Abstract: A combination casket and casket display comprises a reduced height casket shell adapted to receive the remains of a deceased and having a pair of side walls, a pair of end walls, and a bottom wall, the side walls and end walls having lower edges, the bottom wall extending below the lower edges of the side walls and end walls, a casket lid closable on the reduced height casket shell, and a casket display base having a pair of side walls and a pair of end walls, the side walls and end walls having upper edges. The reduced height casket shell is supported by the casket display base such that the lower edges of the side walls and end walls of the reduced height casket shell are at about the same height as the upper edges of the side walls and end walls of the casket display base, and the bottom wall of the reduced height casket shell extends below the upper edges of the side walls and end walls of the casket display base so as to nest within the casket display base.

Abstract: Hardware for a casket comprises a clevis having a pair of side walls, a back wall adapted to be attached to the casket shell wall, a pair of tabs each of which extends laterally outwardly from a respective one of the side walls and each of which is spaced forwardly from the rear wall, an arm pivoted at an upper end to the clevis, and a decorative ear having a downwardly facing recess in a lower edge thereof and a pair of tapered resilient arms each of which is located on a respective side of the recess, each resilient arm having a laterally inwardly projecting tab on a lower free end thereof, each resilient arm becoming progressively thicker from the free end toward a base thereof as measured in a direction generally normal to the casket shell wall.

Abstract: A casket comprises a casket shell including at least one keyhole groove in an exterior surface thereof, a casket lid closeable on the shell, the lid including a magnetic cap panel mounted therein, a universal ornament base having a front side and a rear side, the rear side including at least one magnet mounted thereon and at least one fastener secured thereto, the fastener having a head thereon, and an ornament insert secured to the front side of the ornament base. The ornament base and ornament insert can be removably secured to the shell by inserting the head of the fastener in the keyhole groove of the shell and seating the head of the fastener in the keyhole groove, or the ornament base and ornament insert can be removably secured to the lid by positioning the magnet on the magnetic cap panel, as desired.

Abstract: A method of forming a portion of a sheet metal casket shell, the casket shell having a pair of opposed side walls and a pair of opposed end walls, the portion of the casket shell being formed from a piece of sheet metal having a desired profile, opposite ends, and a length about equal to the combined length of one of the side walls and one of the end walls of the casket shell, comprises the steps of supporting the piece of sheet metal on one side with a female die having a center die portion and opposite end die portions configured to pivot relative to the center die portion, supporting the piece of sheet metal on the opposite side with a male die having a center die portion and opposite end die portions, and pivoting the end die portions of the female die relative to the center die portion of the female die to cause the opposite ends of the piece of sheet metal to fold around the end die portions of the male die, the resulting portion of the casket shell having a side wall, about half of one end wall at one

Abstract: A combination casket and casket display comprises a reduced height casket shell adapted to receive the remains of a deceased and having a pair of side walls, a pair of end walls, and a bottom wall, the side walls and end walls having lower edges, the bottom wall extending below the lower edges of the side walls and end walls, a casket lid closable on the reduced height casket shell, and a casket display base having a pair of side walls and a pair of end walls, the side walls and end walls having upper edges. The reduced height casket shell is supported by the casket display base such that the lower edges of the side walls and end walls of the reduced height casket shell are at about the same height as the upper edges of the side walls and end walls of the casket display base, and the bottom wall of the reduced height casket shell extends below the upper edges of the side walls and end walls of the casket display base so as to nest within the casket display base.

Abstract: A method of forming a portion of a sheet metal casket shell comprises supporting a piece of sheet metal on one side with a female die having a center die portion and opposite end die portions configured to pivot relative to the center die portion, supporting the piece of sheet metal on the opposite side with a male die having a center die portion and opposite end die portions, and pivoting the end die portions of the female die relative to the center die portion of the female die to cause the opposite ends of the piece of sheet metal to fold around the end die portions of the male die. The method can be repeated with a second piece of sheet metal thereby forming two shell halves which can be welded together to form the shell.

Abstract: A casket comprises a casket shell adapted to receive the remains of a deceased having a pair of side walls, a pair of end walls, and a bottom wall, and a casket cap closable on the casket shell. A dish assembly is mounted to an underside of the cap. The dish assembly includes a cap panel comprising a sheet of magnetic material. At least one medallion having text and/or graphics representing a life aspect of the deceased is removably mounted on the cap panel. The medallion comprises a medallion blank having at least one magnet on a rear side thereof and having a recess on a front side thereof, a two-dimensional image positioned in the recess of the medallion blank, and a transparent layer of material overlying the two-dimensional image. The transparent layer of material is dome-shaped in cross section such that a peripheral outer edge of the layer is thinner than a central portion of the layer. The magnet removably secures the medallion blank to the magnetic material of the cap panel.

Abstract: A method of establishing a seal between a casket vault lid and a casket vault base comprises the steps of positioning a gasket between confronting generally horizontal surfaces of the lid and base, positioning a base engagement member of a clamping assembly in a recess in the base, positioning a lid engagement member of the clamping assembly in a recess in the lid, and operating the clamping assembly so as to draw the base engagement member and the lid engagement member toward one another to thereby compress the gasket between the confronting generally horizontal surfaces of the lid and base.

Abstract: A combination casket and casket display comprises a reduced height casket shell adapted to receive the remains of a deceased and having a pair of side walls, a pair of end walls, and a bottom wall, the side walls and end walls having lower edges, the bottom wall extending below the lower edges of the side walls and end walls, a casket lid closable on the reduced height casket shell, and a casket display base having a pair of side walls and a pair of end walls, the side walls and end walls having upper edges. The reduced height casket shell is supported by the casket display base such that the lower edges of the side walls and end walls of the reduced height casket shell are at about the same height as the upper edges of the side walls and end walls of the casket display base, and the bottom wall of the reduced height casket shell extends below the upper edges of the side walls and end walls of the casket display base so as to nest within the casket display base.

Abstract: A method of memorializing a deceased comprises the steps of receiving, subsequent to the death of the deceased and prior to a funeral or other memorial service for the deceased, a selection of a personal item of personal significance to the deceased, attaching the personal item to an ornament base, and attaching the ornament base, with the personal item attached thereto, to a casket for the deceased.

Abstract: A casket comprises a casket shell adapted to receive the remains of a deceased having a pair of side walls, a pair of end walls, and a bottom wall, and a casket cap closable on the casket shell. A dish assembly is mounted to an underside of the cap. The dish assembly includes a cap panel comprising a sheet of magnetic material. At least one medallion having text and/or graphics representing a life aspect of the deceased is removably mounted on the cap panel. The medallion comprises a medallion blank having at least one magnet on a rear side thereof and having a recess on a front side thereof, a two-dimensional image positioned in the recess of the medallion blank, and a transparent layer of material overlying the two-dimensional image. The transparent layer of material is dome-shaped in cross section such that a peripheral outer edge of the layer is thinner than a central portion of the layer. The magnet removably secures the medallion blank to the magnetic material of the cap panel.

Abstract: A casket comprises a casket shell adapted to receive the remains of a deceased and having a pair of side walls, a pair of end walls, and a bottom wall, a casket cap closable on the casket shell, the cap including a dish assembly mounted to an underside thereof, the dish assembly including a cap panel, and at least one medallion mounted on either an interior surface or an exterior surface of either the cap or the shell, the medallion having text and/or graphics representing a life aspect of the deceased.

Abstract: A casket comprises a casket shell adapted to receive the remains of a deceased and a casket cap closable on the casket shell. The cap includes a dish assembly mounted to an underside thereof including a cap panel of a sheet of magnetic material. At least one medallion is removably mounted on the cap panel. The medallion comprises a medallion blank having at least one magnet on a rear side thereof and having a recess on a front side thereof, and a button removably received in the recess of the medallion blank. The button comprises a button front, a magnetic metallic button back, and a two-dimensional image overlying an upper surface of the button front.

Abstract: A casket comprises a casket shell adapted to receive the remains of a deceased and a casket cap closable on the casket shell. The cap includes a dish assembly mounted to an underside thereof including a cap panel of a sheet of magnetic material. At least one medallion is removably mounted on the cap panel. The medallion comprises a medallion blank having at least one magnet on a rear side thereof and having a recess on a front side thereof, and a button removably received in the recess of the medallion blank. The button comprises a button front, a magnetic metallic button back, and a two-dimensional image overlying an upper surface of the button front.

Abstract: A casket comprises a casket shell, a casket lid closeable on the shell, a mounting plate mounted to the shell, the plate including at least one keyhole groove therein, a medallion casket ornament having a rear side, the ornament including at least one magnet mounted on the rear side, and a magnetic adapter plate having a rear side, the adapter plate including at least one fastener with a head thereon mounted on the rear side, the adapter plate removably secured to the shell by inserting the head of the fastener in the keyhole groove in the mounting plate and seating the head of the fastener in the keyhole groove, the casket ornament removably secured to the shell by positioning the at least one magnet of the ornament on the adapter plate.

Abstract: A method of forming a portion of a sheet metal casket shell comprises supporting a piece of sheet metal on one side with a female die having a center die portion and opposite end die portions configured to pivot relative to the center die portion, supporting the piece of sheet metal on the opposite side with a male die having a center die portion and opposite end die portions, and pivoting the end die portions of the female die relative to the center die portion of the female die to cause the opposite ends of the piece of sheet metal to fold around the end die portions of the male die. The method can be repeated with a second piece of sheet metal thereby forming two shell halves which can be welded together to form the shell.

Abstract: A casket comprises a casket shell, a casket lid closeable on the shell, a mounting plate mounted to the shell, the plate including at least one keyhole groove therein, a medallion casket ornament having a rear side, the ornament including at least one magnet mounted on the rear side, and a magnetic adapter plate having a rear side, the adapter plate including at least one fastener with a head thereon mounted on the rear side, the adapter plate removably secured to the shell by inserting the head of the fastener in the keyhole groove in the mounting plate and seating the head of the fastener in the keyhole groove, the casket ornament removably secured to the shell by positioning the at least one magnet of the ornament on the adapter plate.

Abstract: A method of forming a pair of opposed side walls and a pair of opposed end walls of a sheet metal casket shell from a single piece of sheet metal. The piece of sheet metal has opposite ends and a length equal to the combined length of the pair of side walls and the pair of end walls of the casket shell to be formed. The opposite ends of the piece of sheet metal are secured together to form a tube. A roll forming roller is positioned in an interior of the tube. A female die configured to produce a desired profile for the side walls and the end walls of the casket shell is positioned around an exterior of the tube. The roller is moved outwardly so as to contact an interior surface of the tube and deform the tube toward a die cavity of the female die. The roller is rolled around a perimeter of the interior of the tube so as to deform the perimeter of the tube toward the die cavity of the female die. The desired profile for the side walls and the end walls of the casket shell is thereby produced.

Abstract: A casket comprises a casket shell adapted to receive the remains of a deceased and having a pair of side walls, a pair of end walls, and a bottom wall, a casket cap closable on the casket shell, the cap including a dish assembly mounted to an underside thereof, the dish assembly including a cap panel, and at least one medallion mounted on either an interior surface or an exterior surface of either the cap or the shell, the medallion having text and/or graphics representing a life aspect of the deceased.

Abstract: A casket comprises a casket shell adapted to receive the remains of a deceased and having a pair of side walls, a pair of end walls, and a bottom wall, a casket cap closable on the casket shell, the cap including a dish assembly mounted to an underside thereof, the dish assembly including a cap panel, and at least one medallion mounted on either an interior surface or an exterior surface of either the cap or the shell, the medallion having text and/or graphics representing a life aspect of the deceased.