BACKGROUND ART The process of cremation ends with the remains usually loaded into a utility urn or ash box, or decorative urn, which is typically loaded into a niche in a wall or columbarium at a cemetery or crematorium for memorialisation. A particular form of container is seen in US 5625933. There are only two previously used types of niche wall. The closed front that used a utility urn (plastic usually) that is not put on show, but instead is concealed behind a bronze plaque, a plate of synthetic material or a natural material such as a granite or other quarried material used as a solid front. A plaque frame is described in AU-A-79925/98. The other type is an open front whereby a decorative urn is placed inside a usually larger niche, typically with a glass front fitted so that the decorative urn is on display. A columbarium formed with multiple niches is described in PCT/AU99/00108 to the present applicant. The latter described

systems are commonly implemented indoors by a variety of assemblages of prefabricated parts. The end result is a wall or grid work of plaques, or shelves of urns. The scope of memorial possibilities is limite.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a memorial that has, instead of the closed front with plaque or the open front with displayed urn, an illuminated image, with or without other memorial devices, with all the variation which imagery enabtes.

NATURE OF THE INVENTION The invention achieves its object in the provision of a purpose made illuminated memorial whereby aesthetics are combined with function to supply a niche for a memorial and storage of cremated remains. The means by which the image is installed and removed can be quick and efficient. An image on glass or perspex acts as a false back or divider and it enables the utility urn to be stored behind and obscured from view, unlike the prior art which displays the urn.

A utility urn (economical plastic) is concealed behind the illuminated image. The invention need not have the appearance of being a memorial at all and it effectively enlivens the atmosphere of an otherwise sobering mausoleum to the feeling of an art gallery. The only hint of it being a memorial might be a small unobtrusive plaque

mounted beneath the image. A visually arresting palette of colour, and variety of images, emphasising the individual's personality and spirit can be subtly highlighted with illumination so that the viewer feels a refreshed and healing experience from the image which has more meaningful appeal than for instance an ornamental urn or other object.

The process of making the image ideally involves computer scanning and/or manipulation of images, using either or both of photographs and paintings, which might be printed onto a sheet material such as vinyl film laminate. The film carrying an image can be applied to a rigid translucent or transparent substrate. The substrate might be either grit blasted or otherwise treated to scatter light when it is positioned inside a niche. Easy access to the rear of the image is readily obtained by provision of a mounting system which allows lifting the image, typically with suction cups, or the like, into a rebate to obtain clearance for removal. Behind the image, and still within the confines of the niche, a utility urn of adequate capacity to hold the whole volume of cremated remains may be concealed.

Illumination can be provided by either of two means. One method, the preferred option, is to have the light source positioned at the appropriate height and at an appropriate distance for illumination from behind the image. The other is to have an aluminium, plastic or similar lighting bar along the bottom of the glass or perspex to

generate light through the material from its edge. An edge lit system is not so readily made to effect illumination of the image as is a back lit system, particularly one where a sand or grit blasted effect is used to give a sparkle to an image.

The lighting is preferably supplied by fibre-optics. It is preferred over other forms for reasons of economy and maintenance and because it does not generate heat. Individual radiant energy sources in each niche adds a management overhead to a memorial.

They fail and need replacement. This can be a considerable task in any substantial installation.

The images portrayed might be a photo of the deceased, a photo of their favoured place such as fishing spot, golf course, weekender, retreat of whatever might have been the love of their life, including montages expressing something relevant to the deceased.

A photograph of the deceased can also be superimposed on a background scene as will be apparent to those skilled graphic arts. In situations where an appropriate photo is not available, a range of purpose designed paintings or prints might be utilise.

Sometimes a larger niche is required than is commonly used in the West, the purpose of this is simply to accommodate a larger utility urn as required by certain ethnic people whose beliefs do not allow the mechanical reduction and pulverisation of the cremated remains. A lot of ethnic communities have a practice of lighting a

vigil candle at memorials when visiting. This practice has not previously been possible with a sealed niche. The invention might be used in conjunction with a look-a-like candle which can be made typically of pottery, porcelain or glass. This vigil light need not be restricted to the shape of a candle and can come in many other shapes or forms. Fibre-optics may be cabled through the centre of the candle look-a-like. The effects of a flickering candle can be reproduced by means of a rotating, coloured or perforated wheel in the fibre-optics power transfer box as is known to those in the art.

An advantage of an artificial, fibre optic based vigil candle is that it does not require oxygen of which there isn't any in a concealed glass niche. A second advantage is that it requires almost non-existent maintenance, globe replacement. Thirdly, even if the front niche was left open, carbon residue from a conventional vigil candle would be a cleaning maintenance problem. A votive lamp is described in EP 0582556A1.

Using computer technology, the photograph of the deceased can be scanned into a computer. With image manipulating software, restoration of dust spots, tears or scratches can be achieved on a photo supplied, even eliminating undesirable objects.

The image of the deceased can be separated completely from a group of people and overlayed onto a background scene of choice, and, by using particular software tools, the result can be with special edge definition to the finalised worked image.

The technique of overlaying images on a desired background scene has particular relevance to a memorial. For instance, special features such as a block or scroll with a verse or prayer can be featured in one corner of the worked image memorial.

To appeal to various ethnic or cultural differences, these blocks of text can be very striking, particularly in Japanese and Chinese lettering in contrasting colours.

The photo-realistic image is preferably transferred onto a clear or transparent film laminate by the heat of a resin thermal transfer printer working with a resin transfer process. These enable vivid full colour, spot colour, silver and gold or graduated multi- coloured printing. Resin thermal transfer printing technology is known to those skilled the signage art. Its advantages are most importantly that its images can be colourfast, waterproof and scratch resistant. Other digital printing processes typically require a special vinyl to print on with the film laminated to make it waterproof.

Another advantage with resin thermal transfer printing technology is that it is warranted for outdoor use and utilises UV resistant resin, which transferred by heat in colour layers from a ribbon cartridge.

The colour is instantly dry on contact with the film. The image being UV stabilised is a definite advantage as any sunlight or artificial light in a mausoleum will not fade and degrade the image. The film laminate, typically vinyl is pre-pasted to enabte a bond to the surface of a substrate such as glass.

While transparent vinyl film laminate is used for the image printing process, a range of decorative solid colour and textured vinyl film laminates might be used for the image border mattes that surround the image in the finalised illuminated memorial.

The solid colour vinyl can replicate appearance of granites and quarried stone, along with other appropriate visual textures, are easily achieved with the cast films. The solid colour vinyl films may have a square centre, where an image is to be positioned, pre-scored prior to application to the preferred glass surface. The solid colour vinyl might cover the whole glass surface initially. At a later date when an inurnment takes place, the scored centre area is lifted and cleaned revealing an area to apply the image impregnated transparent film for illumination. As the fibre-optic lighting is running continuously, the application of solid colour vinyl film serves to conceal from view the light source and the interior of the niche that houses the urn until inurnment.

Although not imperative, the glass can be grit blasted.

This creates a sparkling effect in the viewed illuminated image. The deeper the grit blasting, the better the effect. It also serves to disperse light over the whole image more effectively by creating miniature facets that disperse the light more evenly across the image to improve performance and eliminate heat spotting on the image, a term referring to an area of an illuminated image that may appear washed out by too much light.

Another measure by which to eliminate hot spotting and grainy images is a photo refractive polymer film (known as Micro Sharp) which evenly distributes light over the glass surface to effectively transmit the uniform passage of luminous light to improve performance of an illuminated image. The photo refractive polymer film is applied to the back face of the glass that the image film is affixed to.

The advantages of fibre-optic lighting over other light sources in the application of an illuminated memorial are numerous. It is the most economical way to generate light particularly when there are so many individual niches to illuminate. One halogen globe off in a light box where it is coupled to fibre optic cables, as is known to those skilled in that art, can illuminate 20 to 30 niches instead of individual globes drawing power to each niche with alternate lighting systems that would generate. more heat within each niche and add to maintenance schedules. Another advantage is that when the halogen globe does eventually end its life it is immediately evident to cemetery staff, as 20 to 30 niches will not be illuminated. It is then a simple matter of replacing a single globe in a light transfer box which might be readily accessible at a base of the columbarium. In other systems the niche needs to be opened in order to change bulbs. An unlit single niche is not so obvious so that staff would need to spend more time in checking for blown bulbs. Problems with electrical faults are reduced when fibre optic systems are used.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will now be described with reference to various preferred embodiments, seen in the accompanying drawings in which : FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a typical illuminated image niche in accordance with the invention, which can be used in the construction of a typical columbarium wall in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; FIG. 2 is an elevation of an illuminated image columbarium niche wall using a multiple of image niches in accordance with FIG. 1 ; FIG. 3A is an elevation, FIG. 3B is a plan view, and FIG.

3C is a sectional view of an image niche in accordance with the embodiment of FIG. 1 ; FIG. 4 is a more detailed view of an image niche in accordance with an embodiment of the invention ; FIG. 5a is a front elevation and FIG. 5b is a section view of the edge lit image and the vigil candle in accordance with an embodiment of the invention ; and FIG. 6 is a detail showing how the fibre-optic cable looms are run to the edge lit image and the vigil light candle via a concealed rebate in the floor of the niche, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In FIG. 1 is seen an exploded view of module 7 which is a niche that is typically joined together with more of the same as 7 to create a columbarium niche wall. The cremated remains container or utility urn 8 is stored in the rear of the niche. A fibre-optic globe reflector 9 may be seen positioned on a bracket support 10. The image which may be on transparent vinyl film laminate which is ideally affixed to grit blasted glass or perspex substrate 11. A name plaque 12 can be positioned upon substrate 11. A vigil light 12 might be placed in front of the image on substrate 11 and behind the protective glass front 13. A gasket seal 14 can be fixed to the frontal edges of the niche 7 to prevent the ingress of insects and dust. A decorative edging 15 which typically is a resin based plate material imitating stone or similar synthetic vinyl material can be used to bridge the space in the niche between the protective glass front 13 and the image 11. A rebate 16 might be provided at both the top and the bottom of the niche. The upper rebate is preferably twice the depth of the bottom to allow the image to slide up fully to clear the base of the niche for easy removal.

In FIG. 2 is seen a front elevation of an illuminated image columbarium niche wall produced in accordance with the invention.

The wall 17 can be constructed or erected using a plurality of prefabricated niches such as 18,19 stacked or laid together. The

various techniques by which this may be done are known to those skilled in the art. The exact number of niches is not confined to the wall size 17 depicted. It can be constructed with any amount of niches to fill a given area. A closer element 20, a facing sheet of decorative material can be used to seal off adjoining walls and ceilings.

In FIG. 3a is seen a front elevation of an image niche.

The image area 21 and surrounding mat 22 can be printed onto vinyl film laminate which in turn is preferably adhered, or otherwise affixed to a glass or perspex backing. A name plaque 23 might be used and it to might be adhered, typically to the mat area 22.

In FIG. 3b is seen a plan view of the above niche, top removed to reveal utility urn 24 positioned in the rear compartment of the niche 25. A service duct 26, for fibre-optic cables, can be located in the opposite rear corner and it interconnects with adjoining niches in a stacked columbarium wall. Each fibre-optic loom 27 branches off into each individual niche and is run to one or more refiectors 28 (at least two is preferred so as to achieve a more even illumination). A reflector support bracket 29 can be strategically positioned for the reflector 28 to cast an adequate fan of light upon the rear of the removable glass or perspex substrate forming divider 30.

In FIG. 3c is seen a sectional view of FIG. 3a.

In FIG. 4 is seen a more detailed sectional elevation of an image niche as in FIGS. 3A to 3C. The image carrying removable glass or perspex substrate forming divider 31 is preferably positioned between the a decorative surround 32 formed from suitable plate like material and an aluminium or plastic angle 33. When removing the divider 31, a suction cup can be applied to the face of the divider 31 and then lifted into the rebated slot 34 to provide clearance for the bottom of the divider to slide out. This action then enables free access for the inurnment of the utility urn 34. The protective glass front 35 is screwed onto the front of the niche frame as shown. It might be a glass plate in an aluminium frame as is known to those skilled in the glazing art. The protective front serves to isolate the image from environmental changes. It might be designed to filter UV light which might affect the image behind it when the niche is an outdoor situation. The light piped to illuminate the image might be UV free to further enhance the life of the image.

In FIGS. 5A and 5B is seen a larger niche than that seen in FIG. 3A. The purpose for this is to accommodate a larger utility urn 36. A vigil light 37 can be positioned in front of the divider but still behind the sealed glass front 38. A larger depth of decorative material 39, is required in these larger niches that utilise vigil lighting.

This decorative material can be fixed to all four internal faces of the niche. An edge tit image 40 is supplied with light via an aluminium or

plastic channel 41 which is hollow and capable of containing numerous fibre-optic cables sufficient to spread light into the glass and illuminate the image. This is seen in greater detail in FIG. 6. A rebate 42 conceals the fibre-optic looms that run from niche to niche.

The fibre-optic looms then branch off to either the vigil light 48 via loom 43 or the edge lit image 49 via loom 44. The channel 45 is in the shape of a H-section. Numerous fibres are evenly spaced along the length of the section pointing upwards at each glass edge. A wedge shaped PVC seal 46 can be pushed between the channel and the glass to firm the glass. A name plaque 47 can be affixed to the image on the glass. It will be clear to those skilled in the art that the niche might be configured so as to a range of items in the front compartment, to be backed by the illuminated image.