Improvements in Apparatus for Securing the Lids of Coffins.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Dec., 1891-Accepted, 9th Jan., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Securing the Lids of Coffins.
We, FRANZ SCHMIDT, Gentleman, and HERMANN WOLFF, Manufacturer, both
of Zittau in the Kingdom of Saxony and German Empire, 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 :-
Hitherto, the lids of coffins have been secured in a simple manner either by
nailing or by means of screws. Both of these methods possess serious disadvan-
tages, and in the case of nails being used, an unpleasant noise and disturbance
is made which distresses the mourners to a painful degree, and the more so as
the disturbance is the longer continued.
The use of the apparatus or device constructed according to the present inven-
tion at once removes this source of distress and annoyance, and at the same
time prevents any possible desecration of the corpse, which may easily and does
frequently occur with the existing system.
The apparatus constructed according to these improvements consists of two
parts, one of which is fixed to the coffin and the other to the lid.
The part which is attached to the lid consists of a plate and catch. The
part which is secured to the coffin consists of a spring bolt and slide together
with means for operating the bolt, releasing it, and securing it to the coffin.
We will more particularly describe our said invention with reference to the
accompanying drawings in which
Figure 1 represents part of the coffin and of the lid in vertical section, shewing
the locking arrangement in each part in elevation just before the closing of the
coffin.
Figure 2 is a similar view after the coffin has been closed and partly locked.
Figure 3 is an elevation of the part of the locking arrangement which is secured
to the coffin, the point of view being taken from the side which will be towards the
inside of the coffin.
Figure 4 is a sectional transverse view of the complete locking arrangement, the
coffin being closed and partly locked.
Figure 5 is an inverted plan of the part represented by Figure 3.
Figures 3, 4, and 5 are drawn to a larger scale for greater clearness, and in each
of the figures similar parts or details are indicated by similar letters of reference.
The part of the apparatus which is fixed to the lid consists of the plate a to
which the hook or catch s is firmly secured. This catch is bevelled towards
its lower end as shewn, and, as will hereinafter be more fully described, engages
with an opening formed in the slide or plate S forming part of the portion of
the apparatus which is fixed to the body of the coffin. The plate a may be
fitted or provided with two or more spikes d d which hold the plate firmly to
the wood and prevent its shifting sideways whilst it is being screwed in place.
The plate e of the lower part of the apparatus is screwed to the edge of the
coffin exactly opposite to the plate a on the lid. The front or longer side of
the plate is bent downwards to form a flange l, and in the centre of the plate
there is formed a hole through which the catch may pass when the lid of
the coffin is laid on. The inner and under side of the plate e carried the
locking arrangement which consists of the slide S, the ends gy of which are
elongated, and which has a rectilinear movement in the guides hh. These latter
are preferred to be formed by cutting out of the substance of the plate e, the
metal being secured round three sides of a square and turned up vertically and
bent at a right angle to form the guides as shewn.
The sliding plate S is constructed in a somewhat similar manner, that is to

page_text: say, the part between the ends g g is cut and turned up to form the flange i
which is slotted on each side next to the plate, to clear the guides h and to
form an additional means for guiding the plate.
A bolt is firmly secured to the outer face of the flange i and so that its
free end projects through a suitable opening formed in the flange 7 of the plate e.
A hole is drilled through the outer end of the bolt k to receive a pin v by
means of which the bolt can be prevented from sliding entirely back for so long
as may be desired.
A spiral spring m is fitted around the bolt and abuts at one end against
the flange . This spring is consequently compressed when the slide S is forced
towards the side of the coffin. The pin is provided at its upper end with a
flattened part or handle r below which there is a collar to flattened upon one
side in such a manner as to cause it to act as an excentric or cam when turned,
and thus to move the slide S backwards or forwards to a small extent.
It will be understood that several of the locking devices will be required for each
coffin.
In use, the plate a is screwed to the lid, and the plate e to the edge of the
coffin opposite to each other, so that the catch can engage with the locking
device. The piu v is placed in the hole at the end of the bolt as shewn and is
turned until the slide S is moved forward to such an extent as to leave the
hole in the plate e quite free. The lid of the coffin may then be placed in
its last position with the catch through the hole f. With the locking arrange-
ment in the condition described, the lid of the coffin may be readily removed
if required and be replaced, as often as removed. If however the pin be
turned so as to bring its flattened part next to the flange l, the spiral spring
will press the slide S forward so that a part of it covers a part of the hole f
and partly engages with the catch s. In this position, the lid of the coffin is
locked owing to the engagement of the catch s with the slide S. So long as
the pin v remains in the bolt k, the coffin, although locked, may be reopened
after turning the pin, so as to withdraw the slide S. If however the pin v be
withdrawn, the pressure of the spiral spring on the bolt, exerted through the
flange forces the slide S entirely into the neck of the catch s thus securely
locking the lid upon the coffin. This motion of the slide withdraws the end of
the bolt entirely within the plate flange so that the pin cannot be again
inserted, and the coffin is consequently permanently locked as it is impossible to
again get access to the bolt k.
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,―
1. A locking apparatus or device for securing their lids upon coffins, constructed
arranged and operating substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated by
the accompanying drawings.
2. In a locking arrangement for coffins, the combination and arrangement with
the bolt of the spiral spring m and the pin v and collar w; substantially as and
for the purpose hereinbefore described and as illustrated by the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 4th day of November A.D. 1891
WILLIAM E. HEYS,
Agent for the Applicants.