BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

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

Prior Art

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 properly 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.

Generally cracking of concrete structures is likely to occur over time, and will in the prior described constructions likely in any event to lead to leakage in the long term.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention there is provided a module for forming a mausoleum comprising a crypt structure having integral side walls, a roof and a floor, the crypt structure being surrounded at the roof and side walls by a support structure which is interconnected with the crypt structure. The support structure may have a roof portion and side wall portions respectively engaged with the roof and side walls of the crypt structure. One end of the crypt structure may be closed by an end wall and the other end closeable by a suitable end closure to seal the crypt structure.

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

The crypt structure may be formed as a unitary integral structure, such as an integral plastics moulding, and the support structure formed of concrete. The concrete may be suitably reinforced, such as by weight bearing elements which extend within the side wall portions.

The module may include a plurality of crypt structures each surrounded at the side walls and roof thereof by the support structure.

The invention also comprises a method of forming a module for forming a mausoleum, comprising forming a moulded crypt structure having side walls, a roof and floor, and moulding flowable settable material such as concrete around the side walls and roof thereof.

The invention also provides a mausoleum formed from modules as above described, and a mausoleum formed by the last described method.

The invention also describes a module for forming a mausoleum comprising a crypt structure having integral side walls, a roof, an end wall and a floor, the crypt

structure being surrounded at the roof and side walls by a support structure which is interconnected with the crypt structure, the end of the crypt structure opposite the end wall being sealable to enable perishable genetic material to be preserved in the crypt structure when sealed.

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 a diagrammatic perspective view of a mausoleum constructed in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 shows disassembled components of a crypt module incorporated into the mausoleum of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a lengthwise cross-sectional view of the assembled module of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary rear end perspective view of the module of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a lengthwise cross-section of a mould for forming the module of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a cross-section on the line 6-6 in Figure 5; Figure 7 is a cross-section on the line 7-7 in Figure 5; Figure 8 is a transverse cross-section of a modified form of the module of Figure 2, taken approximately halfway along the length thereof; Figure 9 is a cross-section on the line 9-9 in Figure 8;

Figure 10 is an enlarged fragmentary view corresponding to the right hand side of Figure 8;

Figure 11 is a fragmentary view showing how modules of the kind shown in Figures 8 to 11 are positionally positioned one above the other; Figure 12 is an exploded fragmentary perspective view showing components of the module of Figure 2 from the rear of the module; and

Figure 13 is a perspective view of a multiple crypt module formed in accordance

with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to Figure 1, the mausoleum 10 shown therein comprises a two dimensional array of crypt modules 12 positioned in adjacent rows, the modules 12 in each row being vertically aligned.

The modules 12 are each formed from the components shown in Figure 2. These components include a moulded plastics crypt structure 14, a support structure 16 and a closure 18 for the crypt structure.

The crypt structure 14 has a floor 20, a roof 22 and opposed side walls 24. As best shown in Figure 3 a rear end thereof is closed by a rear wall 26, the opposite end of the structure 14 being open. Structure 16 has opposed side wall portions 30, and a roof portion 32. The roof portion 32 overlies the roof 22 of the structure 14 and is in intimate contact therewith. The wall portions 30 similarly overlie in intimate contact the outer surfaces of the walls 24. Wall portions 30 extend downwardly to terminate at a location adjacent the undersurface of the floor of the structure 14.

At its forward end, the structure 14 has a front planar portion 34 of rectangular form and this is neatly accommodated within a correspondingly shaped recess 36 in the front of the structure 16. At the rear of the structure 16, two downwardly depending legs 38 are formed, and the rear wall 26 of the structure 14 bears against this.

The closure 18 may be of any suitable form. As shown in Figure 3, it is in any event securable against the front end of the structure 14 to close this and seal the interior of the crypt structure. The closure 18 may for example be bolted to the forward end of the structure 14 and suitable sealing means may be provided to seal the closure so that egress of material from the interior of the crypt chamber, when sealed, is prevented.

The closure can be positioned for affixing or can be removed by (only) inward

or outward movement relate to structure 14 so that even when the module is assembled into a mausoleum, it is still possible to seal or open individual crypts without dismantling the mausoleum.

The structure 16 is preferably formed of reinforced concrete. Figures 5 to 7 illustrate manufacture of a module 12 by moulding around the crypt structure 14.

The mould 43 comprises a base 40 with opposed side walls 42, 44 and opposite end walls 46, 48.

The internal mould cavity 47 so formed is generally rectangular in transverse and lengthwise cross-section. The crypt structure 14, pre-formed, is inserted into the mould so as to rest on the base thereof. The planar portion 34 of the crypt structure 14 rests against the internal face of wall 46 of the mould, and the rear wall of the structure 14 rests against the inner surface of the end wall 48 of the mould. The side to side dimension of the internal mould cavity is significantly greater than the side to side width of the structure 14, and the upper edges of the side walls 42, 44 and end walls 46, 48 are horizontally aligned and significantly higher than the upper surface of the crypt structure 14. The crypt structure 14 is positioned centrally in the side to side direction of the mould, as shown in Figure 6, so that there is a gap between each side surface of the structure 14 and the facing internal surfaces of the walls 42, 44.

The wall 48 has a forwardly projecting portion 48a which is of the form shown in Figure 7, so that there is, around the periphery of the portion 48a, a U-shaped cavity portion 50 as shown in Figure 7.

With the structure 14 in the position described, concrete is poured into the mould cavity, and around the side walls and roof of the structure 14 and into the mould portion 50. Also, around the periphery of the forward planar portion 34, there is a U-shaped gap, and concrete enters this also.

The concrete is trowelled off by levelling at the top at the level of the upper edges

of the walls 42, 44, 46, 48 and the concrete allowed to set to form the support structure 16. The roof portion 32 of the support structure is thus defined by the set concrete above the crypt structure and the wall portions 30 are formed by set concrete between the walls 42, 44 of the mould and the respective side surfaces of the crypt structure.

Generally, the set concrete will adhere satisfactorily to the outer walls of the structure 14 but, to improve adhesion, suitable formations, such as the projections 54 shown, may be formed on the external periphery of the structure 14 to facilitate keying as between the structures 14 and 16.

Any suitable reinforcement may be provided in the concrete which forms the structure 16; for example reinforcing mesh (not shown) will normally be used as conventionally provided in reinforced concrete work. Figures 8 to 10 illustrate one method of additional reinforcement which comprises moulding into the two side wall portions 30 of the structure 16 lattice structures 60, each of which comprises an upper rail 62, a lower rail 64 and a plurality of upright interconnecting rods 66, which rods are welded at each end to respective ones of the rails 62, 64. In the illustrated arrangement, the rails 62, 64 are of channel shaped configuration, when viewed in cross-section, so as to provide lengthwise extending channels running along the length of the module 12 at top and bottom surfaces thereof, and adjacent the side edges of the module. When modules 12 are assembled one above the other to form a mausoleum, suitable spacer elements 70 as shown in Figure 11 may be positioned to run along the lengths of aligned channels on lower and upper modules 12 to assist in locating the modules one relative to the other.

Suitable sealing material may be provided where the modules interengage, such as in the vicinity of the overlying channels 62, 64. However, it is not necessary that such sealing be provided in most instances, particularly if the crypt structure 14 is, as described, formed as an integral unit.

The crypt structure 14 may be formed by conventional plastics moulding techniques. One method is to rotationally mould two generally elongate, but cup shaped,

members which interfit one within the other so as to form the side walls, roof, floor and end wall of the crypt structure as a double walled formation with a gap therebetween which is subsequently filled with suitable heat insulative material such as a foamed material introduced through suitable openings in the outer of these two members. The end closure may be similarly formed as a double-walled insulated structure. Generally, however it is not necessary to provide structures of this complexity. A single walled rotationally moulded or otherwise formed plastics moulding may be employed. Polyethylene may be used to form the structure. It is preferred however to form the end closure as a double walled insulated structure.

Suitable arrangements may be made for venting gases from the crypt chamber, such as a one way valve in the end wall of the crypt structure 14 and which permits egress of gases but prevents ingress. In the described arrangements, the floor of the module 12 is formed by the floor 20 of the crypt structure 14. This is satisfactory since the structural load of the weight of the module and of modules positioned above it is borne by the wall portions 30 of the support structure 16. It would be possible however to mould reinforced concrete around the bottom of the floor so as to be structurally continuous with the side wall portions 30 of the structure 16, so that the floor of the crypt structure 14 was also supported by the structure 16.

The described arrangement has the advantage that the crypt chamber can be made structurally coherent in the sense that damage to the support structure such as cracking or the like, which may occur over time, will not necessarily directly cause damage to the crypt structure 14.

Thus, the crypt structure with its sealed end closure will provide protection against leakage of gases or liquids from the crypt chamber. This is particularly the case where the crypt structure is formed as an integral moulding, as described.

Because the crypt structure is not required to be load bearing (it being possible to arrange for all substantial load bearing to be done by the support structure 16) the crypt structure 14 need not be particularly strong and may be made relatively cheaply

with relatively thin walls, and thus be light, to facilitate handling.

The described construction may be employed where multiple crypts are to be defined. Figure 13 shows a module 100 where a reinforced concrete support structure 116 is moulded around a number of side by side crypt structures 14. Thus, there is a roof portion 132 of the support structure 116, which extends over the tops of the structures 14, and integral downwardly depending walls between the structures 14 and at each end of the module 100.

The described arrangement, where the end closure 18 can be removed or attached by movement only in the direction towards and away from the end wall of the crypt structure, ensures that crypts in a multi-crypt mausoleum can readily be closed and if necessary opened without dismantling the crypt. Generally the end closure should be capable of being removed or positioned to close a crypt when the crypt structure is in situ in a mausoleum, with other crypt structures to either side and thereabove.

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 positioned on the floor of the module, for example, towards the end wall 136.

The described crypt structure permits perishable genetic material to be preserved in a fashion sealed against atmospheric weather conditions.

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 as defined in the appended claims.