US631574A - Casket-carrier. - Google Patents

Description

No. 63!,574. Patented Aug. 22, [899.

A. KIRCHER.

CASKET CARRIER.

plication filed June 19 189 UNITED STATES v PATENT FFICE."

ANDREW KIROl-IER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CASKET-CARRIER.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 631,574, dated August 22, 1899.

Application filed Tune 19, 1899. Serial No. 721,035. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, ANDREW KIRonER, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Casket-Carriers; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to an improved device in the nature of a detachable carrier or hand-grip for use upon coffins or burial-caskets of the class described in my prior patent for casket-carriers, issued June 6, 1899, No. 626,432.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter described, and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a View in side elevation of a casket provided with a carrying device constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a face View of the socket-plate shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Fig. 5 shows a sectional View of a carrier embodying a modification of my invention. Fig, 6 is a face View of the socketplate shown in Fig. 5.

As shown in said drawings, A indicates a burial-casket as a whole, and B two handgrips which are detachably secured thereto.

A indicates the bottom of the casket, and A the side walls of the same.

Flat metallic socket-plates O are countersunk into the lower surface of the bottom wall of the casket near the ends thereof and are rigidly secured to the said bottom by means of screws or the like and constitute means for detachably securing thereto the hand grip B. The said socket -plates, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, are secured over elongated recesses in the bottom surface of the casket by means of screws or the like. Each of the said plates is set flush with the bottom surface of the casket and is provided with an aperture 0, having a narrow slot or extension 0 at the end thereof nearest the end of the casket.

Each of the handles 13 is provided at its end designed for contact with the casket with a flat contact-surface and also with a stud I), having an enlarged head I), which is adapted for insertion through the aperture 0, 7 but which is wider than the slot or extension 0', so that after the stud has been inserted in the aperture 0 the said handle may beinterlocked with the plate by moving the handle in a direction to bring the stud into the slot 0 of the plate, when the sides of the head will engage the inner side of the plate on each side of the slot. Obviously the handle may be readily attached to or detached from the casket by en dwise movement with respect to the socketplate. The said handle B will preferably be curved in its upper part to bring the main part or grip thereof adjacent to or outside of the end of the casket, as shown in the drawings, thereby affording what may be known as a pistol-grip, which fits well in the hand and has the additional advantage of bringing the hand in position where it will be out of contact with the corner of the casket, as shown in Fig. 1.

As a modification of my invention I provide a socket-plate C and handle B similar to those before described, such modifications being illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6. The socketplate 0 in this instance has two slotted apertures c 0 similar to the slotted aperture in the plate 0, the said apertures being preferably placed one behind theother, as shown.

The handle B (shown in Fig. 5) is provided with two studs 6 11 similar to the stud b of the handle 13, each having an enlarged head b 19 The said studs are placed one behind the other and spaced so as to correspond with the apertures in said plate, so that when the same are inserted in the plate they may be drawn back into the slotted recesses and firmly locked in the said plate in a manner similar to that already described in relation to the plate O andhandle'B. The result of this construction is to greatly increase the strength of the connection between the handle-and the casket by giving greater length to the plate, which is set inthe bottom of the casket, and providing two studs, whereby the strain on each stud is greatly diminished.

Detachable hand-grips made as described may be located at any suitable places upon the coffin or casket and at either one or both eudsof the same. Ordinarily they will be needed only at one end of the casket, this being the heavier or head end thereof. They may be placed at a greater or less distance from the end and at such distance from the sides as may be found convenient. These hand-grips are intended more particularly for the use of the undertaker or his assistant in carrying a casket through doorways or down stairways or in other positions where the pallbearers are unable to sustain the casket by the use of the usual side handles, it being the practice under such circumstances for the undertaker and his assistants to place themselves at the head or foot of the casket and carry the same without aid from the pall-bearers. Fig. 1 illustrates the employment of the detachable hand-grips in carrying a casket down a stairway. In this instance the head end of the easket, which is uppermost, is provided with the hand-grips,which are grasped by a person who is in the more elevated position, this position or location of the grip giving bearer a firm hold on the casketand enabling him to effectively support the same, notwithstanding its inclined position. The foot end of the casket is shown as supported by the handsof another person in the usual manner, this being the lighter end and the one which is carried foremost in descending stairways. \Vhile the hand-grips are not usually necessary at the said foot or lower end, because the same is lighter and the weight does not tend to pull the casket downward or away from the person supporting it, as in the case of-the upper or head end, yetsimilar handle-grips may be used at such lower end with advantage when desired.

Obviously the plates forming the part of my invention maybe very cheaply constructed, and inasmuch as the same are set in the bottom of the casket flush with the lower surface thereof they may be conveniently provided on any casket. This is especially true inasmuch as the application of the said plates does not require an aperture through the bottom of the casket, which in some cases is objectionable.

The handles are of small size and may be conveniently carried in the vestpockct until required for use, when the same may be quickly inserted in the sockets and used without attracting attention. \Vhen their use is no longer required, the handles maybe instantly detached by moving the same forwardly in the slots and removing them downwardly out of engagement with the socketplates.

I claim as my invention-- 1. A casket-carrier comprising a grip provided at its upper end with a flat contactsurface, a stud, projecting from said contactsurface and provided with a laterally-projecting head and a socket-plate adapted to be secured in the wall of the easketfinsh with the outer surface thereof, said socket-plate being provided with an aperture having a narrow extension and adapted to receive the said stud and to interlock therewith.

2. A casket-carrier comprising a grip provided at its upper end with a fiat contactsurfaee at right angles therewith, studs projecting from said flat contact-surface, a laterallyextended head on each stud and a socket-plate adapted to be secured in the wall of the casket flush with the outer surface thereof, said socket-plate being provided with apertures each having a narrow extension and adapted to receive one of said studs and to interlock therewith.

3. A casket-carrier comprising a curved grip provided at itsuppcr end with a horizontally-extending arm having an upper flat contact-surface at right angles with the grip, upwardly-projecting studs, on said contactsurface, a laterally-extending head on each stud and a socket-plate adapted to be secured over an elongated recess in the Wall of the casket and flush with the outer surface, said socket being provided with apertures each having a narrow extension and adapted to receive one of said studs and to interlock with said studs.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses, this 16th day of June, A. D. 1899.

ANDREW KIRCITER.

\Vitnesses:

C. CLARENCE PooLn, Gnanmts W. HILL.

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