Field

[0001] The present invention relates to below ground burial structures, such as a casket or the like, as well as to a method of burying a corpse.

Background

[0002] Known coffins or caskets typically define an enclosure, such as a generally cuboid or box -like enclosure, defined by a base, walls and top, for receiving a corpse usually to be buried under ground.

[0003] According to some religious customs, particularly Islamic practices, burial of a corpse is commonly performed below ground without the use of a coffin or casket. In this regard, the corpse is typically shrouded with cloth and then lowered into a pre-excavated grave. The excavated soil is then returned to the grave so that the corpse is fully buried.

[0004] A problem with this and other like burial practices is that in soils which are prone to waterlogging (for example, clay soil or the like) the groundwater can interfere with the natural decomposition of the buried corpse. This is often problematic in Islamic, Christian and Jewish religion practices where it may be seen as offensive if the buried corpse is unable to sufficiently decompose. It may also be a problem that the groundwater may slow the rate of decomposition of the corpse which in turn increases the period of time in which the burial plot is not available for re-use.

[0005] The burial practices that are commonly used allow surface and sub-soil water in. This is due but not limited to the soil not being compacted and air pockets in the back-filled material. Once excavated graves are full of water any bio-hazardous material has the potential to leak out of the graves.

[0006] It is thus an object of the present invention to substantially overcome, or at least ameliorate, one or more of the above problems. Summary of Invention

[0007] There is disclosed herein a burial module for covering a corpse when buried under ground, the module including:

a base having sidewalls extending longitudinally away from the base to a top, wherein the base, sidewalls and top define a chamber to receive the corpse, and wherein the base includes an opening to the ground.

[0008] Preferably, the opening extends along a full width and length of the base.

[0009] Preferably, the base is configured to rest upon the top of a like burial module stacked therebeneath.

[0010] Preferably, the sidewalls extend inwardly from the base to the top such that the base defines a larger enclosed area than an enclosed area defined by the top so as to form an interstice between the burial modules when stacked.

[0011] Preferably, the sidewalls extend inwardly from the base to the top at an angle in the range of about 5 degrees to 10 degrees measured from an axis perpendicular to the base.

[0012] Preferably, the sidewalls include a plurality of outwardly projecting ribs extending longitudinally away from the base to the top and spaced around the sidewalls for supporting the base of the like burial module when stacked.

[0013] Preferably, the base includes a rim extending away from the sidewalls for engagement with the ribs of the like burial module when stacked.

[0014] Preferably, the top includes a top opening into the chamber for receiving the corpse therethrough, and wherein the burial module further includes a removable top panel to close the top opening.

[0015] Preferably, the top includes a lip extending around a periphery of the top opening, with the lip extending away from the top, the lip configured to be received in a peripherally extending complementary groove of the panel to at least minimise water ingress into the chamber. [0016] Preferably, the panel includes a plurality of outwardly extending projections and the sidewalls include a plurality of latches for detachably latching to each of the projections of the panel such that the panel is securable to the top.

[0017] Preferably, the panel is divided into a first panel portion and a second panel portion, wherein each of the first and second panel portions are independently removable from the top.

[0018] Preferably, the first and second panel portions include complementary overlapping portions configured to at least minimise water ingress into the chamber.

[0019] There is also disclosed herein a burial structure including a plurality of the burial modules described above arranged in a stack for respectively covering a plurality of corpses when buried under ground.

[0020] There is further disclosed herein a method of burying a corpse, the method comprising steps of:

providing one or more of the burial modules described above;

positioning the one or more burial modules into a grave;

lowering the corpse into the one or more burial modules through the top opening;

closing the top opening of the one or more burial modules with the panel; and back-filling the grave.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0021] For a more complex understanding of the present invention, exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail in the following description with reference to the accompanying drawing figures, in which like reference signs designate like parts and in which:

[0022] Fig. l is a perspective view of a burial module according to a preferred embodiment;

[0023] Fig. 2 is a simplified top perspective view of the burial module shown in Fig. 1 with a top panel of the burial module removed;

[0024] Fig. 3 is an exploded parts view of the burial module shown in Fig. 1; [0025] Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a burial module according to another embodiment;

[0026] Fig. 5 is an enlarged, bottom perspective view of the burial module shown in Fig. 1 with a panel portion of the burial module removed;

[0027] Fig. 6 is an enlarged, top perspective view of the burial module shown in Fig. 1 with a different panel portion of the burial module removed;

[0028] Fig. 7 is a section view of the burial module shown in Fig. 1 arranged in a stack with a like burial module;

[0029] Fig. 8 is a multi-view of a burial module according to another embodiment;

[0030] Fig. 9 is a bottom perspective view of the burial module show in Fig. 8;

[0031] Figs. 10 and 11 are multi -views of panel portions of the burial module shown in Fig. 8;

[0032] Fig. 12 is a multi-view of the burial module shown in Fig. 8 with the panel portions removed; and

[0033] Fig. 13 is a multi-view of the burial module shown in Fig. 8 with the panel portions secured to the burial module.

Description of Embodiments

[0034] Referring firstly to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a burial module 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated. The burial module 10 is suitable for use for covering a corpse (not shown) when buried under ground (not shown).

[0035] The burial module 10 includes a generally rectangular base 12 having sidewalls 14 extending longitudinally away from the base 12 to a generally rectangular top 16. The sidewalls 14 extend inwardly from the base 12 to the top 16 at an angle a measured from an axis 1 extending perpendicular to the base such that the base 12 defines a larger enclosed area than an enclosed area defined by the top 16 (as best depicted in Fig. 7). Typically, the angle a is in the range of about 5-10 degrees, preferably about 7 degrees. The perpendicular height from the base

12 to the top 16 is typically in the range of about 50-60 mm, preferably 54 mm.

[0036] The base 12, sidewalls 14 and top 16 define a generally cuboidal chamber 18 to receive the corpse. The base 12 includes an opening 20 to the ground extending along a full width and length of the base 12. In this way, the corpse is able to naturally decompose into the ground beneath whilst being at least partly covered from the ground above. The base 12 includes a rim

13 extending around the periphery of the base 13 and away from the sidewalls 14.

[0037] With reference to Figs. 2 and 3, the top 16 of the burial module 10 is open for receiving the corpse therethrough. In one embodiment, the dimensions of the top are about 650 mm in width and 1950 mm in length. In another embodiment, the dimensions of the top are about 540 mm in width and 1720 mm in length. In this connection, the burial module 10 includes independently removable first and second panel portions 22, 22’ positioned in use to close the top 16. The first and second panel portions 22, 22’ may include one or more strengtheners 23 located on an underside of the panel portions 22, 22’.

[0038] As best depicted in Fig. 3, the top 16 includes a peripheral lip 24 extending away from the top 16. The lip 24 is configured to be received in a peripherally extending groove 26 of each of the first and second panel portions 22, 22’ (shown in Fig. 7) when in use to substantially prevent water ingress into the chamber 18. A silicone joint may be disposed between the lip 24 and the groove 26 to assist with sealing the chamber 18 from air and/or water when the first and second panel portions 22, 22’ close the top 16.

[0039] With reference to Figs. 1 and 3, each of the first and second panel portions 22, 22’ includes a plurality of outwardly extending projections 28. The sidewalls 14 include a plurality of latches 30 for detachably latching to each of the projections 28 of the first and second panel portions 22, 22’ such that each of the first and second panel portions 22, 22’ is securable to the top 16 when in use.

[0040] In an alternative embodiment depicted in Fig. 4, a plurality of T-shaped pegs 32 are driven through looped projections 34 of each of the first and second panel portions 22, 22’ and into holes (not shown) formed in the sidewalls 14 of the burial module 10 such that each of the first and second panel portions 22, 22’ is securable to the top 16 when in use. [0041] With particular reference to Figs. 3, 5 and 6, each of the first and second panel portions 22, 22’ includes complementary overlapping portions 36, 36’ configured to substantially prevent water ingress into the chamber 18. In this way, the overlapping portion 36 includes a partition 38 formed integrally with the first panel portion 22 to demarcate a drainage area 40.

[0042] Fig. 7 shows the burial module 10 arranged in a stack with another like burial module 10’ having generally the same features as the burial module 10.

[0043] The sidewalls 14 of the burial module 10 include a plurality of outwardly projecting ribs or beams 15 extending longitudinally away from the base 12 to the top 16 and spaced around the sidewalls 14. The beams 15 have flattened upper end portions l5a. In this way, the flattened upper end portions l5a of the beams 15 of the burial module 10 are in supporting engagement with the rim 13’ of the burial module 10’ when the burial modules 10, 10’ are stacked.

Consequently, an interstice 42 is formed between the burial modules 10, 10’ when stacked to permit organic matter to pass from the chamber 18’ of the burial module 10’ to the ground.

[0044] A burial module 100 according to an alternative embodiment is depicted in Figs. 8 to 13 of the accompanying drawings. Features of the burial module 100 that are identical to those of the burial module 10 are provided with an identical reference numeral, whereas equivalent features are provided with the same reference numeral to that of the burial module 10, increased by 100. For features that are identical or equivalent between the burial module 100 and the burial module 10, it will be appreciated that the above description of those features in relation to the burial module 10 is also applicable to the corresponding identical or equivalent features found in the burial module 100.

[0045] In contrast to the embodiment of the burial module 10, the burial module 100 is configured to be nested within another like burial module 100 whilst in transport to be delivered on-site. In this regard, the burial module 100 includes complementary receiving portions in the form of cut-outs 1 l5a (shown in Fig. 9) located within the chamber 18 to receive the projecting ribs or beams 115 of a nested burial module 100. The ribs 115 and corresponding cut-outs 1 l5a are offset from a normal central axis 101 of the burial module 100 such that the nested burial modules 100 when on-site can be pulled apart and one of the burial modules 100 turned or rotated 180° about the axis 101 so that the rotated burial module 100 may be stacked on top of another like burial module 100 (which has not been rotated 180°) to create a stack of multiple burial modules 100.

[0046] In contrast to the panel portion 22 of the burial module 10, the panel portion 122 of the burial module 100 includes a frame 125 for supporting the panel portion 122’ which may facilitate assembly of the panel portions 122, 122’ to close the top 16.

[0047] It will be appreciated that the burial site may be re-used by leaving the burial modules 10,100 in their place and, after a certain amount of time, excavate and re-use the burial modules 10, 100. The burial modules 10, 100 may have the advantage that the corpse can breakdown much faster when covered by the burial modules 10, 100 as opposed to not being covered since water may not easily enter the burial modules 10, 100 and submerge the corpse.

[0048] A preferred method of burying a corpse will now be described with reference to the drawings. The burial module 10, 100 described above is firstly provided and then positioned into a pre-excavated grave (not shown). The corpse is then lowered into the burial module 10, 100 through the open top 16 of the burial module 10, 100. The first and second panel portions 22, 22’ are then positioned to close the top 16. The grave can then be back-filled. It can also be envisaged that the corpse may be first lowered into the pre-excavated grave. The burial module 10, 100 can then be lowered into the pre-excavated grave to cover the corpse. The first and second panel portions 22, 22’ may be positioned to close the top 16 prior to or after lowering the burial module 10, 100. The method can be repeated for arranging multiple burial modules 10, 100 in a stack. The grave can then be back-filled.

[0049] Although specific embodiments of the invention are illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that a variety of alternative and/or equivalent implementations exist. It should be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments are examples only and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration in any way. Rather, the foregoing summary and detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing at least one exemplary embodiment, it being understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements described in an exemplary embodiment without departing from the scope as set forth in the appended claims and their legal equivalents. Generally, this application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the specific embodiments discussed herein.