Sectional grave liner

Abstract

This is a design for a light weight sectional cemetery grave liner made of recycled plastic sheeting, which can be easily manufactured with simple tools. Its purpose is to prevent the collapse of graves in areas where larger cement grave liners or vaults cannot be used. It can be made in various sizes to accommodate limited grave space. The sections, all under 50 pounds, can be assembled in the grave by one person, without the need of heavy equipment. It also meets the traditional requirements of certain Orthodox religions that the body be interred directly in the soil.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] For many years we in the cemetery industry have been using cement grave liners, commonly referred to as “grave boxes” or “burial vaults” to prevent the collapse of graves in the newer cemeteries. Unfortunately, due to the size and weight of these grave boxes, (a one-piece box, approximately 3×8 feet and weighing one ton) we have been unable to use them in many of the older sections of the cemeteries, where lot size is severely limited. [0002] This results in the unfortunate circumstance that these graves collapse when the wooden casket degrades, often leaving sod that appears to be solid ground, until someone steps on it and falls through into what can often be a hole as much as three feet deep, and very dangerous, as well as being distressful to the family. It can also lead to health issues as the grave is open to the air, sometimes, right into the casket. This is also a maintenance headache for cemetery staff, who have to re-fill the sunken grave...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006] Additionally, this new liner actually conforms more closely to Orthodox religious burial tradition, because the bottom is completely open to the soil, unlike the one-piece Grave Boxes, which has a closed bottom. So when the casket is placed between the four walls and soil is backfilled around and over the top of it before the two-piece cover is placed on top, it will have been interred directly in the earth, as is Orthodox burial tradition. It provides another enhancement to Traditional burial as well. Jewish Tradition dictates that there should be a wall of earth between burials, of sufficient breadth to stand on its own. Unfortunately during burials in older cemeteries, when a grave is opened beside an existing burial, the older grave collapses into the open grave, often spilling casket parts into the open grave. This as well could be prevented by the use of the liners we have developed, as the sides would support the “wall of earth” that is supposed to separate the burials, thereby preserving the dignity of the previously buried individuals, as well as providing the safety of shoring the grave for the personnel digging the grave.

[0007] These are not intended to replace the full sized grave boxes we use in the more open areas, but will offer the same protection to burials in the older sections to prevent the graves collapsing. This will make the Cemetery safer for visitors, and will reduce future maintenance costs, because staff will not have to be constantly re-loaming and seeding graves, as they will not be sinking with liners installed.

Problems solved by technology

Unfortunately during burials in older cemeteries, when a grave is opened beside an existing burial, the older grave collapses into the open grave, often spilling casket parts into the open grave.

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