IMPROVEMENTS IN OR CONNECTED WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF COFFINS
Year: 1884

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
I, WILLIAM JONES of Hengoed in the County of Glamorgan, Builder and
Undertaker do hereby declare the nature of said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN OR CONNECTED WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF COFFINS" to be as follows:-
This Invention is designed to cbviate the escape of noxious or disagreeable
effluvia arising from à corpse contained in a coffin, and thereby to prevent the
spread of disease in this respect.
It consists in interposing between the top of the sides and ends of the coffin and
the lid or cover a strip or strips of india rubber tubing which may be either
secured to the inside of the lid or to the top of the sides and ends of the coffin. By
screw clamps or equivalent means, pressure is applied to force the coffin and lid
together. This pressure is received on the india rubber tubing which extends
around the edge of the coffin or the lid, and, when the tubing is compressed to an
extent which brings the holes formed in brackets attached to the lid opposite
corresponding holes or points in the sides of the coffin, screws, bolts or pins are
inserted therein and the lid is thereby held in place maintaining the coffin air
tight.
The interior of the coffin and the underside of the lid are preferably painted, and
the joints coated with white lead or analogous substance.

page_text: I, WILLIAM JONES, of Hengoed in the County of Glamorgan, Builder and
Undertaker, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN OR CONNECTED WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF COFFINS," and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement-
My said Invention is designed to obviate the escape of noxious or disagreeable
effluvia arising from a corpse contained in a coffin, and thereby to prevent the
spread of disease liable to arise from the above cause.
It consists in interposing, between the top of the sides and ends of the coffin and
the lid or cover, a strip or strips of india rubber tubing which may be either
secured to the inside of the lid or to the top of the sides and ends of the coffin.
By cramps or other devices or means pressure is applied to force the coffin and
lid together. This pressure is received on the india rubber tubing which extends
around the edge of the coffin or the lid, and, when the tubing is compressed to an
extent which brings the holes formed in brackets attached to the lid opposite
corresponding holes or points in the sides of the coffin, screws, bolts or pins are
inserted in the said holes and penetrating the sides of the coffin hold the lid down
and maintain the coffin air tight.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood, I now proceed
more particularly to describe the same with reference to the accompanying Sheet
of illustrative Drawings.
Figures 1 and 2 on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings represent transverse
sections of a coffin provided with india rubber tubing o secured to the underside
of the lid A by the pins or rivets a in accordance with one method of carrying
my Invention into practical effect.
Figure 3 represents a longitudinal section of a coffin provided with the india
rubber tubing c.
The tubing c is, as shown, interposed between the lid A and the top of the sides
and ends of the coffin B. It extends around the lid. Instead of being secured, as
aforesaid, to the lid A, the tubing c may be secured to the top of the sides and ends
of the coffin B.
By cramps or other devices or means, pressure is applied to force the coffin and
lid together. This pressure is received on the tubing c, and when the latter is
compressed to an extent which brings the holes e formed in the brackets or ears E
attached to the lid A, opposite the holes o, Figure 1, formed in the sides of the
coffin B, (or, in cases where the holes o are not made beforehand, to points
dependent on the degree of compression exerted) the screws or bolts d, Figures 2
and 3, are inserted and the lid A is thereby held in place. The coffin is thus made
air tight and the escape therefrom of effluvia prevented. When the coffin lid A is
provided with a flange f, as shown in the Drawing, the brackets or ears E may, if
desired, be dispensed with and the holes for the screws or bolts & be bored in the
said flange f.
The interior of the coffin and the underside of the lid are preferably painted, and
the joints coated with white lead or analogus substance.

page_text: 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
The use, in the construction of coffins of the india rubber tubing c or .its
equivalent interposed between the underside of the lid and the top of the sides and
ends of the coffin B, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the
accompanying Sheet of Drawings.