Improvements in and relating to Coffins.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Feb., 1890-Accepted, 8th Mar., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Coffins.
We, JOHN DANFORTH RIPSON, and WILLIAM ARCHIBALD FRAZER, Manufacturers
of Lumber, residing at Suspension Bridge, in the County of Niagara and State of
New York, one of the United States of America, 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 improvements in Burial Caskets, and is largely an improve-
ment on those caskets in which provision is made for the movement in a generally
horizontal plane of the sliding panel or lid and glass face plate over the face opening
without depressing either. In this case provision is made for the automatic move-
ment of the panel and glass, either or both, when the detent or detents which hold one
or both closed have been released; there is also a further improvement in the
construction of the detent, or springs that hold the panel and glass closed; also an
improvement in the combination of the movable panel and the movable glass face
plate. These and many other points of improvement will be fully pointed out in
the description.
As the invention relates more particularly to the points or features in the casket líd
or cover, it is not necessary to fully illustrate other parts in all the figures of the
drawings.
Referring to the accompanying Drawings:
Figure 1, represents a perspective view of a burial caskėt embodying the
invention;
Figure 2, represents a reversed perspective view of the lid ;
Figure 3, represents a central longitudinal section of the lid or cover, and
casket;
Figure 4, represents a transverse section of the same on the line, x-x, of
Figure 3 ;
Figure 5, represents a sectional detail of the lid or cover, showing the spring
catches or detents for holding the panel and glass face plate closed;
Figure 6, is a detail view showing a modification of the construction of the said
catches or detents;
Figure 7, is a detail in perspective showing the underside of the glass and panel,
the former slightly removed from the rear of the latter.
Referring to the drawings by letter, A, designates a casket lid or cover, of usual
construction, except in the matters and invention which will now be described. It is
provided with the face opening, a, and the longitudinal groove-ways, a¹, a², for the
glass face plate and sliding panel, respectively.
The top part, A', of the lid, (see dotted lines Figure 1,) by which term we include
also the head and foot panels of the lid, is preferably of sheet-metal or other thin
material. B, is the sliding head panel with its side and front edges resting in the
groove-way, a², made for its accommodation.
The said panel has on its under surface centrally below its front edge, a catch, b,
made in any suitable way. The rear or inner edge of this panel is bent downward to
form a flange, 61, and the panel is preferably made of similar sheet-metal to that
constituting the head and foot portions of the lid.
C, is a leaf spring seated and secured in a central recess, c, extending from the
front edge of the face opening, a. The said spring is, preferably, bent into a semi-
circular curve, at its middle portion and has its lower legs secured within the
recess, while from its upper leg rises the press-button c', the stem, of which passes
out of the recess, c, the covering of cloth, or other suitable material, hiding the
recess, so that nothing but the head of the button is seen from the outside.

page_text: The free end; c², of the upper leg of the spring is bent first upward and then
downward to form a shoulder, c³, adapted to engage with the shoulder, b, and retain
the sliding panel closed.
The spring, D, preferably of elastic rubber cloth, connects the rear edge of
the sliding panel and the rear or foot end of the lid, which spring is extended
when the panel is closed over the face opening, and the spring C, engages the
catch, b. E, is a transverse stop-block or buffer, preferably of soft rubber, situated
a suitable distance from the foot or rear end of the casket lid and held in place by any
suitable support, substantially as shown.
The said buffer receives the impact of the flange, 6, of the sliding panel, when it is
released, and thus noise and jar are prevented; but if there was no flange on the
panel both glass and panel would, when released, strike against the buffer.
The glass face, F, is situated below the sliding panel and slides in the groove-
ways, a¹.
It is provided near its front edge with a catch, f, which is adapted to
engage a spring, G, similar in all respects to the spring, C, and secured in
recess in the lid in a similar manner, as will be hereinafter more fully
explained.
a
The spring, H, preferably of elastic rubber cloth, connects the rear edge of the
glass plate and the rear or foot end of the lid and draws inward, that is, opens the said
plate when it is released from its detent or catch; the rear or inner edge of the glass
plate striking against the soft material, e, or buffer inside the flange, 6, of the panel
prevents any noise or jar when the plate is retracted. The underside of the lid
below the rubber springs is preferably covered with cloth to prevent said springs from
sagging when the panel or panels and glass have been drawn back and the face
opening in the lid is thus at any time necessarily uncovered.
The springs, C, and, G, may be secured in different recesses situated side by side, or
one above the other, and having separate press buttons, but the spring, G, is preferably
bent more acutely than the spring, C, secured within the same recess by the same
means, and has its upper leg below the upper leg of the spring, C, so that by pressing
lightly on the button, c², the sliding panel only will be released, while by pressing the
button further down the depending lug or pin, K, on the upper leg of the spring, C,
will press down the upper leg of the spring, G, and release the detent block, f, of
the glass plate without the upper spring binding thereon.
In the inodification shown in Figure 6, of these springs, &c., there are some merely
mechanical changes in their adaptation and adjustment, and the pin, K, has been
placed on the spring, G; but the construction is substantially similar and the results
attained the same.
Instead of the detent or catch block near the front end of the panel and face plate
a hole will answer and may in many instances be more desirable than the detent
block.
The many and obvious advantages of this invention need not be here enumerated
further than to say that all noise, delay, or trouble in exposing the face of the
deceased or allowing access to it when desired, are avoided, and that a casket made
according to our invention is more convenient for all its necessary purposes than any
other with which we are acquainted.
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 In a burial casket, as described, a sliding panel combined with a detent or
catch and spring, whereby it may when released from the catch be automatically caused
to slide away from the face opening, substantially as specified.
Second in combination with a burial casket, as described, a sliding glass face
plate and spring, and catch or detent in connection therewith, substantially as set
forth, whereby on release of the detent the glass automatically slides away from the
face opening.
Third In combination with a burial casket, as described, a sliding "panel and.

page_text: glass to cover the face opening and springs and detents operating in connection
with said panel and glass, whereby when the panel and glass are released from
said detent said panel and glass will be automatically drawn back from the face
opening by said spring, substantially in the manner and for the purposes set
forth.
Fourth-The combination of the panel, the glass face plate, the catch, the spring
and the buffer, substantially in the manner and for the purposes set forth.
Fifth The combination of the panel having flange, 6, and elastic material on the
inner side of it with the glass face plate and elastic, substantially as and for the
purposes described.
Sixth-In a burial casket, substantially as described, the combination with the lid
of the sliding panel and the sliding glass face plate, each provided with a catch or
detent on its under surface below the front edge, of the spring secured in a recess in
the lid, engaging the catch block on the sliding panel and provided with a depending
lug, and the spring secured within the former spring in the recess, engaging the
catch block on the glass face plate and having its upper leg in such relative position
to the upper leg of the panel spring that the latter can be depressed a sufficient
distance to release the panel, without releasing the glass face plate, substantially as
specified.
Seventh-In a burial casket, substantially as described, the combination of the lid,
the transverse rubber stop block, the sliding panel, the sliding glass face plate, the
detents to hold said panel and glass face plate closed, and the springs retracting or
drawing inward the said panel and glass face plate, substantially as specified.
Dated this 4th day of Feb.....
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.