Relatives of the deceased who choose cremation for their loved have several choices concerning disposal of the cremated remains, i. e., cremains. They can purchase an urn a variety of sizes, colors, and materials and store the cremains at home or in a niche wall at a cemetery or mausoleum, they can abandon the ashes at the crematory, or they can scatter the ashes at sea or over mountains, lakes, countryside, gardens, etc.

A popular place to store cremains which has developed over the last forty years as an appendage to cemeteries has been cremain repositories or columbarium walls. These memorials consist of one or more walls with a series of"niche"spaces to house urns, are traditionally constructed of pre-cast re-bar, steel, caulking, andmetal To use thesetypes of memorials, one would undergo the following four steps : (1) a nichespace and lifetime maintenance contract, (2) purchase an urn place it in the niche,

(3) a plaque, (4) have the plaque inscribed. A problem these memorials is that they require high maintenance ; they tend to deteriorate within 10-50 ; the niche spaces are easily burglarized, they are not portable or re-locatable city to city.

Summary of the Invention The interlocking system of the present invention is comprised of essentially two differentof interlocking urns may be assembled into the architectural elements a memorial for the deceased. This provides consumers with a two-step process, i. e., (1) purchase an interlocking and (2) inscribe the urn, that accomplishes both cremains housing and public memorialization, as an improvement over the above-mentioned four-step prior art process. The interlocking urn system provides consumers with attractive, multi- functional urns that can be easily assembled to form part of an attractive memorial environment. The urns are multi-functional that they act as interlockable structural components of a wall, column, etc., of a memorial, serve as elegant receptors for cremains, and include information about the deceased on the facade.

One application of interlocking urns a unique memorial setting outside and separate from traditional cemeteries which is adapted exclusively for cremated remains and memorial plaques. The memorial is created, at least in part, by the interlocking system of the present invention, which is used to assemble architectural elements of the memorial. Because the architectural elements in the memorial can be designed, built, assembled, and maintained using the urn vessels without any interface with the ground, the real estate under the memorial need not be sterilized and set aside in perpetuity. This allows the memorial to beset up outside of traditional cemeteries, in high traffic high profile locations such as

church and temple courtyards, civic plazas, parks, university commons, library and museum grounds, golf baseball parks, and stadiums.

Brief Description of Drawings FIGS. 1 A and1 B perspective views of a partially assembled architectural structure usingthe interlocking urn of the present invention in a quadruple cross-section.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a partially assembled architectural shape using the interlocking urn of the present invention in a double wall cross-section and additionallyillustrates a top cap block for the architectural structure.

FIG. 3 a perspective view of an Alpha interlocking urn vessel constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a Beta interlocking urn constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is top plan view of the Alpha interlocking urn illustrated in FIG. 3 without a lid.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the Beta interlocking urn vessel illustrated in FIG. 4 without a lid.

FIG. 7 is a front elevation view of the Alpha interlocking urn illustrated in FIG.

3.

FIG. 8 is a front elevation view of the Beta interlocking urn illustrated in FIG.

4.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an Alpha interlocking urn vessel constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a Beta interlocking urn lid constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 11 a perspective view of a partially assembled architectural structure using the interlocking urn of the present invention for a memorial having a ninety-degree bend.

FIG. 12 a top plan view of an architectural structure in the shape of a cruciform, which was constructed using the interlocking urn vessels of the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments of the Invention With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 an interlocking urn system 18 constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the inventionwill be described. The interlocking urn system 18 generally includes a first or Alpha interlocking urn vessel20 a second or Beta interlocking urn 40 adapted to be interlockingly engaged with each other to assemble a wall, column, cruciform, or other architectural shape of a memorial.

Alpha Urn Vessel With reference to FIG. 3, the first or Alpha interlockingurn 20, which is constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, acts as a structural element of the interlocking urn system 18, an interlocking urn vessel to house cremated remains, and a plaque upon which memorial inscriptions can be made. Alpha interlocking urn 20, which is preferably made from polymers, thermoplastics, aluminum, other metal alloys that will not deteriorate, rust, chip, crack, or fade for an extended of time, comprises a longitudinally extending 21 having opposed vertical inner and outer faces 22, 23

respectively. A web 24 is centered on and projects away from inner face 22 and extends from top to bottom of interlocking urn vessel along one half the longitudinal extent of face 22. Tongue and groove type projections 25 and recesses 26 are provided on inner face 22 and on web 24 for mating with corresponding projections and recesses on other interlocking urn vessels in the manner hereinafter described. This enables a plurality of interlocking urn vessels 20 to be longitudinally, traversely and vertically interlocked together without the need for a bonding agent, with inner faces of alternate interlocking urn facing one another, as hereinafter described. It should, be understood that the displacement between the inner and outer faces 22, 23 of interlocking urn vessel 20 (and of the other interlocking urn vessels hereinafter described) is variable, as is the distance by which web 24 projects from inner face 22 of interlocking urn vessel 20. Outer face 23 of interlocking urn 20 is preferably provided with a decorative surface resistant to weather and natural elements, such as stone or an aesthetic equivalent, to act as a plaque on which memorial inscriptions can be made.

The inventor has found that the"jigsaw"puzzle pattern of interlocking projections and recesses 25, 26 illustrated in FIG. 3 is uniquely adapted to the construction of a system of interlocking urns as hereinafter described. The resulting structure, interlocked in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, tends to absorb seismic shock, making the structure earthquake resistant, and tends to be tamperproof, making the structure difficult to vandalize.

Web 24 is shown with a pair of vertical cavities 27 which extend vertically downward into interlocking urn vessel 20 without extending through the bottom interlocking urn

vessel Cavities 27 facilitate the insertion and retention of cremation ashes (cremains) into interlocking urn 20. Although two such cavities are illustrated in FIG. 3, the interlocking urn 20 may include one or more cavities 27. Cavities 27 are preferably located relatively close to inner and outer faces 22, 23 to provide interlocking urn 20 with relatively thin side walls, cavities 27 preferably extend vertically downward until relatively close to the bottom of interlocking urn vessel 20, providing interlocking urn vessel 20 with a relatively thin bottom wall, maximizing storage volume within interlocking urn vessel 20 and facilitating manufacturing thereof.

FIG. 7 provides a front elevation view of interlocking urn vessel 20 and protuberances 28. Protuberances 28 comprise a plurality of vertically extending 28 projecting vertically downward from the bottom of interlocking urn 20. Protuberances 28 preferably extend downward sufficiently to engage corresponding concavities 52 located in lid 50 (FIG. 9), so that when one interlocking urn vessel 20 is stacked directly on top of another interlocking urn vessel 20, concavities 52 in lid 50 of the bottom interlocking urn vessel 20 slidably receive the corresponding protuberances 28 extending downward from the bottom of the top interlocking urn 20 for ensuring that the interlocking urn 20 are vertically aligned. In alternate preferred embodiment of lid 50 and interlocking urn vessel 20, the protuberances 28 may be located in the lid 50 and the concavities may be on the bottom of the interlocking urn vessel 20.

FIG. 9 provides a perspective view of the top or lid 50 to interlocking urn vessel 20.

Lid 50 comprises a top side and a bottom side, with longitudinal and lateral extensions corresponding to the outside profile of interlocking urn vessel 20. Lid 50 is preferably

sealably affixed to the top of interlocking urn vessel 20 rendering interlocking urn 20 substantially waterproof. 50 preferably provides a sealable aperture 54 which facilitates the addition of cremation ashes (cremains) to interlocking urn 20.

Beta Interlocking Vessel With reference to FIGS. 4, 6, 8, and 10 the second or Beta interlocking urn 40 which is constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, will now be described. The Beta interlocking urn vessel 40 is interlocked with the first or Alpha interlocking urn 20 described above to form ninety-degree corner. The Beta interlocking urn 40 is similar to Alpha interlocking urn 20, except that Beta interlocking urn 40 is truncated at one end 42 by an amount equal to the displacement between inner and outer faces 22, 23 of Alpha interlocking urn 20. Furthermore, Beta interlocking urn 40 is provided with a second web 44 at truncated end 42. The second web 44 projects away from the inner face 46 of Beta interlocking urn vessel 40 and extends from top to bottom of Beta interlocking urn vessel 40. The second web 44 is further provided with tongue and groove projections and recesses similar to and for mating with those provided on Alpha interlocking urn vessel 20. Like Alpha interlocking urn 20, Beta interlocking urn 40 has a similar top or lid 60 that mates to the Beta interlocking urn 40 in the same way that Alpha lid 50 mates to the Alpha interlocking urn vessel 20. Further, the alternate preferred embodiments described above for the Alpha interlocking urn 20 and the Alpha lid 50 apply similarly the Beta interlocking urn vessel 40 and the Beta lid 60.

Interlocking Urn System

With reference to FIGS. 1-12, the interlocking urn system and method of assembly will be described. Alpha interlocking urn vessels 20 and Beta interlocking urn vessels 40 may be combined to construct walls, columns, cruciforms, or other architectural elements of a memorial in which the interlocking urn are longitudinally, transversely and vertically interlocked together, providing many design options for planners and landscape designers of such memorials. As used herein the term"longitudinally interlocked"refers to the capability to resist forces in either of the directions indicated in FIG. 3 by double-headed arrow 36.

Similarly, the terms"transversely interlocked"and"vertically respectively, to the capability to resist forces in the directions indicated in FIG. 3 by double-headed arrows 37 and 38, respectively.

FIGS. 1A 1B illustrate the interlocking urn vessels 20, 40 interlocked into a partially-assembled architectural structure. A first set of interlocking urn 66 are elevated approximately one-half the height of an interlocking urn 20, 40 to allow a second set of interlocking urn vessels 68 to longitudinally and transversely interlock therewith. The first set of interlocking urn 66 are elevated approximately one-half the height of an interlocking urn vessel 20, 40 using a spline 70. The spline 70 is approximately equivalent in height to one-half height of an interlocking urn vessel 20, 40.

FIG. 12 illustrates a plan view of a plurality of Alpha and Beta interlocking urn vessels 20, 40 interlocked to form the first layer of an architectural structure called a cruciform, which is one of numerous architectural structures that may be created using the interlocking urn 20, 40 of the present invention. not shown, a base 80 including a spline 70 is used to elevate the first set of urns 66 about half the height of the

interlocking urn vessels 40, allowing the first set of interlocking urn vessels and second set of interlocking urn vessels to interlock.

An architectural structure for a memorial such as a wall (Figs. 1A, 1B, 2) cruciform (Fig. 12) is created using unskilled or semi-skilled labor the following exemplary manner with the interlocking urn vessels 20, 40 of the present invention : 1. base 80 with an elevated spline approximately equal to 1/2 the height of an interlocking urn vessel 40 is placed on a foundation or existing floor.

2. An Alpha interlocking urn vessel 20 is placed at the of the elevated spline 70, perpendicular to, and aligned with, the longitudinal of the spline 70. This Alpha interlocking urn vessel constitutes the butt end of the firstlayer of the structure.

3. Beta interlocking vessels 40 are then perpendicularly interlocked to both sides of the butt end Alpha interlockingurn vessel This is accomplished by aligning the projections and recesses of the Beta interlocking urn 40 over the corresponding mating recesses and projections of the Alpha interlocking vessel 20, then sliding the Beta interlocking urn 40 down so that the recesses and projections of both interlocking urn vessels interlock as shown. The longitudinal of the Beta interlocking urn 40 are then in parallel alignment with the longitudinal axis of the spline 70, with the Beta interlocking urn vessels positioned on either side of the 70.

4. Alpha urn vessels 20 are then interlocked to the Beta interlocking urn vessels 40, with the inside faces 22 of the Alpha interlocking urn 20 facing the outside of the structure. To make a longer two additional Alpha interlocking urn 20 are then interlocked into either of the structure with their inside faces facing the inside

of the structure. The structure is then lengthened interlocking additional Alpha interlocking urn 20, with the inside face 22 of every Alpha interlocking urn vessel 20 facing the opposite direction of the Alpha interlocking urn 20 it is interlocked with.

The structure FIG. 12, however, makes ninety-degree turns when a Beta interlocking urn vessel 40 is substituted for an Alpha interlocking urn vessel 20, and the spline is turned accordingly. The structure terminates in a butt-end Beta interlocking urn 40 perpendicularly interlocked to an Alpha interlocking urn 20), as described above. This process is essentially repeated to form the desired architectural shape.

5. Because first set 66 or interior interlocking urn vessels (both interlocking urn 20 and 40 with inner faces 22 and 46, respectively, facing outward) are partially in the same vertical plane with the spline 70, interior interlocking urn sit on top of the spline 70, which is approximately one-half the height of a standard interlocking urn Therefore, the interior interlocking urn vessels 66, though interlocked with the second set, or outer interlocking urn 68 (interlocking urn vessels with their inner faces facing inward), extend vertically above the outer interlocking urn vessels by one-half the height of a standard interlocking urn vessel 20,40. one-half height vertical offset of the interior interlocking urn allows successive layers of outer interlocking urn 68 to be longitudinally and transversely interlocked with the layers and below, as shown in FIGS. 1A, IB and 2.

6. After successivelayers built-up as shown in 2, a cap block 90 is placed on top of the structure and secured. The cap block 90 vertically the otherwise longitudinallyand transversely interlocked interlocking urn vessels40.20, system is

easily expandable by simply removing the cap block and interlockingly adding more interlocking urn 20, 40. Similarly, interlocking urn vessels 20, 40 can easily be removed from the system and transferred to another interlocking urn when a family relocates another city. The interlocking urn of the present invention does not interface with and perpetually sterilize the ground like a cemetery, so the entire interlocking urn can be totally relocated at any time.

Thus, the reader will see that the interlocking urn vessels of the invention provide an attractive, long-lasting inexpensive and simple means memorialization and housing of cremains. Theinterlocking system is essentially comprised of two types of interlocking structural and hollow vessels with granite, marble, facades that can be assembled to create a variety of structural shapes such as columns, cruciforms, walls made entirely of the interlocking vessels that mechanically interlock with each other. By primarily utilizing just two elements, Alpha interlocking urn vessel 20 and Beta interlocking urn vessel the present interlocking urn system is simpler in and construction and thus less costly, less and more portable for the final consumer than traditional columbarium wall systems.

Each interlocking urn vessel has three functions, (1) acts as a structural component of walls, columns, etc., (2) it serves as an elegant receptor for cremated remains (cremains), and (3) it serves as a memorial plaque ready for inscription. Consequently, traditional four-step process to memorialize remains, i. e., (1) a niche space in a columbarium wall, (2) purchase an expensive urn to place in the niche, (3) affix a plaque and (4) inscribe the plaque, is reduced to just two steps, namely, (1) purchase an interlocking urn

vessel and (2) inscribe the interlocking urnvessel. is accomplished because the interlocking urn of the present invention are the structural elements in the walls, columns, so there is no need for niches. making the urns moreportable the resulting memorial gardens easily expandable.

The interlocking urn can be utilized for a memorial regardless of the buyer's choiceof disposal. For those electing earth burial, or even freezing, the facade of the interlocking vessel can be used for a memorial inscription the hollow may remain empty. For those electing the interlocking vessel functions both as a storage urn the cremated remains and a facade for a memorial inscription.

The interlocking urn of the present invention allows memorials to be created that are 100 times more land efficient thanburial plots. example, cemeteries bury 300 people per gross acre (700 per hectare) for perpetuity. tn a memorial utilizing the interlocking urn may accommodate 30,000 per acre (70,000 hectare) without the perpetuity problem. Some memorial sites may offer perpetuity, while others might offer only 30-50 yearcustodial after which the interlocking urn is returned to the family, goes to a perpetual cemetery, or the ashes are scattered. Additionally, the fungible nature of the interlocking urn vessels 20, 40 permits them to be manufactured using low cost, high-volume further lowering and facilitating"just-in-time" inventory control.

Memorials the interlocking urn system of the present invention can be designed and ordered using an Internet program by selecting, for example, an array of column, cruciform, andwall and colors. memorial may be delivered as a

complete turnkey unit including all interlocking urn vessels, cap blocks, base plates, security gates, fountains, furnishings, and lighting. Becausemass-production manufacturingtechniques may be used to produce the interlocking urn the possibility of"just in time"delivery exists.

The interlocking system of the present invention is not prone to security problems because the interlocking urn vessels mechanically interlock with their neighbors making it impossible to extract an interlocking urn from a column or wall without removing a heavy, secured cap block at the top of the system whereupon the urns then sleeve up and down.

Installation of walls and columns using the interlocking urn may be accomplished with low skill labor, the need for architects or engineers.

Consequently, memorials can be built are less expensive than traditional columbarium walls. the interlocking vessels require very little reduce the life-cycle operating cost of a memorial, and allow both indoor and outdoor installations, allow memorials be easily expanded.

Anotheradvantage of the present invention is that individual interlocking urn vessels can be removed from one memorial utilizing the interlocking urn and re-installed in another memorial using the system in another city. The nature of the interlocking urn vessels allows memorials to be expanded and enlarged at any time in the future.

Because the interlocking urn vessels can be made of durable and solid granitefacades, they can have a life expectancy of approximately 500 years. Because the interlockingvessels of the present invention interlock to form walls, columns, i. e.,

structural aspects of the memorial, there is no caulking, bonding agents, concrete, re-bar or steel to rust or deteriorate. As interlocking urn have a longer life expectancy than most churches and public buildings, the interlocking urn system may be disassembled after, for example, years, and re-assembled another location, preserving any perpetuity agreements with the families.

The mechanical interlocking the interlocking urn blocks along the tolerance spaces between the interlocking urn vessel allows the columns and wall structures to absorb seismic shock. Lower tolerance spaces allow the assembled interlocking urn to curve over long distances, permitting curved installations, such as the outfield wall a baseball stadium.

As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, in light of the foregoing disclosure, many alterations and modifications are possible in practice of this invention without departing from the invention's spirit or scope. Accordingly, the scope of the should be determined not by the embodiments illustrated, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents. Further, words such as"first"and"second"are used to facilitate the reader's understanding of the invention by referring elements in a particular order, and are not intended to limit the scope of the claimed invention.