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 a deceased, a casket lid closeable on the shell, a handling bar non-pivotally attached to the shell with a first attachment mechanism, a decorative cover overlying the first attachment mechanism and operably attached to the shell with a second attachment mechanism, the second attachment mechanism having a first portion mounted to the shell and a second portion mounted to the decorative cover, the first and second portions of the second attachment mechanism resiliently cooperating to operably removably attach the decorative cover to the casket shell.

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 adapted to receive a deceased, a casket lid closeable on the shell, a casket ornament, and an attachment mechanism. The attachment mechanism has a first portion mounted to a corner of the shell and a second portion mounted to the casket ornament. The first and second portions resiliently cooperate to operably removably attach the casket ornament to the casket shell corner.

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 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 cremation urn comprises a container that has a lower end and an upper end, and that is sized and configured to receive therein cremation remains of a deceased. An access cover is removably secured on the lower end of the container providing access to an interior of the container. A receptacle is located on the upper end of the container and has a bottom wall and an upstanding side wall extending peripherally around the bottom wall. An appliqué is secured in the receptacle.

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 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 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 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 cardboard cremation container has a cardboard base having a pair of opposed side walls, a pair of opposed end walls, and a bottom wall, and a cardboard lid on the base, the lid having a pair of opposed side walls, an end wall, a header wall, and a top wall. Each of the side walls of the base has a notch formed in an upper edge thereof. The side walls and the end wall of the lid extend outwardly beyond the side walls and one end wall of the base, and lower edges of the side walls and the end wall of the lid are positioned below upper edges of the side walls and the one end wall of the base. The header wall of the lid fits in the notches in the side walls of the base. The lid includes a riser at each corner of the lid formed by each lid side wall and a respective end of the lid end wall. The risers are supported on respective corners of the base formed by each base side wall and a respective end of the one base end 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.