Improvements in Coffins.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Mar., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 25th Nov., 1896-Accepted, 3rd Mar., 1897
TOTONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Coffins.
We, HENRY MILTON HANDSUY, of San Antonio. Bexan County, Texas,
United States of America, and SAMUEL LEWIS HAIN, of the same place, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The objects of the invention are to provide a coffin of improved construction and
composition; to so construct the same as to render it impervious to the action of
water or moisture and to render said coffin strong and durable and admit of the
same being produced in a neat and ornamental form.
In the construction of the coffin a body or section formed of wire netting or wire
cloth, having the usual or desirable coffin outline and form, is employed. Riveted
or otherwise firmly secured within the wire coffin section are the desired number of
substantially U-shaped metallic bars or plates the latter extending transversely of
said coffin section and having their horizontal portions secured to the bottom
thereof, while their upwardly extending or substantially vertical arm portions are
secured to the inner sides of said coffin section and are of equal height therewith.
The upper ends of these vertical arms which are on what may be termed the rear
side of the coffin, are provided with openings. The vertical arms of said bars
which are on the forward side of the coffin are provided with vertical pin extensions
the latter being threaded. Each of the vertical arms of each of the bars is
provided with two outwardly projecting bolts or pins.
The coffin section formed as above described of wire netting or its equivalent is
adapted to have pressed or molded into its outer and inner faces a composition
which has been reduced to a pulp form or plastic mass, thus providing an inner
and outer covering or casing for the netting and the bars therein.
The pulp composition thus formed preferably consists of desired proportions of
previously ground vulcanite fibre and mica, although it is evident that the mica
may be omitted if desired. It is also evident that in molding
about the wire screen body the unter surface of the coffin body thus produced may
or pressing the pulp
bave formed therein auy desirable ornamental figures or designs.
The top or cover of the coffin body may be in the forin of the ordinary slab or
may be suitably ornamented. In the formation of this coffin top, a layer of wire
etting of the desired outline is employed, into opposite sides of which is pressed
or molded the plastic material above referred to.
Molded within the body of the lid and adjacent to the rear edge thereof are the
esired number of downwardly and outwardly curved metallic hooks or catch pieces
aid hocks being adapted to engage with the openings of the bar arms when the lid is
laced on the coffin body. The forward edge portion of the lid or cover is
rovided with openings which are adapted to receive the upwardly projecting
hreaded pins of the forward bar arms the outer end portions of these pius having
penings therethrough which are adapted to receive the yoke of a suitable lock.
Prior to the engagement of said lock, however, with said pin, a suitable washer is
serted over each of the pins after which a nut is screwed on to the pin, said nut
earing against said washer and serving to press the lid firmly into place.
To each pair of pins which project through the coffin sides as described is
cured a handle bar thus providing means for lifting and carrying the coffin.

page_text: It is well known that the character of vulcanite fibre and mica is such as to
resist the action of dampness or moisture and that said materials are exceedingly
durable and capable of withstanding great strain and wear.
The employment of the wire screen body or section not only serves as a form
upon which the coffin holy may be inolded, but also serves to increase the rigidity
of the body and assure the retention of the same in its proper shape.
It is evident that a coffin such as is herein described may be produced in any
desired form at a comparatively small expense and that the material of which the
same is composed is such as to render it exceedingly durable and impervious to the
decaying action of the earth in which the same may be buried. It will also be
seen that superior means are provided for holding the lid or cover in firm
connection with the coffin body.
It is evident that other pulp compositions might be employed for molding the
coffin body herein described, such as straw-board or wood pulp. It is also obvious
that a coffin of the character described may be painted or colored as may be
desired or required.
We, HENRY MILTON HANDSBY, of San Antonio, Bexan County, Texas,
United States of America, and SAMUEL LEWIS HAIN, of the same place, 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:-
The objects of the invention are to provide a coffin of improved construction and
composition to so construct the same as to render it impervious to the action of
water or moisture and to render said coffin strong and durable and admit of the
sume being produced in a ment and ornamental form.
These objects are accomplished in the manner illustrated in the accompanying
drawings, in which―
Fig. is a view in perspective of a wire netting coffin section which may be
employed as hereinafter described.
Fig. 2 is a view in perspective of the completed coffin showing a portion of the
top and side broken away for the sake of clearness.
Fig. 3 is a transverse section through said coffin and
Fig. 4 is a view in perspective of a portion of a coffin lid illustrating the form of
hook employed in connecting the same with the coffin body.
Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.
In the construction of the coflin a body or section 1 formed of wire netting or
wire cloth, having the usual or desirable coffin outline and forin, is employed.
Riveted or otherwise firmly secured within the wire coflin section 1 are the desired
number of substantially U-shaped metallic bars or plates 2, the latter extending
transversely of said coffin section and having their horizontal portions secured to
the bottom thereof, while their upwardly extending or substantially vertical arm
portions are secured to the inner sides of said coffin section and are of equal height
therewith. The upper ends of these vertical arms which are indicated at 3 and

page_text: which are on what may be termed the rear side of the coffin, are as shown provided
with openings 4. The vertical arms of said bars which are on the forward side of
the coffin are provided with vertical pin extensions 5 the latter being threaded as
shown. Each of the vertical arms 3 of each of the bars 2 is provided with two.
outwardly projecting bolts or pins 6.
The coffin section formed as above described of wire netting or its equivalent is:
adapted to have pressed or molded into its outer and inner faces a composition 7
which has been reduced to a pulp form or plastic mass, thus providing an inner and
outer covering or casing for the netting and the bars therein.
The pulp composition thus formed preferably consists of previously groun 1
vulcanized fiber and mica (in variable proportions), although it is evident that the
mica may be omitted if desired. It is also evident that in molding or pressing the
pulp about the wire screen body the outer surface of the coffin body thus produced
may have formed therein any desirable ornamental figures or designs.
8 represents the top or cover of the coffin body which may be in the form of the
ordinary slab shown or may be suitably ornamented. In the formation of this
coffin top, as indicated more clearly in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawing, a layer of
wire netting 9 of the desired outline is employed, into opposite sides of which is
pressed or molded the plastic material above referred to.
Molded within the body of the lid and adjacent to the rear edge thereof are the-
desired number of downwardly and outwardly curved metallic hooks or catch
pieces 10 said hooks being adapted as indicated in Fig. 3 of the drawing to engage
with the openings 4 of the bar arms 3 when the lid is placed on the coffin body...
The forward edge portion of the lid or cover is provided with openings which are
adapted to receive the upwardly projecting threaded pins 5 of the forward bar
arms 3, the outer end portions of these pins having openings therethrough which
are adapted to receive the yoke of a suitable lock 11. Prior to the engagement
of said lock, however, with said pin, a suitable washer 12 is inserted over each of
the pins after which a nut 13 is screwed on to the pin, said nut bearing against
said washer and serving to press the lid firmly into place.
To each pair of pins 6 which project through the coffin sides as described is
secured a handle bar 14 thus providing means for lifting and carrying the coffin.
It is well known that the character of vulcanized fiber and mica is such as to
resist the action of dampness or moisture and that said materials are exceedingly
durable and capable of withstanding great strain and wear.
The employment of the wire screen body or section which is indicated at 1, not
only serves as a form upon which the coffin body may be molded, but also serves
to increase the rigidity of the body and assure the retention of the same in its-
proper shape.
It is evident that a coffin such as is herein shown and described may be produced
in any desired form at a comparatively small expense and that the material of
which the same is composed is such as to render it exceedingly durable and
impervious to the decaying action of the earth in which the same may be buried..
It will also be seen that superior means are provided for holding the lid or cover
in firm connection with the coffin body.
It is evident that other pulp compositions might be employed for molding the
coffin body herein described, such as straw-board or wood pulp. It is also obvious
that a coffin of the character described may be painted or colored as may be
desired or required.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is:
1. A coffin composed of a wire frame embedded in a pulp formed of ground.
vulcanized fibre.
2. In a coffiu construction the combination with the wire coffin section 1,
metallic bars secured to the sides thereof, openings in the rear ends of said bars

page_text: and thronded pin projections on the forward ends thereof and a composition outer
and inner facing for said wire section, of a lid, hooks projecting from the rear
portion of said lid and adapted to engage with the openings in said bars, openings
in the forward edge portion of said lid adapted to receive said projecting pins and
means for locking said lid against removal, substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
Dated this 25th day of November 1896.
For the Applicants,
W. LLOYD WISE,
46 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.