FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Forms of embodiment described here concern a multifunctional container, in particular a multifunctional testamentary casket.

More in particular, forms of embodiment described here concern a container, in particular a testamentary casket, which between the external and internal contents can perform for example a plurality of functions, in particular at least three functions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known that when people who have a certain capital, irrespective of what it consists of, reach a certain age, they have the problem of old age, and possibly are no longer self-sufficient, and then they have the problem of designating their heirs.

In these cases it often happens that the heirs take advantage of the conditions of the elderly person, which may even be serious, and in addition they even forget the person, or do not respect his/her wishes.

In the past, those who were able to decide on the sharing of the goods, as they got older, would come to an agreement with one of the heirs. The bequest in favor of the latter consisted of a suitable quantity of goods, and the agreement was formalized by a detailed contract concerning how the beneficiary was to be treated and what was to be reserved for him/her, in the event of breach of said contract, with at least the surplus part being transferred to third parties.

Today things are different and it often happens that the offspring or heirs forget their parent and treat him/her with disdain, humiliating him/her and not respecting his/her wishes.

Document US-A-2002/186131 describes a security device for an electronic card or board.

Document US-A-2007/018541 describes a safe-deposit box.

Document US-A-4,660,732 describes a container with a seal that indicates if any tampering has occurred.

Other limitations and disadvantages of conventional solutions and technologies will be clear to a person of skill after reading the remaining part of the present description with reference to the drawings and the description of the forms of embodiment that follow, although it is clear that the description of the state of the art connected to the present description must not be considered an admission that what is described here is already known from the state of the prior art.

There is therefore a need to perfect a multifunctional container, in particular a multifunctional testamentary casket, which can overcome at least one of the disadvantages of the state of the art.

In particular, the present invention intends to supply, to a person who possesses a capital, whether it be large or small, an instrument that not only clearly shows his/her primary wishes or another message, but also contains his testamentary wishes, either holographic or certified by a notary, and at the same time possibly represents a subject dear to him/her. Furthermore, as a variant, the invention proposes that said object can function as a bookend.

The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claim, while the dependent claims describe other characteristics of the invention or variants to the main inventive idea.

Forms of embodiment described here refer to a personalized multifunctional testamentary casket. According to one form of embodiment, the testamentary casket comprises:

- a containing body provided with an internal compartment;

- a closing element to selectively close the internal compartment of the containing body;

- at least one fluidic sealing element disposed between the closing element and the containing body;

- at least one seal to indicate that opening/tampering has occurred, in cooperation with the closing element.

According to possible forms of embodiment, the closing element can be removed from the containing body. For example, in a possible variant, the closing element can be screwed onto the containing body. In a possible implementation, the closing element comprises a removable top.

According to possible forms of embodiment, the closing element can be provided on the bottom of the containing body.

According to possible forms of embodiment, the fluidic sealing element can be provided along the whole perimeter of the closing element.

According to possible forms of embodiment, the containing body provides an aperture to access the internal compartment, the aperture being selectively closable by the closing element.

According to possible forms of embodiment, the internal compartment is closed and inaccessible from the outside, except for the aperture.

According to possible forms of embodiment, the seal to indicate opening/tampering can be provided between the containing body and the closing element.

According to possible forms of embodiment, the seal to indicate opening/tampering can be configured to display that an opening/tampering of the closing element has occurred.

According to possible forms of embodiment, the seal to indicate opening/tampering can include at least an elongated element extending between the containing body and the closing element and provided with one or more anti- removal elements.

According to other possible forms of embodiment, the seal to indicate opening/tampering comprises one or more deposits of breakable solid material. According to other possible forms of embodiment, the containing body has a cylindrical shape.

According to possible forms of embodiment, an external part of the testamentary casket, which can be any shape whatsoever, can be characterized by a subject that can represent the figure, or part of it, of a person associated with the testamentary casket or its owner, or of a person dear to the owner, or a monument, or in general anything that said person is happy to have portrayed for his/her personal pleasure. In other variants, the external part of the testamentary casket can be shaped as desired, to reproduce an objet d'art, a geometric shape, or can carry desired images, decorative and/or artistic, geometric, abstract or naturalistic motifs. Merely by way of example, the external part of the container can reproduce a cylinder, a floral motif, an animal, a scene from a work of art or suchlike.

According to possible forms of embodiment, the external part can have a specific zone of the surface where the terms of the will of the person, or anything he/she desires, are impressed,

According to possible forms of embodiment, it is possible to provide that inside the containing body there is at least said internal compartment, in which the person can leave his holographic will or other.

The internal compartment can also have, for example, the function of a cinerary urn, for example to contain the ashes of the deceased, for example when its function as testamentary casket ceases, for containing the holographic will or other.

According to possible forms of embodiment, the internal compartment is accessible by removing the closing element, which for example can be associated with closing means that the person can manage, control and modify.

The person can also have a duplicate copy of sealing means, i.e. the password, or can communicate it to a notary or person he/she trusts.

According to a variant, the closing mean can be a door or window.

According to a variant, the closing mean can be a snap- in mean.

According to a variant, the closing mean can be a screw or bayonet element. According to possible forms of embodiment, the closing means are associated with sealing means, associated with a personalized sealing instrument, which can advantageously be available only to the owner.

For example, the seal can be the lead type with a specific sign defined by the owner.

According to a variant, the sealing mean can be a timer mechanism that can be activated by a special mean that the owner keeps for himself/herself.

According to another variant, the sealing mean can be the electronic lock type with an internal energy source, i.e. an energy accumulator. According to possible forms of embodiment, the lock can be integrated with an alarm signal, if the energy supply is interrupted for a certain period of time. According to a variant, an alarm to signal an attempted break- in can also be provided.

If the necessary energy is provided from inside, it can be fed from the outside or it can be the container itself that generates energy, because of how it is set up and equipped, in order to prevent inopportune interventions.

According to possible forms of embodiment, a blocking system can be present, in case the power is suspended for a certain period of time.

According to possible forms of embodiment, the testamentary casket can be made of any material whatsoever which has a desired consistency, such as stone or rock, metal or painted or unpainted plastic, and which is in any case hard and resilient.

These and other aspects, characteristics and advantages of the present disclosure will be better understood with reference to the following description, drawings and attached claims. The drawings, which are integrated and form part of the present description, show some forms of embodiment of the present invention, and together with the description, are intended to describe the principles of the disclosure.

The various aspects and characteristics described in the present description can be applied individually where possible. These individual aspects, for example aspects and characteristics described in the attached dependent claims, can be the object of divisional applications.

It is understood that any aspect or characteristic that is discovered, during the patenting process, to be already known, shall not be claimed and shall be the object of a disclaimer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of some forms of embodiment, given as a non- restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

- fig. 1 is a perspective view of a multifunctional testamentary casket in accordance with forms of embodiment described here;

- fig. 2 is a section of a multifunctional testamentary casket in accordance with forms of embodiment described here; - fig. 3 is a plan view from below of a multifunctional testamentary casket in accordance with forms of embodiment described here;

- fig. 4 is a section from IV to IV of fig. 3;

- fig. 5 is a is a plan view from below of a multifunctional testamentary casket in accordance with other forms of embodiment described here;

- fig. 6 is a section from VI to VI of fig. 5;

- fig. 7 is a partly sectioned lateral view of a possible external form of a multifunctional testamentary casket in accordance with forms of embodiment described here;

- fig. 8 is the view from below of a possible closing with the possibility of applying the seal usable in a multifunctional testamentary casket in accordance with forms of embodiment described here;

- fig. 9 is a schematic diagram of an electronic lock usable in a multifunctional testamentary casket in accordance with forms of embodiment described here.

To facilitate comprehension, the same reference numbers have been used, where possible, to identify identical common elements in the drawings. It is understood that elements and characteristics of one form of embodiment can conveniently be incorporated into other forms of embodiment without further clarifications.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME FORMS OF EMBODIMENT

We shall now refer in detail to the various forms of embodiment of the present invention, of which one or more examples are shown in the attached drawing. Each example is supplied by way of illustration of the invention and shall not be understood as a limitation thereof. For example, the characteristics shown or described insomuch as they are part of one form of embodiment can be adopted on, or in association with, other forms of embodiment to produce another form of embodiment. It is understood that the present invention shall include all such modifications and variants.

Before describing these forms of embodiment, we must also clarify that the present description is not limited in its application to details of the construction and disposition of the components as described in the following description using the attached drawings. The present description can provide other forms of embodiment and can be obtained or executed in various other ways. We must also clarify that the phraseology and terminology used here is for the purposes of description only, and cannot be considered as limitative.

Forms of embodiment described here concern a personalized multifunctional testamentary casket 100.

In particular, figs. 1-6 are used to describe forms of embodiment, which can be combined with all the forms of embodiment described here, of a testamentary casket 100 that includes a containing body 1 10 provided with an internal compartment 11 (see fig. 2).

Advantageously, in the internal compartment 11 of the containing body 1 10 one or more supports can be contained and preserved, which include or carry textual and/or graphical information, or combinations thereof.

Examples of supports used in the forms of embodiment described here are a physical support, such as a paper support, papyrus, fabric, plastic, metal, stone material or similar support. For example, in the case of a physical support, the information can be printed, impressed, engraved or other. Or the support could be an electronic support, such as an electronic memory and in this case the information will be memorized in it in electronic form. For example, the support with information can be or can contain a will, in particular a holographic will or sworn by a notary, which contains the testamentary wishes of a person associated with, or the owner of, the testamentary casket 100.

According to another possibility, in the internal compartment 1 1 of the containing body 110, the ashes of a deceased living being, either person or animal, can be contained after death, associated with the testamentary casket 100 or the owner. For example, the internal compartment 11 can have a volume from 2.5 liters to 5 liters, in particular from 3 liters to 4 liters.

The testamentary casket 100 can be provided with a closing element 1 13 (see fig. 2) to selectively close the internal compartment 1 1 of the containing body 110.

Furthermore, according to some forms of embodiment, which can be combined with all the forms of embodiment described here, the testamentary casket 100 can be provided with at least one fluidic sealing element 1 14 (see fig. 2) disposed between the closing element 1 13 and the containing body 1 10. Moreover, according to some forms of embodiment, the testamentary casket 100 can be provided with at least a seal to indicate opening/tampering 116, in cooperation with said closing element 113.

According to some forms of embodiment, which can be combined with all the forms of embodiment described here, the closing element 113 is completely removable from the containing body 110.

In possible implementations, the closing element 1 13 can be screwed to the containing body 110. For example, in these possible implementations, the closing element 113 comprises a threaded portion 122, to screw to the containing body. For example, the closing element 113 can comprise a removable top, in particular a screwable top.

In possible implementations, the closing element 113 is provided on the bottom of the containing body 1 10. Alternatively, the closing element 1 13 can be provided on the top of the containing body 1 10, or again in another desired position, for example on the lateral surface.

According to some forms of embodiment, which can be combined with all the forms of embodiment described here, the containing body 110 provides an aperture 117 to access the internal compartment 11. The aperture 117 is selectively closable by the closing element 113. The position of the aperture 1 17 is therefore correlated to the position of the closing element 113. In possible implementations, the aperture 117 can be provided with a threaded counter- portion 123, mating with the threaded portion 122 of the closing element 1 13. The threaded portion 122 of the closing element 113 can be a male threaded portion and the threaded counter-portion 123 of the aperture 1 17 can be a female threaded portion, or vice versa.

According to some forms of embodiment, which can be combined with all the forms of embodiment described here, the fluidic sealing element 114 can be provided along the whole perimeter of the closing element 1 13.

In possible implementations, the fluidic sealing element 1 14 can be an annular packing, an O-ring or similar fluidic and/or hydraulic sealing element.

According to some forms of embodiment, which can be combined with all the forms of embodiment described here, the internal compartment 11 is closed and inaccessible from the outside, except for the aperture 117. According to some forms of embodiment, which can be combined with all the forms of embodiment described here, the seal to indicate opening/tampering 116 is provided between the containing body 110 and the closing element 113.

According to some forms of embodiment, which can be combined with all the forms of embodiment described here, the seal to indicate opening/tampering 116 is an indicator seal of the visual type, configured to show visually or to display that opening/tampering of the closing element 113 has occurred.

According to some forms of embodiment, described using figs. 1-4, the seal to indicate opening/tampering 116 comprises an elongated element 118 extending between the containing body 110 and the closing element 113 and provided with one or more anti-removal elements 119. For example, the elongated element 118 can be a flexible element, in particular a filiform element, a wire, a sealing wire, a cable, for example made of metal such as copper, or plastic material.

The anti-removal elements 1 19 can be configured to prevent the elongated element 118 from detaching, decoupling or disconnecting from the containing body 110 and closing element 113, for example obtaining an interference or mechanical impediment for this purpose.

The anti-removal elements 119 can be disposed at the ends of the elongated element 118, so as to prevent it from disconnecting from the containing body 110 and the closing element 113. The one or more anti-removal elements 119 can be breakable. Examples of anti-removal elements 119 can be seals, in particular plastic, or metal, more in particular lead seals. The anti-removal elements 119 can be personalized with the seal of the person to whom the testamentary casket 110 is associated, for example by means of a suitable minting and/or sealing instrument which is preferably kept hidden from view and not accessible to others, except for the person associated with the testamentary casket 110 or other delegated person.

According to some forms of embodiment, which can be combined with all the forms of embodiment described here, the containing body 110 and the closing element 1 13 are provided with holes 124, for the passage of the elongated element 1 18.

According to some forms of embodiment, described using figs. 5 and 6, the seal to indicate opening/tampering 116 comprises one or more deposits of breakable solid material 120. Examples of breakable solid material 120 are mixtures of resins and mineral substances and possibly dyes, which soften and liquefy when subjected to flame, and solidify at ambient temperature, used for sealing. For example, the breakable solid material 120 can be sealing wax or wax. In possible implementations, a seal or sign can be affixed on the breakable solid material 120 to identify the proprietor, and advantageously cannot be reproduced by third parties, to prevent break-ins or in any case to display that an opening/breakage has occurred. For example, the seal can be affixed on the sealing wax.

By the term "seal", here and in the present description, we mean for example an instrument of metal or hard stone, flat or cylindrical, bearing an engraved emblem, symbol, scene or initials, which applied on the melted wax or sealing wax leaves a raised impression on the document, a containing or closing element that is intended to be authenticated or protected from possible tampering and, by extension, a mean provided with a suitable countersign, the function of which is to prevent possible tampering or breach of a closure.

In possible implementations, the containing body 110 and the closing element 113 are provided with respective seatings or recesses 125, 126, made respectively in the containing body 110 and the closing element 1 13, to receive the one or more deposits of breakable solid material 120. For example, the seatings or recesses 125, 126 can have a mating or complementary shape and can be located or divided up or provided uniformly or continuously distributed between the containing body 110 and the closing element 113. In particular, the one or more deposits of breakable solid material 120 can be astride the containing body 110 and the closing element 113, so that removing the closing element 113 causes the breakable solid material 120 to break, which gives a visual warning that the closing element 113 has been opened.

According to some forms of embodiment, the containing body 110 of the testamentary casket 100 is provided with external surfaces 121. For example, the external surfaces 121 can be smooth or decorated, for example with a bas-relief, or they can have graphical motifs, writings, geometric or naturalistic patterns. According to some examples, the external surfaces 121 can have a three- dimensional structure formed by the modular repetition of protruding, three- dimensional solids, for example pyramids as described using figs. 1-6.

According to some forms of embodiment, which can be combined with all the forms of embodiment described here, the containing body 1 10 and the closing element 113 can be made of metal material, for example a metal such as titanium, iron, copper, aluminium or a metal alloy of titanium, an aluminium alloy, or bronze or steel. For example, a stainless metal can be used, such as stainless titanium or stainless steel.

It is not excluded that the containing body 110 and the closing element 1 13 can be made of plastic, stone, wood or other material, or a combination of these materials, or in combination with one or more metal materials.

The containing body 110 and the closing element 1 13 can be made of the same material or of different materials.

For example, the containing body 110 can be obtained through a point-by- point three-dimensional forming and shaping system, such as for example depositing and solidification with one or another of techniques such as EBM (Electron Beam Melting) or DMSLS (Direct Metal Selective Laser Sintering), or equivalent technique, of successive flat layers with a determinate and limited thickness of powdered metal material, for example but not only titanium or its alloys. The sequence of the layers obtains, concretely and gradually, a respective three-dimensional theoretical model, generated by design instruments for an electronic calculator, of the containing body 1 10, which, at the end of working, is present on the external surface 121 of the containing body 1 10.

According to some forms of embodiment, which can be combined with all the forms of embodiment described here, the containing body 110 can have a prismatic shape with a polygonal base, for example with three, four, five, six or even more than six sides, or with an ovoid or elliptical base, or with a circular base, i.e. it can be cylindrical or conical or truncated cone shaped, or pyramidal or truncated pyramid shaped, with a polygonal base as indicated above.

Figs. 7 and 8 show by way of example possible forms of embodiment of an external part 10 of the containing body 110 that can be morphologically defined in terms of personalization, in this specific case it can be the head of the owner, or a person or figure or representation dear to or chosen by the owner. In possible forms of embodiment, the external part 10 of the containing body 110 connects in this specific case to a pedestal or base 12, conformed according to requirements, in this case square, which has external surfaces 121. In possible implementations, on the external surfaces 121 the owner's public desires or other writings dear to him/her can be indelibly engraved, for example with hollowed- out letters or in bas-relief. In this way, it is possible to write a person's wishes, including whether the death is to be made public or not, if there is to be a funeral or not, if the person is to be buried or cremated, or other similar last wishes. In the case of cremation, it can be indicated where the ashes are to be deposited, or other.

For example, in this specific case, in the lower wall of the base 12, a seating 16 can be provided which allows access to the internal compartment 11. The seating 16 can be associated with the aperture 117.

For example, in possible implementations, the closing element 113 can include a plate 13.

The seating 16, in the specific case shown here, can be closed by the plate 13 which, for example, can have a tooth 15 that cooperates with a recess 115 present in the periphery of the seating 16.

In this specific case, the seating 16 has three lateral compartments 18 which have two extensions 19, in this specific case for example provided with holes 27, having the same function as the holes 124.

The holed extensions 19 cooperate with a stud 17 which extends from the plate 13, the stud 17 also being provided for example with holes 27, similar to the holes 124.

It is thus possible, for example, to make an elongated element 118, such as a sealing wire, pass through the holes 27 and clamp the ends of the wire with an anti-removal element 119, such as for example a seal, like a lead, characterized with drawings, words or signs that are characteristic of the person, or other.

The anti-removal element 119, which as we said can be lead, can be personalized using a suitable minting and/or sealing instrument, for example pincers or grippers, bearing the owner's seal, put by the owner in a secret place. The minting and/or sealing instrument can also be used to affix a seal on the breakable solid material 120, for example sealing wax or wax, as described above.

If the rear side, or lateral side, of the base 12 protrudes from the shape of the figure, or contributes vertically with it to create a stable point, the testamentary casket 100 can also function as a bookend.

Furthermore, in possible forms of embodiment, if the person wishes to be cremated, he/she can also decide that his/her ashes are put in the internal compartment 11 of the containing body 110, everything positioned as the owner desires.

For example, if the owner loves the sea, he/she can indicate that he/she wants the container to be thrown into the sea.

If the plate 13 or the internal compartment 11 contains an electronic lock, for example a combination lock, energy supply means are provided, located inside the container and not accessible from the outside.

To keep the energy supply means charged, a cable power supply can be provided, i.e. products can be applied on the container which, based on the light, generate energy that is fed by supply means, for example light-sensitive paints or photovoltaic means.

The one or more fluidic sealing elements 114 can include sealing means 14. The plate 13 can cooperate with the sealing means 14, shown merely by way of example in fig. 7, able to prevent infiltrations of water or damp.

The owner can put his/her will in the internal compartment 11 of the containing body 110, but can also change it as the situations vary in which he/she may find himself over time.

Since the testamentary casket 100 is sealed in a way that can be controlled by the owner, the eventual heirs can know his/her public wishes, but cannot know the provisions of his/her will unless they tamper, in a fraudulent and verifiable manner, with the one or more seals that indicate opening/tampering 116, so that they have to take into account this uncertainty or possible variability.

If for example the testamentary casket 100 is made of titanium, or at least steel alloy, and is three-dimensionally shaped and formed point-by-point, the heirs or other unauthorized persons cannot hope to access the will, or to modify it. In the case of fig. 9, with the electronic lock, an external and autonomous energy source 20 is provided, together with a possible connector 21 that allows connection with an external power network.

The external source and the connector 21 power an internal battery or accumulator 22, for example rechargeable, which serves to command the system and has its own autonomy.

A power controller 23 can be provided to intervene, blocking the system if the external power is interrupted for a certain period of time and/or if the battery 22 goes below a certain level of available energy.

Furthermore, the power controller 23 or other can also show attempted break- ins.

A keypad 24, accessible from the outside, for example positioned in the lower part of the base 12 or in the plate 13, allows to introduce the code or password that the owner intends to use to make the internal compartment 11 and its content inaccessible. The code can also be given to a trustworthy person.

The whole results in a management, control and command system 26 that controls the opening and closing of the lock 26.

The external source 20 can be a photovoltaic plate, a light-sensitive paint, an atmospheric pressure or temperature sensor which is associated for example with a piezoelectric system or other known mean able to transform a mechanical force into electric energy.

It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts may be made to the multifunctional testamentary casket 100 as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention.

It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, a person of skill in the art shall certainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of multifunctional testamentary casket, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.

In the claims that follow, the sole purpose of the references in brackets is to facilitate reading: they are not to be considered as limiting factors with regard to the field of protection as set forth in the specific claims.