further includes a privacy partition. The partition is preferably formed in two interdigitating halves which are quickly and easily separated from one another to expedite removal of the partition from the vault. 
     These and other features and advantages of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from a review of the following description along with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a partially broken away perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 a  is a front sectional view of a first preferred embodiment of the lid shown in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 2 b  is a front sectional view of a second preferred embodiment of the lid shown in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 2 c  is a front sectional view of a third preferred embodiment of the lid shown in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 a  is a front sectional view of the first preferred embodiment of the box shown in FIG. 1 without guide grooves. 
     FIG. 3 b  is a front sectional view of a second preferred embodiment of the box shown in FIG. 1 with guide grooves. 
     FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a preferred embodiment of the partition shown in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the crypt and lid of the invention showing the lifting mechanism in operation. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of a burial crypt  10  of the invention. The principle components of the improved burial crypt  10  include a lid  12 , a box  14 , and a partition  16 . The lid is preferably cast concrete with a pair of lifting holes  24  cast in place when the lid is formed. The partition  16  is formed as a complementary pair of mating halves  17 , with mating tabs and slots described in more detail below. The partition  16  also defines a plurality of tabs  60  which fit within grooves  62  to guide the partition  16  into place. 
     FIG. 2 a  shows a first preferred embodiment of the lid  12  shown in FIG.  1 . The lid  12  comprises a slab  18 . The slab  18  is generally made from concrete, but one may use most any material that is strong, durable, and resistant to corrosion and decay. Reinforcement bars (not shown) may be incorporated into the slab  18  to increase strength. The slab  18  has an exterior surface  20  and an interior surface  22 . The exterior surface  20  is the top-most surface of the slab  18 . The exterior surface  20  is exposed to the environment and is ordinarily nearest the ground surface when the crypt  10  is buried. The interior surface  22  defines the lower limit of the slab  18  and also forms the upper boundary to the interior volume of the box  14 . The distance between the exterior surface  20  and the interior surface  22  defines the thickness of the slab  18 . 
     The lid  12  shown in FIG. 2 a  further comprises two holes  24  extending from the exterior surface  20  toward the interior surface  22 . The holes  24  pass through the entire thickness of the slab  18 . The holes  24  are bounded by inner boundary surfaces  26  of the slab  18 . While the first preferred embodiment of FIG. 2 a  shows a slab  18  with two holes  24 , more or fewer holes  24  may be used. The holes  24  are adapted to receive a lifting tool  80  (shown in FIG.  5 ). The lifting tool could be as simple as a piece of angled iron or something more elaborate such as a “Molybolt”-type expansion fitting. The lifting tool is inserted into the hole  24  and applies a lifting force bearing on the interior surface  22  of the slab  18 . While a proper lifting tool could safely lift a lid  12  having only one hole  24 , multiple holes  24  offer better stability and load distribution. Three or four holes  24  would provide more stability and load distribution than two holes  24 , but the larger number of holes  24  would also increase the labor involved in preparing to lift the lid  12 . The greater number of holes  24  also increases the complexity and expense of manufacture. The two holes  24  in the first preferred embodiment of FIG. 2 a  represent a reasonable compromise among competing factors. 
     The lid  12  further comprises a plug  28  adapted to fit into and substantially fill each hole  24 . The plug  28  has an upper surface  30  and an outer surface  32 . The outer surface  32  of the plug  28  is placed in intimate contact with the inner boundary surface  26  of the slab  18 . The plug  28 /slab  18  interface is sufficiently tight to form a seal, preventing the invasion of soil and moisture into the interior region of the box  14 . The plug  28  should be made of material that is strong, durable, and resistant to corrosion and decay. It is desirable, although not required, that the plug  28  also be machinable, or the plug may preferably be molded. A material such as a hard plastic is a good choice for the plug  28 . The plug  28  may be placed so that its upper surface  30  is flush with the exterior surface  20  of the slab  18  so that the plug  28  is less likely to be broken during excavation. The plug  28  may be a disposable insert or removably attached to the slab  18 . If the plug  28  is removably attached, the upper surface  30  of the plug  28  should have a recess  34  adapted to receive a tool to allow easy extraction. The recess  34  reduces the profile of the plug  28 , making it easier to set the plug  28  so that its upper surface  30  is flush with the exterior surface  20  of the slab  18 . The recess  34  is preferably a hexagonal recess to receive a standard hex-type allen wrench for ease of removal of the plug  28 . 
     FIG. 2 b  shows a second preferred embodiment of the lid  12  shown in FIG.  1 . The second preferred embodiment comprises all the elements of the first preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 2 a . The second preferred embodiment further comprises a hole  24  that is lined with a sleeve  36 . Like the plug  28 , the sleeve  36  should be made of material that is strong, durable, and resistant to corrosion and decay. It is desirable, although not required, that the sleeve  36  also be machinable, but as with the plug, the sleeve may preferably be molded. A material such as a hard plastic is a good choice for the sleeve  36 . The sleeve  36  has an outer surface  38  and an inner surface  40 . The outer surface  38  is placed in intimate contact with the inner boundary surface  26  of the slab  18 . The outer surface  38  of the sleeve  36  may be faceted or given a rough finish to inhibit rotation relative to the slab  18 , and may be set in place during manufacture of the slab  18 . Alternatively, the outer surface  38  may include an annular ring  39  with a hexagonal outer perimeter for this purpose. The inner surface  40  of the sleeve  36  may be smooth or threaded, but is preferably threaded to receive complementary threads on the exterior surface of the plug  28 . 
     The plug  28  used in the second preferred embodiment of the lid  12  is essentially identical to that of the first preferred embodiment of FIG. 2 a . However, because the hole  24  is now lined, there are slight differences in configuration. In the second preferred embodiment, the plug  28  is placed in intimate contact with the inner surface  40  of the sleeve  36 . The outer surface  32  of the plug  28  may be smooth or threaded to mate with the threaded inner surface  40  of the sleeve  36 . The plug  28 /sleeve  36  interface is sufficiently tight to form a seal, preventing the invasion of soil and moisture into the interior region of the box  14 . The plug  28  is preferably placed so that its upper surface  30  is flush with the exterior surface  20  of the slab  18 . The plug  28  may be a disposable insert or removably attached to the sleeve  36 . If the plug  28  is removably attached, the upper surface  30  of the plug  28  should have a recess  34  adapted to receive a tool to allow easy extraction. The recess  34  reduces the profile of the plug  28 , making it easier to set the plug  28  so that its upper surface  30  is flush with the exterior surface  20  of the slab  18 . 
     FIG. 2 c  shows a third preferred embodiment of the lid  12  shown in FIG.  1 . This version comprises the slab  18  and the holes  24 , but the holes  24  do not extend through the entire thickness of the slab  18 . Instead, the holes  24  are adapted to receive a hinge pin  42  and a hook  44 . The hinge pin  42  is fixed in the slab  18  such that it spans the hole  24  in the interior region of the hole  24 . That is, the hinge pin  42  is mounted a short distance below the exterior surface  20  of the slab  18 . The hook  44  is pivotally attached to the hinge pin  42 . The hole  24  is sized to accommodate the hinge pin  42  and hook  44 , preferably so that the hook  44  lies essentially flat within the interior region of the hole  24  when not being used to lift the lid  12 . By lowering the profile of the hook  44  and hinge pin  42  below the level of the exterior surface  20  of the slab  18 , the hook  44  and hinge pin  42  are less likely to be broken during excavation. 
     FIG. 3 a  shows a front section view of a first preferred embodiment of the box  14  of FIG.  1 . The box comprises a bottom  46 , a pair of opposing spaced end walls  48 , and a pair of opposing spaced side walls  50  forming an enclosure having an open top  52 . Each side wall  50  of the box  14  has two recesses  54  at a predetermined location  56 . Each recess  54  provides a stop  58  engaged by an outer tab  60  (shown in FIG. 4) of the partition  16 . 
     FIG. 3 b  shows a second preferred embodiment of the box  14  of FIG.  1 . This version comprises all the elements of the first preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 3 a , but each side wall  50  further comprises two or more spaced guide grooves  62  extending down from the top  52  of the enclosure toward the bottom  46  of the box  14  and terminating at the predetermined location  56 . Each guide groove  62  has a closed end providing a stop  58  engaged by an outer tab  60  (shown in FIG. 4) of the partition  16 . 
     FIG. 4 shows a preferred embodiment of the partition  16  of FIG.  1 . The partition  16  is placed in the box  14  at the predetermined location  56  between the top  52  of the enclosure and the bottom  46  of the box  14 , dividing the box  14  into an upper chamber  64  and a lower chamber  66 . The partition  16  comprises a first panel  68  and a second panel  70 . Each panel  68  and  70  has an outside edge  72  and an inside edge  74 . Each outside edge  72  has two or more spaced projecting outer tabs  60  that engage the recesses  54  in each side wall  50  when the partition  16  is placed in the box  14  at the predetermined position  56 . If the box  14  has guide grooves  62 , the grooves  62  are used to align the outer tabs  60  of the panels  68  and  70  while lowering the partition  16  to the predetermined position  56 . Each inside edge  74  has an alternating series of notches  76  and inner tabs  78 . The notches  76  and inner tabs  78  of the first panel  68  are offset from the notches  76  and inner tabs  78  of the opposing second panel  70  to allow the inner tabs  78  of the first panel  68  to intermesh with the notches  76  of the second panel  70 . Similarly, the inner tabs  78  of the second panel  70  intermesh with the notches  76  of the opposing first panel  68 . Thus, the panels  68  and  70  overlap, forming an interlocking, collapsible partition  16 . The recesses  54  or guide grooves  62  work in cooperation with the outer tabs  60  of each panel  68  and  70  to support the partition  16 . Better support can be obtained by using more than two recesses  54  or guide grooves  62  in each side wall  50 . Thus, the side walls  50  and panels  68  and  70  can be mutually modified to increase the support of the partition  16 . Also, the tabs  60  on one side of the partition are offset from the tabs  60  on the opposite side of the partition so that the partition can be turned by 180° and still fit into the aligning grooves, and for greater strength of the partition. 
     Finally, FIG. 5 shows a preferred embodiment of the invention using a lifting mechanism  80 . The lifting mechanism includes an angle member  82 , one such member  82  for each hole provided. The member  82  is coupled to a chain or wire  84  or other coupling means. The chain  84  is removably joined to a hook  86  which is attached to a lifting crane or backhoe or other machine with lifting capability (not shown) to lift the lid  12  off of the crypt. As previously described, the angle member  82  may be replaced by a molybolt for even greater security in lifting. 
     The principles, preferred embodiment, and mode of operation of the present invention have been described in the foregoing specification. This invention is not to be construed as limited to the particular forms disclosed, since these are regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Moreover, variations and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.