Field of invention

The present invention relates to a connection device for a burial urn. The invention also relates to a burial urn having a connection device.

Prior art

Cremation is a low cost and increasingly accepted alternative to the practices of embalming and interring human or animal remains in expensive caskets and cemetery plots. It is an ancient practice which dates back in the archaeological record at least 26,000 years. Traces of cremation have been found in Europe dating to the Early Bronze Age (ca. 2000BC). Today the use of cremation is increased and is among the most used burial methods.

The death of a family member or pet is an emotionally challenging event. One major deficiency with the current cremation practice is the lack of a suitable means for honouring and preserving the cremated remains of a person or pet. The common procedure today is to place the cremated remains in an urn.

Urns take on many shapes and sizes, and are fabricated of numerous types of materials including wood, alloys, and plastics. Considering their purpose, conventional urns are essentially static and subdued in nature. However, there are situations in which it would be desirable to enhance an urn system such that urns and the remains they contain may be suitable to enter the cycle of nature in a more natural manner. In particular such urns may be desirable for people having a more ecological approach to life.

Today, there already exist urns that are decomposable in nature and examples of such urns are e.g. disclosed in German utility model DE 20 2006 006318 Ul and Swedish patent no. 450204. Moreover, urns configured to facilitate growth of a plant are also known. The German patent application DE 10 2008 004 490 Al discloses an urn having an urn chamber for accommodating a cremation ash of deceased persons or animals, and an upward open plant receptacle arranged adjacent to the urn chamber.

However, some people would desire a burial device for their deceased relatives and pets that are even more in accordance with the conception of the cycle of life,

Thus, there exists a need for a more dynamic urn. Advantageously, the urn should be adapted to be decomposable and suited for easy entering the cycle of life. The object of the present invention is to provide an urn which met the demands for ecologic responsible behaviour and at the same time provide a dignifying and honouring farewell to the deceased relative.

The invention provides an urn that is biological decomposable, while it at the same time is capable of providing a long lasting memory of the deceased.

The known burial urns, which are also called cremation urns, funerary urns or cinerary urns are often placed en a grave that is much deeper than the height of the urn. Therefore, the ash in the urn can not be used to facilitate growth of a plant or a sprout at ground level above the urn, when the once the urn is covered with soil. Accordingly, there is need for equipment enabling ash being used to facilitate growth a plant or a sprout at ground level, even when the urn is buried in a deep grave. The prior art urns are normally lowered into the grave by use of pliers or other special lowering devices. This procedure is associated with undue burden and risk for dropping the urn unintentionally into the grave.

Moreover, when a plant is intended to grow on the top of the cremation urn the vertical position of the burial urn relative to the ground level is of great importance in order to facilitate growth of the plant. Accordingly, the graves for the prior art cremation urns have to have a certain depth in order to allow for the growth of the plant. Thus, the gravedigger has to make sure that the depth of the grave corresponds to the vertical level of which the burial urn is required to be positioned in order to allow the growth of the plant. Thus, there is a need for a burial urn which reduces or even eliminates the above mentioned disadvantages of the prior art. Accordingly, there is need for a burial urn that allows growth of a plant that has access to the ash in the burial urn, where the burial urn can be lowered into a grave in an easy and simple way.

There is also need for a burial urn that does not require a specific grave depth.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a device that enables that the ash in a burial urn can be used to facilitate growth a plant or a sprout at ground level, even when the burial urn is buried in a deep grave.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a burial urn that can be lowered into a grave in an easy and simple way.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a burial urn that does not require a specific grave depth. Summary of the invention

The object of the present invention can be achieved by a connection device in claim 1. Preferred embodiments are defined in the dependent sub claims and explained in the following description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

The connection device according to the invention is a connection device having a top member configured to receive a plant or a sprout. The connection device is configured to be attached to a burial urn that is configured to receive ash or an animal body and the connection device is configured to transport liquid (water) and nutrients upwards towards a plant or sprout positioned in the top member of the connection member.

The top member of the connection device is provided with a hole allowing water to flow downwards through the connection device towards the bottom member of the connection device. In this way the bottom device will decompose/disintegrate. Furthermore, water will gain access to the ash in the burial urn so that the nutrients in the ash may be dissolved into the water and hereafter be transported upwards to the plant or sprout in the top member. The water that is sucked up and transported upwards through the connection device may come from the burial urn (this may be irrigation water supplied to the plant or sprout in the top device) or from the soil that surrounds the connection device. Human and animal bodies as well as ash from human and animal bodies contain essential plant nutrients and thus the invention makes it possible to supply a plant or a sprout with essential plant nutrients and water and hereby providing good growth conditions for the plant or sprout.

Hereby liquid (water) and nutrients can be transported towards the top member through the connection device. The connection device hereby enables that the ash or an animal body in a burial urn can be used to facilitate growth a plant or a sprout at ground level, even when the burial urn is buried in a deep grave. The liquid (water) and nutrients can, through capillary effect (or capillary action) be drawn up through the wall material of the connection device. Due to inter-molecular attractive forces between the liquid and solid surrounding surfaces in the connection device material liquid can be lifted.

The member may have any suitable form as long as it is configured to receive a plant or a sprout. It is preferred that the top member has an opening in its upper end so that the plant, sprout or seed may grow and extend vertically.

It is preferred that the connection device is configured to guide the roots from a plant or a sprout from the top member towards the ash or the animal body in the burial urn.

Hereby, it is achieved that the connection device provides access to the ash for the roots of the plant or sprout. Accordingly, the ash or the animal body is used as nutrients for the plant and the "old" life is carried on by a "new" living plant.

It may be an advantage that the connection device comprises a number of basically cylindrical telescopic members that constitute a pipe member that is configured to guide the roots from a plant or a sprout towards the ash or the animal body in the burial urn. Hereby the connection device may guide the roots towards the ash or the animal body in an easy, reliable and simple way.

It is preferred that the connection device comprises a porous material capable of transporting liquid (water) and nutrients. The porous material is preferable a biodegradable material.

It may be beneficial that the outer side of the telescopic members are less capable of transporting liquid (water) and nutrients than the inner side of the telescopic members.

Hereby it is achieved that the ash or the animal body is maintained within the connection device while being transported upwards towards the plant or sprout.

The outer side of the telescopic members may be covered by a foil material capable of preventing water seepage from outside. Hereby it is achieved that the nutrients may be isolated from the surroundings (at least to a certain degree).

It is preferred that the connection device is a telescopic connection device that comprises a plurality of telescopic members that are configured to be axially displaced relative to each other. Hereby the connection does not take up much space when being folded together (in a non-extended state). When extended (unfolded) it may constitute a rather long connection member.

It is preferred that one or more of the telescopic members comprise locking means configured to prevent further axially displacement between at least two adjacent cylindrical telescopic when the cylindrical telescopic members have been axially displaced more than a predefined distance relative to each other.

Hereby the length of the connection device may adjusted/set and controlled.

It may be an advantage that at least two adjacent telescopic members are slidably mounted relative to each other in a manner in which the adjacent telescopic members can be axial displaced into three or more positions and be maintained into these positions.

Hereby the length of the connection member may be adjusted.

It is preferred that at least two adjacent telescopic are configured to be axial displaced relative to each other in a stepless manner and to be maintained into these positions.

Hereby a stepless (and very accurate) length adjustment of the connection device may be provided. It is preferred that two of the three uppermost telescopic are configured to be axially displaced relative to each other in a stepless manner and to be maintained into these positions.

Hereby the length of the connection device may be adjusted from ground level when the connection device is attached to a burial urn being positioned in a grave.

It may be an advantage that the connection device is self-supported and configured to be covered with soil without being damaged. Hereby the connection device may be covered with soil and still maintain its shape and ability to guide roots towards the ash or the animal body in the burial urn. It is preferred that the connection device is configured to be used as a lowering device for lowering a burial urn into a grave. Hereby the burial urn can be lowered into a grave in an easy and simple way. The need for pliers or other special lowering devices are eliminated, thus time and money can be saved.

It may be an advantage that the burial urn comprises a connection device or that the burial urn comprises means for being attached to a connection device.

Preferably the connection device has a top member that is adapted for receiving a growth media including a plant, a sprout or a plant seed. The growth media may be soil, humus, sphagnum or other media that may facilitate the growth of plants, and the top member may serve as a sort of flowerpot.

Although the plant seed, the sprout or the plant may be any desired plant it is, however, for some embodiments preferred that the plant (or sprout or seed) is selected from cherry tree, juniper, robinia hispada, rose bush, rose tree, and almond tree. Such plants or trees appear to some people to be more beautiful and more related to the seasons and cycle of life. The connection device according to the invention may be delivered with the top member filled with growth media and at least one plant seed, a plant or a sprout. The top member can be covered with a liner or a lid which can be removed subsequently. The connection device may also be delivered with an empty top member cavity in order to provide the relatives with the possibility to fill the top member cavity with growth media and plant seeds, plants or sprouts according to their own desire. To improve the biological and ecological properties of the connection device according to the invention it is preferred that the connection device made from decomposable material. Decomposable materials are well known and may be based on wood or other plant material, biodegradable polymers, clays etc.

In a preferred embodiment the connection device comprises a lid having a handle. The handle will facilitate the transportation of the connection device and the urn (if the connection device is attached to the urn) and reduce the risk that the connection device urn is accidental dropped. Moreover, the handle may facilitate the lowering of the urn into a grave. The handle is preferably detachable, so it can be removed when not used. This improves the aesthetic appearance of the urn. Normally an urn is placed in a grave by use of pliers. However, to facilitate the lowering of the burial urn into a grave it is preferred that the connection device constitutes a lowering device configured to lower the urn into the grave. Although the connection device that is configured to function as a lowering device can be selected among several lowering devices, such as lowering devices based the scissor principle or cables, the lowering device is preferably a telescopic towering device. A simple embodiment telescopic lowering device comprises series of e.g. cylindrical bodies with decreasing diameters and placed slidable within each other.

Moreover, it is also desirable that the connection device configured to lower the urn into a grave can be expanded in a longitudinal direction and is capable of remaining in expanded position when expanded. This is particular advantageously when the top member comprising a cavity is included in the connection device in such a way the top member comprising the cavity remains in the upper part of the connection device. This means that when the urn is placed in a grave the cavity will be close to the level of the ground and a plant, a sprout or a seed placed in the cavity will sprout/grow easier. Consequently, a preferred embodiment is an embodiment where the top member comprising the cavity is included in the connection device.

According to the invention the urn may delivered including a receptacle and a connection device. However, it is also possible to deliver the connection device as a separate part, in case it is desired to use a special receptacle and at the same time utilise the advantageousness of the connection device according to the invention.

Moreover, the connection device may comprise a detachable handle. The handle can be attached to the connection device when required and detached when it is no longer required.

The connection device may constitute a lowering device, suitable for lowering an urn into a grave, which urn is closed with the connection device. Preferably the connection device is a telescopic device, made from decomposable material. Such a telescopic device is very suitable for guiding roots from a plant, e.g. roots from a tree down into the soil/earth and down to an urn with remains that is located at the lower end of the telescopic connection device at the bottom of a grave. The receptacle may be any suitable type of receptacle, however it is preferred that receptacle and the connection device is made in a material that allows for transportation water and nutrition upwards towards a plant positioned in the top of the connection device. Hereby the burial urn is capable of providing optimum growing conditions of a plant positioned on the top of the connection device.

It is preferred that the connection device is configured to guide roots to have access to the ash or the animal body in the burial urn by isolating the roots from the surroundings.

It is preferred that that the telescopic members are cylindrical or comprise a cylindrical portion. Such telescopic members are easy to stack.

It may be beneficial that one or more of the telescopic members comprise locking means configured to prevent further axially displacement between at least two adjacent cylindrical telescopic members when the cylindrical telescopic members have been axially displaced more than a predefined distance relative to each other.

Hereby a maximum axial displacement of adjacent cylindrical telescopic members can be achieved. It is preferred that the locking means are mechanical means such as corresponding tongue and grooves, recesses and pin members or other suitable mechanical means for providing a mechanical attachment of the adjacent members. It may be beneficial that at least two adjacent telescopic are slidably mounted relative to each other in a manner in which the adjacent telescopic members can be axial displaced into three or more positions and be maintained into these positions. Hereby, the height of the connection device may be adjusted, e.g. in order to fit the connection device and the cremation device to different grave depths.

By using a stepless axial displacement of adjacent telescopic members a stepless height adjustment of the connection device and the cremation device can be achieved. It may be an advantage that the burial urn comprises a sealing section configured to seal the receptacle relative to the surroundings. Hereby, the receptacle may be hermetically sealed relative to the surroundings. The sealing section may comprise more sealing members including O- rings of resilient material.

It may be an advantage that the sealing section comprises at least one recess provided in the receptacle and/or in the connection device and that the sealing section comprises at least one attachment member provided in the receptacle and/or in the connection device, where the least one attachment member is configured to engage into the at least one recess and hereby seal the receptacle relative to the surroundings. Hereby it is achieved that a reliable sealing between the receptacle and/or in the connection device relative to the surroundings may be achieved by simple means.

The attachment members may be any suitable attachment member configured to provide a sealing mechanical attachment.

Description of the Drawings

The invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below. The accompanying drawings are given by way of illustration only, and thus, they are not limitative of the present invention. In the accompanying drawings: Fig. 1 shows three schematic side views of a burial urn according to the invention;

Fig. 2 shows different schematic views of a burial urn with an extended connection device according to the invention; Fig. 3 shows a close-up view of the connection device of the shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 shows how the length of the burial can be changed;

Fig. 5 shows two views of a burial urn according to the invention being positioned in a grave;

Fig. 6 shows two other views of a burial urn according to the invention being positioned in a grave and

Fig. 7 shows schematic side views of another burial urn and its connection device according to the invention.

Detailed description of the invention

Referring now in detail to the drawings for the purpose of illustrating preferred embodiments of the present invention, a cremation urn 2 of the present invention is illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 1 a) is a schematic side view of a burial urn 2 according to the invention. The burial urn 2 comprises a receptacle 4 that it is provided with an attachment structure 36 at its upper part. The burial urn 2 is provided with a lid 8. The burial urn 2 is preferably configured to receive and contain an animal body or cremation ash of a human or an animal body and to be hermetically closed. Fig. 1 c) illustrates a cross-sectional view of the burial urn 2 shown in Fig. 1 a). The receptacle 4 of the burial urn 2 contains cremation ash 6 that has been filled into the receptacle 4. The burial urn 2 comprises a lid 8 and a connection device 12 that is configured to be telescopically adjusted.

Fig. 1 b) illustrates a close-up view of a connection device 12 according to the invention being attached to the burial urn 2 shown in Fig. 1 c). It can be seen that the lid 8 is attached to the top part 37 of the lower member 10 of the connection device 12. The top part 37 of the lower member 10 of the connection device 12 is provided with a recess 48. The lid 8 is equipped with a vertically extending side member 8'. The lid 8 may comprise an attachment member (not shown) configured to engage into the recess 48 of the top part 37 of the lower member 10 of the connection device 12.

The lower member 10 of the connection device 12 comprises a first attachment structure 36' provided with the recess 48 that may receive an attachment member (not shown) of the side member 8' of the lid 8. In this way the lid 8 can be secured to the attachment structure 36' of the lower member 10 of the connection device 12. It is important that the lid 8 can be removed from the burial urn 2 easily.

The distal portion of the lower member 10 of the connection device 12 comprises an attachment structure 36 provided with an attachment member 38 configured to be received by a recess 42 of the top member 40 of the receptacle 4.

Fig. 2 a) illustrates a schematic side view of a burial urn 2 according to the invention. Fig. 2 b) illustrates a cross-sectional view of the burial urn 2 shown in Fig. 2 a). The burial urn 2 comprises a receptacle 4 provided with a first attachment structure 36 and a second attachment structure 36' at the upper portion of the receptacle 4. The burial urn 2 comprises a connection device 12 that comprises a lower member 10 having a cylindrical side wall 10' and a plate-shaped bottom member 10", and a number of telescopic members 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26.

The telescopic member 14 has a cylindrical side member 14' with an open bottom member 14", the telescopic member 16 has a cylindrical side member 16' and an open bottom member 16", the telescopic member 18 has a cylindrical side member 18' and an open bottom member 18", the telescopic member 20 has a cylindrical side member 20' and an open bottom member 20", the telescopic member 22 has a cylindrical side member 22' and an open bottom member 22", the telescopic member 24 has a cylindrical side member 24' and an open bottom member 24" and the telescopic member 26 has a cylindrical side member 26' and an open bottom member 26". The open bottom members 14", 16", 18", 20", 22", 24", 26" provides free access for the roots of a plant (placed in the top member 32) towards the receptacle 4.

The telescopic members 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26 are configured to be axially displaced relative to their adjacent member(s). The connection device 12 is configured to be telescopically length adjusted. When folded the connection device 12 is rather small (as seen in Fig. 1), however, when extended/expanded/unfolded the connection device 12 can be rather long (as illustrated in Fig. 2). The connection device 12 is intended to be used to position the burial urn 2 into a grave 58 (see Fig. 5-6).

The connection member 12 comprises a top member 32 having a top portion 33 provided with a hole (not shown) for a plant or a sprout. The top member 32 moreover comprises a wide portion 30 arranged on the top of a narrow portion 28. The wide portion 30 has a cylindrical side wall 30' and a basically plate-shaped bottom member 30" provided with an aperture (not shown) providing access to the narrow member 28 that comprises a cylindrical side wall 28' and a plate-shaped bottom member 28" with an opening.

The top member 32 is configured to receive a growth media such as soil with a seed, a sprout or a plant. The top member 32 is slidably mounted to the uppermost telescopic member 26 of the connection device 12 and thus configured to be axially displaced relative to the uppermost telescopic member 26 of the connection device 12.

The telescopic members 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26 may be circular cylindrical by way of example, however, other geometries (e.g. square, rectangular) are possible. The burial urn 2 comprises a sealing section 44 that is further illustrated in the close-up view shown in Fig. 2 c). The sealing section 44 is provided to seal the receptacle 4 relative to the surroundings. The sealing section 44 is attached to the side wall 10' of the lower member 10 and comprises a top part 37, an attachment structure 36' with a recess 48 (configured to receive an attachment member of the lid 8 as illustrated in Fig. 1 b)) and a further attachment structure 36 with an attachment member 38 configured to engage into a recess 42 of the top member 40 of the receptacle 4. The top structures 34, the attachment structure 36 and the top member 40 are part of the same member.

The telescopic member comprises an open bottom member 14" and a cylindrical side wall 14' having an attachment member 14"' that is engaged into the recess 46 provided in the side wall 10'. The top structure 34 of the receptacle is curved.

Fig. 3 illustrates a close-up view of a two telescopic members 16, 18 of the connection device 12 shown in Fig. 2. The telescopic member 16 comprises a cylindrical side member 16' that is configured to extend vertically when the burial urn 2 is positioned in a grave (see Fig. 5-6). The telescopic member 16 moreover comprises a recess 16"' that may extend along the circumference of the side member 16'. The telescopic member 16 may alternatively comprise two opposite recesses 16"' provided at two different sides (displaced 180 degrees from each other along the circumference of the side member 16') of the side member 16'.

The telescopic member 16 is slidably mounted to an adjacent telescopic member 18 having an open bottom member 18" and engagement members 18'" engaged into the recess 16"'. The engagement members 18"' are configured to restrict the telescopic members 16, 18 from being displaced further each other in the axial direction. The engagement members 18"' have a triangular cross section, however, the engagement members 18"' may have other geometrical shapes.

In Fig. 3 the connection device 12 has been extended and the two telescopic members 16, 18 are prevented from being further axially displaced relative to one another. Hereby the connection device 12 is capable of being stable and resistant to the pressure applied from the soil when the burial urn 2 is covered with soil. Fig. 4 illustrates cross-sectional views of a burial urn 2 according to the invention, where the two uppermost telescopic members 28, 26 of the I connection device 12 have been arranged differently according to each other. In Fig. 4 a) the connection device 12 has been extended to a maximum extend and thus the two uppermost telescopic members 28, 26 of the connection device 12 has been axially displaced to a maximum extend relative to one another. The two uppermost telescopic members 28, 26 of the connection device 12 comprises means for being axially displaced relative to each other and for being maintained in different positions ranging from the most compressed position (where the telescopic members 28, 26 are arranged close to each other as shown in Fig. 4 c) to the most extended position (shown in Fig. 4 a). In Fig. 4 a) the height H ₃ of the burial urn 2 is larger than the height H ₂ of the burial urn 2 shown in Fig. 4 b). The height Hi of the burial urn 2 shown in Fig. 4 c) is smaller than both H ₂ and H ₃ . The friction between the abutting members of the telescopic members 28, 26 is so large that the telescopic members 28, 26 may be maintained in a position (e.g. the position shown in Fig. 4 b). Hereby, it is possible to maintain the connection device 12 in different configurations in order to fit the height of the burial urn 2 to a specific grave depth.

It is possible to provide other of the telescopic members 14, 16, 18, 20, 22 with abutting members that allow for flexible axial displacement as provided between the telescopic members 28, 26.

Fig. 5 a) illustrates a burial urn 2 comprising a receptacle 4 and a lid 8. The burial urn 2 intended to be positioned in a grave 58. In Fig. 5 b) the lid 8 has been removed from the burial urn 2 and has been arranged on ground level 52. The burial urn 2 has a connection device 12 as illustrated in Fig. 2-4. The connection device 12 has been extended to a maximum extend. The receptacle 4 is arranged in the grave 58 and the top member 32 is arranged close to ground level 52. The connection device 12 may be used to lower the burial urn 2 down into the grave 58. This may be done by gripping the top member 32 and lowering the burial urn 2 into the grave 58.

Fig. 6 a) illustrates the burial urn 2 shown in Fig. 5. The receptacle 4 of the burial urn 2 stands on the bottom of the grave 58 and the connection device 12 is extended to a maximum extend. A plant 54 is provided in the top portion 32.

In Fig. 6 b) soil 56 has been filled into the grave 58. The soil 56 is provided up to the ground level 52. The plant 54 (that may be a flower or a three by way of example) has roots that during some time will grow downwards towards the receptacle. The cremation ash in the receptacle contains nutrients that may be transported towards the plant by the connection device 12. The connection device 12 is preferably made in a porous material capable of providing such transport. A connection device 12 made in a porous material is also capable of transporting water to the roots of the plant 54 and hereby providing good growing conditions for the plant 54.

The connection device 12 is self-supporting and thus it is configured to resist the pressure applied by the soil 56.

Fig. 7 a) and Fig. 7 b) illustrate two cross-sectional views of a connection device 12 according to the invention. The lowering device 12 is in a non-extended state in Fig. 7 a) and in an extended state in Fig. 7 b). For the reason of simplicity the embodiment is only shown with three cylindrical telescopic members 60, 62, 64, other embodiments may off course comprise more lid parts if convenient. The connection device 12 comprises a sealing section 74 that is intended to seal the cremation to the surroundings.

In Fig. 7 a) the cylindrical telescopic members 60, 62, 64 are contained within each other in such a way that the cylindrical telescopic member 64 is arranged within (contained in) the cylindrical telescopic member 62, the cylindrical telescopic member 62 is contained the cylindrical telescopic member 60.

Each cylindrical telescopic member 60, 62, 64 comprise protruding edges 72 that are configured to prevent that one cylindrical telescopic member 62 can be pulled away from another cylindrical telescopic member 60. Moreover, the protruding edges 72 serve to increase the friction forces between the telescopic members 60, 62, 64 and the lower telescopic member 60 and the sealing section 74, thereby ensuring that the telescopic members 60, 62, 64 will not move in respect of each other unless a sufficient high exterior force is applied. The embodiment in Fig. 7 a) has a detachable handle 58 that can be used to apply exterior force to the telescopic connection device 12.

In Fig. 7 b) the telescopic connection device 12 is in a fully extended state and the handle 59 has been removed. As it can be seen the protruding edges 72 on the cylindrical telescopic members 60, 62, 64 are engaged and prevent that the cylindrical telescopic members 60, 62, 64 can be pulled away from each other and away from the sealing section 74. Moreover, the protruding edges 72 provide friction between the cylindrical telescopic members 60, 62, 64 and between the lower telescopic member 60 and the sealing section 74.

As shown in Fig. 7 b) the cylindrical telescopic member 64 comprises a cavity 76 enclosed by the cylindrical side wall 64' of the cylindrical telescopic member 64 and the bottom member 64" provided with an aperture. The cavity 76 can be filled with a growth media (e.g. soil with a plant seed, soil with a sprout or soil with a plant). Thus, the roots from the plant seed or plant may grow through the aperture in the bottom member 64" and continue further downwards inside the telescopic connection device 12 to a cremation urn below the connection device 12. The cremation urn may comprise the sealing section 74 illustrated in Fig. 4 a) and in Fig. 4 b).

The roots may grow through the bottom member 62" of the telescopic member 62 and the roots may be guided by its side wall 62'. Similarly, the roots may grow further through the bottom member 60" of the telescopic member 60 and the roots may be guided by its side wall 60". It is preferred that the bottom member 64" of the telescopic member 64 is made from porous and easy decomposable material that will facilitate the growth of plant roots down to the soil below. Fig. 7 c) illustrates a perspective view of a cremation urn 2 comprising a receptacle 4, a sealing section 74 and six telescopic members 60, 62, 64, 66, 68, 70 arranged in the same way as illustrated in Fig. 7 a) and Fig. 7 b). The burial urn 2 furthermore comprises a detachable/removable handle 59.

From the above, it is apparent that the present invention provides an improved means for dignifying and honouring the cremated remains of humans and pets in a way that is beautifully in line with the conception of the cycle of nature. One important benefit is that a variety of aesthetically pleasing styles can be provided without incurring significant costs. Still yet another benefit is that it provides an urn that can be lowered into a grave without the need for external means. Still yet another benefit is that it can be used to simulate a grave site monument in the form of a living and growing tree or plant as a marker for honouring the cremated remains of a deceased person or pet.

Although only a few embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it is not the intention to limit the invention to the disclosed embodiments. Although the telescopic lowering device has been described as having a circular (cylindrical) shaped cross section it can easily be envisaged that other shapes are possible, such as quadratic, oval etc. It will also be appreciated that other embodiments can be derived from the disclosure by changes which are obvious and/or well known to persons skilled in the relevant art, such as substitutions of materials and/or parts, elimination of parts, re-arrangements of parts and inversions of parts without departing from the spirit thereof. Consequently, it will easily be envisaged by a skilled person that several other embodiments and variations are possible within the scope of the claims.

List of reference numerals

2 - Burial urn

4 - Receptacle

6 - Cremation ash

8 - Lid

8' - Side member

10 - Lower member 10' - Side wall

10" - Bottom member

12 - Connection device

14, 16, 18, 20 - Telescopic member

14', 16', 18', 20' - Side wall

14", 16", 18", 20" - Bottom member

14"' - Attachment member

16"' - Recess

18"' - Engagement member

22, 24, 26 - Telescopic member 22', 24', 26' - Side wall

22", 24", 26" - Bottom member

28 - Narrow portion

28' - Side wall

28" - Bottom member 29 - Support member

30 - Wide portion

30' - Side wall

30" - Bottom member

32 - Top member

33 - Top portion

34 - Top structure

36, 36' - Attachment structure Top part

H2, H2 Height

Attachment member Top member

Recess

Sealing section, 48 Recess

Ground level

Plant

Soil

Grave

Handle

, 62, 64 Telescopic member ', 62', 64' Side wall

", 62", 64' Bottom member, 68, 70 Telescopic member

Protruding edge Sealing section Cavity