An Improved Fitting for Graves.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Nov., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 30th July, 1900-Accepted, 22nd Sept., 1900
An Improved Fitting for Graves.
I, HEINRICH SCHMID, of I Pestalozzigasse 6, Vienna, in the Empire of Austria,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
In the method of interment in vaults heretofore adopted, the access of
agents causing rapid decomposition of the corpse, such as air, moisture and
small animalcules or organisms, is prevented and the corpse thus preserved,
which must be looked upon as undesirable from hygienic and agricultural or
economical points of view.
The same disadvantageous effect is, however, also caused in earth burial in
that the shovelled earth flattens the coffin, presses the shells and clothing against
the corpse, whereby the access of the above mentioned agents promoting the
decomposition of the corpse, is likewise prevented.
The object of this invention is to obviate the above mentioned disadvantages,
which is effected by placing over the interred coffin a cover or screen open at
both ends, of semicircular, polygonal or parabolic cross-section made of burnt
clay, Monior-cast-masonry, metal or other suitable material.
In the accompanying drawing I have shown a vertical section of a grave
fitting a of this kind made of parabolic cross-section, for example, which fitting
is made without end and bottom pieces and is simply inverted over the interred
coffin longitudinally, and in order to distribute the pressure, it rests at its lower
edges on two tiles 2 which are placed loosely on the two long sides of the bottom
of the grave.
If desired, a number of holes or longitudinal slots can be made in the wall of
the fitting a which, acting in conjunction with the open ends, permit unimpeded
access to the agents causing the decomposition of the corpse.
By means of a grave fitting of this kind, on the one hand, the coffin is preserved
from being crushed by the load of earth heaped upon it, without there-
by causing retardation in the composition of the corpse, and on the other haud,
the employment of coffins of the lowest quality and durability and with joints
adapted to admit the air, is rendered possible; if desired, the coffin-lid may
even be loosened or entirely removed, so that in the larger quantity of air pre-
sent beneath the screen, the access of more organisms is promoted and the pro-
gress of the decomposition of the corpse is thereby materially accelorated.
By the employment of covers of this kind any possible exhuming of the corpse
is considerably facilitated. Moreover, sinking of the mound on the grave is
prevented.
Dated this 10th day of November 1899.
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: I, HEINRICH SCII, of I Pestalozzigasse 6, Vienna, in the Empire of Austria,
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:-
In the method of interment in vaults heretofore adopted, the access of
agents causing the rapid decomposition of the corpse, such as air, moisture and
small animalcules or organisms, is prevented and the corpse thus preserved,
which must be looked upon as undesirable from hygienic and agricultural or
economical points of view.
The same disadvantageous effect is, however, also caused in earth burial in
that the shovelled earth flattens the coffin and presses the shells and clothing against
the corpse, whereby the access of the above mentioned agents promoting the
decomposition of the corpse, is likewise prevented.
The object of this invention is to obviate the above mentioned disadvantages,
which is effected by placing over the interred coffin a cover or screen open at
both ends, of semicircular, polygonal or parabolic cross-section, made of burnt
clay, Monier-cast-masonry, metal or other suitable material.
In the drawing left with my Provisional Specification, I have shown a vertical
section of a grave fitting a of this kind made of parabolic cross-section, for
example, which fitting is made without end and bottom pieces and is simply
inverted over the interred coffin longitudinally and, in order to distribute the
pressure, it rests at its two lower edges on two tiles z which are placed loosely
on the two long sides of the bottom of the grave.
If desired, a number of holes or longitudinal slots can be made in the wall of
the fitting a which, acting in conjunction with the open ends, permit unimpeded
access to the agents causing the decomposition of the corpse.
By means of a grave fitting of this kind, on the one hand, the coffin is preserved
from being crushed together by the load of earth heaped upon it, without there-
by causing retardation in the composition of the corpse, and on the other hand,
the employment of coffins of the lowest quality and durability and with joints
adapted to admit the air, is rendered possible; if desired, the coffin-lid may
even be loosened or entirely removed, so that in the larger quantity of air pre-
sent beneath the screen, the access of more organisms is promoted and the pro-
gress of the decomposition of the corpse is thereby materially accelerated.
By the employment of covers of this kind, any possible exhuming of the corpse
is considerably facilitated. Moreover, sinking of the mound on the grave is
prevented.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
A grave-fitting consisting of a cover open at both ends, of semicircular, poly-
gonal or parabolic cross-section, of burnt clay, Monier-east-masonry, metal or
other suitable material, which cover is inserted into the grave over the interred

page_text: coflin so that the pressure of the earth is kept off the coffin, the sinking-in of
the mound on the grave is provented, and free access is permitted to the agents
effecting the rapid decomposition of the corpse.
تيمم
1000
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.