Abstract:
A casket of wood and steel construction and method making the same. The casket has a channel formed in the steel and a plank is inlaid in the channel.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a non-provisional of and claims the benefit of and priority to co-pending U.S. 61/140,560 filed Dec. 23, 2008, and is also related to co-pending U.S. 29/329,943 filed Dec. 23, 2008. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to steel caskets made from sheet metal with inlays in the lid. 
         [0003]    Sheet metal is used to manufacture caskets of steel, for example. Depending on the desired strength and weight, the gauge of the steel is usually 20 or 18, for example. Twenty gauge steel is thinner and lighter, and thus less costly but not as strong as 18 gauge steel. The steel caskets are decorated by painting, polishing, and affixing decorative elements with adhesives or bolts, for example. 
         [0004]    Wood caskets are also available but tend to be heavy and expensive, depending on the wood used in the construction. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    In an embodiment, the invention provides an inlaid sheet metal, e.g. steel, casket, and a method of making an inlaid sheet metal casket. In an embodiment, the casket can also include appointments attached to a surface thereof. In an embodiment, the inlays and the appointments, if present, can be made of or surfaced with wood. In an embodiment, the inlays and/or the appointments, if present, can be both decorative to enhance the appearance of the casket as well as structural to reinforce the casket for strength. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a casket according to an embodiment. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the casket of  FIG. 1  showing the head lid of the casket open according to an embodiment. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is an end (head) elevational view of the casket of  FIG. 1  according to an embodiment. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is an end (foot) elevational view of the casket of  FIG. 1  according to an embodiment. 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a front elevational view of the casket of  FIG. 1  according to an embodiment. 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a top plan perspective view of the casket of  FIG. 1  according to an embodiment. 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  is an inner end perspective elevational view of the closed foot lid of the casket of  FIG. 1  according to an embodiment. 
           [0013]      FIG. 8  is a closeup view of the closed foot lid of  FIG. 7 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 9  is an outer end perspective elevational view of the open foot lid of the casket of  FIG. 1  according to an embodiment. 
           [0015]      FIG. 10  is an enlarged inner end elevational view of the open head lid of the casket of  FIG. 1  according to an embodiment. 
           [0016]      FIG. 11  is an enlarged inner end perspective view of the open lids of the casket of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 12  is a bottom plan perspective view of the casket of  FIG. 1  according to an embodiment. 
           [0018]      FIG. 13  is a sectional view of the foot lid of the casket of  FIG. 6  as seen along the lines  13 - 13 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 14  is an exploded view of the foot lid of  FIGS. 6 and 13  according to an embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0020]    According to an embodiment, the casket  10  generally comprises a box  12 , a lid  14  at the head, and a lid  16  at the foot. The lids  14 ,  16  are hingedly secured to the box  10  at a back upper edge thereof. The box  10  and lids  14 ,  16  can optionally be provided with removably secured linings  18 , pillow  20  and other interior appointments familiar to those in the art. 
         [0021]    The lids  14 ,  16  in one embodiment are manufactured from metal sheet, e.g. 16, 18 or 20 gauge steel, which is cut and stamped to form the shape of the respective lid. For convenience herein and not by limitation, the metal sheet is referred to as steel sheet by way of example. As best seen in  FIGS. 7 ,  8  and  13 , in an embodiment a longitudinal channel  22  is formed to receive a plank  24 , which is glued or screwed from underneath to be secured in the channel  22 . The channel  22  thus forms a corrugation in the steel, providing structural reinforcement to the lid. In one embodiment, the channel  22  is open at inner ends  26 A,  26 B of the respective one of the lids  14 ,  16 , and terminates in the lid spaced away from the outer ends  28 A,  28 B of the lids  14 ,  16 . In one embodiment, the plank  24  also provides structural reinforcement. In this manner, a thinner gauge steel might be used to construct the lid than otherwise required; or stated differently, the lid is structurally more rigid than a non-inlaid lid of the same material and gauge. 
         [0022]    To manufacture the lids  14 ,  16 , in an embodiment, the planks  24  are cut from an appropriate material such as hardwood, a stamp press is used to shape the sheet metal into the desired shape, and then the plank  24  is secured in the channel  22  as described above. In one embodiment, the plank  24  and channel  22  are made with tight lateral tolerances to avoid the appearance of visible gaps between the edge of the plank and the edge of the channel, and with tight height or thickness tolerances so that the visible top and end surfaces of the plank  24  are flush where they meet with the respective edges of the channel  22 . The exposed surfaces of the plank  24  can be finished, for example by sanding and or polishing and coating with stain, varnish, lacquer, paint or the like after assembly, to the lid  14  or  16 , or in one embodiment, are finished before assembly. 
         [0023]    In one embodiment, the channels  22  and planks  24  are provided on either side of the domed structures of the lids  14 ,  16 . The channels  22  and planks  24  can have in one embodiment a tapered termination to match the slope of the outer ends  28 A,  28 B. 
         [0024]    In an embodiment, the box  12  is provided with urn-shaped corners  30 , but in other embodiments (not shown) the corners can be square or round as one skilled in the art would appreciate. 
         [0025]    The casket  10  can in an embodiment be provided with side handles  32  and end handles  34  secured via brackets  36 . In an embodiment, the brackets  36  are bolted through the sheet metal forming the side wall of the box and a respective side and end base member  38 ,  40 . In an embodiment, the base members  38 ,  40  match and/or comprise the same materials as the planks  24 . The base members  38 ,  40  in one embodiment are mounted to a smooth, continuous surface of the box  12 , i.e., the base members  38 ,  40  project outwardly from a continuous portion of the surface of the box  12  which is not recessed or channeled. The members  38 ,  40  are secured in one embodiment to the box  12  between the brackets  36  and the outer surface of the box. A nut can be threadedly engaged on a bolt that extends from the bracket into the interior of the box  12 . In one embodiment the handles  32 ,  34  can pivot or swing outwardly via the brackets  36  in a generally horizontal alignment to space the handles  32 ,  34  away from the box  12  to facilitate grasping the handles for carrying by pall bearers. 
         [0026]    A gasket  42  can be provided in an embodiment around the periphery of the lids  14 ,  16  for sealing against an upper peripheral surface of the box  12  and/or adjacent lid  14 ,  16 . The ends  26 A,  26 B of the lids  14 ,  16  can in an embodiment be provided with an offset or step to facilitate sealing. In one embodiment, the foot lid  16  has a lower step  44  that extends outwardly and the head lid  14  has a corresponding step recess  46  carrying the gasket  42 . 
         [0027]    Hinges  48  are provided to secure the lids  14 ,  16  as desired, as best seen in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 9 . Locking bolts  50  can be provided in a lower edge of the lids  14 ,  16  as best seen in the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 10-11 . The bolts  50  can be received in corresponding latches  52  mounted in an upper surface at the periphery of the box  12 , as best seen in the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 7-8 . The latches  52  can be locked in one embodiment via a locking mechanism  54  with which those skilled in the art are familiar. A storage receptacle  56  with a threaded end cap can be used to place identifying information about the contents of the casket  10 . 
         [0028]    The bottom  58  of the box  12  can in an embodiment be provided with raised and/or recessed surfaces  60  to make the box  12  more rigid, as seen in  FIG. 12 . 
         [0029]    The preceding description has been presented with reference to presently preferred embodiments of the invention. Persons skilled in the art and technology to which this invention pertains will appreciate that alterations and changes in the described structures and methods of operation can be practiced without meaningfully departing from the principle, and scope of this invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description should not be read as pertaining only to the precise structures described and shown in the accompanying drawings, but rather should be read as consistent with and as support for the following claims, which are to have their fullest and fairest scope.