Improvements in Coffins.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 14th May, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 16th Feb., 1891-Accepted, 28th Mar., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Coffins.
We, THE LONDON NECROPOLIS AND NATIONAL MAUSOLEUM COMPANY,
of Westminster Bridge Road, in the County of Surrey, and WILLIAM AUSTIN,
of Ellermede, Totteridge, in the County of Herts., Barrister-at-Law, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the manufacture of coffins of the kind described in the
Specification of Letters Patent No. 2788 granted to Julian Larkman and John
Diprose and bearing date the 7th day of August 1875 that is coffins which when
placed in the earth are rapidly disintegrated by the moisture and pressure thereof
the object of the present invention being to manufacture coffins of the said kind in
such a manner that they will have the appearance of wooden coffins of the ordinary
construction.
According to the invention forming the subject matter of the present Application
for Letters Patent coffins are manufactured in any of the ways hereinafter
described.
A shell is first made either entirely or partly of pulp as described in the afore-
said Specification and the outer surface or portions of the outer surface thereof are
then covered with veneer.
Or the coffin is constructed either in part or entirely of pieces of wood secured
together by means of ordinary carpenter's glue or other cement which yields readily
to the action of moisture.
Or an open frame is constructed of wood or other convenient material of the
general configuration required for the coffin and of sufficient strength and panels or
pieces of wood are secured in the said frame by means of glue or other cement of
the nature hereinbefore referred to.
Or the coffin is constructed of a skeleton frame in which are fitted panels of
wood the edges of which are so bevilled that the said panels are capable of resisting
pressure from within and of yielding to the external pressure to which the coffin is
subjected when in the earth.
Or boards or panels are secured to the innersides or innerfaces of the frame by such
means or in such a manner that the said boards or panels will be separated from
the frame and caused to fall inward by the action of the moisture of the earth or
the pressure thereof when the coffin is buried therein.
Or coffins are constructed by a combination of two or more or all of the methods
of manufacture herein before described.
In some cases the lid only of the coffin is constructed in such a manner or of such
materials as to be subject to rapid disintegration or destruction by the moisture or
weight or both of the earth.
Dated this 14th day of May 1890.
W. T. WHITEMAN,
Agent for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Coffins.
We, THE LONDON NECROPOLIS AND NATIONAL MAUSOLEUM COMPANY,
of Westminster Bridge Road, in the County of Surrey, and WILLIAM AUSTIN,
of Ellermede, Totteridge, in the County of Herts., Barrister-at-Law, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is to be
Price 11

page_text: performed, to be particularly describedi and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
This invention relates to tlie manufacture of coffins of the kind described in the
Specification of Letters Patent No. 2788-granted to Julian Larkman and John
Diprose and bearing date the 7th day of August, 1875. that is coffins which when
placed in the earth are rapidly disintegrated by the moisture and pressure thereof
the object of the present invention being to manufacture coffins of the said kind in
such a manner that they will have the appearance of wooden coffins of the ordinary
construction.
According to the invention forming the subject matter of the present Application
for Letters Patent coffins are manufactured in any of the ways hereinafter
described.
According to one method of manufacture a shell is first made either entirely or
partly of pulp as described in the aforesaid Specification and the outer surface or
portions of the outer surface thereof are then covered with veneer which is secured
to the said surface by means of ordinary carpenter's glue or other cement preferably
such as yields readily to the action of moisture. Or the veneer is secured to the
said surface by any convenient means which will not prevent or materially retard
the disintegration of the coffin when placed in the earth.
According to another method of manufacture the coffin is constructed either in
part or entirely of pieces of wood secured together by means of ordinary carpenter's
glue or other cement which yields ready to the action of moisture.
According to another method of manufacture an open frame is constructed of wood
or other convenient material of the general configuration required for the coffin and
of sufficient strength and panels or pieces of wood are secured in the said frame by
means of glue or other cement of the nature hereinbefore referred to.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is a transverse section of one of the sides
of a coffin consisting of a frame of wood in which panels are secured by means of
glue or other cement capable of being softened by the action of moisture. The
portion of the frame shown in the said Figure 1 is marked a and the panel secured
therein is marked b.
Figure 2 of the said drawings is a face view of a portion of the side of a coffin
consisting of a frame of wood in which pieces of wood are secured by means of glue
or cement of the kind herein before referred to. The portion of the frame shown
in the said Figure 2 is marked and the pieces of wood secured therein are
marked d d.
According to another method of manufacture the coffin is constructed of a skeleton
frame in which are fitted panels of wood the edges of which are se bevilled that the
said panels are capable of resisting pressure from within and of yielding to the
external pressure to which the coffin is subjected when in the earth.
Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings is a transverse section of one of the sides.
of a coffin thus constructed the inner part of the said side being on the left hand.
In the said Figure 3 the portion of the frame shown is marked e and the panel which
is fitted therein is marked j.
According to another method of manufacture boards or panels are secured to the
inner sides or inner faces of the frame by such means or in such a manner that the
said boards or panels-will be separated from the frame and caused to fall inward
by the action of the moisture of the earth and the pressure thereof when the coffin
is buried therein.
Figure 4 is a transverse section of a coffin consisting of a frame of wood to the
inner side of which frame boards or panels are secured by being engaged in rebates
formed in the frame. The portion of the frame shown in the said Figure 4 is
marked g and the board or panel secured to the innerside thereof is marked h.
Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings is a transverse section of a portion of one
side of a coffin consisting of a frame to the inner face of which boards are secured
by means of glue or cement of the nature herein before referred to. In the said

page_text: Figure 5 the portion of the frame shown is marked i and the board or panel secured
to the inner face thereof is marked j.
Although in the accompanying drawings the said invention is illustrated only
with reference to portions of the sides of coffins we wish it to be understood that
the ends and lids thereof may also be constructed essentially as hereinbefore
described; that is to say the said parts may be so constructed that they will be
readily subjected to disintegration by the moisture and pressure of the earth when
placed therein.
Where desirable coffins are constructed according to this invention by a com-
bination of two or more or all of the methods of manufacture herein before
described.
In some cases the lid only of the coffin is constructed in such a manner or of such
materials as to be subject to rapid disintegration or destruction by the moisture or
weight or both of the earth.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
First. The improvements hereinbefore described in the manufacture of coffins
according to the invention described in the Specification of Letters Patent No. 2788
A.D. 1875 that is to say the covering of the outer surfaces or portions of the outer
surfaces of such coffins with veneer.
Secondly. The improvements hereinbefore described in the manufacture of coffins.
which are required to be subject to speedy disintegration when in the earth that is
to say the construction of such coffins in such a manner that some or all of the parts
of the coffins will be disconnected and displaced by the action of the moisture and
external pressure of the earth when buried therein but so that the said coffins will
remain intact and capable of resisting pressure from within and be sufficiently
strong to endure necessary handling and carriage while exposed to no greater
emount of moisture than is ordinarily present in the atmosphere.
"Thirdly. The several methods hereinbefore described of constructing wooden
coffins which are required to be subject to speedy disintegration when in the
earth.
T
T
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CL 1
1001
W. T. WHITEMAN,
Agent for the Applicants.