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(11) | EP 2 044 918 A2 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | An apparatus for refrigerating a body inside a coffin |
| (57) An apparatus for refrigerating a body (A) inside a coffin (100), comprising a refrigeration
unit which generates cold air and means for diffusing the cold air inside the coffin
(100); the means for diffusing cold air comprising at least one generally shallow
and wide diffusor element (4, 4A), which is placed inside the coffin (100) in an operating
position interposed between the bottom of the coffin (100) and the body (A) resting
upon the diffusor element (4, 4A), the diffusor element (4, 4A) being provided with
an emanation surface (40) which faces towards the body, and through which the cold
air generated by the refrigeration unit is emitted, in such a way as to flow around
and over the overlying body (A).
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[0001] The invention concerns an apparatus for refrigerating a body inside a coffin, in order to slow the process of decomposition of the body, and to preserve it intact during the viewing period in the mortuary or chapel of rest, prior to final burial or entombment.
[0002] As is known, in funeral rites, the bodies of deceased persons are usually first of all placed inside the coffin and then made available for viewing in the mortuary or chapel of rest, for a period which normally varies between thirty and forty hours, during which time relatives can take leave of the deceased before the deceased is buried or entombed in a cemetery.
[0003] To preserve the corpse effectively during the visitation period, the chapel usually provides an environment which is sufficiently cool to slow down the body's decomposition process. However, since it is not always possible to have environments with a suitable temperature available, especially during the hotter periods of the year, it is consolidated practice to refrigerate the body inside the coffin, using suitable refrigeration apparatus.
[0004] To be suitable for this purpose, refrigeration apparatus must fulfil both functional requirements, typically having a low noise impact, and aesthetic requirements, typically causing the least possible visual impact, in order not to disturb the solemn, austere appearance of the coffin. A further requirement for refrigeration apparatus is that it must be possible to detach the apparatus itself from the coffin easily and rapidly, without having to disturb the body, to enable the operations of closing and sealing the coffin to take place expeditiously.
[0005] The refrigeration apparatus used to preserve a body inside the coffin generally comprises a traditional type of refrigeration unit, wherein in a closed circuit a refrigerant fluid such as freon flows through an evaporator, where the fluid changes from the liquid state to the gaseous state, thus subtracting heat from the surrounding environment, and subsequently flows through a compressor, a condenser, and finally a lamination valve, where it cools and returns to the liquid state, before again passing through the evaporator.
[0006] In a first type of refrigeration apparatus, the evaporator of the refrigeration unit is arranged directly inside the coffin, in such a way as to lower the internal temperature by subtracting heat by conduction.
[0007] in particular, one of these refrigerating apparatus comprises an evaporator constituted by a flat coil, which is arranged beneath the body such as to perform its refrigeration function while being practically invisible from the outside. This coil is permanently connected to the coffin and to other components of the refrigeration unit by means of rapid connection/disconnection couplings, so that it can be disconnected and abandoned inside the coffin at the time when the coffin is closed and sealed.
[0008] However this type of evaporator coil is a rather complicated and expensive component, so that using it as a disposable element not only significantly complicates construction of the refrigeration apparatus, but also increases costs.
[0009] A second type of refrigeration apparatus uses the refrigeration unit to cool an air mass, which a forced ventilation system then causes to flow inside one or more distribution pipes, which are arranged inside the coffin along the sides of the body, in such a way as to emit cold air, thus lowering the internal temperature by convection.
[0010] Although these refrigeration devices have shown themselves to be constructionally simpler and less expensive compared with those described earlier, they are not exempt from drawbacks.
[0011] In particular, they provide low thermal efficiency because of significant dispersion of the cold air, which tends to exit from the coffin very rapidly without producing effective results. Further, the cold air pumped into the coffin is not able to enter into contact with every portion of the body, so it cannot cool the body uniformly. In particular, the back of the body, which rests upon the bottom of the coffin, cannot be reached by the cold air, and thus cannot be adequately cooled. Finally, the cold air distribution pipes generally remain visible from the outside, thus significantly compromising the coffin's overall aesthetic appearance.
[0012] The aim of the invention is to provide a device for refrigerating a body inside a coffin, which obviates the abovementioned drawbacks of the prior art, within the ambit of a simple, rational and economical solution.
in particular, an aim of the invention is to provide a refrigeration device of the forced-ventilation type, which is capable of better refrigeration efficiency thanks to reduced cold air dispersion; which is also capable of spreading cold air uniformly towards all or almost all portions of the body; and which gives rise to limited visual impact, thus not compromising the coffin's overall aesthetic appearance.
[0013] This aim is achieved by the characteristics of the invention listed in independent claim 1. The dependent claims delineate preferred and/or particularly advantageous aspects of the invention.
[0014] In general, the invention provides a refrigeration apparatus for preserving a body inside a coffin, which apparatus comprises a refrigeration unit generating cold air and means for diffusing the cold air inside the coffin.
[0015] The means for diffusing the cold air comprise at least one diffusor element, which is generally wide and thin in shape, and is arranged inside the coffin 100 in an operating position in which the diffusor element is interposed between the bottom of the coffin 100 and the body A resting upon it, and is provided with an emanation surface which faces towards the body, through which emanation surface the cold air generated by the refrigeration unit is emitted from below in an upwards direction, in such a way that the cold air is flowingly in contact with the overlying body.
[0016] In this way, the diffusor element of the invention is effectively capable of reducing dispersion of cold air outside the coffin, thus delivering higher thermal efficiency; in addition, the diffusor element cools the body more uniformly and effectively, since it emits cold air towards the back of the body, which, since it is resting upon the bottom of the coffin, is normally covered.
[0017] Further, in use, the diffusor element is hidden from view by the overlying body, and if required can be inserted inside the padding of the coffin, so that it is completely concealed and therefore does not constitute an anti-aesthetic element.
[0018] The diffusor element of the invention can extend horizontally below a limited portion of the body, preferably the stomach area and/or chest which contain the organs which most rapidly decompose, such as the intestines or the lungs, or extend below all, or almost all, portions of the body.
[0019] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the diffusor element comprises a rigid support structure which in the operating position defines a hollow space between the overlying body and the bottom of the coffin, and conveyor means for supplying the cold air generated by the refrigeration unit into the hollow space.
[0020] In this way, the cold air which flows freely inside the hollow space cools the back of the body, and is diffused uniformly below the body, before rising from below to flow alongside the side and front parts of the body, cooling them.
[0021] Naturally the support structure must be sufficiently rigid to support the weight of the overlying body portion, that is to say, it must not deform to the point of reducing the depth of the hollow space to zero .
[0022] For this reason, the support structure preferably comprises a plurality of reinforcement walls whichin plan view divide the hollow space into a plurality of separate chambers, which communicate with a single manifold chamber into which the conveyor means deliver the cold air generated by the refrigeration machine.
[0023] Preferably, an air-permeable lining fabric, which superiorly closes the hollow space, is associated to the supporting structure and is positioned between the hollow space and the overlying body, thus defining the cold air emanation surface.
[0024] The fabric thus conceals the support structure, improving the aesthetic appearance of the diffusor element, and further, making the upwards diffusion of the cold air more uniform.
[0025] In a preferred aspect of the invention, the diffusor element is separable from the refrigeration unit, and can therefore be abandoned inside the coffin at the moment when the coffin is closed and sealed, thus obviating any need to move the body, and speeding up the operations for removing the refrigeration apparatus.
[0026] Thus together with the coffin, the diffusor element constitutes a disposable element, while other components of the refrigeration apparatus, possibly contained in a transportable container, can effectively be reutilised with another diffusor element inside another coffin.
[0027] A further preferred aspect of the invention is constituted by the fact that the diffusor element is made from biodegradable material, so that it decomposes rapidly inside the coffin after burial/entombment and therefore does not constitute a polluting element. In particular, the diffusor element can be made from wood, biodegradable plastic or more preferably from cardboard, since cardboard is a generally inexpensive material and is therefore economically suited to producing a disposable element.
[0028] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge, with the aid of the appended figures of the drawings, from the following description which is provided by way of a non-limiting example.
[0029] Figure 1 is a longitudinal section along a vertical plane of an open coffin, in which a refrigeration apparatus according to the invention is installed.
[0030] Figure 2 is a plan view of the coffin of figure 1 in which the body is not shown in order to allow the refrigeration apparatus to be viewed better.
[0031] Figure 3 is a perspective view of the diffusor element of the refrigeration apparatus shown in figures 1 and 2.
[0033] Figure 4A is an exploded perspective elevation view of a constructional variant of the diffusor element of figure 3.
[0034] Figures 5 and 6 show plan views of the cardboard components which form the supporting structure of the diffusor element of figure 3.
[0035] Figure 7 is an exploded perspective elevation view of the diffusor element of figure 3 according to an alternative embodiment.
[0036] Figure 8 is an exploded perspective elevation view of a diffusor element according to a second embodiment of the invention.
[0037] Figures 9 and 10 are plan views of the cardboard components which form the support structure of the diffusor element of figure 8.
[0038] The refrigeration apparatus 1 refrigerates a body A arranged in a coffin 100, during the lying-in of the deceased in the mortuary chapel of rest prior to final burial or entombment.
[0039] The coffin 100 comprises an external wooden box 101 which defines the housing chamber 102 for the body A, which space is generally lined with a high-quality fabric lining 103 and/or padding and cushions.
[0040] Between the wooden box 101 and the lining 103 an internal metal box (not shown) may be interposed, typically made of zinc.
[0041] During the lying-in period in the mortuary chapel, the coffin 100 is usually arranged on a catafalque 104 where it is kept with its lid (not shown) open, so as to allow mourners to view the body A, which rests supine on the bottom of the housing chamber 102.
[0042] The refrigeration apparatus 1 comprises a device for conveying forced air, schematically comprising an intake conduit 20, a outlet conduit 21, and ventilator means (not shown) which generate an air current which enters the intake conduit 20 and exits from the outlet conduit 21.
[0043] The ventilator means are installed inside a small container 3 generally of a portable type, which in the example is provided with a plurality of support wheels 30, both the intake conduit 20 and the outlet conduit 21 being rigidly connected to the container 3.
[0044] Preferably, the intake conduit 20and the outlet conduit 21 are rigid pipes having a flat, oval cross-section, and both exhibit an elbow development such as to hook over the edge of the wooden box 101, so that the mouths thereof can be positioned inside the housing chamber 102 for the body A.
[0045] The elbow tracts of the intake conduit 20 and outlet conduit 21 can be covered and concealed from view by means of a removable shelf 22, (indicated with dotted lines), which is rested or mounted on the edge of the wooden box 101.
[0046] A refrigeration unit, which is associated to the air conveyor device (not shown), is installed inside the portable container 3, and is designed to cool the air coming from the intake conduit 20, so as to emit a cold current of air from the outlet conduit 21.
[0047] The refrigeration unit and the coupling thereof to the air conveyor device are of known type and will therefore not be described in greater detail.
[0048] The mouth of the outlet conduit 21 is dismountably connected to a diffusor element 4, through which the cold air which is generated by the refrigeration unit is issued to the outside.
[0049] As shown in figure 3, the diffusor element 4 is generally flat, broad and thin in shape, and emits the cold air through an emanation surface 40 defined in its upper surface.
[0050] The diffusor element 4 is arranged inside the coffin 100, in an operating position in which it rests against the bottom of the housing chamber 102, vertically interposed between the housing chamber 102 and the overlying body A, and with the emanation surface 40 facing upwards (see also figure 1).
[0051] In this operating position, the diffusor element 4 diffuses within the coffin 100 the cold air coming from the refrigeration unit, making the cold air flow upwards from below so as to flow into contact with the overlying body A.
The diffusor element 4 can extend horizontally below a limited portion of the body A, preferably below the stomach area and/or chest where the organs which most rapidly deteriorate are present, for example the intestines and lungs, or it can extend below all or almost all portions of the body A.
[0052] As shown in figure 2, the diffusor element 4 has a substantially trapezoidal plan outline which matches the plan outline of the wooden box 101, with a maximum width of approximately 400 mm and a length of 800 mm, and a substantially constant depth of approximately 30 mm.
[0053] The diffusor element 4 comprises a rigid support structure, denoted in its entirety by number 41, which forms a generally tray-shaped external shell 42, the internal volume 43 of which defines a hollow space between the bottom of the housing chamber 102 and the overlying body A (see figure 1).
[0054] This external shell 42 is closed on its perimeter sides, and on its lower base facing towards the bottom of the chamber 102, while its upper base is open, where it is closed by a lining fabric 44 which is permeable to air, and which defines the emanation surface 40 through which the cold air is diffused.
[0055] The lining fabric 44 can have the form of a sheet which is spread on the upper open base of the external shell 42, and fixed to the lower, not visible base, by means of clips, adhesives or elastic bands. Alternatively, the lining fabric 44 can have the form of a stocking which is pulled over the external shell 42, covering both its upper base and its lower base.
[0056] An opening 45 is made along a lateral side of the external shell 42, through which opening the cold air coming from the refrigeration unit enters the hollow space 43, so as to flow and be diffused uniformly within the hollow space, before flowing upwards and exiting from the emanation surface 40 through the permeable fabric 44.
[0057] In particular, the opening 45 communicates with the outlet conduit 21 of the refrigeration unit by means of a sleeve 46, which is also made from an air-permeable fabric, and which is sewn directly to the lining fabric 44, and pulled over the mouth of the outlet conduit 21.
[0058] To improve conveying of the cold air, it may be necessary to provide a small projecting conduit in the external shell 42, which conduit communicates with the opening 45 and over which the sleeve 46 is pulled. Inside the sleeve 46 it may further be necessary to provide one or more stiffening inserts, having for example a "C" shape and made of cardboard, to prevent the sleeve 46 from being crushed by the weight of the body A.
[0059] The support structure 41 of the diffusor element 4 must be sufficiently rigid to support the weight of the overlying portion of the body A, that is to say, it must not deform to the point of reducing the thickness of the hollow space 43 defined by the external shell 42 to zero.
[0060] For this reason, the support structure 41 comprises a plurality of support ribs 47, 47A arranged in the hollow space 43, 43A, which reinforce the support structure 41, 41 A without hampering the diffusion of cold air. In particular, the ribs have a generally rectangular cross-section and are arranged longitudinally inside the shell 42 (see figure 4).
[0061] The supporting ribs 47 divide the hollow space 43 (seen in plan view) into a plurality of separate longitudinal corridors 48, which communicate with a single manifold chamber 49 which the opening 45 faces into, so that all corridors 48 are pervaded by the cold air coming from the refrigeration unit.
[0062] In particular, the manifold chamber 49 is defined inside the shell 42, in a zone which communicates directly with the opening 45 and in which no support ribs 47 are present. Further, the manifold chamber 49 is closed superiorly by a wall 50 which is impermeable to air, so that the cold air coming from the refrigeration unit cannot exit directly towards the outside, but is obliged to flow along the longitudinal corridors 48.
[0063] In the alternative embodiment shown in figure 4A, the support ribs 47 are shorter and variously oriented inside the hollow space 43, so as to support the weight of the body effectively, without thereby defining obligatory routes for the cold air, which therefore can diffuse more uniformly.
[0064] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the support structure 41 of the diffusor element 4 is made from scored cardboard, so as to be constructionally inexpensive and completely biodegradable.
[0065] In particular, the external shell 42 is made from a single cardboard panel 51, the horizontal extension of which is shown in figure 5, where the fold lines are indicated with dotted lines.
[0066] This panel of scored cardboard 51 comprises a trapezoidal central portion 52 which constitutes the bottom of the shell 42, at the sides of which central portion a same number of folding portions are joined, constituting the lateral edges of the shell 42. In particular, the folding portions 53 situated on the oblique sides are singularly formed by two longitudinal flaps which can be folded one over the other, of which the external one is provided with a plurality of projecting tabs 54 which fit into corresponding openings 55 of the bottom portion 52, in such a way as to securely lock the folded edge in position. The folding portion 56 situated along the shorter base in turn comprises two longitudinal flaps, the inner of which defines the vertical edge of the shell 42, while the outer can be fixed above the support ribs 47, where it defines the already mentioned impermeable wall 50 which closes the manifold space 49. The folding portion 56 further comprises two lateral wings projecting from the inner flap, which wings can be fixed to the adjacent edges of the external shell 42. The folding portion 57 located along the major base is entirely similar to the portion 56, from which it differs only in its dimensions. Each supporting rib 47 is obtained from a respective scored cardboard blank 58, the horizontal extension of which is shown in figure 6.
[0067] The blank 58 comprises two longitudinal flaps which are perfectly symmetrical relative to a predetermined central fold line, and can be folded one over the other giving rise to the thickness of the relative rib 47, and they are both provided with a plurality of projecting tabs 59 which fit in corresponding openings 60 of the bottom wall 52 of the external shell 42.
[0068] Alternatively, the support structure 41 of the diffusor element 4 can be entirely made of biodegradable plastic material, as shown in figure 7.
[0069] In this case, the support structure 41 comprises a single shaped component which is obtained through a heat-forming process, and which defines both the external shell 42 and the support ribs 47, and a separate slab which is fixed to the shaped component, in such a way as to form the impermeable wall 50 which superiorly closes the manifold space 49.
[0070] In use, the diffusor element 4 is placed in its operating position on the bottom of the housing chamber 102 of the coffin 100, in which coffin the body A is then laid, the diffusor element 4 being arranged so as to be interposed between the body A and the bottom of the coffin 100, with the emanation surface 40 facing upwards, that is, towards the back of the body A.
[0071] If so required, the diffusor element 4 could be directly incorporated into the coffin 100, for example inserted in the lining 103 which covers the housing chamber 102. In this case, it would be possible for the diffusor element 4 to have no lining fabric 44 of its own, since it would already be covered and hidden from view by the lining 103 of the housing chamber 102.
[0072] The portable container 3 is then moved close to the coffin 100, for example positioned under or beside the catafalque 104, and if required, concealed by the funeral drapings. The intake conduit 20 and the outlet conduit 21 are then arranged on the edge of the wooden box 101, preferably near the zone occupied by the feet of the body A, and the outlet conduit 21 is connected to the sleeve 46 of the diffusor element 4.
[0073] At this point, the refrigeration unit and the ventilator means are powered up, generating a current of cold air which travels along the outlet conduit 21 towards the diffusor element 4. The current of cold air passes through the opening 45 and exits inside the hollow space 43 defined by the external shell 42, passing first into the manifold chamber 49 and then diffusing inside the longitudinal corridors 48.
[0074] In this way, the freely flowing cold air inside the hollow space 43 cools the back of the body A and is uniformly diffused below the body A, before flowing through the emanation surface 40, upwards from below, such as to flow around and over the body and cool the entire housing chamber 102.
[0075] When the coffin 100 is finally closed, the outlet conduit 21 is uncoupled from the diffusor element 4, which is abandoned inside the coffin 100 as a disposable element. In this way, the remaining components of the refrigeration unit 1 can be taken away for use with a new diffusor element 4 housed inside another coffin 100.
[0076] In practice, it has been found that the diffusor element 4 of the invention distributes the cold air more effectively over the body A, cooling the body A more uniformly, thanks to the fact that the diffusor element 4 can also emit cold air against the back of the body A, which is normally lying on the bottom of the coffin 100.
[0077] Further, arranging the diffusor element 4 near the bottom of the coffin 100 reduces dispersion of the cold air, which tends to remain below, trapped within the housing chamber 102.
[0078] Note also that the solution of positioning the intake conduit 20 inside the housing chamber 102 further contributes to improving thermal efficiency of the refrigeration apparatus 1, since the refrigeration unit operates cyclically with already-cooled air, thus consuming less energy.
[0079] Finally, the diffusor element 4 arranged inside the coffin 100 is advantageously concealed by the overlying body A, and by the lining fabric 44, which lining fabric 44 can be made using high-quality materials.
[0080] Figure 8 shows a diffusor element 4A of a second embodiment of the invention, which differs from the diffusor element 4 illustrated in figure 5, only regarding the constructional form of the support structure which is here indicated as 41A.
[0081] In general, the support structure 41A also comprises a tray-shaped shell 42A, in the example occupying a substantially rectangular area, the internal volume 43A of which is divided by a plurality of support ribs 47A into a series of longitudinal corridors 48A, which communicate with a single manifold space 49A, which is defined inside the external shell 42A and communicates with an opening 45A.
[0082] In this case, the shell 42A is further stiffened by a transversal strut 61A which centrally covers the support ribs 47A.
[0083] The external shell 42A is made from two separate scored cardboard panels 51A and 58A, the extension of which is shown in plan view respectively in figures 9 and 10, where the fold lines of are indicated with dotted lines.
[0084] The first panel 51A is substantially a rectangular panel, which is folded in such a way that it exhibits a worked or corrugaged cross-section which groups all the support ribs 47A in a single panel.
[0085] The second panel 58A has the shape of a frame, the edges of which exhibit a series of folding longitudinal flaps which provide the lateral edges of the shell 42A. This frame is crossed by the already-mentioned transversal strut 61A, which delimits two identical central openings, from the sides of which relative folding tabs 62A project which can be fitted into corresponding slots 63A afforded in the first scored panel 51 A, near the projecting ribs 47A.
1. An apparatus for refrigerating a body (A) inside a coffin (100), comprising a refrigeration
unit for generating cold air and means for diffusing the cold air inside the coffin
(100), characterised in that the means for diffusing cold air comprise at least a diffusor element (4, 4A) generally
shallow and wide in shape, which is placed inside the coffin (100) in an interposed
position between a bottom of the coffin (100) and the body (A), supporting the body
(A) , the diffusor element (4, 4A) being provided with an emanation surface (40) facing
towards the body, through which emanation surface (40) cold air generated by the refrigeration
unit is issued such as to come into flowing contact with the overlying body (A).
2. The apparatus of claim 1, characterised in that the diffusor element (4, 4A) comprises a support structure (41, 41A) which defines
a hollow space (43, 43A) between the bottom of the coffin (100) and the body (A) resting
upon the diffusor element (4, 4A), and conveyor means (46) for supplying cold air
into the hollow space (43, 43A).
3. The apparatus of claim 2, characterised in that the support structure (41, 41A) comprises a plurality of support elements (47, 47A)
arranged in the hollow space (43, 43A), which reinforce the support structure (41,
41A) without hampering the diffusion of cold air.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, characterised in that the elements (47, 47A) sub-divide the hollow space (43, 43A), seen in plan view,
into a plurality of chambers (48, 48A), which are pervaded by the cold air.
5. The apparatus of claim 4, characterised in that the chambers (48, 48A) communicate with at least one manifold chamber (49, 49A) internally
of which cold air is supplied by the conveyor means (46).
6. The apparatus of claim 2, characterised in that the hollow space (43, 43A) is superiorly closed by a lining fabric (44) which is
permeable to air and which defines the emanation surface (40).
7. The apparatus of claim 1, characterised in that the diffusor element (4, 4A) is dismountably connected to the refrigeration unit.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, characterised in that the diffusor element (4, 4A) is made of a biodegradable material.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, characterised in that the diffusor element (4, 4A) is made of cardboard.