BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a mausoleum and to a module for forming a mausoleum.

United States patents 3,878,656, 3,897,663, 3,938,773, 4,048,772, 4,068,425, 5,243,794 describe various forms of mausoleums constructed from prefabricated members. These are intended for above ground burial and, usually, present a vertically and horizontally extending array of crypts.

The crypt structure of United States patent 3,897,663 has spaced parallel vertical walls having sidewardly projecting supports at vertically spaced locations, horizontal slabs being positioned on the support so as to extend between the side walls. The arrangements of United States patents 3,878,656, and 3,938,773 employ modules which have at least portions which are of inverted U shaped section so that the lower edges of these may rest upon upper walls of underlying modules to form the structure. The arrangements in United Stated patents 4,048,772 and 5,243,794 use L-shaped modules.

All of these arrangements are therefore characterised in that each module defines less than the whole of the side wall/ceiling/floor of each individual crypt. That is, in each case one horizontal slab or an analogous modular portion forms both the floor and the ceiling of each vertically adjacent pair of crypts, and each crypt chamber is not defined until vertically superimposed modules are provided.

United States Patent 2,783,523 describes a burial vault formed of concrete and having a separately formed roof. Two vaults may be stacked one above the other, but this arrangement is not convenient for forming a multi-crypt mausoleum. For example, since access to the lower vault is prevented when the uppermost vault is positioned on it, so the lower vault must be closed before stacking the vaults.

United States Patent 1,014,614 describes a temporary burial vault, which has bottom, top and side walls moulded together and an end cover slidable vertically to a position where it closes an open end of the vault. This vault is also not suitable for forming a multi-crypt mausoleum.

United States Patent 692067 describes a portable burial vault formed of a metal inner shell, closed by an end closure and then sealed by application over all exterior surfaces of a concrete-like material. This is not suitable for forming a multi-crypt mausoleum, for example since the exterior sealing is effected over all the inner shell.

It is highly desirable that crypts be fully sealable. Otherwise gases or liquid products formed from the entombed body may leak from the crypt and cause undesirable odours and unsightly appearance, or damage. Infestation by insects can occur if even a slight crack or opening appears in the crypt. On the other hand, it is extremely difficult to secure long term sealing in the described prior constructions. Even where adequate sealing is in the first instance provided, such as by placing sealing material between portions of the structure defining a crypt floor and side walls of the crypt, such as by use of settable or resilient sealing elements, most mausoleum structures are substantial in size and weight, and it is impossible to surely avoid long term movement of modules relative to each other, such as due to settling of mausoleum foundations, or expansion or contraction of modules or parts of these. In cases where the modules are structurally self-sufficient (ie individually capable of self-support) movement as between modules, such as twisting movement about the lengthwise axis of a crypt, may quite readily open up gaps between adjacent modules. This is particularly so where, as is usual, reinforced concrete is the medium from which the modules are formed.

Furthermore, for the preservation of the entombed body or other genetic material it is usually important to prevent the body from being exposed to extremes of temperature.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the invention provides a module for forming a mausoleum by assembly of a plurality of like modules, the module comprising an integral crypt structure defining a pair of opposed crypt side walls, a crypt roof and a crypt floor configured whereby a plurality of like modules may be stacked vertically one above the other to form the mausoleum, while permitting opening and closing of each module without dismantling the mausoleum.

The crypt structure may further include an integral end wall, the end of the structure opposite the end wall being open, but closeable by attachment thereto of an end closure member, means being provided for attaching and sealing the end closure member in position to close the open end.

Preferably, the side walls, roof, floor and, where integrally provided, the end wall, are formed from inner and outer skins such as of rotationally or otherwise moulded plastics material, which are spaced apart and between which is provided a thermally insulative material. In particular, the crypt structure may be formed from inner and outer members which define the inner and outer skins respectively of each of the side walls, roof, floor and, where provided, end wall, of the structure, these members being interfitted one within the other and integrally attached together such as by welding or other bonding techniques.

The end closure may, for example, be boltable to an end peripheral surface of the crypt structure, opposite the end wall.

Preferably, means is provided for locating a plurality of like crypt structures constructed in accordance with the invention one above the other, so as to limit sideward and end to end movement therebetween. Thus, each crypt structure may have on the outer surface of the roof thereof a first keying formation and on the undersurface of the floor thereof a second keying formation so that when the two modules are positioned one above the other the second keying formation co-operates with the first keying formation for this purpose. The first keying formation may, for example, include one or more upwardly extending projections on the outer surface of the roof and the second keying

foπnation may comprise one or more depressions of complementary configuration on the outer surface of the floor of the crypt structure.

It is preferred that the end closure member be of double walled construction similar, for example, to the structure above described for the crypt structure itself.

Vent means may be provided, either in the crypt structure or in the end closure to enable venting of gases from the internal space defined by the closed crypt structure. For example, this may comprise a one way valve which may be formed in the end closure. Alternatively it may be in the end wall.

Means may also be provided for interconnecting side by side adjacent pairs of modules formed in accordance with the invention.

The invention also provides a mausoleum formed from a plurality of vertically stacked modules formed in accordance with the invention. The mausoleum may include one or more further pluralities of vertically stacked modules formed in accordance with the invention.

The invention further comprises a method of forming a mausoleum, comprising forming from a plurality of crypt modules a vertically extending stack thereof, each but the lowermost one of the stack resting upon an underlying one thereof, wherein each said module forms the side walls, roof and floor of a respective crypt.

The invention also provides a module for forming a mausoleum by assembly of a plurality of like modules, the module comprising a crypt structure defining a pair of opposed crypt side walls, a crypt roof, an end wall and a crypt floor, configured whereby a plurality of like modules may be stacked vertically one above the other to form the mausoleum, the side walls, roof, end wall and floor formed of spaced inner and outer skins with thermal insulation therebetween and the inner skin being integrally formed.

One or more modules may be assembled on a base structure with keying

formations being formed on the underside of the or each module and engaged with further keying formations on the base structure to locate the modules on the base structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

The invention is further described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is perspective view of a mausoleum constructed in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is an end view of a module incorporated into the mausoleum of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side view of the module of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is plan view of the module of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is an underside view of the module of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a front view of three assembled ones of the modules of Figure 2; Figure 7 is a perspective view of a further mausoleum module constructed in accordance with the invention;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary, vertical section through an assembled stack of modules of the kind shown in Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary, front view of a mausoleum constructed from modules of the kind shown in Figure 7;

Figure 10 is fragmentary, vertical and a lengthwise cross-section through a front cover of the module of Figure 7 and the adjoining part of the roof thereof; and

Figure 11 is a perspective view of a partly dismantled mausoleum constructed in accordance with the invention, showing a base structure of the mausoleum.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Figure 1 shows a mausoleum 10 formed from two adjacent side by side stacks 12,

14 of mausoleum modules 20. The modules rest upon a suitable base (not shown) which may rest upon the ground and is provided with side walls 24 which are secured such as by adhering to the outer surfaces of the unitary structure formed by the two assembled stacks. A roof 22 may be provided over the stacks.

The form of the modules 20 may be better appreciated from Figures 2 to 6. Each comprises a unitary crypt structure 30 and an end closure 42. Each structure 30 has integrally formed opposed side walls 32, an end wall 36, a floor 38 and a roof 40.

The end of the structure 30 opposite wall 36 is open but sealingly closeable by the closure member 42. The closure of member 42 may, for example, be attached by means of bolts or the like to the peripheral end surface of the structure 30 opposite wall 36. In general the closure member is movable to position it for attachment and is removable by movement in a direction which is permitted when the modules 20 are assembled to form the mausoleum, so that no dismantling of the mausoleum is needed to, for example, gain access to a lower most one of the modules in a stack of these. Thus, movement in a direction parallel to the general plane of the roof or floor is sufficient to permit positioning for closing the crypt structure, or for removal.

Roof 40 has a rectangular depression 40a therein and the floor 38 has a rectangular projection 38a of complementary form to the depression 40a. Thus, when two modules 20 are stacked one above the other, the projection 38 keys into the depression 40a in a fashion which limits side to side and end to end relative movement between the two modules.

The mausoleum of Figure 1 may be formed by assembling the crypt structures 30 of the modules 20, then attaching the end closures 42 as required. The internal crypt chambers defined by the modules are of sufficient size to accommodate a coffin. Thus, coffins may be entered into the chambers, with the closures 42 removed, and thereafter sealed by attachment of the closures 42.

Referring now to Figure 7, the module 120 shown therein is of generally similar design to that of the module 20. In particular, it has opposed side walls 132, a roof 140, a floor 138 and an end wall 136 all formed as a unitary integral structure, and a front closure 142. In this case, the outer surface of the roof 140 has upstanding projections 140b spaced along the length of the roof which interengage with complimentary recesses 138a (Figures 8 and 9) on the underside of the floor 138 to provide a keying action for limiting side to side and end to end relative movement of superimposed modules, in a similar fashion to that described in relation to the module 20.

In this case, the structure 130 is double walled, as will be evident from, for example, Figure 8 which shows the construction of the roof, floor and end wall as having an outer skin 160 and an inner skin 162. These are spaced somewhat apart from each other and the space therein filled with suitable insulative material 164. The skins 160, 162 are formed from members which are interfitted one within the other and then secured together such as by welding. In the present instance, the outer skin 160 is formed by a member 170 and the inner skin 162 formed on a member 172, both of which members are rotationally moulded and of somewhat cup shaped configuration so as to fit one within the other in the spaced arrangement shown.

The insulative material provides some structural support for the crypt structure.

As best shown in Figure 10, member 172 has an outurned peripheral rim 174 which has a first portion 174a which extends normally to the direction of extent of the structure 130 and a back-turned portion 174b which extends from the free outer edge of portion 174a back in spaced relationship to the part of the skin 162 which forms the inner surface of the roof 140, in parallel disposition thereto. Portion 174b of rim 174 fits over an adjacent peripheral indented free edge portion 178 formed on member 170. Similarly, an internal peripheral flange 178a of member 170 underlies the flange portion 174a of rim 174 on member 172.

A method of forming the structure 130 using members 170, 172 comprises firstly forming the members by rotational moulding, and then positioning them in the

arrangement shown, with the member 172 within the member 170 and with the free edge portion 178 in adjacent and underlying relationship to the flange portion 174b, and the flange 178a in adjacent and underlying relationship to the flange portion 174a. The two members are then secured together in the vicinity of the flange 178a and flange portion 174b and/or in the vicinity of the flange portion 174a and the free edge portion 178, such as by ultrasonic or heat welding, or by use of an adhesive. The cavity formed between the skins 160 and 162 is then filled by injecting a suitable foamable and settable material through openings (not shown) in the outer skin.

The members 170, 172 may be formed from any suitable plastics material having good resistance to attack from body released chemicals or embalming chemicals. For example polyethylene may be suitable. The injected foam material may be expanded polyurethane, in any event preferably having good heat insulative properties.

The closure 142 is in this case also double skinned, having an outer skin 144 and an inner skin 146, the cavity therebetween being filled with, for example, expanded polyurethane. The enclosure may be formed by a similar technique to that described in relation to structure 130.

The closure 142 has a series of openings 148 and the closure is affixable to the periphery of the structure 130 opposite wall 136 by use of bolts 150 which extend through these openings and into internally threaded elements 152 moulded into the structure 130. In this case the elements 152 are moulded into the flange 178a of the outer member 170, which flange lies immediately behind the flange portion 174a of the inner member 172, and the bolts 150 extend through openings 151 in the flange portion 174a and thence into the elements 152. Bolts 150 may have specially shaped heads, requiring a specially configured tool to engage and turn the bolts, so as to inhibit vandals or the like from easily removing the bolts.

The closure 142 preferably has, as shown, one or more resilient sealing rings 158 which are provided in peripheral recesses 159 on the inner face of the closure so that as the bolts 150 are tightened the sealing rings are firmly engaged with the end surface of

the structure 130 (at flange portion 174a) to provide a full and effective seal as between the closure and the structure 130. The closure may also have at its inner face an inwardly projecting peripheral surface 149 which extends inwardly, in the assembled condition, to engage with the surface of the inner member 172.

Gases generated within the sealed cavity defined by the assembled module 120 are preferably taken therefrom in use of the module by means of a one way valve permitting egress of gas but preventing gas coming into the internal cavity 145 defined by the module. In the present case a conventional one way valve 180 is provided on the closure 142. This may have an external connector 182 which may be coupled to a suitable exhaust pipe 184 to lead the gases away from the structure. By use of elbow connectors such as the connector 182 shown, or T-connectors, the valves 180 associated with a vertical stack of modules may be interconnected by several pipes 184 to be taken to a common exhaust. A single valve may alternatively be provided connected by pipes to a plurality of modules. In any event, the valves, or pipe openings to the crypt chamber may be positioned in the crypt structure itself, such as in the end wall thereof.

The internal surface of the floor of the module 120 may have upstanding ribs such as the ribs 190 shown in Figure 9 to facilitate sliding of a coffin 195 (Figs. 8 and 10) within the module. The inner surface of the floor may be arranged to slope downwardly towards the rear of the module, as compared to the outer surface thereof.

In order to facilitate structural integrity of a mausoleum constructed using the modules 120, side by side modules may be interconnected. In the present instance, the upper surface of the roof 140 of the structure 130 has four recesses 194, two to either side thereof, at front and rear locations, to permit two side by side modules to be connected together by locking plates 196 having two downwardly depending spigots 198 each engageable in a respective bore 200 in the lower surface of a recess 194. Thus, the two spigots 198 of each plate 196 may connect one into the bore 200 of one of two adjacent modules 120 and the other into the bore 200 of the other adjacent module. When so positioned, the plates lie flush with the upper surface of roof 140.

To assist in maintaining the interior of the modules in good condition, it is preferred that the coffin floor have positioned thereon a material able to absorb liquids which may egress from coffins in the module. A suitable material for this purpose is that marketed as "Super Inner liner" or "Zorb-Sheet" or "Z.I.L." material, marketed by Ensure-A-Seal 431 Manor Road, Delmont, United States of America. This is in the form of a sheet of paper-like appearance which on contact with liquids turns these into a semi-solid state. A sheet of this folded into concertina form may be position on the floor of the module, for example, towards the end wall 136.

Because the modules described are light, being formed from plastics, transport and assembly of the modules is simple. There is little risk of damage during transport as may occur with reinforced concrete structures. To facilitate handling, the outer surfaces of the side walls of the crypt structure 130 have depressions 195 which define handgrips. While, in the described arrangements, each module defines a single crypt chamber, the invention envisages the formation of integral modules defining more than one crypt chamber, adjacent chambers having a common side wall, and/or a common floor and roof.

The end closure 142, like end closure 42, is capable of being affixed in position or removed from the crypt structure 130 by movement inwardly or outwardly, only, relative to the crypt structure 130, thus permitting free entry and closing of the crypts even when the structures 130 are formed into a mausoleum.

To complete a mausoleum using the described construction, the end closure 142 may be faced with a suitable material such as granite which may be secured in position after sealing the crypt chamber. The end surfaces of the crypt structure, at the open end thereof, may have openings to receive spigots or to threadedly receive bolts to permit this attachment. The end closure may have aligned openings to allow the bolts or spigots to pass through the end closure, or the end closure may have edge parts cut away to accommodate these.

The thermal insulation provided by the double walled combustion of the invention

facilitates maintenance of a constant temperature within the crypt structure and thus also facilitates preservation of the entombed body. By forming the inner member of the crypt structure as a one piece moulding, which is in use readily sealed at its open end, the possibility of leakage from the crypt structure is lessened.

Figure 11 illustrates how a mausoleum 198 may be formed with a supporting base structure 200. The base structure 200 rests on the ground, in this case, and is formed, for example, of reinforced concrete. Upstanding projections 202 are formed on the upper surface 204 of the base structure 200. These are sized and configured so as to fit into the recesses 138a on the undersides of lowermost side by side ones of the crypt modules 120 forming the mausoleum. Thus, the lowermost crypt modules are positively located in position on the base structure 200.

The described construction has been advanced merely by way of explanation, and many modifications and variations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention which includes every novel feature and combination of features herein disclosed.