US134182A - Improvement in sheet-metal coffins - Google Patents

Description

{UNI ED STATES PATENT WILLIAM s. WOOD, on "NEW YORK, N. Y.-,'rrssIe.N0R To WILLIAM M. RAYMOND -& 00., OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN SHEET-METAL COFFINS.

Specification forming part of Letters PatontNo. 134,182, dated December 2-1, 1872.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM S. W001), of New York city, have invented an Improvement in Sheet-Metal Ooflins, of which the folmost durable method of strengthening as well as ornamenting them. Heretofore these parts have been paneled or embossed in separate pieces, and then united, by brazing, riveting, or otherwise, to form the body of the coffin, involving greater delay in construction, and

presenting a greater number of joints, thus weakening the structure, and also increasing the difficulty and expense of rendering it airtight. I

Not only does 'my improved method of constructing the body of a sheet-metal coffin diminish the number of joints, thusv rendering the structure more nearly air tight and giving increased strength with the same weight of metal, but it affords increased facilities for embossing the parts, thus materially lessening the cost of the structure, as I propose to' emboss the single sheet of metal used at one impression in a pair of dies constructed for that purpose.

As a first step in the construction of a coffin in accordance with my invention, I cut,

from a single sheet, a skeleton form, of such shape as would be obtained were the sides and ends of a coffin turned outward to aplane with the bottom thereof.

Figure" 1 represents such a form, with one style of embossing; and Fig. 2 shows the 7 body of a cofiin completed, which consists of port to the sides; and the panels I.

Instead of turning upward the outer edge of the horizontal flange on the body of the coflin as a mode of concealing the metallic rim D, it is plain that the edge of the corresponding flange upon the cover of the coffin may be turned downward.

The main function of the rim D is to give the rigidity to the structure, and at the same time to furnish the necessary support to the screws used to connect the cover with the body of the coflin. flanges as described, and placing the rim between them, this end is secured without exposing the rim to view and thereby marring. the external appearance of the casket, as will be the case when the strengthening device is placed underneath the flange formed on the upper edge of the body. The cement used for making the joint between the cover and the body of the casket air-tight will, of course, be disposed upon and around the rim D.

The second step in my invention is to suitably emboss these parts, as above described; after which they are ready to be formed into the body of the cofiin by turning them up,

as indicated by the dotted lines a. This is most conveniently effected by means of a form-block, over which the coffin is shaped. The corner-irons F, curved or angular, as the shape of the coffin may demand, are then fitted in the corners as a means of strengthening the joints and rendering them air-tight by brazing the sides andv ends firmly thereto. The handle plates G, to which the handles are secured by bolts, rivets, or their equivalents, are placed on the interior of the sides to distribute the strain on the handle over a larger surface of the sides, and there by strengthen them.

The L-shaped ribs H, two or more in number, as may be required, are secured on the interior to the sides and bottom, to prevent bulging when a heavy body is supported with- 1n.

From the above description of the essential features of my invention it is evident that various modifications inform and in detail of construction may be devised. Hence I do not limit myself to any particular modification of either; but- By constructing the two I claim-- turned edge of this flange, or by its equiva- 1. A sheet-metal coffin, the sides, ends, and lent, a depending flange formed on the cover. bottom of which are composed of a single sheet 3. The handle plates on the interior of a of metal. sheet-metal OOffiD, substantially as described. 2-. The combination of the metallic rim D -WILLIAM S. WOOD.

with the flange formed on the upper edge of Witnesses:

the body of the coffin, the rim itself being con-' SAML. A. DUNCAN,

cealed, substantially as described, by the up P. M. SHUEY.

Images