Patent Document

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     Present invention refers to a modular system for niches or crypts for the deposit of ashes and/or dry remains. In a more specific manner, present invention refers to a modular system with easy assembly for the deposit of ashes and/or dry remains. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Presently there are various types of crypts or niches, among which are those known as locker type crypts which have a sheet based manufacture. These types of crypts are usually easier to install than the crypts made based on bricks and cement. However, the sheet crypts have the disadvantage of being aesthetically unpleasant given the laminate sheet finish. Another disadvantage of the laminate sheet based crypts is that the sheet can present problems related to oxidation as well as with maintenance costs. 
     Another type of crypts which are known in the state of the art are those manufactured by means of a piece of furniture based on a frame made up of rectangular section tubing joined to each other by special aluminum connectors. Said tubing, as well as the divisions and shelves, are built based on a “zintro-alum” steel sheet with a high resistance aluminum, zinc, and silicon alloy. The main disadvantage of this type of manufacturing, lies in the fact that in addition to the manufacturing costs being too high, and it also requires highly trained personnel for installing the crypts in their final resting place, thereby increasing the installation costs. 
     In prior art methods are also known for constructing crypts based on a modular system which consists with a plurality of crypts, where each individual crypts comprises a frame formed by steel profiles which are joined by means of an autogenous welding, inner divisions for support, and lateral and back divisions which are fixed by means of rivets to the frame. Even though said methods achieve overcoming many of the inconveniences and disadvantages of the previous techniques, the enormous disadvantage still exists of not having the ability of being able to be installed in any climate and location, given that due to its being manufactured with profile tubing and/or sheet laminate the bothersome problems of oxidation still persist. Additionally, the crypt assembled by means of said methods is difficult to handle and transport given its size and weight, in addition to the lengthy amount of manufacturing time as it is a more highly artisan system. Another defect present is the sight of the product given that the mentioned materials end up being a low quality type which results in being less visually pleasing. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention refers to a modular system for niches or crypts for the deposit of ashes and/or dry remains with easy assembly, where the assembly is carried out in a fast and safe manner thanks to the connectors set in present invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       The particular features and advantages of the invention, as well as other objectives of the invention, shall become apparent, taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of the modular crypt system of present invention. 
         FIG. 2  shows an assembled module of the modular system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a semi-broken up view of the elements which make up the assembled module of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of a horizontal plate which makes up the assembled module of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  is a front perspective view of a vertical plate which makes up the assembled module of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIGS. 6 through 8  show general perspective views of the different connector elements which may be used to interconnect the horizontal plate and the vertical plate. 
         FIGS. 9 through 11  show back views of the different connector elements. 
         FIG. 12  shows the flanges set on the plates, into which the connector elements are introduced into. 
         FIG. 13  shows one connector element assembled unto the horizontal plates. 
         FIG. 14  shows one connector element assembled unto the horizontal and vertical plates. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following description references  FIGS. 1 through 11  of present application in an indistinct manner, in which the modular system of niches or crypts  10  can be seen, which are formed by different assembly modules  20  for the depositing of ashes and/or dry remains. 
     The modular system  10  can be mounted in open and/or enclosed areas in a very easy, fast way and without the need of requiring anyone with a prior high skilled level for its installation. Examples of open areas where the modular system  10  could be installed include cemeteries, church yards or any area in the open air suitable for said purposes. The modular system  10  can also be installed in appropriate enclosed areas. 
     The modular system for niches or crypts  10  is made up of at least two assembly modules  20 . The assembly modules  20  are formed by horizontal plates  21  and by vertical plates  22  which are interconnected by means of connector elements  23 ′,  23 ″ and/or  23 ′″. Said connector elements have at least two arms ( 36 ). The horizontal plates and/or vertical plates may be manufactured of various materials which do not bend easily but which in turn do have a certain amount of flexibility such as plastics, woods, metals which tend to have certain flexibility such as aluminum, cardboard, corrugated cardboard, etc. 
     The laminate plates  21 ,  22  can be recoated with an aesthetically pleasing material, such as ceramic or marble or even yet a light layer of cement as for example cellular concrete with the end goal that the modular systems have both an adequate support as well as a visually pleasing aesthetic. Additionally, given that the sheets are made of materials such as aluminum or stainless steel they can be highly resistant to environmental conditions such as, for example oxidation. Additionally, given that the sheets can be recoated with some of the above mentioned materials, the sheet which is still made of a material which can become oxidized would be maintained in optimal conditions thanks to the recoating with any adequate material which additionally grants it a visually acceptable aesthetic. 
     The assembly modules  20  can be of a width and a height which by way of example, but not limited to, approximately between 25 cm by 40 cm to approximately between 35 cm by 40 cm and a depth of approximately between 20 cm to approximately 60 cm. However, the modular system for niches and crypts  10  can contain assembly modules  20  of various sizes, that is, the connector elements  23 ′,  23 ″ or  23 ′″ in conjunction with the horizontal plate  21  and the vertical plate  22  allow for a variety of sizes of the width and the height of the assembly modules  20 , in this way allowing a design for the modular system  10  according to the client&#39;s specifications. 
     The assembly modules  20  are constructed by means of horizontal plates  21  and vertical plates  22  connected by means of connector elements  23 ′,  23 ″ and/or  23 ″′ through its arms. As can be seen from the figures, all the plates  21  and  22  have two cavities  24  which are near to a first end and two recesses  25  on a second end opposite to the first end, into which any of the connector elements  23 ′,  23 ″ and/or  23 ′″ could be introduced into, such as is shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 . Each cavity  24  is found near the lateral parts of the first end, while each recess  24  is found on the lateral parts of the second end. 
     At the second end of the plates  21  and  22 , flanges are found  26  and  26 ′ such as can be seen starting in  FIG. 9 . It should be mentioned that said flanges  26  and  26 ′ are constructed in such a way that the connector elements  23 ′,  23 ″ and/or  23 ″′ can be introduced in an easy way; specifically, the connector elements can be slideable along the length of the recess  24  encircling said flange  26 , such as will be described. The connector elements  23 ′,  23 ″ and/or  23 ″′ have on their back part a horizontal aperture  27  and a vertical aperture  28 , both in the shape of a “C”. More preferably, the connectors  23 ′,  23 ″ and/or  23 ″′ are constituted by at least five different walls. A first wall with a first length has a first direction. A second wall with a second length has a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first wall. A third wall with a third length has a third direction which is vectorially opposite to the first direction and consequently substantially perpendicular to the second wall. A fourth wall with a fourth length has a fourth direction which is vectorially opposite to the second direction and consequently substantially perpendicular to the third wall. Finally a fifth wall with a fifth length, similar to the first length, has a fifth direction which is vectorially opposite to the first direction and consequently substantially perpendicular to the fourth wall. Between the first and fifth wall, same which are opposite, an aperture  27  is formed. The length of the third wall is equivalent to the sum of the first wall, the fifth wall and the aperture. In this way, between the walls of the connectors  23 ′,  23 ″ and/or  23 ″′ an inner space is formed. The inner space of the connectors is configures to receive the flanges of the plates  21  and/or  22  within the same, in such a way that upon sliding the connectors in the inner space, said connectors, by means of their walls encircle the flanges  26 ,  26 ′ of the plates and wherein the first and fifth wall of the connectors, upon the connectors with the plates being in a mounted position, they are in near proximity to the corresponding cavity  24  and/or the recess  25 . Similarly, the plates  21  and  22  have a central rim ledge  31 , a first lateral rim ledge  33  and a second lateral rim ledge  32 , wherein the second lateral rim ledge is opposite to the first lateral rim ledge. As can be seen, starting from  FIG. 11 , the upper part of the connectors  23 ′,  23 ″ and/or  23 ″′ has a horizontal aperture  27  which begins at an end  29  and ends at an end  30  opposite to the end  29 , that is, the aperture  27  is continuous along the length of the horizontal axis of the connector element  23 ′,  23 ″ and/or  23 ″′. The aperture is introduced into the flanges  26  of the plate  21  and the connector slides horizontally up until the central rim ledge allows it to, such as is shown in  FIG. 10 . In this way the cavities  24  of the plate  21  remain occupied by the connector elements  23 ′,  23 ″ and/or  23 ′″. Similarly, the flanges  26 ′ of the plate  21  are introduced into the apertures  27  of the connectors  23 ″′, wherein the connectors  23 ″′ slide horizontally until they come into contact with a central rim ledge, which limits the horizontal movement of the connectors such as is shown in  FIG. 10 . In this way the horizontal plate  21  is assembled with the connectors  23 ′,  23 ″ and/or  23 ″′ through its arms, in such a way that the back part of the connectors  23 ′ or  23 ″ is oriented with the back part of the connectors  23 ″′. As can be seen starting from  FIG. 1 , the rim ledge  34 ,  35  of the connectors  23 ′or  23 ″ remains exposed in view such that the arms of the connector elements  23 ″′ remain hidden from view. 
     The connector elements  23 ′,  23 ″ and/or  23 ″′ allow connecting different sizes of horizontal plates and/or vertical plates by means of connector arms, in this way allowing for variation in the size of the vertical plates and/or horizontal plates, that is to say, assembly modules  20  can be constructed in different sizes by varying the length of the horizontal or vertical plates, whether it is the width, the height or both to achieve a modular system  10  in different sizes of the assembly module  20 . For example, the client or clients can request a niche or crypt in a smaller size, while other desire one of a larger size, which is possible thanks to the connector elements  23 ′,  23 ″ and/or  23 ″′ which are being described in present invention, given that they would allow to construct a modular system  20  according to the different needs of the clients. 
     The connector elements  23 ′,  23 ″ and/or  23 ″′ have similar connection structural features, the difference being the intermediate element  34 ,  35  which is found in the same. 
     The connector element  23 ′ has an intermediate element  34  which is beveled and which rests over a vertical plate and/or supports a vertical plate, as can be seen for example starting from  FIG. 1 . The intermediate element  34  in a preferred embodiment can have an intermediate element which is longer than that which is shown in  FIG. 6  (not shown). 
     The intermediate element in another preferred embodiment can have a more rectangular shape, in this way forming an intermediate element  35 , which itself also provides support to the modular system  20  in its assembled position. 
     In yet another preferred embodiment, the connector element does not possess any beveled element, as can be seen for example starting from  FIG. 8 . However, said connector element is found oriented in such a way that it remains hidden from human view, that is, it is found at the back part of the modular system. 
     As can be seen starting from  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the lateral rim ledges  32  and  33  of the plate  22  and the lateral rim ledges  32  and  33  of the plate  21  have distant lengths, that is, the length of the lateral rim ledges  32  and  33  of the plate  21  are longitudinally smaller than the lateral rim ledges  32  and  33  of the plate  22 . The lateral rim ledges  32  and  33  of the plate  21  are smaller with the end goal that any of the connectors  23  ( 23 ′,  23 ″ and/or  23 ″′) can correctly couple the plates  21  and  22  in a firm and secure manner. 
     As was mentioned previously, the connectors  23 ′,  23 ″ and/or  23 ″′ have an inner space into which the flanges  26  and  26 ′ of the plates  22  are introduced into, where the connectors slide in a vertical manner and wherein the rim ledge  31 ,  32  and  33  limit the vertical movement such as is shown, for example in  FIG. 3 . 
     It should be mentioned that the rim ledges  32  and  33  of the plates  21  and  22  remain exposed in full view, in so far as the rim ledges  31  of the plates  21  and  22  are found at the back part, that is, they remain hidden from view. 
     A horizontal plate  21  and a vertical plate  22  once assembled, as is shown in  FIG. 3 , the procedure is repeated with the end goal of assembling an assembly module  20  as is shown in  FIG. 2  and the connector elements  23 ′,  23 ″ and/or  23 ″′ will allow the addition of however many more assembly modules  20  will be necessary. 
     The vertical plates have four orifices uniformly distributed towards the center (not shown) which have the objective of providing ventilation to the dry remains. 
     The arms of the connector elements  23 ′,  23 ″ and/or  23 ″′ may be of different lengths with the end goal of achieving niches or crypts of various sizes, and also to be able to meet different design requirements according to the specifications of the clients, dimensions of the places where they will be placed, among other considerations. 
     Persons skilled in the art will easily understand how changes to the present invention can be accomplished without deviating from the summarized concepts of the above description. It is considered that these changes are included to lie within the claimed scope of present model. Consequently, the particular embodiments previously described in detail are merely illustrative and not limitative in terms of the scope of present model, to which full extension of the attached claims should be granted, in addition to all and any equivalent of the same.

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