US201936A - Improvement in coffin-shields - Google Patents

Description

UNITED STATES PATENTQOFFIGE.

ALTON H. MOOERS, OF NORTH RIDGEVILLE, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT INCOFFlN-SHIELDS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 201,936, dated April 2, 1878; application filed February 14, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALTON H. Moonns, of North Ridgeville, in the county of Lorain and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and Improvd Ooffin-Shield; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and complete description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of the same.

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of the coffin-shield and coffin. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the same. Fig. 3 is an under-side view of the shield and coffin.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several views. a

The purpose of this invention is to prevent body-Snatchers from robbing a grave of the buried corpse; and it consists of a metallic case or shield placed on the casket containing the dead. Said shield is secured in the ground, and also to the coffin, by anchors or arms extending laterally from the sides of the coffin, and others extending inward under the coffin, to prevent the shield from being lifted therefrom.

A further and more detailed description of the invention is substantially as follows:

The shield or case alluded to is represented at A in the drawings, and is constructed of sheet metal or of thin cast metal of a shape and size to completely inclose the coffin, as shown in the drawings, in which B is the coffin.

From around the lower edge of the shield projects a flange, G, to the under side of which are pivoted arms D, which may be more or less in number as the size of the coffin may require. E is a plank, upon which the shield stands, and also the coffin.

The manner of using the above-described shield for the purpose specified is as follows: On the bottom of the grave is laid the plank or plate of metal or stone E, and thereon is deposited the coffin, over which is laid the shield, with the flanges resting upon the plank, and to which it may be secured by screws or spikes driven through the flanges into the plank or plate. The arms D, on placing the shield over the coffin, are adjusted lengthwise of the flange, as shown at a in Fig. 3, so that they may be out of the way on lowering the shield into the grave, and when the shield is fastened to the plank may be drawn under the coffin, as indicated by the dotted lines o, by means of a cord attached to the free end thereof. This disposition of the arms will prev out he shield from being lifted from off the coffin, though it may not have been secured to the plate; hence access cannot be had thereto for removing the corpse. M

For further security, some of the arms may be extended outward into the sides of the grave, as shown at D in Fig. 2 and indicated by the dotted lines D in Fig. 3. This adjustment of the arms is also effected by a cord, whereby they may be pulled from under the flange. The arms being covered by the earth by which the grave is filled, and covering the flange, will most effectually prevent access to the coffin for the removal of the dead, which cannot be accomplished without great labor and more time than grave-robbers have to spend; hence the dead are eflectually protected from their hands, as aforesaid.

I am aware that shields have been heretofore used to cover coffins and form air-tight protectors; butnone have yet been constructed to be anchored in the ground, so as to prevent the hurried removal of the corpse by illicit opening of the grave. I therefore do not claim simply a shield as such; but' What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The metal shield A, provided with a' flange, O, and arms D, in combination with a coffin, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

ALTON H. MOOERS.

Witnesses:

W. F. OLAss, DAVID Z. HERR.

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