A NEW OR IMPROVED AIR AND WATER TIGHT COFFIN
Year: 1885

page_text: I, WILLIAM EDWIN HEYS of New Bridge Street Manchester in the County of
Lancaster Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for A NEW
OR IMPROVED AIR AND WATER TIGHT COFFIN to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to Coffins and has for its object to preserve the sanitary
condition of the soil in which the burial has taken place and of the surrounding
air, or in other words, to produce coffins by the use of which pollution of the air,
soil and water by noxious exhalations is prevented. It has further for its object to
enable such Coffins to be produced at such a cost that they may be used by every
class of society and have such an appearance that they shall satisfy existing
religious and sentimental feelings.
It has been shown by experiment that the first object of this Invention is fully
attained by the use of light and perfectly air and watertight Coffins for the burial
of the dead and this Invention consists in constructing such coffins in such a
manner and of such a composition that the second object may be attained at the
same time.
In carrying out this Invention the coffin and lid are separately moulded or
otherwise formed of the composition substantially hereinafter specified these parts
being afterwards and when required capable of being quickly and securely closed
or joined together so as to be air and water tight.
Good results, that is to say air and water proof coffins, may be obtained by
employing the following composition. There are separately mixed;
Plaster of Paris
Caput Mortuum
Second, Water
Glycerine
Dextrine
Alum
200 parts,
5 parts;
75 parts
8 parts
10 parts
2 parts.
first.
The second or liquid mixture is added to the powder mixture and the two are
thoroughly incorporated together into a thick plastic mass which is then suitable
for use in forming the Coffins and their lids.

page_text: The coffin and lid are formed of the plastic mass in suitable moulds as is well
understood, the thickness of the material forming the bottom, ends, sides and lid
being from 10 to 35 millimetres according to the size of the coffin.
In order to give sufficient strength especially to the underpart of the coffin for
carrying it and to facilitate a secure fastening of the feet (lion claws), of the
carrying rings and of the screws for fixing the lid upon the underpart, laths of
wood of suitable strength and wrapped with coarse linen are inserted into the
mass at the requisite spots, for instance on the bottom, in the middle of the long
sides and on the edges of the coffin and of the lid. Or the sides of the mould
when put together may be covered with a thin layer of the plastic composition and
then a skeleton frame of the coffin may be placed into it, after which the formation
of the coffin and of the lid is continued until the layer has obtained the required
thickness.
The coffin and the lid, are then placed into a drying room having a temperature
of 80 to 100 degrees Cent., in which it is completely dried through in about
12 hours, and afterwards it is immersed for a short time in a varnish bath.
Finally the now finished coffin receives on the outside a coating of waterproof
varnish or lacquer, wliereby if desired the coffins may receive the appearance of
oak by suitable additions of colours to the lacquer.
The joint between the lid and the underpart must like those parts be air and
water tight, this may be secured by any suitable known method, for instance by
placing a prepared india rubber packing protected against decomposition into a
groove formed upon the edge of the coffin and a corresponding feather formed on
the lid which fits into the groove. Small angle or Tee iron screwed to the
bordering laths of the lid may be employed.
By using moulds of variously profiled and ornamented forms, in which the coffins
are made, the second object of this Invention may be secured, namely that coffins
may be prepared for every class of society, for the process permits the manufacture
of coffins of a dignified exterior as well as of simple ones, meeting the requirements
of religious sentiment and of sanitation in a sufficient manner.
Dated this twenty fifth day of June AD 1885

page_text: I, WILLIAM EDWIN HEYS of 70 Market Street Manchester in the. County of
Lancaster Engineer 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:--.
.
This Invention relates to Coffins and has for its object to preserve the sanitary
condition of the soil in which the burial has taken place and of the surrounding
air or in other words to produce coffins by the use of which pollution of the air,
soil and water by noxious exhalations is prevented. It has further for its object
to enable such coffins to be produced at such a cost that they may be used by
every class of society and have such an appearance that they shall satisfy existing
religious and sentimental feelings.
It has been shown by experiment that the first object of this Invention is fully
attained by the use of light and perfectly air and watertight coffins for the burial
of the dead and this Invention consists in constructing such coffins in such a
manner and of such a composition that the second object may be attained at the
same time.
In carrying out this Invention the coffin and lid are separately moulded or
otherwise formed substantially of the composition hereinafter specified these parts
being afterwards and when required capable of being quickly and securely closed.
or joined together so as to be air and water tight.
Good results, that is to say air and water-proof coffins, may be obtained by
: employing the following composition. There are separately mixed; first
Plaster of Paris
Caput Mortuum
Second, Water
Glycerine
Dextrine
Alum
200 parts,
5 parts,
75 parts,
8 parts,
10 parts,
2 parts.
The second or liquid mixture is then added to the powder mixture and the two
are thoroughly incorporated together into a thick plastic mass which is then suitable
for use in forming the coffins and their lids.
The coffin and lid are formed of the plastic mass in suitable moulds as is well
understood, the thickness of the material forming the bottoms ends sides and lid
being from 10 to 35 millemeters according to the size of the coffin.
The plastic mass hardens quickly and firmly and, owing to the presence of
alum, Caput mortuum, glycerine and plaster of paris forms an air and watertight
material. Suitable colouring matters may be added to the compound in order to
obtain a ground for subsequent painting or decoration or to produce a more
pleasing effect.
In order to give sufficient strength especially to the underpart of the coffin for
carrying it and to facilitate a secure fastening of the feet (lion claws), of the
carrying rings and of the screws for fixing the lid upon the underpart, laths of

page_text: wood of suitable strength and wrapped with coarse linen are inserted into the mass
at the requisite spots, for instance on the bottom, in the middle of the long sides
and in the edges of the coffin and of the lid. Or the sides of the mould when put
together may be covered with a thin layer of the plastic composition and then a
skeleton frame of the coffin may be placed into it, after which the formation of
the coffin and of the lid is continued until the layer has obtained the required
thickness.
The coffin and the lid, are then placed into a drying room having a temperature
of 80 to 100 degrees Cent., in which it is completely dried through in about
12 hours, and afterwards it is immersed for a short time in a varnish bath.
Finally the now finished coffin receives on the outside a coating of waterproof
varnish or lacquer, whereby if desired the coffins may receive the appearance of
oak by suitable additions of colours to the lacquer.
The joint between the lid and the underpart must, like those parts, be air and
watertight, this may be secured by any suitable known method, for instance by
placing a prepared india rubber packing protected against decomposition into a
groove formed upon the edge of the coffin and a corresponding feather formed on
the lid which fits into the groove. Small angle or Tee iron screwed to the bordering
laths of the lid may be employed.
By using moulds of variously profiled and ornamented forms, in which the
coffins are made, the second object of this Invention may be secured namely that
coffins may be prepared for every class of society, for the process permits the
manufacture of coffins of a dignified exterior as well as of simple ones, meeting the
requirements of religious sentiment and of sanitation in a sufficient manner.
The "Caput Mortuum" hereinbefore referred to is the substance otherwisc
known as colcothar and consists of an oxide of iron with other substances such as
clay silica, manganese and sulphuric acid.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:
(1.) A new or improved air and water tight coffin composed and constructed
substantially as and for the purposes herein before described."
(2.) The composition of matter consisting of plaster of paris, "Caput Mortuum,"
dextrine, alum, glycerine and water mixed or combined substantially in the
proportions and manner and for the purpose herein before described.
(3.) The manufacture or construction of air and water tight coffins consisting
partly of the herein before described composition and partly of a skeleton or frame
or of laths, the coffins, when moulded or otherwise formed being, thoroughly dried,
subsequently painted with or immersed in waterproof varnish and finally if
desired bronzed lacquered grained or otherwise decorated, substantially as herein-
before described.
Dated this 22nd day of Manch AD 1996