Patent Description:
In particular, the invention relates to a system as described in the preamble of the independent claim <NUM>.

As is known, such cemetery constructions consist of a modular structure with cells, arranged in columns side by side in elevation, which thus form a multiplicity of burial niches and ossuaries of equal size, creating permanent structural constraints.

This and other disadvantageous features are found in the known construction techniques of cemetery structures.

For example, the reinforced concrete structures allow to make permanent and binding structures and need long construction times, requiring large construction sites, causing considerable inconvenience and very high maintenance costs, in the absence of which such structures deteriorate, causing collapses and breakages, resulting in even greater costs for demolition.

Concrete prefabricated structures (such as channelling pipes) also constitute permanent structures, involving even larger construction sites than the previous ones.

Furthermore, the prefabricated structures require significant lifting equipment, with high transport costs due to weight and bulk, as well as storage problems.

Also in this case, the construction site areas need ample space and maintenance, as the prefabricated structures are subject to adjustments, implying considerable finishing work to make them presentable, since such structures are also often subject to fractures and detachments of the coverings.

In the state of the art there are also prefabricated metal structures designed to contain monobloc boxes with only frontal opening, with high weight and bulk, or adapted to hide the metal or plastic monobloc boxes from view, stacked on each other.

These boxes are also heavier than the previous ones for the operators and bulky for construction site areas and transport, being very difficult if not impossible to replace in case of necessity.

The solution adopted for marble coverings involves very large and heavy slabs, with open joints between the various panels, which are particularly unpleasant from an aesthetic point of view and which facilitate the nesting of various animals and insects.

There are also plastic prefabricated structures of various shapes, consisting of monoblocs or blocks to be assembled on site.

Such structures form a supporting structure, difficult to replace in its parts, except with significant distortions, with an unpleasant aesthetic aspect, as many plastic parts adapted to support the enormous marble pieces which weigh on the bolts placed in the corners remain visible.

Lastly, such structures need a wall or metal structure which gives stability or covers the stacks of boxes.

All the prefabricated solutions on the market, plastic or metal, with or without removable boxes, rely on bolts to anchor the tombstones and coverings to the structures, blocking the four corners of the plates to be able to support them.

Such a configuration facilitates the warping of the marble pieces, which, having to cover the underlying structures, are very large and heavy and cannot be discounted.

Furthermore, the plates of the low rows generally become stuck due to the weight, which weighs on the bolts, of the marble pieces of the rows above.

These bolts, being present in the corners, create open joints between the marble panels.

A modular crypt structure comprising a frame, a module insert defining a chamber and a closure panel is disclosed in document <CIT>. The chamber functions as a crypt module and receives bodily remains or portions thereof. The chamber is closed by attaching a closure panel, such as a stone crypt front to the frame. The modular crypt frame may comprise a plurality of horizontal bars and a plurality of vertical bars.

Another solution belonging to the state of the art is disclosed in document <CIT> relating to an hermetically sealed module for a mausoleum having a bottom member of predetermined dimensions, a cover member having dimensions which are complementary with respect to the bottom member, and a door member having predetermined dimensions which are complementary with respect to both the bottom and the cover members. The top member is laid upon the bottom member so as to provide a cavity for receiving a container having a decomposable corpse therein. The door member closes off the cavity. All mating surfaces between the bottom member, cover member and door member are sealed from inside and provide for an hermetically sealed module to be installed into a mausoleum.

Another solution belonging to the state of the art is disclosed in document <CIT>, relating to an apparatus for treating textile material in the form of an endless rope which is made to circulate during some or all of the treatment includes an elongate, essentially tubular treatment vessel and a transport jet assembly which can be supplied with a gaseous transport medium stream. The treatment vessel contains downstream of the rope inlet a storage section which accommodates a plaited-down rope packet and is equipped with a slip floor for the rope packet, the slip floor sloping, wholly or partly, obliquely downwards from plaiting means to a head portion of the treatment vessel. The regions of the transport jet assembly are equipped with means for applying a liquid treatment medium in the region of the transport jet assembly at least.

The present invention aims to solve the disadvantages of the systems known in the state of the art set forth above, through a system as claimed within the characterizing part of claim <NUM>.

An object of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks mentioned, through the structure and the modular sarcophagi as described in the independent claim and, alternatively or in combination, in the dependent claims belonging to the present patent application.

The present invention is set forth below in detail through the various accompanying drawings illustrating an implementation embodiment thereof, by way of non-exclusive example.

This construction system is designed to make the cemetery structures lighter, more robust and stronger, and to obtain a rapid construction thereof, as well as to solve the problems related to the deterioration of the structures, to eliminate collapses and increase safety, to reduce transport costs, to minimize the construction site areas, to lighten the weights of the operators of the sector, to simplify the assembly and disassembly, to avoid the deformation of the marble coverings, to reduce the purchase, management and disposal costs, as it is completely recyclable.

The modular prefabricated construction system object of the present invention overcomes the drawbacks of the structures known in the state of the art, as both the structure and the sarcophagi are completely removable: the overall dimensions for transport, storage and construction areas, as well as the weights of the components upon installation, are drastically reduced.

The structure can also be made functional during construction thanks to the great stability and strength and the sarcophagi reassembled on site in a few minutes.

The latter can be inserted and removed with extreme ease at any time, even when the structure is finished.

In fact, the system object of the present invention has been designed to reduce the weights for operators while maintaining very high strength.

The coverings in marble, or other material, lack open joints, thanks to a simple, but innovative, specially designed element which is characterized in the claims as a support spacer, maintaining functionality and aesthetics, reducing the weights of the marble slabs.

Furthermore, the system does not require special maintenance and is completely recyclable.

Furthermore, the structure object of the present invention does not form a permanent structure and can be disassembled and relocated, or its use can vary, for example from burial niche to ossuary, replacing the sarcophagus with extreme ease.

These and further objects of the present invention are achieved by a system according to the appended independent claims and the subclaims.

These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become clearer from the following description of some exemplary embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:.

A preferred embodiment of the modular prefabricated construction system object of the present invention is illustrated in <FIG>.

<FIG> shows the structure <NUM> seen frontally, partially finished, comprising the roof pediment <NUM>.

The absence of joints <NUM> can be seen, having a covering <NUM> applied on the structure <NUM>: the tombstones <NUM> therefore have much more limited dimensions and an average weight <NUM> kilograms lighter with respect to those used by the other systems.

The tombstones <NUM> are supported by the bolts <NUM>. In the example of <FIG>, a part without covering is also shown where some tubular steel elements can be seen, indicated with the numbers <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, which form the supporting skeleton which, when assembled, creates spaces adapted to house the pre-assembled sarcophagi.

The front view highlights the sarcophagi, one in plastic material <NUM>, and one in galvanized or stainless steel <NUM>, both provided with a closing panel F, of which one embodiment is illustrated in <FIG>, in metal or plastic with two crossed folds on the front.

<FIG> illustrates two ossuary models, one plastic <NUM> and one metal <NUM> with the characteristic cross front.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the sarcophagi <NUM> and <NUM> can be placed anywhere in the structure <NUM> and be replaced at any time with another sarcophagus <NUM> or <NUM> or with an ossuary <NUM> or <NUM>.

In particular, as illustrated in <FIG>, the structure object of the present invention can comprise sarcophagi <NUM> and <NUM> and/or ossuaries <NUM> and <NUM>, on both a single and double front side, in the figure section p - p', where they are placed front and back.

As is evident from the appended embodiments, another peculiarity of the system object of the present invention is the possibility of obtaining multiple shapes, always with the same elements, always without open joints, with or without the sarcophagi <NUM> or <NUM> inserted inside, as can be seen in <FIG>, where only some of the possible combinations are illustrated, such as a bridge tomb with arch <NUM>, tower tomb <NUM>, team tomb <NUM>, L tomb <NUM> or as burial niche structures <NUM> as in <FIG>, repeatable for tens or hundreds of burial niches.

In the example of <FIG>, a frequent situation is described, especially in hilly or mountainous areas, in which there are terraces or in any case unevenness, situations to which the structure <NUM> can easily adapt. Another important feature of the practicality of this structure is illustrated in the example of <FIG>, where a deteriorated reinforced concrete structure <NUM> being demolished is shown and how the structure <NUM> object of the present invention can be useful, thanks to its high stability and strength, by having a row of three or four seats, assembled in a few minutes, fixed to a foundation <NUM>.

The structure is ready to use with the insertion of sarcophagi <NUM> or <NUM> which can also be assembled in a few minutes, allowing the insertion of the coffins.

The innovation of the system object of the present invention also lies in the peculiarity of the clamps <NUM> and particular accessories <NUM>, specifically designed and placed at well-defined points in order to make the intervention of the operators easier; refer to <FIG>.

<FIG> illustrates a detail of the structure <NUM> object of the present invention, related to the special retractable couplings <NUM> specifically designed to support the covering materials <NUM>: in particular, the element is illustrated broken down into two parts, <NUM> and <NUM>.

In the example in question the element <NUM> is made of stainless steel, although such an element can be made of various materials, both metal and plastic.

In particular, <FIG> illustrates the element <NUM> which acts as a spacer and as a support retaining the panels, consisting of a steel bolt <NUM> which can have various sizes depending on need and which is joined to a ring <NUM> also in steel, after making a groove on the head <NUM> adapted to contain it, which is subsequently welded <NUM>.

Also in <FIG>, the assembled element <NUM> is shown, letting it be understood that it can be of various dimensions.

Furthermore, with the help of a stainless steel plate <NUM>, the element <NUM> becomes functional, after providing slots in the section of the marble or other covering <NUM> adapted to accommodate the plate <NUM> which will retain the marble pieces <NUM>, aligning them, while the ring <NUM> which contains it will act as a spacer between one marble piece and the other, creating the space for an elastic product which will be inserted to eliminate friction and rigidity to the covering, making it invisible.

The part behind the ring <NUM>, i.e., the rest of the head of the bolt <NUM>, in addition to the usefulness for screwing also acts as a spacer allowing the insertion of sealants and/or rubbery adhesive products, which join the marble pieces or other covering <NUM> to the structure <NUM>, thus allowing them to work according to their own structural features.

Thanks to the use of this element <NUM>, it is possible to position the covering <NUM> without open joints.

<FIG>,<FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG> illustrate the galvanized steel structure seen from various angles as a whole, whose columns <NUM>-<NUM>-<NUM>-<NUM> in the following examples are adapted to compose three burial niches, plus a plane shown, which can be repeated even further consisting of the elements <NUM>-<NUM>-<NUM>-<NUM>, providing entire columns adapted to compose up to five burial niches one on the other.

<FIG> shows a concentration of elements placed to create a structure <NUM> which sees the starting point in the tubular steel column <NUM>, in the view from above in <FIG>, it is clear that the side consisting of the elements <NUM>+<NUM>+<NUM>+<NUM>+<NUM> is the exposed wall, the wall on which the covering <NUM> is mounted, <FIG>, which can be made of marble or other material.

The structure illustrated in <FIG> shows how such a structure can continue for the desired times, to the right in the case of the example, with the elements <NUM> - <NUM> - <NUM> or <NUM> connecting, by means of steel fastening elements <NUM>, the columns <NUM> to the columns <NUM> and the column <NUM> with the column <NUM>.

The elements <NUM> join the columns <NUM> to the column <NUM>, and the elements <NUM> connect the columns <NUM> to the column <NUM>: at this point the first structure was formed in its own right, ready to accommodate three sarcophagi.

To expand the holding capacity of the structure, it will be sufficient to connect the elements <NUM>-<NUM>-<NUM>-<NUM> present in the figures where the structure <NUM> is depicted in the upper part, where the elements which will form the roof <NUM> will be connected, which go to perfectly match the elements <NUM>-<NUM>-<NUM>-<NUM>.

In the figures appended to the present patent application, a structure adapted to accommodate the <NUM>th sarcophagus is illustrated, thus forming the fourth row, but a <NUM>th sarcophagus could also be inserted, by inserting the elements <NUM>-<NUM>-<NUM>-<NUM> which are fixed between the underlying columns <NUM>-<NUM>-<NUM>-<NUM> and the closing elements <NUM>-<NUM>-<NUM>-<NUM> to accommodate the roof <NUM>.

By continuing to mount the elements <NUM>-<NUM>-<NUM>-<NUM>-<NUM>-<NUM>-<NUM>-<NUM> just described in repetition, burial niche blocks will be created with dozens or hundreds of seats, see <FIG>, or family tombs with <NUM>-<NUM>-<NUM>-<NUM>- <NUM>-<NUM>-<NUM> etc. placed, mounted in squares <NUM> or in the form of the letter "L" <NUM>, with single towers or joined in double columns <NUM>, bridge with internal area <NUM>, <FIG>, etc., partially or entirely covered with stone materials or other.

To close each structure <NUM>, the elements <NUM>-<NUM>-<NUM>-<NUM>-<NUM>-<NUM>-<NUM> must be used if with four rows, in that they also have provisions for fastening the coverings <NUM>. All the elements which form the above are illustrated in <FIG>.

With particular reference to <FIG>, in addition to the individual description of the elements <NUM>-<NUM>-<NUM>-<NUM>-<NUM>-<NUM>, the fastening elements <NUM> which will be used to assemble the structure <NUM> are also illustrated. <FIG> illustrate the columns, extensions and closing pieces, elements <NUM>-<NUM>-<NUM>-<NUM>-<NUM>-<NUM>-<NUM>-<NUM>-<NUM>-<NUM>-<NUM>-<NUM> individually, with cardinal references, adapted to simplify their understanding: in particular, the various fastening points are illustrated, for the various solutions described so far, which may be increased as necessary for possible new developments not currently illustrated.

<FIG> describes the elements to be used in the creation of spaces for the obese, structurally only the elements <NUM>-<NUM>-<NUM>-<NUM> will be used instead of the elements <NUM>-<NUM>-<NUM>-<NUM>, while the rest remains unchanged.

The elements <NUM>-<NUM>-<NUM> to be used for bridge tombs <NUM> or to create covered spaces between burial niche structures are also illustrated.

For the roof <NUM> there are gutters, downspouts in plastic or sheet metal such as copper, steel or other, while the roof can be in insulated corrugation, or in any other material such as tiles, photovoltaic panels, basin, planter, etc. Once the shape has been defined, to complete the system, it will be necessary to insert the sarcophagi <NUM>-<NUM> and/or ossuaries <NUM>-<NUM> which serve to accommodate the coffins, bone boxes or urns, <FIG>, in the gaps inside the structure under the coverings.

Of course, an installation of any electrical systems for votive lights and any ducts for vents and grounding is also envisaged.

Such systems can be made and installed in any of the manners known in the state of the art.

The metal sarcophagi <NUM>, which can be made of various types of stainless steel, galvanized steel sheet metal, etc., or the plastic sarcophagi <NUM> which can be made with the most varied types of plastic and composite materials, can be provided with ribs and/or carbon fibres, vent valves, etc..

Preferably all the sarcophagi are assembled and sealed in order to avoid the exit of liquids and odours.

The sarcophagi belonging to the structure object of the present invention have been designed, made and divided into several parts, to facilitate transport and storage, <FIG> and <FIG>, also in large quantities, reducing dimensions and therefore costs, also to be lighter in handling. They can be assembled and ready to use in minutes.

In the accompanying figures, in particular <FIG>, a sarcophagus <NUM> is illustrated, of which the base structure consists of a sheet A, <FIG>, folded on two sides to a precise degree, giving a trapezoidal shape, seen in section, perforated near the lateral and rear perimeter ends at well-defined points, adapted for fastening with the element B, <FIG>, of sheet cut to a precise degree corresponding to the internal degree of A, having folds on the three sides which will match the interior of element A in the part which will be used as a back, <FIG> and <FIG>.

The fastening of the two elements will occur by means of a special sealant and bolting: examples in front and semi-diagonal section <FIG>, with the same matching perforation made on the three folded perimeter sides of C, see <FIG>, <FIG>, adapted to contain the perimeter created by the structure A+B in the upper part, which in turn has holes for assembly.

<FIG> shows the perforations on the semi-diagonal image in the sections where the folds can be seen, and in the rear view image, <FIG>, where A-B-C are joined to form the sarcophagus <NUM>, in the form of a trapezoidal prism, as well as described in <FIG>, where in the "right side" the sarcophagus can be seen in length, while in the semi-diagonal image the structure can be seen with the element C still raised, before fastening it to make it a single body.

<FIG> also illustrates element D, which is essentially an element adapted for the sliding of the coffins, which will be buried, inside, which can be made with both metal and plastic material.

The element D is illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG> frontally, laterally and semi-diagonally, both in a single structure with three relief ribs, <FIG>.

The element D can be fastened to the element A in the factory or left free and used at the time of burial by placing it in the centre of the sarcophagus.

<FIG> illustrates the sarcophagus <NUM> seen from below, right side, left side, seen from the back and from the front, while in the next <FIG>, the element D and the element E are illustrated, the latter consisting of a metal frame in an "L" shape, cut and folded to a precise degree, with identical maximum perimeter measurements and shape to element B.

Like element B, element D will also be fixed to element A in the same manner, but in the part which will be used as the front, placed so as to create a recess to subsequently house element F, illustrated in <FIG>.

The element F consists of a closing panel with two crossed folds on the front, cut to a precise degree corresponding to the degree of the element E, with a proportionate but smaller dimension.

A rubber gasket <NUM> is placed inside the element F and its fastening is envisaged after burial.

In <FIG> it is possible to see, in the semi-diagonal image, the complete sarcophagus <NUM>, as well as the two clamps <NUM> which, by means of hook handles <NUM>, or other, facilitate the extraction of the sarcophagi <NUM> and <NUM>.

The figure also illustrates compensators <NUM>, which can be metallic or plastic, useful for fastening the sarcophagus <NUM>-<NUM> to the rest of the supporting structure <NUM>, completing it.

In fact, the sarcophagi are preferably an integral part of the modular system.

<FIG> illustrates some examples of a possible horizontal or vertical enlargement, made possible by the trapezoidal shape and the use of the spacer <NUM>.

The overall dimensions for transport and storage are thus reduced.

<FIG> illustrate the elements which form the sarcophagus <NUM>, identical in concept to the sarcophagus <NUM>, but different in the size and degree which determine its shape.

Starting from the basic structure, distinguishing the two possibilities with Ap and Ap1, structures identical to each other by degree, front section and size, but different in that the bottom Bp in Ap1 is an integral part of the sarcophagus itself.

<FIG> illustrates the cover Cp whose sections are highlighted, as well as assembly directions: it can be seen how the element Ap1 awaits the fastening of Cp as visible in <FIG>.

<FIG> shows the complete sarcophagus <NUM>, which will be identical in degree and size both with the use of Ap and with Ap1.

Furthermore, the figure illustrates the element Ep which is substantially a frame adapted to house the closing cover Fp which will be described with reference to <FIG>.

The element Ep is a frame with an L section, of plastic or metallic material, of significant size, corresponding to the outer perimeter, sizes and degree at Bp and, with sealants and/or bolting, which must be fixed for completion with Cp-Ap-Bp to make the sarcophagus <NUM>, in the form of a trapezoidal prism.

The sarcophagus <NUM> will therefore be ready for use, see also <FIG>, where the element D1 and the sarcophagus seen from the front are illustrated, surrounded by the space limits which the structure <NUM> and the fastening elements <NUM> leave to the sarcophagus <NUM>: the element D1 is also shown in section in a single plate having three ribs, folds or longitudinal reliefs, each identical in size to the element D.

With particular reference to <FIG>, the element Fp is illustrated, which is shown both individually, in a frontal manner, to highlight the ribs or cross folds, and in section, with gasket, and is also evident in the complete semi-diagonal sarcophagus.

The element Fp is of proportionate size, but smaller than the element Ep, illustrated in <FIG>.

A rubber gasket is placed inside the element Fp and its fastening, once buried, will be carried out by means of self-tapping in pre-arranged points.

Also in this case, as described in relation to <FIG>, two compensators will be used, which can be metallic or plastic, useful for fastening the sarcophagus to the rest of the structure <NUM> thereby completing it, since the sarcophagi are an integral part of the modular system.

The sarcophagi, as illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, are stackable, lying on top of each other or standing inside each other thanks to the trapezoidal shape.

Starting from <FIG>, the ossuaries <NUM> and <NUM> are illustrated: the starting elements Ao and Aop are identical to the elements of the sarcophagi <NUM> and <NUM> in size and shape, as they must be able to be accommodated in the same spaces occupied by a sarcophagus in structure <NUM>, being designed to be interchangeable with each other.

For the closure of the back of the ossuaries, the same elements B and BP used in the sarcophagi <NUM> and <NUM> are used.

In <FIG>, in addition to the detail of the external element Ao, which shows holes prepared for assembly with the other elements, there are marks in the sheet <NUM>, which are nothing more than fins created in the sheet Ao, engraved on three sides from the rest of the element, at a distance and to a given measurement, which once forced inwards will serve to support and fasten the elements which will be subsequently inserted.

It should be noted that a particularly important aspect lies in the assembly of the external structure of the ossuary by joining, preferably by means of bolting and/or sealants, Ao to B and both to Co, see <FIG> and <FIG>, to obtain the completion of the external structure <NUM>.

The internal elements "Z" and "X" illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG> are sheets having offsets <NUM> near the corners, necessary to not find or create impediment, when they are inserted inside the casing of the newly assembled ossuary <NUM>, with reference to the thicknesses of the elements B and Eo which are inside the structure of the ossuary <NUM>, refer to <FIG> and <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates another offset <NUM>, about halfway along the short side of both "Z" and "X", necessary to leave a space for the bolting of the bolt which is part of the element Eo, illustrated in figure <NUM>: a cut is also evident on both Z and X defined as "slot for coupling with Z" and "slot for coupling with X", a slot which will have a dimension such as to allow to cross the two elements one inside the other (<FIG>), which once inserted inside the ossuary structure <NUM>, consisting of Ao-B-Co, will fit therewith, thanks to the ears in the sheet <NUM> which, with a simple downward pressure on X and a pressure in rotation on Z, go to lock at certain points, to then be fastened with bolting.

Such a configuration allows the interior of the ossuary casing to be divided into four distinct spaces, spaces which can contain two bone boxes or four urns. Finally, to complete the ossuary <NUM>, it is sufficient to insert and fasten the element Eo by means of bolting in the designated points, refer to figure <NUM>, element adapted to support the four small marble tombstones.

In the description so far exposed there is a re-proposition which may appear superfluous, of the sarcophagi; this has been done, as the elements are similar as a concept, but different in degrees, measurements and thicknesses.

For the plastic ossuary, the repetition was considered superfluous, as it was identical, with gradations and thicknesses like the sarcophagus <NUM>, and identical externally in measurements and shape to the metal ossuary just described.

For transport and storage, the same indications given in <FIG> and <FIG> apply.

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, some preferred embodiments have been shown in the drawings and described in detail.

It should be understood, however, that there is no intention of limiting the invention to the specific illustrated embodiment but, on the contrary, it aims to cover all the modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

The use of "for example", "etc.", "or" refers to non-exclusive nonlimiting alternatives, unless otherwise stated.

Claim 1:
Construction system for cemetery structures such as burial niches, tombs and ossuaries consisting of a prefabricated supporting structure (<NUM>) consisting of a plurality of tubular elements (<NUM>-<NUM>) and a plurality of columns (<NUM>-<NUM>),
said columns (<NUM>-<NUM>) being placed vertically with respect to the ground and said tubular elements being fastened transversely and longitudinally to said columns (<NUM>-<NUM>) by means of bolting and fastening elements (<NUM>), at points arranged on the columns (<NUM>-<NUM>-<NUM>-<NUM>), so as to identify a plurality of housing burial niches of sarcophagi (<NUM>, <NUM>) and/or ossuaries (<NUM>, <NUM>),
a covering (<NUM>) being present for each burial niche,
a support spacer (<NUM>) of said covering being provided,
characterized in that
said support spacer (<NUM>) consists of a screw (<NUM>) fastened with an end thereof to said structure (<NUM>) and with the other end to a ring (<NUM>),
inside which ring is inserted a steel plate (<NUM>) configured to be inserted into slots carved into a section of the covering (<NUM>).