Improvements in or relating to Coffins.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Aug., 1898
Complete Specification Left. 4th Mar. 1899-Accepted 17th June 1800
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Coffins.
I, GEORGE WARD, of 25, Old Road, Flowery Field, Hyde, in the County of
Chester, Joiner and Coffin Maker, do hereby declare the nature of my said inven-
tion to be as follows:-
My said invention relates to means for sealing coffins as used chiefly in the
burial of persons dying from infectious diseases, and consists essentially in the
application thereto of a
tongue," and "groove," or "lute" joint, i.e. a groove,
or cavity, all round the body of the coffin, and a flange all round the lid, to take
into such groove, also in the use of cement (by preference plaster of Paris and
alum) in such joint for the flange of the lid to bed into, and under the pressure
of screws, in the lid screwing through a fixed plate on the coffin, to tightly and
securely seal the lid.
The lute or groove is, by preference, formed by a strip or beading of wood with
rebate, fixed on the side of the coffin, and forming an ornamental portion thereof,
and the flange of the lid (which may also be ornamental) is shouldered down to
take into the rebate, or groove.
The screws for fastening the lid pass through a metal plate forming a nut
which enables considerable pressure to be put on the joint.
The joinings in the lower part, and end, of the coffin are covered or filled with
pitch, over-which and on the floor of the coffin is a layer of cement, and in such
way I produce a perfectly air-tight coffin, without adding materially to the cost
thereof, and in a way that allows the coffin to be scaled up by unskilled persons
in any place, the operator only requiring to carry a small amount of cement for
making the joint.
Dated this 5th day at
1000
I, GEORGE WARD, of 25, Old Road, Flowery Field, Hyde, in the County of
Chester, Joiner and Coffin Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
-

page_text: burial of persons dying from infectious diseases and consists essentially in the
application thereto of a "tongue" and "groove" or "lute" joint, i.e. a groove
or cavity all round the body of the coffin, and a flange all round the lid to take
into such groove, also the use of cement (by preference, plaster of Paris and alum)
in such joint for the flange of the lid to bed into, and under the pressure of screws
in the lid, screwing through a fixed plate on the coffin to tightly and securely
seal the lid.
The lute or groove is, by preference, formed by a "strip" or beading of wood
with a rebate fixed on the side of the coffin and forming an ornamental portion
thereof, and the flange of the lid (which may also be ornamental) is shouldered
down to take into the rebate or groove.
The screws for fastening the lid pass through a metal plate forming a nut which
enables considerable pressure to be put on the joint.
The joinings in the lower part and end, of the coffin are covered or filled with
pitch, over which and on the floor of the coffin is a layer of cement composed of one
part of alum to ten of plaster of Paris and in such way I produce a perfectly
air-tight coffin, without adding materially to the cost thereof, and in a way that
allows the coffin to be sealed up by unskilled persons, in any place the operator
only requiring to carry a small amount of cement for making the joint.
And in order that my said invention may be more readily understood and carried
into practical effect I have hereunto annexed a sheet of drawings and will now
proceed to describe the same with the aid of the various figures and letters of refer-
ence marked thereon:-
Fig. 1 is a sectional perspective view of a coffin made according to my inven-
tion. Fig. 2 is a cross section through part of the lid and side of the coffin shewing
a modification. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through part of the lid and side
of the coffin. Fig. 4 is a plan of the plate through which the screw passes.
These coffins are made in outside appearance similar to those already made,
but they have a tongue (A) formed in the rib (B) which surrounds the coffin
top (C), and in the beading or moulding (D) a groove (E) is formed into which
the tongue (A) fits loosely leaving sufficient space around it for the cement (F)
of the kind before described to be inserted for the purpose of sealing the joint.
Upon the top edge of the body part (G) of the coffin and in certain positions,
metal plates (H) are screwed or otherwise fastened by screws (J) and (J¹) through
countersunk screw holes (J2) and (J³) see Figs. 3 and 4, this plate has a hole (K)
through which a screw (K) passes for the purpose of securing or screwing the
lid (C) to the body part (G) and this plate (H) acts as a nut and allows consider-
able pressure to be put upon the joint. The joinings in the lower part of the
coffin are covered or filled in with pitch (L) over which and on the floor of the
coffin is a layer of cement (M) of the kind before described. The inside of
the coffin is finished in the usual way with wadding (N).
The operation of sealing the coffin is as follows:-
The groove (E) in the body of the coffin has sufficient cement (F) made of
plaster of Paris and alum in the proportions as, one part of alum to ten of plaster
of Paris, placed in it the lid (C) of the coffin having the tongue (A) which is then
placed upon the body (G) the tongue (A) fitting into the groove (E). Screws (K¹)
are then inserted through the lid (C) and the plate (K) and by means of the bolt
head (K2) is so forced down as to cause the tongue (A) to fit into the groove (E)
and causing the cement (F) to surround the sides of the said tongue and so make
a perfect sealing of the joint.
It will thus be seen a perfectly air tight coffin is made without adding materially
to the cost and also allows it to be sealed up by unskilled persons.
Instead of using cement to seal the joint between the lid and body of the coffin
I employ an india rubber tube (P) which upon the tongue (A) being forced down
upon it, seals the joint as seen in Figure 2.

page_text: Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is;
1: Improvements in coffins consisting of the lid being formed with a tongue
and the body part with a groove into which such tongue takes in combination
with the means for sealing such joint as and for the purposes herein set forth and
shewn on the accompanying drawing.
Dated staty
GEORGE WARD.
By John G. Wilson & Co.,
Agents, 55, Market Street, Manchester.
GEORGE WARD.
By John G. Wilson & Co.,
Agents, 55, Market Street, Manchester.