HELD OF INVENTION The present Invention relates to caskets, and more particularly lightweight caskets.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

It Is common practice to refer to a funerary box as used for viewing, or keeping a corpse, either for burial or cremation. Caskets and cremation containers are constructed by a plurality of materials including various types of wood, metal and paper materials, or a combination of the foregoing.

The wood and metal-based caskets can be very expensive while paper based cremation containers can provide substantial cost savings. Even if costs are of no consideration, there Is Increasing

Interest In corrugated paper caskets for cremation as it assists crematoriums towards their CO* emission targets. Furthermore corrugated paper caskets are fully consumed during cremations. Corrugated paper based caskets could be ornately designed which Is less in costs than the wooden caskets.

With the resurgence of cremations, manufacturers have been providing options for those who choose cremation. For direct cremation a cardboard box is sometimes used. Some choose to use a wooden coffin or other materials like particle board or low density fibre-board. Others will rent a regular casket for the duration of the service. These caskets have a removable bed and liner which is replaced after each use. There are also rental caskets with an outer shell that looks like a traditional coffin and a cardboard box that fits inside the shell. At the end of the service the inner box is removed and the deceased is cremated inside this box. The said box Is an open lid box with a fid that fits over similar to that of a common shoe box. The deceased fits within the container and then the regular lid is fitted over the container to close off the container.

Due to the lightweight of the corrugated paperboard casket, considerable numbers could be transported at economical prices. It is furthermore advantageous to reduce the shipping size of the cremation caskets, as premiums are paid on size for distribution and storage.

This is achieved by supplying a casket unassembled. It requires less space for shipping and storing.

By building In quick assembly features for the funerary or cremation establishment, It would make the casket consumer friendly.

Another problem that Is associated with cardboard caskets relates to leakage of the contents. Body fluids can secrete from the body whilst the body is In the casket and liquids can leak or soak through the container with undesirable results.

There Is thus a further need to add a cost effective preventative leakage feature to the quick assembly lightweight casket

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The Invention described herein addresses one or more of the individual shortcomings of the prior art discussed above and will become more apparent to those of ordinary skill In the art by reference of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.

A first aspect of the Invention Includes a casket arrangement with multiple triangular structural loadbearing beams running across the Inside of the two side panels and bottom base panel of the casket The side and end panels may be colapsed around the casket base panel and this embodiment can be placed Inside the erected lid of the casket for shipping and storing purposes.

According to the embodiment, the casket arrangement consists of: a bottom panel, side panels and end panels all formed from a vertically pliable material. Both the side panels and the end panels extend upwards from the bottom panel.

Each side panel has rolled up loadbearing square beams at the ends of the side panels that also form the comer pillars of the casket (between the side and end panel) when the casket is assembled.

Further, on the side panel, there are five evenly spread, transverse triangular beams that are formed by gluing an inner liner, compressed and under tension, to an outer liner. Aligned with the five evenly spread triangular beams on the side panels, are the five triangular beams running across the base panel of the casket, forming part of the Inner sheet that Is being compressed to form the beams. The Intermediate Inner panels (between the transverse triangular beams) on the Inner panel are glued to the outer casket sheet panel. This method, of gluing a tensioned Inner liner and an outer non tensioned liner Is done In fiat form. The Inner panel with transverse beams (due to inward horizontal pressure from both ends) are glued to the non-dbrupted outer fiat panel. A vertical downwards pressure Is placed cm both Inner and outer panels untfl the adhesive has dried. It Is the

Inward tensioned Inner panel and the top down pressure of both Inner and outer panels (until the glue has dried) that forms a double layered casket with tensile strength of zero memory. Collectively this Increases the structural loadbearing strength of the total casket (when assembled and In use) In the first configuration.

The end panel has a fold-over strip at the top end of the assembled casket with an aperture that coincides with the aperture of the square comer loadbearing beams at the ends of the side panels.

This aperture alignment allows the end user to easily assemble the casket by hand, tool free and quickly, with cable ties. When assembled, and the shipper lid Is placed over the casket top (typically like a traditional shoe box), the casket arrangement may be used as a standalone casket, or as an insert to a rental casket

The casket arrangement may be removed and cremated with the body apart from the rental casket shell. Another embodiment of the Invention Includes the attachment of a leak resistant pliable sheet to the composite glued Inner and outer liner of the casket body. This leak resistant pliable sheet Is attached to the periphery borderlines of the side and end panels.

The leak resistant pliable sheet Inhibits leakage of fluids through the container of the casket body.

Another embodiment of the Invention includes the evenly spread of di-cut handles on the side panels of the casket to proportionately spread the carrier weight of the loaded casket

The above mentioned features and advantages will become more apparent to those of ordinary skill In the art, by reference to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG.1 shows a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a rental casket insert In a first configuration according to the present Invention.

FIG.2 shows a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a rental casket insert In a second configuration according to the present Invention.

FIG.3 shows a perspective view of the casket with a leak resistant sheet as assembled In a first configuration.

FIG.4 Illustrates a perspective (4A and 40 and 4E) and a top elevation (4B and AC) of the casket body with the leak resistant pliable sheet secured at the edges of the composite inner and outer sheet of the casket body as assembled In the second configuration.

FIG.5 shows a top elevation of the outer blank (5A) and Inner blank (5B), used to form the double layered laminated casket body. FIG.6 shows a perspective view of the Inner blank (folded inwardly compressed to form the triangular beams) and outer blank to form the composite glue lined casket body.

FIG.7 shows a top elevation of the composite glued liner casket body with glue panel Illustration and intermediate structural triangular beam arrangements. The under tension, concertinaed Inner panel Is glued to the non-tensioned outer panel. The combined double layered glued panels have extra latent strength as illustrated with the arrows illustrating latent strength forces.

FIG.8 shows a perspective view of a double layered glued casket, where one side panel In figure

8A is folded to form the casket first orientation (a 90* orientation relating to the base). The Increased compression strength Is created by the flat glue laminating process of the inner and outer liner. To those of ordinary skil in the art it will be apparent, that substantial strength Increases is experienced through this feature.

The increased compression arrows along the crease lines separating the base and ride panel is

Illustrated In Figure 8A. In Figure 8B the same side panel is folded to the opposite side of the bottom panel of the casket and touches the bottom panel of the casket In the second configuration. The arrows show stressed forces In both directions.

FIG.9 shows a perspective view of the composite glued liner casket body covered with a leak resistant material. FIG. 10 shows a plan view of a single layered corrugated sheet element with a top lid panel and side panels that form the lid of the casket arrangement In the first configuration and a shipper tray of the casket arrangement In the second configuration. DETAILED DISCRIPTION

With reference to the principles of the Innovative embodiments written description would be made with reference to the drawings listed below. FIGURE 1 shows a corrugated material casket arrangement (10) that indudes features of the present

Invention. The corrugated material casket arrangement (10) indudes a casket body (14) in the first configuration and a lid (50) fitted over the casket body (14).

The corrugated material casket arrangement (10) In the first configuration indudes five evenly spread transverse triangular beams (27) on the Inside side panels and bottom panel of the casket. The corrugated material casket body (14) In the first configuration forms a container to receive a body of the deceased. With the Inclusion of the leak resistant pliable sheet (90), as illustrated in figure 3, the casket arrangement (10) In the first configuration (as ilustrated in Figure1) fully is assembled and ready for use.

The corrugated material casket arrangement (10) may be used for cremation or burial. The casket arrangement (10) may be used in conjunction with a rental casket shell and act as an Insert that can be slid out at the head or foot end, after a service and sent for cremation. FIGURE 2 shows a corrugated material casket arrangement (10) with a casket body (14) In the second configuration. This configuration is Intended for economical shipment and storage of the casket arrangement (10) because of the compact profile.

The lid (50) with its assembled sides (52) is placed upside down to form a receiving tray, and the corrugated material casket (10) with Its attached leak resistant pliable sheet material (90) In the second configuration, is snuggly fitted inside the tray forming lid (50).

The Nd (50) and corrugated material casket arrangement (10) Inside it, is strapped (ready for shipment or storage).

Figure 2 also shows the disguised transverse triangular beams (27) underneath the leak resistant pliable sheet (90) on the casket arrangement (10) in the second configuration.

FIGURE 3 shows a corrugated material casket arrangement (10) In the first configuration with the <#- cut handles (62) at the end panels and di-cut Handles (60) evenly spread on the tide panels with an A-centred orientation, tt also includes the leak resistant pliable sheet (90) and the hidden evenly spaced transverse, triangular beams (27) behind the leak resistant pliable sheet (90). It also shows the square corner pilars (26) at each comer of the casket arrangement (10) and also acts as a strengthening element to tie the end panels (38) by hand and without tools, with cable ties.

FIGURE 4 A-E shows a corrugated casket (10) with a leak resistant pliable sheet (90) connected at the outer edges of the Inner side of the laminated sheets (11) and (20).

Figure 4A is a perspective end view of the corrugated material casket (10) in the second configuration, where the casket side panels (16) has been folded backwards to touch the bottom part of the bottom panel. The casket (10) Is folded to the opposite direction (i.e. the Inner side of the bottom panel of the casket) to touch the bottom panel (15) and so form the corrugated material casket (10) in the second configuration.

Figure 4B Is a top view of the Figure 4A but where the end panels (38) Is still in planer extension and not folded back to the opposite side of the side panels (16). figure 4A shows the apertures (28) at the top end of the comer square pillar, when the casket Is In the first configuration, and this aligns with apertures (29) on the end panel (38) when the casket (10) is assembled to the first configuration to be connected and tied by hand and tool free with a cable tie.

Figure 4C and 4D Is a perspective view of Figure 4B turned around and showing the end panels (38) In the process of being folded inwards towards the bottom panel (15) of the casket (10) In the second configuration. In the drawing a portion of the lid (50) can be seen receiving the casket (10) In the second configuration. 5 Figure 4E isa perspective view of two corrugated material caskets (10) in the second configuration, and In opposite orientation towards each other, with the Hd (50) acting as a base and lid for the two caskets (10) In the second configuration.

10

By strapping the units together, a loadbearing and condensed unit Is formed that optimises space during shipping and storage.

IS FIGURE 5A is the top view of a corrugated materiel sheet (11) that represents the outer liner panel of the double layered laminated casket (10) sheet

The double walled fluted corrugated sheet material (11) has two longitudinal and parallel crease

20 lines (12) spreading a symmetrical from the longitudinal centre line of the sheet material (11). The captured centre panel (15) between the longitudinal crease- lines (12) forms the outside layer of the

25 twin laminated sheet to form the bottom panel of the casket (10).

The side panels (16) extend outward on both sides of the crease lines (12) and bottom panel (15).

These side panels (16) when folded at crease lines (12) to a vertical orientation of the base pared

30 form the outer layer of the laminated sheet material side panel (16) of the casket (10) in the first configuration.

35 Extending parallel to the crease lines (12) and to the outward side of the two side panels (16) are parallel crease lines (13) that divide the panel (16) Into vertical panel (16) of the casket (10) In the first configuration and an Inwards fold-over (bulge preventative) panel strip (18). This panel (18) Is

40 folded inwards ami downwards towards a horizontal orientation of the base panel of the casket (10) In the first orientation and situated at the top end of the side wall panel (16).

45 For the purpose of even distribution of the carrying weight of the contents of the casket (10), di-cut handles (60) are symmetrically spaced from the centre of the side panels (16) along the longitudinal direction.

50 FIGURE SB a i pslan view of a corrugated material sheet (20) that represents the inner liner panel of the double layered casket (10) sheet

Here also, as with the outer liner panel, a double waited fluted sheet material (20) has two longitudinal parallel crease lines (21) spreading a-symmetrlcal from the longitudinal centre line of the sheet material (20). The centre panel (IS), between crease fines (21), forms the Inride layer of the twin laminated sheet to form bottom panel of the casket (10). The parallel crease lines (12) and

(21) are aligned when the two sheets are laminated to each other.

The side panels (16) extend outwards on both sides of the crease lines (21) and is the same length as the side panels (16) on the outer corrugated sheet The Inner corrugated sheet material (20) Is narrower than the outer sheet material (11) In the sense that the outer longitudinal borderlines of sheet material (20) are aligned with crease lines (13) on the outer sheet material (11), and the Inner sheet material Is placed on top of It and laminated.

On the bottom panel (between the two parallel longltutflnal crease lines (21)) and at Its both ends, there Is provided a transverse crease line (30) that defines the end panels (25) (which become end panels (38) of the casket (10)) In the first configuration. This end panel (25) has handle cut-outs (62) and an end transverse crease line (31) to form a fold-over panel (18) ofthe casket (10) in the first configuration.

Crease lines (30) which form the length of the casket (10) body. At the Intersection of the crease fines (21) (that separates the bottom base (15) from the side panels (16)) aid the centre crease fine

(23) of each triple and parallel crease line sets there is provided diamond cut-outs (24). The purpose of these diamond cut-outs (24) Is that when the Inner liner sheet material (20) Is concertinaed from both ends (25) towards Its centre point, the centre crease lines (23) of the triple parallel creases (23) bench upwards to form triangular beams.

When the side panels (16) are bent vertically upwards at crease fines (21), the diamond cut-outs on the beam creases (23) allows the beams to bend and fixate at a 90* angle.

The diamond cut-outs also allow the triangular beams to bend backwards and allows the side panel (16) to bend to the bottom of the bottom base of the casket In the second configuration.

The fold-over panels (18) have apertures (29) at both ends that align with the apertures (28) of the square comer pillars of the casket (10) In the first configuration. The end panels (25) are not attached to the side panels (16), running from the transverse crease lines (30) outward to the end of the sheet material (20).

The end section of the side panels (16) is referred to as panels (32). These panels have evenly spaced parallel transverse crease tines (22) so that when the panel (32) is rolled Into a square tube and fastened to the ride panel along the crease line (30), a square beam structure Is formed at the comers between the side panel (16) and end panel (38) of the casket arrangement (10) In the first configuration. When formed and glued, it is referred to as reference (26) of the casket In the first configuration. The aperture (28) aligns with the aperture (29) on the end panel and allows quick hand assembly without tools and only a cable tie.

FIGURE 6 shows how the Inner corrugated sheet material (20) tens iisoned Inwardly from the two end panels (38) (and Is illustrated by the compression direction arrows (33) and while under horizontal tension, placed on top of the outer corrugated sheet material (11) to be glued.

FIGURE 7 shows a corrugated material casket (10) that consists of the inner and outer corrugated sheet materials (11) and (20) that Is placed, aligned on top of each other and laminated by means of an adhesive substance. Because of the strong latent tensile springiness of the double wall corrugated board used on both sheet materials (11) and (20), the Inner corrugated sheet (20) will bounce back to the horizontal original position If the Inward compression force from the end panels (38) Is released. With the triangular beams (27) of the Inner corrugated sheet under tension, the Inner sheet (20) aligns with the outer sheet (11). If the tensile springiness of the double walled board forces the inner sheet (20) to spread back to its original (or zero memory) position, the inner sheet will be longer than the outer sheet

It Is very Important In order to attain the maximum structural strength for the laminated sheet (11) and (20), to keep the liner sheet (20) under horizontal biward tension while laminating It to the outer sheet (11).

The panels (34) between the triangular beams (27) are glue covered at the bottom side over the whole area of the sheet element (20) and aligned and put on the top of the outer sheet element

(11).

Whist in flat format and the sheet element (20) (under Inward tension), pressure Is applied to the two sheet elements (11) and (20) In a vertical orientation on both glued panels- The horizontal and vertical pressure Is maintained until the glue has dried and the two corrugated sheet elements bind

Into a super strong structural beam inclusive corrugated sheet (10), with a zero memory In planar format After the adhesive has cured, the horizontal and vertical pressure is released.

The outwards flow of the arrows on each laminated panel (34) Is a tensile strength Indicator of the Increased strength achieved by laminating and curing two sheet elements to each other, the Inner with tension and the outer without tendon and both under vertical pressure until the adhesive has cured.

The above described features and advantages will become more readily apparent to those of ordinary skill In the art to realise that when the side panel (16) of the corrugated material casket (10) (Figure 8A) Is bent to the vertical orientation and bending upwards from the bottom panel (15) of the casket (10) In the first configuration, then extra force is needed to achieve a successful result

The increased tensile strength Is Illustrated by the outwards and compression arrows along crease lines (12) and (13) of the casket (10) In the first configuration. The same extra force is needed when the side panel (16) is bent to the opposite side as explained above (i.e. to the bottom side of the bottom panel of the casket (10)) In the second configuration.

Because of the use of: a. A strong tensile springy double walled corrugated sheet specification; b. The multiple transverse triangular beams; c The twin laminated method: one sheet without tension and the other under no tension and the adhesive allowed to ewe wider pressure conditions, the Increased stretch forces Illustrated with the arrows In figure 8B needs special force to keep panel (16) back to back to bottom panel (15) when preparing the casket (10) for the second configuration.

FIGURE 9 shows a corrugated casket (10) with a leak resistant pflable sheet material (90) that Is attached to pa neb (18) by means of staples, hot melt glue or cold glue.

FIGURE 10 shows a corrugated sheet element that Is creased to form a top lid panel (50) and side panels (52) and which forms the lid of the casket arrangement (10) In the first configuration and the shipper tray of the casket arrangement (10) In the second configuration.