TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a coffin, comprising a coffin constructed of a biodegradable material and intended especially for the transport, burial or cremation of pet animals.

PRIOR ART

After dying of an illness or as an accident victim, or having had to be put down, the pet must be transported for burial or cremation. Since the question is about an animal friend, the transport is preferably conducted in a coffin that is proper and respectful of the pet's dignity. Aside from appearance, the essential properties for a coffin include a bottom structure of the coffin having to be completely seamless to prevent possible fluids from leaking out through the bottom. The structure must be sufficiently rigid to avoid bending, opening or damaging the coffin as it is being carried. The coffin must be closable in such a way that it cannot be opened without breaking the structure. The coffin must not open during transport.

The materials must be moisture resistant and also contain moisture-absorbing layers for enabling short-term storage. The coffin structure must not include harmful substances or type of components that do not decompose or burn. The coffin is required to enable its industrial-scale production and efficient storage and to enable deliveries to the consumer at low costs.

The coffin used for burying pet animals must be biodegradable so as not to leave any permanent residues in terrain after the burial. It is required of the coffin that, even in cremation, there will be no permanent leftover parts from the coffin, such as metallic locking, fastening or strengthening members. The coffin must be such that a dead animal can be held in the coffin over short periods without allowing secretions out of the coffin or without allowing the coffin to open during transport. It is further essential that the coffin blank can be packed in a small compact retail package for the duration of shipping and storage.

It is prior known to construct pet coffins of cardboard. Specification US 3997948 discloses a structure that comprises a longitudinally adjustable coffin made of three units. In addition, there are available structures in which the material comprises compressed pulp, for example form-pressed chemical pulp. It is also prior known to construct pet coffins of biomass by form-pressing. It is likewise known to manufacture coffins for pets by using materials such as cardboard or the like composite materials or polymers, as presented in publications WO20101 8466, JP2010131295, JP2005349072 and JP2004329132.

A problem with prior known solutions is nevertheless that the structures are made without sufficient consideration for the retail coffin package and the space utilization during transport and storage. Further, coffins are also made without paying attention to structural density in view of precluding possible secretion leakages. Some of the coffins are obviously intended for quite lightweight animals on the basis of having a structural rigidity which is inadequate from the standpoint of transport.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this invention to provide a coffin, which enables at least some of the foregoing drawbacks to be obviated and thereby makes possible a functional structure for the transport, burial or cremation of pet animals.

More specifically, the coffin according to the invention is characterized by what is presented in the characterizing clause of the independent claim 1. A concept of the invention to use cardboard as the structural coffin material which is cut and scored for bending lines to produce coffin blank segments capable of being assembled and joined for service without tools, is novel and inventive. The invention offers a significant advantage in terms of the storage and shipping of coffins without compromising the dignity associated with ap- pearance of the coffin. The employed cardboard material is fully decomposable and burns completely when incinerated in crematorium. The coffin structure provides a beneficial ability to be assembled without any extra components such as adhesive or separate fastening means which would end up as residues in soil or combustion gases. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The invention will now be described more closely with reference to the accompanying figures: Fig. 1 shows a coffin according to one embodiment of the invention in an assembled condition with the lid opened,

Fig. 2 shows a coffin blank according to one embodiment of the invention prior to being assembled, Fig. 3 shows a coffin detail according to one embodiment of the invention about a locking cut used for closing a lid.

Fig. 4 shows an attachment for a coffin according to one embodiment of the invention in a view from inside the coffin,

Fig. 5 shows a cut shape for the blank of a coffin according to one embodiment of the invention and score lines made thereon,

Fig. 6 shows a coffin according to one embodiment of the invention in an assembled condition,

Fig. 7 shows a cut shape and score lines for the blank of a lid member for a coffin according to one embodiment of the invention, Fig. 8 shows a lid member for the cover of a coffin according to one embodiment of the invention in an assembled condition,

Fig. 9 shows a cut shape and score lines for a protective enclosure to be housed in a coffin according to one embodiment of the invention, and

Fig. 10 shows a protective enclosure to be housed in a coffin according to one embodiment of the invention in an assembled condition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is a coffin 1 according to one embodiment of the invention, which comprises a bottom part 2, side walls 3 and end walls 4, a lid member 5, 6, which are cut to shape from multilayered cardboard for a one-piece blank which is folded by means of score lines. The bottom 2 and the side walls 3 are provided with score lines 7 at a bending point of the long side thereof and the bottom 2 and the end wall 4 are provided with score lines 8 at a bending point of the side thereof. The side walls 3 are provided at each end with score lines 9 and 10, along which the bottom 2 and the side walls 3, as well as the end walls 4, of the coffin 1 are erectabie to a box type configuration. An angle 12 between the score lines 9 and 10 and the score line of the bottom 2 enables defining an inclination for the side walls 3 of a box to be erected. Triangular surfaces established by the score lines 9 and 10 and the score line 7 are attached to the end walls 4.

The coffin 1 has its lid 5 cut from the same sheet of cardboard, and the sheet is provided with 3 score lines 16 to coincide with a top edge of the end wall element 4. The lid 5 has been cut so as to have its width exceeding the width of the end wall 4 by the amount equal to the height of an edge 14 of the lid 5. The lid 5 is provided, in a longitudinal direction of the lid 5, with score lines 17 spaced from each other by a distance that matches the width of a top edge of the end wall 4. A shorter lid member 6 has been made the same way as the lid member 5, yet in a shorter version for making the lids partially overlapping. The coffin's side walls are provided with cuts 15 at a distance a from the end wall 4. When being closed, the lid 5 and the lid 6 have their edge 14 foldable inside the side wall 3 of the coffin 1 over the distance between the end wall 4 and the cut 15. The rest of the edge portions 14 of the lid members 5 and 6 are capable of being disposed outside the coffin's side walls 3. The lid members 5 and 6 of the coffin 1 have their edges provided with two or more attachment cuts 18.

The attachment cuts 18 shown in Fig. 3 are established in such a way that a cutting slit 19 commencing from an edge of the lid is inclined with respect to the edge 14 of the lid, and a slit 20 continuing therefrom is nearly parallel with the edge 14 of the lid. The slits 19 and 20 are made opposite to each other as a mirror image, thereby making up an arrowhead pattern. Or, another cut is a single slit 22 which is nearly perpendicular to the lid's edge 14, the pattern being a half-arrowhead. The coffin has its side wall 3 provided with side wall cuts 21 having a length that is equal to a distance between the closest ends of the slits 20. Or, the length is equal to a distance between the end of the slits 20 and the slit 22.

Fig. 4 shows lid closing and locking operations, which can be executed in such a way that a triangle 23 between the slits 19 and 20 is folded inside. The resulting flap is pushed into a side wall cut 21 present in the side wall 3. The coffin 1 includes an absorbent cushion 24, which can be placed on an internal surface and which is made of a fibrous material stuffed with absorbent porous filler. The coffin 1 has its cardboard formed by punching, printing, rolling or the like method with decorative patterning, which is left exposed on exterior surfaces of the coffin 1 including the lids 5 and 6, the side walls 3, and the end walls 4.

Fig. 5 shows a cardboard-made cutout blank for a coffin V according to one embodiment of the invention, which is provided with score lines for folding up the coffin. The cutout blank for the coffin V is symmetrical with respect to center lines. The cutout blank for the coffin V is formed with score lines 5' and to establish a bottom 21 ' to which are connected side walls 4' by way of the score lines 5' and end walls 6' by way of the score lines 7'. The side walls 4' have their ends prepared with side wall extensions 8' foldable inside the coffin. The side walls 4' have their top edges cut for top edge reinforcements 10' which are delineated by score lines 23'. The coffin 4' has its blank formed with cuts to provide tabs and cuts. The tabs can be inserted into the cuts at an assembly stage for locking the structure of the coffin 4" in operational form. The side wall extensions 8' have cuts 5', which enable the end wall element 6' to be locked upright once tabs 17' have been fitted inside the cuts 15' of the bent sidewall extension 8'. The end wall elements 6' have been cut to form tabs 14', which can be placed in slots 22' made at a bending point 9' of the side walls 4' and the sidewall extensions 8'. The coffin 1 ' has its end wall element 6' provided with score lines 11 ' and 12', such that the end wall element 6' of the collapsed coffin 1 'is capable of being formed with an edge which strengthens the end wall element 6' once an internally foldable edge 13 ^' has been bent and tabs 17' are present in the cuts 15'. The side walls 4' have their score lines 9' set at an inclination defined by an angle 20' relative to a score line T of the bottom 21 ' and, respectively, the end wail element 8' has its cuts set at an inclination defined by an angle 19' relative to a score line 5' of the bottom 21 '. Thereby, the coffin V has been given a downward converging shape.

The coffin 1 ' of Fig. 6 in an up-folded condition shows the principle of locking the coffin assembly, wherein the end wall element is fixed in the slots 22' of the side walls with tabs 14'. The edge 13', which is foldable inside the end wall element 6', is fixed in the cuts 15' of the side wall extensions 8' with tabs 17'. The end wall element 6' is formed with a strengthening edge by means of score lines 1 1 ' and 12'. The reinforcement 10' for the side walls 4' is folded inside the coffin, and attachment slots 16' for a lid 2', prepared in a score line 23' for the top edge reinforcement 10', have opened for locking the lid 2'. Fig. 7 shows a cutout shape and score lines for the lid member 2'. The lid member 2' has its lid panel 24' delineated with score lines 25' and 26' from the lid's edges 29', 30' and with score lines 27', 28' from the lid's end wail elements 31 ', 32'. Each end of the lid's edges 29', 30' is provided with score lines 33' to delineate end flaps 34'. The lid member includes the lid's end wall elements 31 ' and 32', including an edge strengthening pleat defined by score lines 35' and 36'. A top edge 37 ^' , including attachment tabs 38', is foldable inside the lid's end wall element.

Fig. 8 depicts assembling the lid by folding. The lid's edges 29' and 30' have been bent up at the score lines 25' and 26'. The lid's end flaps 34' have been folded inside at the score lines 33'. The lid ^' s end wall element 31 ' has been raised upright and the lid strengthening pleats 35' and 36' have been turned inward to enable insertion of the tabs 38' into recesses 39' of the flap. The lid has its edges provided with locking tongues 40', which can be pressed into recesses 16' made in the edges of a coffin for closing the coffin and securing the lid.

Shown in Fig. 9 are cutout shapes and score lines for a protective enclosure 3' to be placed inside the coffin. A concept of the protective enclosure 3' is to provide a moisture resistant element capable of preventing secretions from trickling outside the coffin. The protective enclosure 3' is made of wet-strength cardboard, which is resistant to moisture. The protective enclosure 3' is shaped by means of score lines in such a way that folds for the sides are delineated by score lines 41 ' and 42'. Folds for the end walls are delineated by score lines 43' and 44', whereby a bottom 49 of the protective enclosure is dimensioned to enable its fitting inside the coffin V. The protective enclosure 3' has its corners provided with score lines 45', 46' and 47' to enable folding of the protective enclosure 3' to its shape as shown in Fig. 10. The protective enclosure 3' has been erected by using a single intact sheet of cardboard, the corners thereby not being left with leaking gaps as a result of cuts. In order to increase rigidity of the coffin's V bottom, the coffin includes a reinforcement board which is placed on the coffin's Γ bottom underneath the protective enclosure 3'.

The figures and the specification associated therewith are only intended for illustrating the present invention. In terms of its details, the coffin may vary within the inventive concept presented in the claims. It is obvious for a person skilled in the art thai dimensional changes and dispositions and shapes of score lines can be used for varying the shape of a coffin for improved appearance. It is further obvious that rigidity of the coffin can be aitered by changing structure of the cardboard, and that the cardboard can be formed with decora- tive patterns by printing, punching or the like methods.