IMPROVEMENTS IN COFFINS
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Jones, of Birmingham, in the County
of Warwick, Secretary of the Patent Metallic Air-tight Coffin
Company Limited, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN COFFINS."
Sealed the 27th October 1871, and dated the 22nd May 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Jones at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
22nd May 1871.
I, JAMES JONES, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Secretary
of the Patent Metallic Air-tight Coffin Company, Limited, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN COFFINS,"
to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to those coffins which are made wholly or
mainly of zinc or other metal or alloy, and consists principally of the
following improvement in connecting the lid of the coffin with the body
of the coffin:-In the ordinary method of making these coffins the lid
is made of zinc lined internally and strengthened by a wooden board,
the said lid being flat on its upper side and bevilled on its under edges.

page_text: The top edges of the coffin are bevilled or inclined inwards at the same
angle as the under side of the lid. The upper side and bevilled edges
of the lid are covered with sheet zinc or other metal, and when the lid
is placed on the coffin its sharp metallic edge or angle is situated a
short distance within the outer inclined metallic edge of the coffin. By
running solder between the two edges the lid is soldered air-tight to the
coffin.
This the ordinary method of manufacture is attended with the incon-
venience that the shapes of the lid and coffin are not fitted to bring or
adjust the lid in the required or proper position, and before soldering
the lid the said lid requires to be carefully adjusted and supported in
its proper position. To remedy this inconvenience I make the edge of
the lid square, that is to say, at right angles to the plane of the lid,
and I make in the edge of the coffin a rectangular rebate or recess of
a size and shape proper to receive the edge of the lid, so that when the
lid is put on the coffin it drops into and is supported by the shoulder
forming the bottom of the said rebate or recess, the upper side of the
lid and the edge of the coffin being in the same plane. The lid when
placed on the coffin immediately falls into its proper position without
adjustment, and the soldering can be readily and neatly effected. The
figure of the top edges of the lid and coffin may be varied, the shoulder
at the bottom of the rebate and the square lower edge of the lid being
retained in every case.
By connecting the lids to the coffins according to my Invention the
lids are stronger than those connected in the ordinary way.
The lid may be attached to the body of the coffin so as to make an
air-tight joint either by metallic solder or cement.
My Invention consists further of the following improvements in
making and actuating the valves of air-tight metallic coffins for the
purpose (when necessary) of permitting of the escape of gaseous matter
from the said coffins. I fix in the lid or other part of the coffin an
ordinary spring valve opening downwards. The tubular case of the
valve, to the bottom of which the valve is jointed, is screwed internally,
and the said valve case is closed by a screw plug.
on its upper side, through which a ring passes.
both to screw the plug into or out of the valve case and also to lift tho
coffin lid.
This plug has an eye
The said ring serves

page_text: The valve is opened for permitting of the escape of gas from the
coffin by the following arrangement of parts:-A hollow stem closed at
top and having a milled head is provided at bottom with a screw of a
size proper to engage with that in the valve case. The hole in the
axis of the stem described opens into a hole at right angles thereto.
When the said stem is screwed sufficiently far into the tubular case of
the valve it presses upon and opens the valve and the gas in the coffin
escapes through the hole in the said stem. Around the stem is a case
or socket turning upon it, the said socket resembling the barrel of an
ordinary stop-cock, and to a pipe in the side of the said socket a flexible
tube terminating in a stop-cock is attached.
When it is wished to let gas escape from an air-tight coffin the
flexible tube and stop-cock are passed through a window or out of the
room. The plug is then unscrewed from the tubular case of the valve
in the coffin and the stem herein-before described is screwed in its place.
By screwing the stem into the valve case the said stem rotates within
its socket, and opening the valve permits of the escape of the gas
through the said stem and its socket and the flexible tube.
My Invention consists further of the following improvement in
attaching the handles to the bodies of coffins :-In order to facilitate
the adaptation of any required kind of furniture to the coffin I attach
one knob of each pair of knobs by which the handles are connected to
the coffin by means of an excentric screwed axis. The excentricity of
the axis permits the attaching and detaching of the handle by the
partial rotation of the knob with the excentric axis without interfering
with the air-tight character of the coffin.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said James Jones in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
16th November 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
JONES, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Secretary of the
Patent Metallic Air-tight Coffin Company, Limited, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of May, in the year

page_text: of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-
fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said James Jones, Her special licence, that
I, the said James Jones, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said James Jones, my executors, administrators,
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 James Jones, my executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or
one of their hands and seals, 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 immediately after the date of
the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Jones, 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 :-
My Invention relates to those coffins which are made wholly or
mainly of zinc or other metal or alloy, and one part of my Invention
consists of the following improvement in connecting the lid of the
coffin with the body of the coffin:-In the ordinary method of making
these coffins the lid is made of zinc lined internally, and strengthened
by a wooden board, the said lid being flat on its upper side and bevilled
on its under edges. The top edges of the coffin are bevilled or inclined
inwards at the same angle as the under side of the lid. The upper side
and bevilled edges of the lid are covered with sheet zinc or other metal,
and when the lid is placed on the coffin its sharp metallic edge or angle
is situated a short distance within the outer inclined metallic edge of
the coffin. By running solder between the two edges the lid is soldered
air-tight to the coffin.
This the ordinary method of manufacture is attended with the incon-
venience that the shapes of the lid and coffin are not fitted to bring or
adjust the lid in the required or proper position, and before soldering
the lid the said lid requires to be carefully adjusted and supported in

page_text: its proper position.
To remedy this inconvenience I make the edge of
the lid square, that is to say, at right angles to the plane of the lid, and
I make in the edge of the coffin a rectangular rebate or recess of a size
and shape proper to receive the edge of the lid, so that when the lid is
put on the coffin it drops into and is supported by the shoulder forming
the bottom of the said rebate or recess, the upper side of the lid and the
edge of the coffin being in the same plane. The lid when placed on the
coffin immediately falls into its proper position without adjustment, and
the soldering can be readily and neatly effected.
The figure of the top edges of the lid and coffin may be varied, the
shoulder at the bottom of the rebate and the square lower edge of the
lid being retained in every case.
By connecting the lids to the coffins according to my Invention the
lids are stronger than those connected in the ordinary way.
The lid may be attached to the body of the coffin so as to make an air-
tight joint either by metallic solder or cement.
My Invention consists further of the following improvements. in
making and actuating the valves of air-tight metallic coffins for the
purpose (when necessary) of permitting of the escape of gaseous
matter from the said coffins. I fix in the lid or other part of the coffin
an ordinary spring valve opening downwards. The tubular case of the
valve, to the bottom of which the valve is jointed, is screwed internally,
and the said valve is closed by a screw plug.
its upper side, through which a ring passes.
to screw the plug into or out of the valve
coffin lid.
This plug has an eye on
The said ring serves both
case, and also to lift the
The valve is opened for permitting of the escape of gas from the coffin
by the following arrangement of parts:-A hollow stem closed at top,
and having a milled head, is provided at bottom with a screw of a size.
proper to engage with that in the valve case. The hole in the axis of
the stem described opens into a hole at right angles thereto. When the
said stem is screwed sufficiently far into the tubular case of the valve
it presses upon and opens the valve, and the gas in the coffin escapes
through the hole in the said stem. Around the said stem is a case or
socket turning upon it, the said socket resembling the barrel of an
ordinary stop-cock, and to a pipe in the side of the said socket a flexible
tube terminating in a stop-cock is attached.

page_text: When it is wished to let gas escape from an air-tight coffin the
flexible tube and stop-cock are passed through a window or out of the
room. The plug is then unscrewed from the tubular case of the valve
in the coffin, and the stem herein-before described is screwed in its
place. By screwing the stem into the valve case the said stem rotates
within its socket, and opening the valve permits of the escape of the
gas through the said stem and its socket and the flexible tube.
My Invention consists further of the following improvement in
attaching the handles to the bodies of coffins-In order to facilitate
the adaptation of any required kind of furniture to the coffin I attach
one or both knobs of each pair of knobs by which the handles are
connected to the coffin by means of an excentric screwed axis. The
excentricity of the axis permits the attaching and detaching of the
handle by the partial rotation of the knob with the excentric axis
without interfering with the air-tight character of the coffin.
Having explained the nature of my Invention I will proceed to
describe with reference to the accompanying Drawings the manner in
which the same is to be performed.
Figure 1 represents in transverse vertical section a metallic coffin,
the lid of which is connected to the body according to my Invention.
zinc. The edge 6
a is the body of the coffin made in the ordinary way; b is the lid of
the coffin, the said lid consisting of a board of wood covered with sheet
of the lid 6 is square or rectangular. In the edge
of the body a of the coffin is a rebate or recess c. When the lid b is.
put on the coffin its edge drops into the rebate or recess c, and is sup-
ported by the shoulder forming the bottom of the said rebate or recess,
as seen in the Drawing. The lid 6 when placed on the coffin imme-
diately falls into its proper position without adjustment, and the
soldering or cementing of the lid to the coffin so as to make an
air-tight joint may be readily and neatly effected.
Transverse sections of a portion of a coffin drawn to a larger scale and
fitted with a lid according to my Invention are represented in Figures 9
and 14.
Instead of making in the edge of the body a of the coffin a rebate or
recess to receive the square edge of the lid b a bracket or flange flat at
top may project into the body of the coffin for supporting the lid, the

page_text: square edge of the lid abutting against the side of the body above the
said bracket or flange.
This arrangement of my Invention is represented in vertical transverse
section in Figure 2 of the Drawings, where d is the bracket or flange
projecting from and running round the body a of the coffin for supporting
the lid b, and e is the vertical side of the coffin against which the square
edge of the said lid b abuts, and to which it is soldered or cemented for
making an air-tight joint.
My improvements in the valves of air-tight metallic coffins for the
purpose of permitting of the escape of gaseous matter from the said
coffins are represented in Figures 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 of the Drawings,
Figure 3 representing a plan of a coffin with which is combined the
apparatus for removing the gas from the said coffin; Figure 4, a section
of a portion of the coffin lid and gas removing apparatus drawn to a
larger scale; Figure 5, the same with the closing plug of the valve
substituted for the gas removing apparatus; Figure 6, an elevation of
the closing plug and valve detached; and Figure 7, an elevation of the
gas removing apparatus detached.
b is the lid of the metallic coffin in which the spring valve ƒ opening
downwards is fixed; g is the valve case soldered to the metallic lid and
closed by the screw plug h. On the upper side of the valve plug / is an
eye h² through which a ring i passes. By means of this ring the
plug h may be screwed into or out of the valve case g and the coffin lid
lifted.
The apparatus for removing the gas from the coffin consists of a
hollow stem k having at top the milled head k² for turning it, and at
bottom a screw to engage with the screw thread in the valve case g. In
the axis of the stem k is a gas way which communicates with a gas way
at right angles thereto. Around the said stem k is a case or socket /
connected thereto by the screw washer or ring 1. The stem k is
capable of rotating within the socket 1, the gas ways of the said stem
opening into the hollow of the socket. To a pipe m in the side of the
socket / a flexible tube n terminating in a stop-cock p (see Figure 3) is
attached.
In order to allow of the escape of gas from an air-tight coffin the
plug h (Figure 5) is unscrewed from the case g fixéd in the coffin, and
the stem k of the gas removing apparatus is screwed in its place, as
represented in Figure 4, the said stem turning in its socket as it is

page_text: screwed into the valve case. When the stem k has been screwed home
in the valve case its bottom opens the valve f and permits of the escape
of gas through the said stem k, socket 7, pipe m, and flexible tube n, the
stop-cock end of the said flexible tube n being passed through a window
or out of the room. After the gas has in this way been allowed to
escape from the coffin the stem k is unscrewed from the valve case g and
the valve closed by its spring. The plug h is then screwed in its place
in the valve case, as represented in Figure 5.
Figure 8 represents in side elevation a portion of a metallic coffin
to which a handle is attached according to my Invention; Figure 9 is
a transverse vertical section of the same; and Figure 10 is a horizontal
section of the same. q is the handle, and r is the handle plate; s, t, are
the pair of knobs by means of which the handle q and handle plate "
are connected to the coffin a. Each knob is provided with a lateral
hole s, t, in which the pivots q², q³, of the handle q engage as usual.
The screwed axis &³ of the knob 8 is concentric with the said knob, while
the screwed axis of the other knob t is excentric to the said knob.
The knob t is shown on a larger scale in elevation in Figure 11, and
plan in Figure 12. The screwed axes 83, 3, of the knobs 8, t, pass
handle plater and the sides of the coffin a, and
take into screw nuts or screw boxes u, u, on the inside of the coffin.
The screw nuts u, u, are soldered to the plates o, and the latter to the
inside of the coffin. Over the screw nuts u, u, hemispherical covers w, w,
are soldered. By means of the said covers the gas is prevented from
escaping from the coffin at the said screw nuts. One of these screw
nuts is represented in plan and elevation in Figure 13.
through holes in the
In attaching the handle q and plater to the coffin a by my Invention
the knob is first completely screwed home, and the second knob t with
excentric axis nearly screwed home. The pivot q at one end of the
handle q is then engaged with the holes in the knob s, and the pivot q³
at the opposite end of the handle q is introduced into the hole in the
said knob t, the hole in the knob t being so placed with respect to
the pivot that the latter can readily enter it. By now turning the
knob through a small angle the excentricity of its axis t³ causes
the said knob to advance upon the pivot, and thereby to secure the
handle in its place. The screwed axis t³ is at the same time driven
home, and the plate also fixed in its place. By turning the knob t
in the contrary direction the said knob retires from the pivot q³, and

page_text: the latter may be withdrawn from the hole in the knob and the handle
removed.
Instead of screw boxes of the kind represented in Figures 9, 10,
and 13 for the screwed axes of the knobs to engage with, screw boxes
of the kind represented in Figure 14 may be used. The screw box
(marked x) is cast in one piece and soldered to the inner side of the
coffin. The screwed portion of the box does not pass completely through
it, so that when the box has been soldered in its place the escape of
gas through the said screw box is prevented.
By connecting handles to metallic coffins according to my Invention
the adaptation of any required furniture to the coffin is facilitated, the
removal and connection being made without interfering with the
air-tight character of the coffin.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner
in which the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood
that I do not limit myself to the precise details herein described and
illustrated, as the same may be varied without departing from the
nature of my Invention; but I claim as my Invention,-
Firstly. The improvement herein-before described and illustrated in
Figures 1, 2, 9, and 14 of the accompanying Drawings in connecting
the lids of air-tight metallic coffins to the bodies of the said coffins, that
is to say, making the edge of the lid square or at right angles to the
plane of the lid, and making at the edge of the body of the coffin a
rectangular rebate or recess, or a bracket or flange projecting into the
coffin for receiving or supporting the edge of the lid, whereby the lid
when placed on the body of the coffin immediately falls into its proper
position without adjustment, and the soldering or cementing of the lid
to the body can be readily and neatly effected.
Secondly. The arrangement or combination of parts herein-before
described with respect to Figures 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 of the accompanying
Drawings for permitting of the escape of gaseous matter from air-tight
metallic coffins, that is to say, the combination of the stem k, k³, and
socket and parts connected therewith, the said combined parts being
used in connection with the ordinary valve and valve case for the
purpose and substantially as described and illustrated; also providing
the valve plug with an eye and ring for turning the said plug and
lifting the coffin lid.

page_text: Thirdly. The improvement in attaching the handles of air-tight metallic
coffins to the bodies of the said coffins herein-before described and
illustrated in Figures 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14 of the accompanying
Drawings, that is to say, attaching the said handles by means of a pair
of knobs, one or both knobs having an excentric screwed axis for the
purpose, and substantially as described and illustrated; also making the
screw nuts or screw boxes inside the coffin with which the screwed
axes of the knobs engage in the manner described with respect to
Figures 9, 10, 13, and 14 of the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Jones, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of November, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one.
Witness,
GEORGE SHAW.
JAMES JONES. (L.S.)