An Improved Means for Supporting or Retaining Caskets and Coffins in Enclosing Boxes.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 20th Oct., 1031
Complete Specification Left, 20th Oct., 1891-Accepted, 30th Jan., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Means for Supporting or Retaining Caskets and Coffins
in Enclosing Boxes.
I, HERBERT JOHN BREEZE, of Olean, in the County of Cattaraugus and State
of New York, United States of America, Manufacturer, 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 consists in certain new and useful improvements in the outside
boxes for coffins or caskets, consisting more particularly in a supporting-button,
several of which (usually four) are secured in the bottom of the outside box in
which a coffin or casket is placed for the purpose of preventing the casket from
moving or sliding when being shipped from one point to another, and for holding the
casket sufficiently above the bottom of the outside box to permit of the straps being
withdrawn from under the casket without binding, and the invention will be herein-
after fully described and claimed.
Referring to the accompanying drawings,
Figure is a top plan view of an outside casket-box provided with my
invention.
Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the same,
Fig. 3 shows in detail one of the full-sized buttons; and
Fig. 4 illustrates a slightly-varied form of the button, which may be employed,
if desired.
The same numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several
figures.
Referring to the several parts by their designating-numerals, 1 indicates the
head or body of the support, which is preferably formed with the flat under side 2,
and is conical in its general outline, extending up to a reduced point or end 3.
This head or body is preferably formed of cast-iron, and in it is secured a wrought-
iron nail 4; but the entire device may be formed of any kind of metal desired, or
even of any other material. Four of these supports are usually employed, and are
driven in the bottom of the rough outside box 5, about six inches from each corner
thereof, which can be done by a few blows of a hammer, when they occupy the
position shown in Figs. 1 and 2.
When the casket or coffin is placed in the outside box, it rests upon the
supports 1, which, it will he seen, will prevent the casket from moving or sliding in
the outer box when being shipped by train or otherwise, and the supports will also
hold the casket a short distance above the bottom of the outer box, allowing straps
or ropes to be readily passed under the said coffin or casket or withdrawn from the
same without binding.
In Fig. 4 I have shown a slight modification in the shape of the head of the
supports 1, which is there formed with the broad base 6 and with the inverted
conical upper part 7, giving a broad flat upper surface for the casket to rest upon.
This form may be used when it is desired to prevent the supports from penetrating
the bottom of the casket,

page_text: 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 :-
The herein-described casket-support, consisting of a conical body 1, having a
retaining-point 4 at its lower end and tapering up to a sharpened point, and formed
immediately below this point with the inverted conical bearing 7, substantially as
set forth.
Dated this 20th 1
2001
F. W. BARKER,
Applicant's Agent.