Abstract:
A cemetery memorial may include one or more receptacles for holding the cremation remains of a decedent. A cremation capsule may be secured in the receptacles and temporarily sealed in the memorial. The cremation capsule may be removed at a time after the cemetery memorial has been placed in a cemetery and cremation remains placed in the cremation capsule. The cremation capsule may thereafter be sealed in the cemetery memorial and concealed from view.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/934,159, filed Jul. 2, 2013, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/652,317, filed Oct. 15, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,490,258. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to the funeral products industry, and more particularly, to a cemetery memorial including storage that may be accessed after the memorial has been placed in the cemetery to store the cremation remains of a future decedent. 
     Cremation is a growing segment of the funeral industry and there is a growing demand for new and innovative products to personalize and commemorate the lives of the deceased. The use of plastic bags or cardboard boxes to preserve and store cremation remains is not a desirable method of honoring the lives of loved ones. 
     There is a continuing demand in the funeral industry for new designs and styles of funeral products, particularly products that provide for a holistic approach for memorializing the lives of the deceased and bringing comfort to the family members of the deceased. Very few options are available for family members to have an individual or family cemetery memorial for a cremated decedent without the ashes of the decedent being buried in the ground or placed in a columbarium. 
     Cremation remains systems are disclosed in Muthusami U.S. Pat. No. 8,286,314 and U.S. Pat. No. 8,490,258, incorporated herein in their entity by reference. A capsule containing the cremation remains may be embeded in the memorial at the time that it is constructed. The capsule and cremation remains are completely concealed from view so that visitors to the cemetery and more particularly vandals will not be able to distinguish the cremation memorial from the other cemetery memorials. Only family members of the decedent and the cemetery management may know that the cremation remains of the decedent are embedded in the memorial. 
     There remains a need however for a cemetery memorial that provide a means for the storage of cremation remains in a memorial at a time after the memorial has been placed at a cemetery. Currently, cremation remains may be stored in a cemetery memorial at the time that the cemetery memorial is placed at a cemetery. Storing cremation remains in an existing memorial may be done but at considerable expense, as it would require equipment and personnel at the cemetery site to drill a compartment in the memorial and seal the decedent&#39;s remains therein. 
     SUMMARY 
     A cemetery memorial may include one or more receptacles for holding the cremation remains of a decedent. A cremation capsule may be secured in the receptacles and temporarily sealed in the memorial. The cremation capsule may be removed at a time after the cemetery memorial has been placed in a cemetery and cremation remains placed in the cremation capsule. The cremation capsule may thereafter be sealed in the cemetery memorial and concealed from view. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       So that the manner in which the above recited features, advantages and objects of the present invention are attained can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to the embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. 
       It is noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments. 
         FIG. 1  is a partially broken away front elevation view of a cemetery memorial with receptacles for storage of cremation remains shown in phantom. 
         FIG. 2  is a partial section view depicting a cremation capsule is a receptacle of the cemetery memorial shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a partial section view depicting a cremation capsule is a receptacle of a second embodiment of a cemetery memorial. 
         FIG. 4  is a partial section view depicting a cremation capsule is a receptacle of a third embodiment of a cemetery memorial. 
         FIG. 5  is a partial section view depicting a cremation capsule is a receptacle of a fourth embodiment of a cemetery memorial. 
         FIG. 6  is a partial section view depicting a cremation capsule is a receptacle of a fifth embodiment of a cemetery memorial. 
         FIG. 7  is a partial top view of the cemetery memorial shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  is a top plan view depicting a centering ring about a cylindrical cremation capsule. 
         FIG. 9  is a top plan view depicting a centering ring about a square shaped cremation capsule. 
         FIG. 10  is a top plan view of a second embodiment of a centering ring about a cylindrical cremation capsule; 
         FIG. 11  is a top plan view depicting the centering ring shown in  FIG. 10  about a square shaped cremation capsule. 
         FIG. 12  is a top plan view depicting a third embodiment of a centering ring about a cylindrical cremation capsule. 
         FIG. 13  is partial side view of the centering ring shown in  FIG. 12 . 
         FIG. 14  is a top plan view depicting the centering ring shown in  FIG. 12  about a square shaped cremation capsule. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring first to  FIG. 1 , a first embodiment of a cemetery memorial is generally identified by the reference numeral  100 . The memorial  100  may include an upright tablet  110  and a base  112 . The base  112  may include one or more cavities or receptacles  116 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , the receptacles  116  are configured to receive a cremation capsule  118  that for illustrative purposes, but not by limitation, are depicted in some of the drawings as being cylindrical in shape. Other configurations may be possible, for example, but not by limitation, a substantially square shaped receptacle shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     The open end of the cremation capsule  118  may be closed by a removable lid  120 . A vase  122  may cover the open end of the receptacle  116  to seal the cremation capsule  118  in the receptacle  116  and hide it from view. The cremation capsule  118  may be secured to the bottom of the vase  122  by a locking mechanism, such as a locking bolt  124  and locking nut  126 . The locking nut  126  may be embedded in the base of the vase  122  and the locking bolt  124  may extend through the capsule lid  120  and threaded to the locking nut  126 , thereby threadably securing the capsule lid  120  to the bottom of the vase  122 . 
     A vase  122  is shown in the drawings for illustrative purposes. It is understood, however, that the term “vase” as used herein may include other forms, such as an angel, a cross, an animal and the like. 
     It will be observed that the receptacles  116  in the base  112  may have an internal diameter that is greater than the outer diameter of the cremation capsule  118 . In such event, it may be difficult to center the cremation capsule  118  in the receptacle  116 . Centering a cremation capsule  118  in the receptacle  116  may be conveniently accomplished by fitting a centering clamp or ring  128  about the cremation capsule  118 . By way of example, but not by limitation, the centering ring  128  may be spring loaded and adjusts to fill the annular space  117  between the receptacle  116  and the cremation capsule  118 , thereby centering the cremation capsule  118  in the receptacle  116 . Centering of the cremation capsule  118  and the vase  122  is desirable to maintain the symmetry and visual appearance of the memorial  100 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a second embodiment of a memorial is generally identified by the reference numeral  200 . As indicated by the use of common reference numerals, the memorial  200  is similar to the memorial  100  described hereinabove with the exception that the diameter of the base of the vase  122  is less than the diameter of the receptacle  116 . An adapter  240  may be provided to close and seal the open end of the receptacle  116 . To accommodate the adapter  240 , the upper open end of the receptacle  116  may be countersunk to form a circumferential shoulder  242 . The adapter  240  may include an upper portion  244  having a diameter greater than the diameter of the receptacle and a plug portion  246  extending downward from the upper portion  244 . The plug portion  246  may be configured to fit into the countersunk end of the receptacle  116  to form a friction or interference fit connection therewith. The capsule lid  120  may be secured to the bottom of plug portion  246  of the adapter  240  by a bolt  124  and nut  126  as described hereinabove with reference to the memorial  100 . It will be observed that the memorial  200  does not include a centering ring. The interface between the adapter  240  and the receptacle  116  centers the cremation capsule  118  in the receptacle  116  so that a centering ring is not required. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a third embodiment of a memorial is generally identified by the reference numeral  300 . As indicated by the use of common reference numerals, the memorial  300  is similar to the memorials  100  and  200  described hereinabove with the exception that an adapter  340  is configured to fit in the countersunk open end of the receptacle  118  flush with the top surface of the base  112 . The vase  122  and capsule lid  120  may be centered on opposite sides of the adapter  340  and fixed in position by the bolt  124  and nut  126  locking mechanism described hereinabove with reference to the memorials  100  and  200 . Like the memorial  200 , it will be observed that the memorial  300  does not require a centering ring about the cremation capsule  118  to center the cremation capsule  118  in the receptacle  116 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , a fourth embodiment of a memorial is generally identified by the reference numeral  400 . As indicated by the use of common reference numerals, the memorial  400  is similar to the memorial  300  described hereinabove with the exception that the vase  122  is fixed on an adapter  440  that seals the cremation capsule  118  in the receptacle  116 . The adapter  440  may be mounted to the top surface of the base  112  over the open end of the receptacle  116 . The cremation capsule  118  may be removably secured to the adapter  440  in the manner described hereinabove with reference to the memorial  300  and may be centered in the receptacle  116  by a centering ring. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , a fifth embodiment of a cemetery memorial is generally identified by the reference numeral  500 . As indicated by the use of common reference numerals, the memorial  500  is similar to the memorial  100  described hereinabove with the exception that the base  112  may include one or more substantially square shaped receptacles  516 , best shown in the top plan view of  FIG. 7 , to accommodate a substantially square shaped cremation capsule  518 . A positioning or centering ring  528  fixed about the cremation capsule  518  may center the cremation capsule  518  in the receptacle  516 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 8-14 , collectively, by way of example, but not by limitation, various configurations of centering rings are shown. In  FIGS. 8 and 9 , a centering ring  628  is illustrated mounted about a cylindrical cremation capsule  118  and a square cremation capsule  518 , respectively. The centering ring  628  may include a plurality of crimps  629  forming a peak or edge  630  that contact the inner surface of a receptacle  116 . In the event the annular space between the receptacle  116  and the cremation capsules  118 ,  518  is relatively small, the crimps  629  may flatten somewhat so that the legs  631  of the crimps  629  move laterally outwardly to accommodate the smaller annular space. In a larger annular space, the crimps  629  may spring back to their original shape. 
     In  FIGS. 10 and 11 , a centering ring  728  may include a plurality of crimps  729  that terminate in a curl  730 . Radial pressure on the curls  730 , which may be encountered in a relatively small annular space, tends to force the distal end of the curls  730  inwardly toward the receptacle  118 . In a larger annular space, the curls  730  may spring back to their original shape. 
     In  FIGS. 12-14 , a centering ring  828  may comprise a band  830  including a plurality of slots  832 . A flexible member  834 , for example but not by limitation, may be threaded through the slots  832  so that loops  836  in the flexible member  834  extend through the slots  832  alternately contacting the inner surface of the receptacle  116  and the outer surface of the cremation capsule  118 . Like the crimps  629  described hereinabove, the loops  836  may adjust to the annular space between the receptacle  116  and the cremation capsule  118 . 
     In all the embodiments described above, the vase may be secured to the cemetery memorial with a releasable adhesive and the like. Thereafter, when cremation remains are to be interred in the cemetery memorial, the vase and the cremation capsule connected thereto may be removed from the cemetery memorial and the cremation remains placed in the cremation capsule. The cremation capsule and vase may then be returned and permanently fixed to the cemetery memorial, and thereby sealing the cremation capsule in the cemetery memorial concealed from view. 
     While preferred embodiments of the invention has been shown and described herein, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, and the scope thereof is determined by the claims which follow.