Patent Document

RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/028,796, filed Feb. 25, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,836,936, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/669,022, filed Jul. 9, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,727,291, which is a continuation-in-part of application Serial No. 08/438,441 filed Mar. 10, 1995 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,611,124 and assigned to the assignee of the present invention, the entire substance of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein as if fully set forth in its entirety. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates generally to burial caskets, and more particularly to a casket with a memorabilia compartment forming a part thereof. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Currently caskets, whether fabricated from wood or metal, do not provide any designated, easily accessible, receptacle or compartment for either the placement of personal effects of the deceased therein or the inclusion therein of mementos of memorialization by the deceased&#39;s family and friends. 
   Prior attempts at solving this shortcoming have generally taken the form of the placement of a small memento box into the casket alongside the deceased. However, such memento boxes often appear as an afterthought, simply placed alongside the deceased in the casket somewhat haphazardly. Thus, no designated receptacle or compartment which is an integral part of the casket has been provided which could be utilized by the family to commemorate the passing of the deceased. 
   It is therefore the main objective of the present invention to provide a casket having a memorabilia compartment which is a designated compartment or receptacle specifically for mementos which is an integral part of the casket and which does not present the haphazard appearance of prior memento boxes simply placed alongside the deceased in the casket. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention attains the stated objective by providing a casket with an integral memorabilia compartment for the placement, display and storage therein of personal effects and mementos of memorialization of the deceased. In one form the casket comprises a shell, a cap pivoted to the shell, and an openable and closable memorabilia compartment forming a part or the cap. In another form the casket comprises a shell, a cap pivoted to the shell, and an openable and closable memorabilia compartment forming a part of the shell. In both forms the memorabilia compartment is so positioned and configured as to provide convenient access to mourners paying respects to the deceased for placing personal effects and mementos therein and to provide display of the personal effects and mementos placed therein for viewing by the mourners. 
   The cap memorabilia compartment may take the form of any of at least six preferred embodiments. 
   In one embodiment the casket cap includes a rim and a crown pivoted to the rim, and a memorabilia tray disposed within the cap and accessible upon pivoting the crown away from the rim. In a second embodiment, the casket cap includes a rim and a crown slidably mounted to the rim, and a memorabilia tray disposed within the cap and accessible upon sliding the crown relative to the rim. In a third embodiment, the casket cap includes a rim and a crown attached to the rim, and a memorabilia drawer disposed within the cap and accessible upon pivoting the cap away from the shell and pivoting the drawer away from the rim. 
   The tray of the first two of these three memorabilia compartments preferably includes a head end compartment, a foot end compartment and a compartment intermediate the head end and foot end compartments. The head and foot end compartments are about one inch deep and the intermediate compartment is about 4 inches deep. The drawer of the second of these two memorabilia compartments preferably includes a front wall, a back wall and a pair of generally triangular shaped end walls connecting the front and back walls. In a casket which includes a single cap the tray is preferably located in the foot end of the single cap, whereas the pivoting drawer is preferably located in the head end of the single cap. In a casket which includes separate head end and foot end caps the tray is preferably located in the foot end cap, whereas the pivoting drawer is preferably located in the head end cap. The casket may be fabricated of either wood or metal. 
   In a fourth embodiment, the casket cap includes a rim, a header panel attached to one end of the rim and a crown attached to the rim; a memorabilia drawer is disposed within the cap and is slidably accessible through the header panel. In a fifth embodiment, the casket cap includes a rim, a header panel or a portion of the header panel pivoted to one end of the rim and a crown attached to the rim; a memorabilia drawer is disposed within the cap and is slidably accessible upon pivoting the header panel or a portion of the header panel away from the rim. 
   The drawer of each of these two memorabilia compartments preferably is divided into two compartments. In a casket which includes separate head end and foot end caps the drawer is preferably located in the foot end cap. The casket may be fabricated of either wood or metal. 
   In a sixth embodiment, the casket cap includes a rim, a crown attached to the rim and puffing peripherally mounted within the interior of the cap to the rim. A memorabilia capsule is disposed in the puffing. At least a portion of the capsule is transparent to allow viewing of memorabilia placed therein. The transparent portion of the capsule is hinged to the balance of the capsule to form a pivoting access door providing access to the interior of the capsule. The puffing is generally quarter-circular in cross section and the capsule is of the same general quarter-circular cross section. In a casket which includes a single cap the capsule is preferably located in the head end of the single cap. In a casket which includes separate head end and foot end caps the capsule is preferably located in the head end cap. The casket may be fabricated of either wood or metal. 
   The shell memorabilia compartment may take the form of any of at least four preferred embodiments. 
   In one embodiment the casket shell includes a pair of side walls and a pair of end walls and a memorabilia tray supported by the shell walls and accessible upon pivoting the cap away from the shell. As in the prior embodiments, the tray of this form of the invention includes head end, foot end and intermediate compartments, the head and foot end compartments being about one inch deep and the intermediate compartment being about four inches deep. In a casket including a single cap pivoted to the shell the tray is preferably located in the foot end of the shell. In a casket including separate head end and foot end caps the tray is preferably located in the foot end of the shell. The casket may be fabricated of either wood or metal. 
   In a second embodiment, the shell includes a pair of side walls and a pair of end walls and a memorabilia drawer disposed within one of the end walls and accessible upon pivoting the drawer away from the one end wall. 
   In a third embodiment, the shell includes a pair of side walls and a pair of end walls with one of the end walls including a sliding panel portion slidable relative to the balance of the one end wall and providing access to the interior of the one end wall. 
   In a fourth embodiment, the shell includes a pair of side walls and a pair of end walls and decorative trim movably mounted to a portion of the shell walls and normally concealing a compartment therebehind; the decorative trim is movable from a first position in which the compartment is concealed to a second position in which the compartment is exposed. The decorative trim utilizable for this embodiment may be the basemold, an ear or a corner post. The decorative trim may be pivotally mounted to the portion of the shell walls or may be removably mounted to the portion of the shell walls. 
   According to a further aspect of the invention, a casket having a memorabilia compartment comprises a shell and a cap closable upon the shell. The cap includes a crown and a header panel at one end of the crown. A memorabilia drawer is within the cap. The drawer is slidably mounted within a frame mounted to the under side of the crown. The drawer is movable to and between a display position and a storage position. 
   The frame is preferrably rectangular and comprises a pair of side walls and a pair of end walls. The drawer comprises a pair of side walls, a pair of end walls and a bottom wall. The frame and drawer side walls include cooperating tongue and groove joints slidably guiding the drawer as it is withdrawn from and inserted into the frame. 
   The frame end walls comprise a head end wall and a foot end wall, one of which is formed by the header panel. The header panel includes an opening therein permitting the drawer to be moved therethrough. 
   The cap further preferrably includes a retainer mounted to and depending into the drawer. The retainer retains the drawer partially within the cap thereby preventing the drawer from being completely withdrawn from the cap. 
   The retainer is preferrably a spring steel clip mounted to the header panel. The clip includes a leg which depends downwardly into the drawer to contact a drawer end wall to prevent the drawer from being completely withdrawn from the cap. The clip is upwardly deflectable with a hand of a person to cause the depending leg to clear the drawer end wall to allow selective removal of the drawer from the cap. 
   The cap still further preferrably includes a magnetic latch and a drawer end wall includes a metallic object secured thereto. The magnetic latch and metallic object cooperate to retain the drawer within the cap in the storage position, and cooperate to release one from another upon a person&#39;s pressing inwardly on the drawer thereby releasing the drawer and permitting the drawer to be moved from the storage position to the display position. The magnetic latch is preferrably mounted to one of a pair of framed end walls, the one frame end wall including a notch therein for accepting the magnetic latch, and a metallic object is a metallic plate. 
   According to yet another aspect, a casket is provided having a memorabilia compartment comprising a shell including a pair of side walls and a pair of end walls, and a cap closable upon a shell. A cover member is supported by the shell, is positioned at a foot end of the shell and is adapted to cover the legs and lower torso of a deceased lying in the casket. A memorabilia drawer is movably mounted within the cover member and is movable to and between the display position in a storage position. 
   The memorabilia drawer is preferrably slidably mounted within the cover member. The casket is preferrably a full-couch casket having a single, full-length cap pivoted to the shell. The cover member is preferrably supported by the shell walls, as by being supported atop dowels pressed into holes in the shell walls. The cover member is preferrably elongated, generally rectangular and with a convex top. 
   The main advantage of the present invention is that a casket having a memorabilia compartment therein is provided which provides a designated receptacle or compartment for the placement of mementos therein which is an integral part of the casket and which does not present a haphazard, afterthought type of appearance. 
   Another advantage of the present invention is that a memorabilia compartment according to the principles of the present invention utilizes the wasted or otherwise unutilized space located above the legs of the deceased and/or within the casket cap to form the volume which is utilized as the receptacle or compartment. 
   Yet another advantage of the present invention is that a designated, easily accessible receptacle is provided which is integral to the casket and which will allow for family and friends of the deceased to include within the casket at the time of final closing or prior thereto mementos or other items of remembrance of the deceased. 
   Still another advantage of the present invention is that the invention will allow family members and friends of the deceased a more meaningful ceremony of memorialization and thereby greater consumer satisfaction with the purchase of the casket. 
   A further advantage of the present invention is that the invention will extend the functional utility of the casket to a new dimension, one that may significantly aid the cathartic process. 
   These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent during the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings herein, in which: 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a casket including one embodiment of a cap memorabilia compartment; 
       FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of another tray for the memorabilia compartment of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 1B  is a perspective view of yet another tray for the memorabilia compartment of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 2  is a partial perspective view of a casket including a second embodiment of a cap memorabilia compartment; 
       FIG. 3  is a partial perspective view of a casket including a third embodiment of a cap memorabilia compartment; 
       FIG. 4  is a partial perspective view of a casket including a fourth embodiment of a cap memorabilia compartment; 
       FIG. 4A  is a partial perspective view of the memorabilia compartment of  FIG. 3  for a metal casket; 
       FIG. 4B  is a partial perspective view of the memorabilia compartment of  FIG. 3  for a wood casket; 
       FIG. 5  is a partial perspective view of a fifth embodiment of a cap memorabilia compartment; 
       FIG. 6  is a partial perspective view of a sixth embodiment of a cap memorabilia compartment; 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a casket including one embodiment or a shell memorabilia compartment; 
       FIG. 8  is a partial perspective view of a casket including a second embodiment of a shell memorabilia compartment; 
       FIG. 9  is a partial perspective view of a casket including a third embodiment of a shell memorabilia compartment; 
       FIG. 10A  is a partial perspective view of a casket including one form of a fourth embodiment of a shell memorabilia compartment; 
       FIG. 10B  is a partial perspective view of a casket including a second form of the fourth embodiment of the shell memorabilia compartment; 
       FIG. 10C  is a partial perspective view of a casket including a third form of the fourth embodiment of the shell memorabilia compartment; 
       FIG. 10D  is a partial perspective view of a casket including a fifth form of the fourth embodiment of the shell memorabilia compartment; 
       FIG. 10E  is a partial perspective view of a casket including a sixth form of the fourth embodiment of the shell memorabilia compartment; 
       FIG. 11  is a view similar to  FIG. 4  of a preferred embodiment of the cap memorabilia compartment of  FIG. 4 ; 
       FIG. 12  is a bottom view looking into the foot cap of  FIG. 11 ; 
       FIG. 13  is a view taken alaong line  13 - 13  of  FIG. 11 ; and 
       FIG. 14  is a perspective view of yet another emobidment of memorabilia compartment. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring first to  FIG. 1 , there is illustrated a casket  10  constructed according to the principles of the present invention. While the casket  10  is illustrated as being fabricated from wood, it will be appreciated that the present invention may be included in either wood caskets or metal caskets. Referring now to the Figure, the casket  10  includes a casket shell  12  and a pair of half or split caps  14  and  16  pivoted to the shell  12  by hinges or other means known to those skilled in the art. Arms  18  attach a handle bar  20  to the casket shell side walls  22 . The shell  12  includes conventional decorative interior components such as a big body  24 , a small body  26 , a pillow  28  and the like. 
   Cap  14  includes side rim members  30 ,  30 , a head end rim member  32  secured to the head ends of the side rim members  30 ,  30  and a header panel  34  secured to the foot ends of the side rim members  30 ,  30 . A decorative dish assembly  36  includes a cap panel  38  and peripheral puffing members  40  positioned around the perimeter of the cap panel  38  and is installed within the head end cap  14 . The foot end cap  16  may include a similar decorative interior but it is not shown in FIG.  1 . Foot end cap  16  similarly includes side rim members  50 ,  50 , a foot end rim member  52  secured to the foot ends of the side rim members  50 ,  50  and a header panel  54  secured to the head ends of the side rim members  50 ,  50 . A crown  56 , which normally would be fixedly secured to the upper edges of the rim members  50 ,  50 ,  52  and the header panel  54 , is instead pivoted to the rear side rim member  50  as by hinges  58 . A crown brace  60  supports the crown  56  in the upward position, as shown in FIG.  1 . Suitable latch structure  62  and  64  may be mounted in side rim member  50  and crown  56  to latch the crown  56  in the lowered, closed position. 
   Pivoting the crown  56  upward away from the balance of the cap  16  reveals a memorabilia tray  70  which is disposed within the rim members  50 ,  50 ,  52  and header panel  54 . The memorabilia tray  70  is preferably fabricated of plastic, for example crematable high density polyethylene or HDPE, and may include a plurality of memorabilia containing compartments, for example two rectangular compartments  72  and  74 . The tray itself may include a convex upper surface  76  for nesting within the concave inner surface  73  of the crown  56 . Alternatively, surface  76  could be flush with the top edges of the side rim members  50 ,  50 , end rim member  52  and header panel  54 . The tray  70  is generally a press fit within the side rim members  50 ,  50 , end rim member  52  and header panel  54 . While latch structure  62 ,  64  is illustrated on the front, or viewing side of the casket, this latch structure could as well be placed centrally on the head end of the crown  56  or the foot end of the crown  56 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 1A , there is illustrated another tray  90  which could be installed in the casket of FIG.  1 . Tray  90  includes a generally flush top surface  92  and three memorabilia receptacles or compartments  94 ,  96  and  98 . Head end compartment  94  and foot end compartment  98  are preferably about one inch deep and intermediate compartment  96  is preferably about four inches deep. The intermediate compartment  96  can be deeper than the foot end compartment  98 , which is located generally directly above the feet of a deceased in the casket  10 . When the body support structure of the casket  10  is raised to the highest position, the one inch deep compartment  98  still provides for the minimal required clearance above the deceased&#39;s feet. Intermediate compartment  96 , however, is located just forward of a deceased&#39;s feet, and therefore it can be substantially deeper, for example about four inches deep as described above. Head end compartment  94  is preferably made of the same depth as foot end compartment  98  to make the tray  90  aesthetically symmetrical. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 1B , another tray  100  is illustrated which can be included in the casket of FIG.  1 . Tray  100  likewise similarly includes a generally flat top surface  102  with the three separate memorabilia receptacles  104 ,  106  and  108  similar to that illustrated in FIG.  1 A. In addition, however, the tray  100  includes curved side walls  110 ,  110  and curved end walls  112 ,  112 . Rather than being a press fit into the side rim members  50 ,  50 , end rim member  52  and head wall  54 , this tray would be installed from underneath the cap  16 . The free edges of the walls  110  and  112  would then be secured to the rim members  50 ,  50  and  52  and head wall  54  by any suitable means, for example such as snapping into grooves or utilizing wood dowels or the like pressed into holes in the rim members  50 ,  50 ,  52  and head wall  54  atop which the free edges of the walls  110 ,  112  of the tray  100  would be supported after installation up into the cap  16 . The underneath side of this form of tray  100  could be made to look substantially similar to the dish  36  in head end cap  14  including cap panel  38  and peripheral puffing members  40  so as to present the same general decorative look when the entire foot end cap  16  is pivoted upwardly. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 2 , and with like numbers representing like elements, a second embodiment of the cap memorabilia compartment is illustrated. In this embodiment, the crown  56  is slidably mounted to the rim members  50 ,  50 ,  52  and head wall  54  as by tongue and groove joints or the like. In this embodiment, either of the alternative forms of the tray  90  and  100  illustrated in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , respectively, would be employed which have flat top surfaces and which sit flush with the top edges of the rim members  50 ,  50 ,  52  and head wall  54 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 3 , and with like numbers representing like elements, a third embodiment of the cap memorabilia compartment is illustrated. In this embodiment, the head end cap  14  is provided with a pivoting drawer  120 . Drawer  120  is pivoted at its lower edge  122  to a portion of the cap  14 , for example to cap panel  38 , by hinges or other means known to those skilled in the art. The pivoting drawer  120  will preferably be generally triangular in cross section, having a front wall  124 , a pair of triangular shaped opposed end walls  126  and back wall  128 . Access is gained to the interior of the pivoting drawer  120  by first of course pivoting cap  14  upwardly relative to the shell  12  to its open position and then pivoting drawer  120  downwardly relative to crown  56  to its open position. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 4 , there is illustrated a fourth embodiment of cap memorabilia compartment in a metal casket  140 . In the foot end cap  142  of the casket  140  there is slidably disposed a drawer  144 .  FIG. 4A  illustrates the construction of the cap  142  so as to accommodate the drawer  144 . The header  146  includes opening  148  for accepting an inner compartment  150  having a flange  152  to be welded or epoxied in place against the header  146 . Drawer  144  slides into and out of the interior of the compartment  150 , and may be provided with a recess or groove  154  for grasping the drawer  144 . 
     FIG. 4B  illustrates this same embodiment but in a wooden casket. Foot end cap  16  has a header wall  54  with an opening  160  therein for accepting a drawer  162  which may have one or several, and as illustrated, has two generally equally sized memorabilia compartments or receptacles  164  and  166 . A recess may be provided in the header  54  along the lower edge of opening  160  to allow one&#39;s fingers to grasp beneath the lower edge of drawer front  168  to pull the drawer  162  out. Suitable supporting structure such as a panel or the like underlies the drawer  162  to support it when pushed in. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 5 , there is illustrated a fifth embodiment of cap memorabilia compartment. This embodiment is substantially the same as the  FIG. 4  embodiment, especially the  FIG. 4B  embodiment, except that rather than the drawer front  168  forming a part of the header wall  54  when the drawer  162  is inserted or slid into the cap  6 , all or a portion of the header wall  54  is hinged for example portion  130  hinged at its lower edge to header wall  54  by hinges or other conventional means known to those skilled in the art, to provide access to a hidden drawer. Thus, the header wall  54  is pivoted downwardly, or a portion of the header wall for example that shown at  130  is pivoted downwardly, to provide access to a drawer disposed in opening  160  and normally concealed by header wall  54 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 6 , a sixth embodiment of cap memorabilia compartment is illustrated. In this embodiment, a capsule  200  is disposed in the puffing member  40 . The capsule  200  has a generally quarter-circular cross section to match the generally quarter-circular cross section of the puffing member  40 . The capsule  200  would include a rear wall  202 , a bottom wall  204  and opposed end walls  206 . A transparent cover  208  is hinged alone its lower edge  210  to the bottom wall  204  of the capsule  200  by hinges or other means known to those skilled in the art. Pivoting transparent cover  208  allows for access to the interior of the compartment  200  as well as continuous viewing of the memorabilia placed therein. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 7 , there is illustrated one embodiment of a shell memorabilia compartment. In this form of the invention, a memorabilia tray  250 , having compartments  252  and  254  similar to the tray  70  of  FIG. 1 , is positioned directly in the shell  12  as opposed to being installed in the foot end cap  16 . The tray  250  may be supported atop wooden dowels (not shown) pressed into holes (not shown) in the casket shell side and end walls. Alternatively, tray  250  could include the compartment configuration illustrated in  FIGS. 1A and 1B . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 8 , and with like numbers representing like elements, a second embodiment of a shell memorabilia compartment is illustrated. In this embodiment, shell end wall  300  is provided with a pivoting drawer  302  pivoted at its lower edge  304  by hinges or other means known to those skilled in the art to end wall  300 . Pivoting of drawer  302  away from the end wall  300  provides access to the interior  306  of drawer  302 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 9 , and with like numbers representing like elements, there is illustrated a third embodiment of shell memorabilia compartment. In this embodiment, shell end wall  300  is provided with a sliding panel portion  310  slidable relative to the balance of the end wall  300  to provide access to an interior  312  normally concealed by the sliding panel portion  310 . 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 10A-E , six forms of a fourth embodiment of a shell memorabilia compartment are illustrated. In this fourth embodiment, decorative casket trim is movably mounted to a portion of the casket shell walls and normally conceals a compartment therebehind. The decorative trim is movable from a first position in which the compartment is concealed to a second position in which the compartment is exposed. The trim may be pivotally mounted, slidably mounted or removably mounted to the casket shell walls. In one form as shown in  FIG. 10A , base mold  350  is pivoted at its lower edge  352  by hinged or other means known to those skilled in the art to end wall  300 . Pivoting the base mold  350  away from the end wall  300  exposes the interior  354  of the compartment. In a second form shown in  FIG. 10B , an ear or escutcheon plate  360  is pivoted at its lower edge  362  by hinges or other means known to those skilled in the art to one of the casket walls. Pivoting the ear  360  away from the casket wall exposes the interior  364  of the compartment. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 10C-E , three other forms of the invention utilizing movably mounted decorative trim to form the shell memorabilia compartment are illustrated. In  FIG. 10C , a corner post  370  including walls  372  and  374  is pivoted to the shell end wall  300  by hinges or other means known to those skilled in the art at edge  376  of wall  372 . Pivoting the corner post  370  away from the end wall  300  provides access to the interior  378  of the compartment.  FIG. 10D  is similar, except that corner post  380  is a rectangular receptacle having an open top  382 , access to which is provided by sliding the receptacle  380  longitudinally or transversely relative to the casket shell. In  FIG. 10E , corner post  390  is similar to that shown in  FIG. 10D , except that the post  390  is completely removable from the casket shell and includes a cap  392  for closing the open upper end  394  of the post  390 . 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 11-13 , there is illustrated a preferred construction of a wooden casket with memorabilia drawer slidably mounted within a cap of the casket. More particularly, in  FIG. 11  there is illustrated a casket  400  including a shell  402  and head end  404  and foot end  406  caps or lids pivoted to the shell  402  with hinges or the like known to those skilled in the art and closable upon the shell  402 . Foot and cap  406  includes a memorabilia drawer  410  slidably mounted to the cap  406  and slidable to and between a display position and a storage position. 
   As shown in  FIG. 12 , when viewing the cap  406  from underneath, it will be seen that drawer  410  is slidably mounted within a frame  412  mounted to the underside of the crown  414  of the cap  406 . Frame  412  is generally rectangular and comprises a pair of side walls  416 ,  416  and a pair of end walls  418 ,  420 . Drawer  410  comprises a pair of side walls  422 ,  422 , a pair of end walls  426 ,  428  and a bottom wall  430 . The frame side walls  416 ,  416  and drawer side walls  422 ,  422  include cooperating tongue-in-groove joints  432  for slidably gliding the drawer  410  as it is withdrawn from and inserted into the frame  412 . Preferably the drawer sidewalls  422 ,  422  include the groove  434  portion of the tongue-in-groove joint and the frame side walls  416 ,  416  include the tongue  436  portion of the tongue-in-groove joint. 
   As is seen in  FIG. 12 , frame end wall  420  is formed by the header, which includes an opening  440  therein permitting the drawer  410  to be moved there through. 
   Frame end wall  418  is secured to the crown  14  via brackets  442  and screws  444 . Sidewalls  416 ,  416  are secured to end wall  418  via any suitable fasteners, for example, staples, glue, screws, tongue-in-groove joints, dowels, or any suitable combination thereof. The drawer side  422 ,  422 , end  426 ,  428  and bottom  430  walls are secured together with the same or similar fastening means. Sidewalls  416 ,  416  are secured to header  420  also via the same or similar fastening means. Further, the upwardly facing surface of bottom  430  may be flocked or lined with velvet or other attractive material. Drawer side  422 ,  422  and end  426  walls may be fabricated of suitable wood, for example maple; bottom wall  430  is preferably hardboard; and end wall  428  is preferably wood of the same type as, or is otherwise finished to match, the wood of the balance of the casket  400 . Frame sidewalls  416 ,  416  and end  418  may be fabricated of any suitable wood, for example maple, and end wall  420 , or header, is preferably wood of the same type as, or is otherwise finished to match, the wood of the balance of the casket  400 . 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 12 and 13 , it will be seen that the cap  406  includes a retainer  450  mounted thereto which depends into the drawer  410  to retain the drawer  410  partially within the cap  406 , thus preventing the drawer  410  from being completely withdrawn from the cap  406 . More particularly, retainer  450  is a spring steel clip  452  which includes a leg  454  which depends downwardly into the drawer  410  and which is operable to contact drawer end wall  426  to prevent the drawer  410  from being completely withdrawn from the cap. Clip  452  is secured to header panel  420  via a screw  456 . Clip  450  is preferably fabricated of spring steel, is plated to prevent oxidation, and is available from Hoffco of Woodlake, Minn. as part no. 727. Leg  454  of clip  452  is upwardly deflectable by the hand of a person reaching into the open drawer  410  to allow the end wall  426  to clear the leg  454  to allow selective removal of the drawer  410  from the cap  406  as desired. Frame  412  includes a top wall  460  secured to the side  416 ,  416  and end  413  walls of the frame  412  via staples or the like, fabricated of hardboard, and including a slot  462  formed therein which allows leg  454  of clip  452  to depend downwardly into the drawer  410 . 
   Cap  406  further includes a magnetic latch  470  which is mounted to frame end wall  418  within a notch  472 . Magnetic latch  470  cooperates with a metallic plate  474  secured via a screw  476  to drawer end wall  426 . Magnetic latch  470  may be of a type available from Hoffco of Woodlake, Minn. as part no. 453-C. Magnetic latch  470  and plate  474  cooperate to retain the drawer  410  within the cap  406  in a storage position, and cooperate to release one from another upon a person&#39;s pressing inwardly on the drawer  410  which releases the magnetic latch  470  from the plate  474  and causes the drawer  410  to be ejected slightly out of the frame  412  whereby it is easily grasped and pulled to the open position. 
   Referring to  FIG. 14 , there is illustrated yet another form of the invention. In  FIG. 14  there is shown the casket  500  comprising a shell  502  to which is pivoted via hinges or the like known to those skilled in the art a cap or lid  504  closeable thereon. Casket  500  is a so-called full-couch casket wherein the cap or lid  504  is a single, full-length cap pivoted to the shell  502 . The shell  502  includes a pair of side walls  506  and a pair of end walls  508 . A cover member  510  is supported by the shell  502 , for example, is supported upon wooden dowels  512  pressed into holes  514  in the shell wall  516 , is positioned at the foot end of the shell  502  and is adapted to cover the legs and torso of a deceased lying in the casket  500 . There is a memorabilia drawer  520  movably mounted within the cover member  510  and movable to and between a display position and a storage position. Drawer  520  could be supported within the frame structure  112  described above, including all the features thereof such as magnetic latch  470  and retainer clip  450 , or it could be simply supported by, for example, a panel or the like underlying the drawer  520 . Cover member  510  is elongated, rectangular and includes a convex top or crown  524 . Cover member  510  may also include a header panel  526  similar to that discussed above in connection with the casket caps. Cover member  510  may further include a pie-shaped section  528  at a footend thereof. Cover member  510  is sometimes referred to as an “inner panel” in the trade. Cover member  510  is also sometimes referred to as a “cap” in the trade, since the structure of the cover member  510  is generally the same as that of a casket cap pivoted to its shell, less the peripheral rim portion of the cap. 
   While the present invention has been described in conjunction with wood and metal caskets, it will be readily appreciated that the invention could also be incorporated in caskets of other constructions, for example, composites, plastics, paperboard, cardboard, hardboard, papier-màché or the like. The invention therefore is not to be limited to simply wood and metal caskets. 
   Further, while the drawer type memorabilia compartments illustrated herein may be shown to be pullable from one particular end of a casket cap, lid, cover member and/or inner panel, it will be appreciated that the drawer may be mounted so as to be withdrawable from the other end of the cap, lid, cover member and/or inner panel, and that both are within the scope of the present invention. 
   Still further, the drawer type memorabilia compartment could be employed with the single, full-length cap or lid of a full-couch casket, and withdrawable from either the head end or foot end thereof, and that the same is also within the scope of the present invention. 
   Those skilled in the art will readily recognize numerous adaptations and modifications which can be made to the present invention which will yield an improved casket having memorabilia compartment, yet all of which will fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the following claims. Accordingly, the invention is to be limited only by the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.

Technology Category: 1