BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to headstones/monuments of the type intended to be anchored
upright in or on a foundation.
[0002] The placement of various items of personalty at gravesites such as flowers, jewelry,
photos and other mementos has long existed as a means of "keeping in touch" with the
faithfully departed. These items of personalty are usually placed on the ground adjacent
to the headstone and as such, create cemetery maintenance problems especially in the
area of grass cutting. Additionally, many cemeteries have rules and regulations which
prohibit the placement of such items on or about headstones and other grave markers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] It is apparent from the above that some form of personalty display which could be
utilized in conjunction with existing headstones or monuments would be ideal in affording
heirs the opportunity to remember the deceased while at the same time overcoming cemetery
objections relating to maintenance. In my pending application, Serial No. 701,022
entitled Monument Display case and Mounting Assembly I disclose a novel assembly for
detachably mounting a display case to the upper portion of a headstone or monument.
The present invention permits the display of various items of personalty in connection
with headstones/monuments at gravesites by focusing on the headstone/monument itself
without the necessity of utilizing an external mounting device. Accordingly, it is
an object of the present invention to provide a means for displaying items of personalty
in conjunction with a headstone. It is further an object of the present invention
to provide such a display area by means of a hollowed or cut-out portion of the headstone
itself. It is further an object of the present invention to provide such a display
device by internally mounted bolting means. It is also an object of this invention
to provide a headstone repository for items of personal property which may be secured
by appropriate locking means.
[0004] It is yet a further object of this invention to provide a display device which may
be adapted to any existing upright headstone or monument.
[0005] It is another object of this invention to provide a display device which may be adapted
to headstones/monuments of irregular shape and size.
[0006] It is yet a further object of this invention to provide a display area adaptable
to monuments in alternative settings of commemoration.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] The invention is described in the following in greater detail with reference to the
enclosed drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a front perspective view of the headstone and display area;
Figure 2 is a front perspective view of the headstone display area with attached enclosure
panel;
Figure 3 is a rear perspective view of the headstone and display area with attached
enclosure panel;
Figure 4 is a front perspective view of another embodiment of headstone and display
area;
Figure 5 is a front perspective of the headstone with display case mounted on the
top surface thereof;
Figure 6 is a top view of the headstone depicting the mounting means;
Figure 7 is a front perspective view of the headstone with side mounted flower holders;
Figure 8 is a side perspective view of a headstone depicting the mounting means for
side display.
Figure 9 is a front perspective view of another embodiment of a headstone and display
area;
Figure 10 is a top view of the headstone depicting the mounting means;
Figure 11 is a front perspective view of the embodiment shown in Figure 9 with a rear
panel;
Figure 12 is a top view of the headstone depicting the mounting means.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0008] Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3, one form of the novel cemetery monument of the present
invention includes a main body section 1 formed of granite, marble or other type of
stone or suitable structural material. Body section 1 includes a front or face panel
19, top panel 3, side panels 5 and a bottom panel 7.
[0009] The face panel 19 of body section 1 contains at least one hollowed-out aperture area
11 which extends through the width of the headstone from the front face to the rear
face thus creating a window through the center area of the headstone which functions
as a repository for various items of display at the grave site.
[0010] Hollowed-out portion 11 contains flat base member 15 which functions as a shelf or
ledge upon which the various items of personalty are placed for display. In addition,
hollowed-out area 11 contains top surface 17 from which items of personalty may be
suspended by means of appropriate hook means. Display area 9 is provided for text
information, such name and date inscriptions to be carved or for some type of decorative
placque to be attached.
[0011] As can be seen in Figures 2 and 3, hollowed out display area 11 may be rendered more
secure by means of the attachment of panel members 10, 12, one of which may be transparent
to permit viewing of the objects of display.
[0012] These enclosure panels 10, 12, may be secured directly to the front and back faces
of the headstone by appropriate mounting means 14. Alternatively, securing the panels
might involve the installation of a ledge or indentation 16, around the opening of
each side of the headstone so as to receive each flat rigid panel thus allowing each
panel to be secured in a way such that it would be flush with the external surface
of the front or rear face of the headstone.
[0013] The mounting means for securing the panels to the front and rear faces of the headstone
might include the use of bolts or a bonding agent. As yet another example of securing
the front and rear panels, long bolts which pass through the hollowed opening could
be used to secure the front and rear panels to each other.
[0014] As can be seen in Figure 3, access to the display area can be achieved through the
creation of a door 70 in either the front panel 10 or rear panel 12 by removing or
cutting out a portion of the panel to receive a molding 71 or door jamb to which a
door may be hingedly attached by appropriate hinges 72. Alternatively, the enclosure
panels may be hingedly attached directly to the headstone by means of conventional
hinge and bolting means or attached to a secured molding or door frame thus allowing
each panel to function as a door for gaining access to the enclosure.
[0015] An appropriate locking mechanism 73 located on the panels that may function as doors
may also be utilized to further secure the display enclosure and prevent removal of
display objects contained therein. Additionally, shelf supports may be placed inside
the display area to increase the number of display surfaces.
[0016] As can be seen in Figure 4, the novel hollowed out display area may take many different
shapes such as the depicted cross 24 which contains display surfaces 20, 22 and 23.
[0017] The size and shape of the hollowed out display area may further vary depending on
the size and shape of the display case desired and the size and shape of the headstone
material being used. Additionally, display area 11 may be created by hollowing out
less than the full width of headstone 1, thus creating a display area for viewing
from one side only.
[0018] A further embodiment of this novel invention is depicted in Figures 5 and 7 which
provide for detachable display devices extending from the top or side surfaces of
the headstone in a tasteful and aesthetic way.
[0019] Referring to Figure 5, conventional headstone 30 constructed of conventional granite,
marble or other suitable stone or rigid material, provides for display case 32 detachably
mounted to top surface 31 by appropriate bolting means as depicted in Figure 6. Display
case 32 may contain a plurality of shelves 36 on which various items of personalty
35 may be displayed. Display case 32 may take many different sizes and shapes depending
on the size of complimentary headstone 30.
[0020] As shown in Figure 6, display case 32 is detachably mounted to flat top surface 31
of headstone 30 through appropriate bolting means which may include threaded sleeves,
anchors or threaded bolts secured into headstone 40 by means of pre-drilled holes
41. The threaded sleeves, anchors or bolts may be secured into monument holes 41 by
an appropriate bonding agent, or in the case of threaded sleeves or anchors in the
pre-drilled holes, these will be used to receive the threaded bolts and may also be
secured by the expansion and compression against the walls of the pre-drilled holes.
[0021] Display case 32 is detachably mounted to the top surface of headstone 30 by aligning
complimentary holes in the bottom surface 33 of display case 32 with anchors, threaded
sleeves or threaded bolts set in holes 41 and utilizing either threaded bolts or threaded
nuts.
[0022] The top horizontal side of headstone 30 may be provided with sloped edges 38 so as
to facilitate water run-off from top surface 31 of the headstone.
[0023] A further embodiment of this invention is depicted in Figures 7 and 8 which includes
plant holders 52 mounted to side surface 51 of headstone 50. As described in connection
with the mounting of display case 32 in Figure 5, appropriate pre-drilled holes 61
are provided to accommodate threaded sleeves, anchors or threaded bolts for means
of detachably mounting plant holders 52 to side surface 51 of headstone 50.
[0024] Yet a further embodiment of this invention is depicted in Figures 9, 10, 11 and 12
which includes the detachable assembly of vertical members 72 and horizontal member
74 to each other and to the top surface of the main body section of headstone 70 thus
defining a storage chamber 76. Panel members 72 and 74 may be formed of granite, marble
or other type of stone to match the construction of main body section 70 or other
suitable structural material. These members may be secured to each other and to the
main body section 70 by means of metal pins or bolts anchored into pre-drilled holes
78 coupled with a sealing or bonding agent.
[0025] As can be seen in Figures 11 and 12, a further embodiment involves the detachable
assembly of vertical members 86 and horizontal member 84 to each other and to the
top surface of the main body section of headstone 88 thus defining a storage chamber.
Figures 11 and 12 further depict back panel member 80 which may be formed of granite,
marble or other suitable structural material thus defining a display area which may
be viewed from one side only as compared to the open display area as depicted in Figure
9 which may be viewed from both sides of the monument. Suitable attachment means such
as metal pins or bolts anchored in pre-drilled holes 82 coupled with a sealing or
bonding agent may be employed to create the display area as depicted in Figure 11.
[0026] As depicted in Figure 3, the storage and display chamber 76 of Figures 9 and 11 may
contain enclosure panels secured to vertical members 72 and 86 by appropriate mounting
means with access being achieved through the creation of a door in either the front
or rear panel which may be further secured through appropriate locking means. Additionally,
shelf supports may be placed inside the display area to increase the number of display
surfaces.
[0027] The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention.
Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled
in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and
operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalants
may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.
1. A cemetery monument comprising a main body section said body section including a front
face and a back face out of which is carved a hollow opening extending from said front
face to said rear face which opening contains a flat top and bottom surface thus defining
a central storage chamber within said headstone.
2. A cemetery monument comprising a main body section containing a front and back face
surface;
a hollow opening extending from the front face to the back face of said main body
section said hollow opening containing flat top and bottom surfaces thus defining
a central storage chamber within said main body section;
one or more platform means contained within said storage chamber; and
a front and a back panel member attached to the front and back face of said headstone
for enclosing said central storage chamber, and means for unlockably locking either
of said panels in a closed position.
3. A cemetery monument including a main body section comprising a front face and a back
face and a top surface and side surface;
a display case; and
a plurality of pre-drilled holes located in said top surface for receiving bolting
means for securing said display case to the top surface of said monument.
4. A cemetery monument including a main body section including a front face and a back
face and a top and side surface, a display case; and
a plurality of pre-drilled holes positioned in the side surface of said headstone
for receiving bolting means for detachably securing said display case to the side
surface of said headstone.
5. The monument according to Claim 2 wherein said panel member is of a transparent nature.
6. The monument according to Claim 2 wherein said locking means comprises a conventional
lock and key.
7. The monument according to Claim 2 wherein said panel member is fabricated of plastic.
8. The monument according to Claim 2 wherein said platform means comprises a display
shelf.
9. A cemetery monument comprising a main body section containing a front and back and
top surface;
a first and a second vertical support member detachably mounted to the top surface
of said monument; and
a top member detachably mounted to said support members whereby said vertical support
members and said top member in combination define a storage chamber.