MEMORIAL STRUCTURE

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

THIS invention relates to a memorial structure and a method of manufacturing a memorial structure.

A gravestone is a memorial structure erected in memory of a person, the gravestone in particular used to mark a grave of the person to be remembered. Typically, a gravestone is in the form of an inscribed headstone or tablet, with an inscription providing details of the person laid to rest in the specific grave. Commemorative structures are also memorial structures similar to gravestones, but may not necessarily mark a grave.

Although gravestones and commemorative structures typically provide brief details of a person, such as the person's names, date of birth, date of death and perhaps a short eulogy, loved one's that visit the memorial structure may have the need to be reminded of the facial features of the person being commemorated by the memorial structure.

it is an object of the present invention to provide an alternative memorial structure and method to manufacture such a memorial structure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a memorial structure comprising a body, the body carrying a three-dimensional representation of the face of a person to be commemorated and further carrying an inscription providing personal details of the person to be commemorated.

The memorial structure may be a commemorative structure such as a memorial stone or a gravestone marking a grave. This memorial stone or grave may be made of stone, rock, fiber glass and/or resin, plastic, metalized plastic, synthetic materials, concrete, metal, combinations thereof or the like. Alternatively, the memorial structure may be a plaque, for example used to commemorate a person in a cremation garden.

Preferably, the three dimensional facial representation is integral with the body of the memorial structure.

Alternatively, the three dimensional representation is a separate body or structure embedded in or secured to the body of the memorial structure.

In one example embodiment, the body may carry a three-dimensional representation of the face and at least part of the upper torso of the person to be commemorated.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing a memorial structure, the method comprising:

providing a reproduction of the face of a person to be commemorated;

creating a three-dimensional representation of the face;

incorporating the three-dimensional representation of the face into a body of the memorial structure; and

inscribing the body of the memorial structure with personal details of the person to be commemorated.

The operation of providing a reproduction of the face of a person may comprise producing a negative impression of the person's face, the negative impression to be used as a face mould.

Alternatively, the operation of providing a reproduction of the person's face may comprise providing a three-dimensional digital image of the person's face and producing a negative impression of the person's face from the digital image, the negative impression to be used as a face mould.

Preferably, the operations of creating a three-dimensional representation of the face and incorporating the three-dimensional representation of the face into the body of the memorial structure may include positioning the negative impression of the person's face in an aperture defined by a commemorative structure mould, and casting a memorial structure, which structure includes the three-dimensional representation of the person's face.

Alternatively, the operation of incorporating the three-dimensional representation of the face into the body of the memorial structure may include embedding the three-dimensional representation in the body of the memorial structure or securing the representation in the body of the memorial structure.

The method may further comprise:

providing a reproduction of the face and upper torso of a person to be commemorated;

creating a three-dimensional representation of the face and upper torso; and

incorporating the three-dimensional representation of the face and upper torso into a body of the memorial structure.

In the specification the term "negative impression" means a negative {or hollow) copy of the original, while "positive impression" means a positive copy of the original.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 shows a schematic drawing of a memorial structure in the form of a gravestone, in accordance with an example embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 shows a cross-section of a three-dimensional representation of the face of a person to be commemorated in accordance with one example embodiment of the invention;

Figure 3 shows a cross-section of a three-dimensional representation of the face of a person to be commemorated in accordance with another example embodiment of the invention; and

Figure 4 shows a high-level flow diagram of a method to manufacture a memorial structure, in accordance with another aspect of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

This invention relates to a memoriaf structure and a method of manufacturing a memorial structure. Although in one example embodiment of the invention the memoria! structure is a gravestone, it will be appreciated that the memorial structure may alternatively be another type of commemorative structure, for example, a memorial stone or a plaque used to commemorate a person in a cremation garden. The memorial structure may also commemorate a person for exemplary service, for example, a person may be commemorated through a memorial structure after the person has retired.

Turning to Figure 1 , a memorial structure in the form of gravestone 10 is shown. The gravestone comprises a body 12 made of stone, rock, concrete, metal, chemical wood, fiber glass and/or resin, plastic, metalized plastic, synthetic materials, concrete, metal, combinations thereof or the like. The body carries a three-dimensional representation 14 of the face of a person to be commemorated. Typically, the body 12 also carries an inscription 16 providing personal details of the person to be commemorated.

The personal details inscribed on the gravestone 10 may, for example, be the name and surname of the person to be commemorated, as well as the person's date of birth, date of death and perhaps a short eulogy. In cases where the memoria! structure is a commemorative stone, the personal details need not include the date of birth and date of death of the person to be commemorated, but may include a longer eulogy or more detailed information on events in the person's life.

The three-dimensional representation 14 of the person's face may either be integral with the body 12 of the gravestone 10 (as shown in Figures 1 to 3), or may alternatively be a separate body or structure either embedded in the body 12 or secured to the body 12, as described in more detail below.

As shown in Figure 2, the three-dimensiona! representation may either be a positive impression 18 of the person's face or alternatively, and as shown in Figure 3, may be a negative impression 20 of the person's face. It will however be appreciated that, in one example embodiment, the memorial structure may include a three-dimensional representation of both the face and at least a part of the upper torso of the person to be commemorated.

A flow diagram 30 of an example method of manufacturing a memorial structure is shown in Figure 4. it will be appreciated that the method may be used to produce the gravestone as depicted in Figure 1.

As shown by block 32, the method comprises providing a reproduction of the face and optionally also the upper torso of a person to be commemorated. The reproduction may be provided by producing a negative impression of the person's face, the negative impression to be used as a face mould. This process may include the following steps.

A non-stick lotion, such as a petroleum, silica or oil-based lotion, is firstly applied to a person's face. If a casting material is unlikely to stick to a person's face and the person's face could be easily separated from the negative impression, this step may not be necessary.

The person's face is now placed in a casting material by pouring the casting material into a container, with the person's face already positioned in the container. The container may be formed by a frame of metal and sponge, or sponge and plastic or any other suitable material. The type of material of the container will be dependent on the type of casting material used. For example, when aluminium (having an approximate melting point of 725°C) is used as the casting material, a silicone material can be used for the container. When cast iron (having an approximate melting point of 1500 ⁰ C) is used as the casting material, a container made of special type of fireproof silicone or treated sand may be used, thereby to ensure that the container does not melt or dissolve when the cast iron is poured into it.

Depending on the type of casting material used, it may be necessary to reinforce the casting material by providing a metal frame around the face of the person. For example, when plaster of paris is used as the casting material, reinforcement may be necessary.

Once the casting material has set, the person's face can be removed from the container. The casting material is now allowed to dry and harden, thereby forming a negative impression of the person's face.

In circumstances where a reproduction is made of a live person's face, a quick drying casting material such as silicone, silicone mixture or other suitable material may be used.

Other types of casting materia! that may be used to produce the negative impression are reinforced concrete, nutech, sand, plaster of parts, silicone or variations or mixtures or silicone, or any other suitable material.

The operation of providing a reproduction of the person's face may, alternatively include providing a three-dimensional digital image of the person's face and producing a negative impression of the person's face to be used as a face mould. For example, a person's face may be digitally scanned, and the data generated from the scan may be used to create a model of the person's face, from which the negative impression is to be made.

Certain scanners may be used to provide a three-dimensional scan of the person's face, with the scanners further being coupled to, or forming part of a device that builds a negative impression of the face from wax.

Depending on the type of memorial structure, this negative impression may be used as a face mould.

Data obtained from the digital scan may also be used with a 3 dimensional printer, which printer produces a reproduction from resin, plastic, powder or

any material used by the printer of the face of the person. The reproduction may be either a positive impression or a negative impression of the face that could then be used to manufacture a three dimensional representation of the face, as discussed in more detail below. It would be appreciated that a milling machine may alternatively be used.

Returning to Figure 4, a three-dimensional representation of the person's face is created or produced (shown by block 34) from the face mould and this three-dimensional representation is incorporated and combined into the body 12 of the memorial structure (shown by block 36).

The operations of creating a three-dimensional representation of the face and incorporating the three-dimensional representation of the face into the memorial structure's body (blocks 34 and 36) may include positioning the face mould (in the form of a negative impression) in or over an aperture defined by a commemorative structure mould, and casting a memorial structure which includes the three-dimensional representation of the person's face from the commemorative structure mould.

For example, a gravestone mould may be provided which defines an aperture to receive the face mould (i.e. the negative impression) that has been produced. With the face mould in place, the memorial structure is cast with concrete, reinforced concrete of metal as the casting material. Once the casting material has dried and hardened, the gravestone mould, incorporating the face mould, is removed, producing the gravestone.

Alternatively, the operation of combining or incorporating the three- dimensional representation of the face with the body of the memorial structure may include embedding the separate body or structure of the three-dimensional representation in the body of the memorial structure. Protrusions extending from the back of the three-dimensional representation structure may be cast with the representation to allow for the representation structure to be embedded in concrete when the memorial structure is cast. Other means of securing the separate body or structure

of the three-dimensional representation to the body of the memorial structure may also be used.

In another example embodiment, a three dimensional positive impression (if necessary, treated with a metal-bonding material) may be secured to the memorial structure and the structure with the three dimensional positive impression may then be plated using appropriate plating techniques. In some circumstances, the three dimensional positive impression of the face may be made from a metal powder and resin mixture. Accelerators such as plaster of paris or salt may be added to increase the drying characteristics of the material and to ensure a more detailed impression.

As shown by block 36, the body of the memorial structure is now inscribed with personal details of the person to be commemorated. The inscription may be engraved, carved, cast or written on the memorial structure. For example, the inscription may form part of the negative impression and is then cast with the positive impression, or vice versa.

It will be appreciated that, depending on the casting material and the final casting method to be used to produce the memorial structure, further positive and negative impressions of the person's face may need to be made, in order to produce a suitable face mould to cast the separate body or structure of the three-dimensional representation and/or the memorial structure.

For example, a fire proof face mould would be needed if a molten metal, such as cast-iron, is to be used to cast the combined memorial structure with the three-dimensional representation of the face.

In these circumstances the first negative impression (made for example from silicone or plaster of paris) is used to produce a positive impression of the face. This positive impression may be made from concrete by pouring concrete into the first negative impression. The positive impression of concrete is in turn used to make a fire proof (second) negative impression

from, for example, clay, to be used as the face mould. This is done by pouring or casting the fire proof materia! (e.g. the clay) over the positive concrete impression.

As mentioned, the fire proof negative impression may either be positioned in or over the aperture defined by the memorial structure mould or may be used to produce a three-dimensional reproduction of the person's face which may be secured by attachment means to the memorial structure.

Alternatively, the first negative impression may be used to make a fire proof positive impression from clay, by pouring the clay in the first negative impression. Once the clay has dried and hardened, a second negative impression may be made from cast-iron. This cast-iron second negative impression is now used as the face mould in a process of vacuum moulding or spin casting. For example, a heated steel plate may be pressed, by using the cast-iron negative impression, to produce a three-dimensional reproduction of the person's face. Or, by vacuum moulding, a heated steel plate may be formed into a three-dimensional reproduction of the person's face. As mentioned above, this steel plate can be incorporated into the memorial structure by affixing it to the front of the memorial structure, or by using it as a plaque.

Metal spraying may also be used to form a positive impression of the face, which may be filled with reinforced concrete to form a separate structure or body of the three-dimensional representation. Similar to the above, this separate structure may be secured to the memorial structure.

In yet another example embodiment, a positive impression may be made from sponge, which is placed in casting sand. Once the casting sand has dried around the sponge, a molten metal can be poured onto the sponge and sand. The sponge is burnt away and a three-dimensional reproduction of the person's face is produced.

The memorial structure, or specifically, the three-dimensional representation of the person's face, may or may not be provided with a finishing. Options of finishings that may be used are paints, such as metal or resin paints. Alternatively, a fake sandstone layer may be applied to the reproduction. Electroplating may also be used to apply different colours to the three-dimensional reproduction.

The invention accordingly provides a memorial structure in the form of a gravestone, commemorative stone or plaque that has a three-dimensional representation of the face of the person to be commemorated, as well as personal details relating to that person.