Improvements in Coffins.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Nov., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 11th Aug., 1893—Accepted. 16th Sept., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Coffins.
I, JAMES BRADLEY FURNISS, of 7 Queen's Road, Brighton, in the County of
Sussex, Undertaker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The object of my invention is to construct water-tight coffins in such a manner as
to obviate the necessity of having what is known as a shell, and confining myself to
the outer coffin and lining the same with lead, zinc or any other metal and making
same watertight, and also to improve the outward appearance of the coffins by filling
in the panels with separate panels covered with velvet or other material in the
manner hereinafter described.
At the present time when it is desirable to have a watertight coffin with a wood
exterior, they are usually made in three separate parts; viz., the shell, the lead
coffin, and the outer coffin, and are arranged so that the lead coffin comes between
the shell and the outer coffin.
In carrying out my invention, the method of construction is entirely different,
I make the ordinary single coffin and form the sides, ends and lid into panels by
means of mouldings, the said moulding at the bottom being flush with the coffin,
and the moulding round the top is raised to form a rebate for the lid of the metal
lining. I then cut out of lead, zinc or other metal, the shape of the bottom, sides
and ends, the depth of the sides and ends being a little more than that of the coffin
to allow of its being dressed over the top of the coffin and up the sides of the
moulding and these are soldered together at the angles.
In order to secure the shroud, linings and trimmings without in any way
destroying the virtue of the metal, I place several shaped brackets near the top
of the coffin and these are soldered or let into prepared slots; into the brackets I
fit a slight wooden fillet, which goes all round and is prevented from being displaced
by means of a tooth formed in the upright portion of the bracket or by a screw in
the same position, it is to this wooden fillet that I fasten the shroud, linings and
trimmings above referred to.
In forming the metal lid, I make a skeleton frame which I brace across at one or
two points to give it firmness, this frame is covered with the same metal, and is
made to fit in between the rebates formed by the top mouldings of the coffin; the
metal lid is then dropped into these rebates and the whole soldered round thus
rendering it watertight and as effectual as the present system; the lid of the coffin
which is panelled in the same manner as the sides and ends would then be screwed
on as in ordinary cases.
In carrying out the part of my invention which refers to the panels on the outside
of the coffins, I cut panels of thin wood, the same size and shape as the panels on
the coffin, and these I cover with velvet or some other textile material, and fasten
them into the panels of the coffin by any known means; to further add to the
appearance of the coffin I fill in the corners of the panels with artistic designs made
of the same metal as the handles.
It will be understood that I do not restrict myself to any particular shape of
coffin as my invention is equally applicable to either the ordinary or medieval
shaped coffins.
Dated this 14th day of November 1892
THOMAS H. MELLOR,
110, St. James's Street, Brighton, Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE, SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Coffins.
I, JAMES BRADLEY FURNISS, of 7A Queen's Road, Brighton, in the County of
Sussex, Undertaker, 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 object of my invention is to construct watertight and air-tight coffins in such
a manner as to obviate the necessity of having what is known as a "shell," and
confining myself to the outer coffin, and lining the same with lead, zinc or any other
metal and making same air-tight and water-tight; and also to improve the outward
appearance of the coffin by filling in the panels with separate panels covered with
velvet or other textile material; or separate panels of wood of a different kind or
nature to that of the main or principal part of the coffin in the manner hereinafter
described.
At the present time when it is desirable to have a water-tight coffin with a wood
exterior it is usually constructed in three separate parts, viz. :-the shell, the lead
coffin, and the outer coffin, and these are so arranged that the lead coffin comes
between the shell and the outer coffin.
According to the invention forming the subject matter of the present application
for Letters Patent the coffins are manufactured in any of the ways hereinafter
described.
According to one method of manufacture I make an ordinary single coffin and
form the sides, ends and lid into panels by means of mouldings either framed
together by a mortise and tenon joint or simply secured to the coffin by means of a
butt joint, the said moulding at the bottom being flush with the coffin, and the
moulding round the top being raised so as to form a rebate for the return of the
metal lining, I then cut out of lead, zinc or any other metal the shape of the bottom,
sides and ends, the depth of the sides and ends being a little more than that of the
coffin to allow of its being dressed into the rebate mentioned above, and these are
all soldered together at the angles.
In order to properly secure the shroud, linings, paddings, and all necessary inside
trimmings without in any way destroying the virtue of the said metal lining, I place
several shaped metal flanges or brackets near the top of the coffin and also near
the bottom and these are either soldered to the metal lining or let into prepared
slots; into the said flanges or brackets I fit a slight wooden frame or kerb which
would continue all round the coffin, and is prevented from being displaced by means
of a tooth formed in the vertical portion of the said metal flange or bracket, or by a
screw in the same position, it is to this wooden frame or kerb that I fasten the
shroud, linings, and all the necessary inside trimmings above referred to.
In forming the metal lid I prepare a skeleton frame which I brace across at one
or two points to give it firmness, this frame is covered with the same metal and is
made to fit into the rebate formed by the said wooden frame or kerb; the metal lid
is then dropped into the rebate thus formed and the whole soldered round thus
rendering it water-tight and air-tight and as effectual as the present system; the
lid of the coffin which is panelled in the same manner, as the sides and ends, would
then be screwed on as in ordinary cases.
Figure 1. of the accompanying drawings represents this method in part section.
The portion of the coffin shewn in the said Figure 1. is marked A., the mouldings
are marked B., the wooden frame or kerb is marked C., the metal lining is
marked D., and the metal flanges or brackets, for securing and supporting the said
wooden frame or kerb, and to which the linings and trimmings are attached, are
marked.E.
According to another method of manufacture the coffins would be framed together
by means of mortises and tenons, and of sufficient thickness to allow of a moulding

page_text: being wrought on the outside, and rebated on the inside, into the said rebate panels
would be fitted so that the whole of the inside portion would be a flush surface;
the bottom edge of the said frame would likewise be rebated and the bottom of the
coffin inserted after the two sides and ends are screwed and bolted together. The
object of this method of fixing the bottom is for strength as the grain would run
transverse to that of the sides and parallel to the ends.
The metal lining would be fitted, dressed, and soldered, the wooden frame or kerb,
and metal flanges or brackets would be attached for securing and fixing the linings,
trimmings, and shroud, and the metal lid would be soldered as hereinbefore
described.
Figure 2. of the accompanying drawings represents this method in part section.
The frame herein before mentioned and shewn in the said Figure 2. is marked A.,
the back panel is marked B., and the other parts are marked as in the preceding
Figure 1. excepting the bottom which is marked F.
According to another method of manufacture and relating to that system where
the panels are formed by mouldings-the moulding round the top would be
sufficiently raised to form a rebate capable of receiving the metal lid, this method
of construction would be adapted when heavy metal—such as lead-is used for the
lining of the coffin.
Figure 3. represents this method in part section.
The part of skeleton frame for supporting the metal lid is marked G. in
Figures 1. 2. and 3. Note. Section lines are not continued through to prevent
confusion.
In carrying out that part of my invention which refers to the panels on the
outside of the coffin, I cut panels of thin wood the same size and shape as the
panels formed by the mullions on the coffin, and these I cover with velvet or some
other textile material, or the panels would be of a different kind of wood to that of
the coffin, and I fasten them into the panels of the coffin by any known means; to
further add to the appearance of the coffin I fill in the corners of the said panels
with artistic designs made of the same metal as the handles.
In all the accompanying drawings this part of my invention is marked X.
Figure 4. of the accompanying drawings is the coffin shewn in elevation.
It will be distinctly understood that I do not restrict myself to any particular
shape of coffin, as my invention is equally applicable to either the ordinary or the
mediæval shaped coffins.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
Firstly. The improvements hereinbefore described in the manufacture of wood
coffins that are required to be water-tight and air-tight, that is to say by adapting
specially prepared metal brackets or flanges to the top and the bottom of the metal
lining, as shewn in the accompanying drawings, fitting into the said metal brackets
or flanges two slight wooden frames or kerbs to which all the necessary linings and
trimmings, for the reception of the body, may be securely and properly fixed without
in any way perforating or injuring the said metal lining.
Secondly. The improvements herein before described in the exterior of the coffins
by which the panels formed are fitted with separate panels covered with velvet or
some other textile material; or having the said panels of an entirely different kind
or nature of wood to that of which the main or principal part of the coffin is
constructed.
Dated this Eleventh day of August 1893.