Im- PROVEMENTS IN COFFINS
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Kirby, of St. Peter's Street, Derby, in
the County of Derby, Basket Maker, for the Invention of "Im-
PROVEMENTS IN COFFINS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Kirby at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 11th February 1875.
I, WILLIAM KIRBY, of St. Peter's Street, Derby, in the County of
Derby, Basket Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said In-
vention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN COFFINS," to be as follows:-
The object of the Invention is to obtain a light and economical coffin
capable of being readily carried by hand in place of requiring a hearse
for the purpose of its transit, and which may be readily varied in color
or appearance to indicate the age or sex of the deceased, and which after
interment will also tend to facilitate decomposition of the deceased.
According to my Invention I first form a frame of wood for the outer
and bottom part of the coffin. This wood is bent to the form of the

page_text: sides and head of the coffin and is connected at the foot, and at one, two,
or more places crosswise between the foot and the head according to size
of coffin. This bottom frame is then bored with holes to receive wicker-
work, and I apply thereto a covering so as to form an entire bottom of
such wickerwork woven or interlaced, so as to produce a surface of open,
crossed, or other class of wickerwork and a covering to this frame. The
wickerwork is then continued up so as to form the sides, foot, and head
of the coffin to the desired height. The lid is formed of similar wicker-
work. The color or character of the wickerwork may indicate the age
or sex of the deceased. The lid is secured to the body of the coffin to
seal the deceased in it by bands of sheet or other lead, or other suitable.
metal soldered or secured together at their ends to prevent subsequent
interference with the contents of the coffin. These bands may also be
used for the purpose of receiving inscriptions or other indications. The
handles are formed at the sides and ends of the wickerwork woven into
the body of the sides, or these handles may be formed of metal or other
material.
When the coffin is formed of a close character of wickerwork the
bottom thereof may be solid.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Kirby in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 10th August 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM 2
KIRBY, of St. Peter's Street, Derby, in the County of Derby, Basket
Maker, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of February, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the 3
thirty-eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said William Kirby, Her special
license that I, the said William Kirby, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said William Kirby, my executors, admi-

page_text: nistrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN COFFINS,”
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Kirby,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my,
or their, or one of their hands and scals, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the
Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Kirby, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, that is to say :-
The object of my Invention is to obtain a light and economical coffin
capable of being readily carried by hand in place of requiring a hearse
for the purpose of its transmission, and which will after interment also
tend to facilitate decomposition of the deceased.
According to my Invention I first form an open wood frame of the
size and form desired for the outer and bottom parts of the intended
coffin. The wood forming the horizontal portions for the sides and head
of this frame may be bent to the required form, or they may be cut to
shape desired, and they are connected by cross pieces at the feet. The
top and bottom portions of such framing are then connected together in
vertical or inclined directions by other pieces of wood aided by pins or
screws if desired, and at intervals depending on the size of the coffin.
The bottom of these coffins may be formed of solid wood or with per-
forations through at intervals. The sides, head, and foot portions of
such frame I then enclose by means of wicker or basket work which is
applied by being woven or interlaced therewith so as to form an entire
covering to such parts, thereby producing a surface of open, crossed, or
other class of wickerwork, which may be varied in pattern or orna-
mentation as desired, and painted, japanned, gilt, or otherwise decorated
or varied, according to taste, or to indicate the age or sex of the
deceased. The lid is formed of similar wickerwork, and it may simply

page_text: fit close to the upper edge of the coffin, or it may be formed with
projecting edges or surfaces to overlap the sides, head, and foot, or to
pass into a channel formed for the purpose. There may also be an
internal bottom to such coffin formed of similar wickerwork, or of per-
forated woodwork applied at a sufficient distance from the more solid
bottom to allow of charcoal or other suitable material to act as a
disinfectant or absorbent or for other purpose being applied.
2+
I also in some cases form such coffins double at the sides, head, and
foot with a channel between the parts, which channel may be filled in
or partially so with charcoal or other suitable material to act as a
disinfectant or absorbent or otherwise.
If required these coffins may be rendered water-tight by the application
thereto of suitable water resisting material. The lids of such coffins are
secured to the bodies thereof for the security of the deceased by bands of
sheet or other lead or other suitable metal, soldered or otherwise secured
together at their ends to indicate any subsequent interference with the
contents of the coffin. These bands may also be used for the purpose of
receiving inscriptions or other indications. Handles are formed to these
coffins also of wickerwork, or they may be formed of metal or other
suitable material.
Having thus described my Invention, and means which I adopt in
carrying the same into effect, I would have it understood that what I
claim is, the manufacture of coffins of wicker or basket work on wood
frames, as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Kirby, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Seventh day of August, in the year of
Having thus described my Invention, and means which I adopt in
carrying the same into effect, I would have it understood that what I
claim is, the manufacture of coffins of wicker or basket work on wood
frames, as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Kirby, have hereunto set 2
my hand and seal, this Seventh day of August, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five.
WILLIAM KIRBY. (L.S.)