Improvements in Burial-casket Boxes.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Mar., 1896-Accepted, 16th May, 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Burial-casket Boxes.
I, JOSEPH JEFFERSON STEPHENS, of Clinton, in the County of Henry, and State
of Missouri, United States of America, Gentleman, 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 :-
My invention relates to a box or vault for perishable caskets or coffins, and has
for its object to provide in connection with an imperishable water-tight box or
vault adapted to exclude moisture when arranged below high water mark, simple
and efficient means for ventilating and allowing the escape of gases without
admitting moisture, the discharged gases being deposited in, for absorption by,
the soil.
Further objects and advantages of this invention will appear in the following
description, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the
appended claims.
In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a casket-box constructed in
accordance with my invention. Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same
as seen when in the ground.
Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in both figures of the
drawings.
1 designates an imperishable water-tight box or vault which, in the construction
illustrated comprises an exterior metallic box 2, and an interior lining 3 of cement,
the upper edges of the lining being beveled as shown at 4, to receive the
correspondingly-beveled edges of the metallic lid or cover 5, which is also provided
with a lining 6 of cement. Transverse metallic braces 12 are arranged upon the
exterior surface of the top or cover beneath the lining of cement. In an opening 7
of the lid or cover of the vault or box and a communicating opening in the lining
is fitted a ventilating tube 8 preferably constructed of pliable metal, such as lead
Baid tube being bent to form a loop or goose-neck 9, the uppermost point of which
should be arranged above high-water mark. The free end of the tube is open and
may be provided with a series of perforations 10, and secured to the lid or cover of
the box is a cage or reticulated shield 11 in which is inserted the open end of the
tube whereby earth is excluded from the openings and perforations.
The above-described construction provides for the escape of gases and the
absorption thereof by the earth without admitting water, the uppermost point of
the loop or gooseneck, which may be arranged close to or above the surface of the
ground, being imperforate whereby no escape of gases near the surface is possible.
The lining or coating of cement which is supported by the lid or cover is
arranged upon the exterior surface thereof, whereby, when the material of the lid
or cover becomes decayed, the tube remains in place, being held by cement.
Various changes in the form, proportion and the minor details of construction
may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the
advantages of this invention.
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 :-
1. The combination with a water-tight box or vault adapted to exclude moisture
when arranged below high-water mark, of a ventilating tube communicating with

page_text: the interior of the box or vault, extending upwardly and provided with a goose-
Deck or loop above high-water mark, and terminating in the soil adjacent to the
box or vault, substantially as specified.
2. The combination with a casket box or vault adapted to exclude moisture
when arranged below high-water mark, of a ventilating tube communicating at one
end with the interior of the box or vault and adapted to be extended above high-
water mark and doubled upon itself to form a goose-neck or loop, said tube
terminating at its free or open end contiguous to the box or vault, and a cage or
reticulated shield secured to the box or vault and receiving the free end of the
tube, whereby the latter is held in place and earth is excluded, substantially as
specified.
Dated this 31st day of March 1896.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.