Patents by Inventor Dennis C. Laphan

Dennis C. Laphan has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7774908
    Abstract: A casket is provided with an integral memorabilia compartment for the placement, display and storage therein of personal effects and mementos of memorialization of the deceased. In one form the casket comprises a shell, a cap pivoted to the shell, and an openable and closable memorabilia compartment forming a part of the cap. In another form the casket comprises a shell, a cap pivoted to the shell, and an openable and closable memorabilia compartment forming a part of the shell. In both forms the memorabilia compartment is so positioned and configured as to provide convenient access to mourners paying respects to the deceased for placing personal effects and mementos therein and to provide display of the personal effects and mementos placed therein for viewing by the mourners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Batesville Services, Inc.
    Inventors: John P. Biondo, Dennis C. Laphan, Donald R. Maier, William F. Neth, Charles F. Winburn
  • Patent number: 6976294
    Abstract: A casket is provided with an integral memorabilia compartment for the placement, display and storage therein of personal effects and mementos of memorialization of the deceased. In one form the casket comprises a shell, a cap pivoted to the shell, and an openable and closable memorabilia compartment forming a part of the cap. In another form the casket comprises a shell, a cap pivoted to the shell, and an openable and closable memorabilia compartment forming a part of the shell. In both forms the memorabilia compartment is so positioned and configured as to provide convenient access to mourners paying respects to the deceased for placing personal effects and mementos therein and to provide display of the personal effects and mementos placed therein for viewing by the mourners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Batesville Services, Inc.
    Inventors: John P. Biondo, Dennis C. Laphan, Donald R. Maier, William F. Neth, Charles F. Winburn
  • Patent number: 6836936
    Abstract: A casket is provided with an integral memorabilia compartment for the placement, display and storage therein of personal effects and mementos of memorialization of the deceased. In one form the casket comprises a shell, a cap pivoted to the shell, and an openable and closable memorabilia compartment forming a part of the cap. In another form the casket comprises a shell, a cap pivoted to the shell, and an openable and closable memorabilia compartment forming a part of the shell. In both forms the memorabilia compartment is so positioned and configured as to provide convenient access to mourners paying respects to the deceased for placing personal effects and mementos therein and to provide display of the personal effects and mementos placed therein for viewing by the mourners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Batesville Services, Inc.
    Inventors: John P. Biondo, Dennis C. Laphan, Donald R. Maier, William F. Neth, Charles F. Winburn
  • Publication number: 20040200046
    Abstract: A casket is provided with an integral memorabilia compartment for the placement, display and storage therein of personal effects and mementos of memorialization of the deceased. In one form the casket comprises a shell, a cap pivoted to the shell, and an openable and closable memorabilia compartment forming a part of the cap. In another form the casket comprises a shell, a cap pivoted to the shell, and an openable and closable memorabilia compartment forming a part of the shell. In both forms the memorabilia compartment is so positioned and configured as to provide convenient access to mourners paying respects to the deceased for placing personal effects and mementos therein and to provide display of the personal effects and mementos placed therein for viewing by the mourners.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Publication date: October 14, 2004
    Applicant: Batesville Services, Inc.
    Inventors: John P. Biondo, Dennis C. Laphan, Donald R. Maier, William F. Neth, Charles F. Winburn
  • Publication number: 20030111769
    Abstract: A method of forming an article of manufacture which includes an undercut therein comprises the steps of providing a tool, removably positioning at least one consumable form adjacent to the tool, providing settable material from which to mold a finished part, molding the material onto the tool and on the form so as to encapsulate the form within the material to thereby form an undercut therein, allowing the material to set to form the finished part and separating the tool from the finished part and the encapsulated form. A method is also provided for forming articles of manufacture of various configurations utilizing a single generic tool by repeating the steps with differently shaped forms removably affixed to the single generic tool in different locations to produce a plurality of finished parts of varying configurations with the single generic tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2003
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Applicant: Batesville Services, Inc. of One Batesville Boulevard
    Inventors: Dennis C. Laphan, Ilija Rojdev
  • Patent number: 6530134
    Abstract: A method of forming an article of manufacture which includes an undercut therein comprises the steps of providing a tool, removably positioning at least one consumable form adjacent to the tool, providing settable material from which to mold a finished part, molding the material onto the tool and on the form so as to encapsulate the form within the material to thereby form an undercut therein, allowing the material to set to form the finished part and separating the tool from the finished part and the encapsulated form. A method is also provided for forming articles of manufacture of various configurations utilizing a single generic tool by repeating the steps with differently shaped forms removably affixed to the single generic tool in different locations to produce a plurality of finished parts of varying configurations with the single generic tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Batesville Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis C. Laphan, Ilija Rojdev
  • Publication number: 20030024090
    Abstract: A casket is provided with an integral memorabilia compartment for the placement, display and storage therein of personal effects and mementos of memorialization of the deceased. In one form the casket comprises a shell, a cap pivoted to the shell, and an openable and closable memorabilia compartment forming a part of the cap. In another form the casket comprises a shell, a cap pivoted to the shell, and an openable and closable memorabilia compartment forming a part of the shell. In both forms the memorabilia compartment is so positioned and configured as to provide convenient access to mourners paying respects to the deceased for placing personal effects and mementos therein and to provide display of the personal effects and mementos placed therein for viewing by the mourners.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2002
    Publication date: February 6, 2003
    Applicant: Batesville Services, Inc.
    Inventors: John P. Biondo, Dennis C. Laphan, Donald R. Maier, William F. Neth, Charles F. Winburn
  • Patent number: 6317945
    Abstract: A trim piece for attachment to a casket to provide both decoration and concealment of mounting hardware. The trim piece includes a frame member which is adapted to be fixedly secured to a portion of the casket. The frame member has a lip which defines an opening in the frame member. A cover member with at least two attachment tabs disposed on opposite edges of the cover member engages the lip of the frame member so that the cover member is detachably affixed to and covers the opening in the frame member. In one aspect of the device, the trim piece is specifically constructed to affix to a corner of the casket. In another aspect of the device, the trim piece is specifically constructed to affix to the side of the casket. In yet another aspect of the device, the trim piece is a single, integrally formed corner piece where a living hinge pivotally connects the cover member to the frame member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Batesville Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis C. Laphan, Ilija Rojdev
  • Patent number: 6317942
    Abstract: A casket comprises a shell including a floor, a pair of side walls and a pair of end walls. A pair of caps are closable upon the shell. At least one of the walls is constructed of at least two panels having adjacent abutting edges forming a joint between the panels. A decorative feature disguises the joint to create the appearance of the two panels being a single panel. Each cap has a crown, a longer dimension and a shorter dimension, and is constructed of a plurality of boards extending parallel to the longer dimension and including a center spine board. The center spine board is fabricated from a single full-length board sawed in two; remaining ones of thee cap crown boards are non-full length boards. The gap between the head and foot end caps when closed in combination with the matching grain of the spine boards creates the appearance of the cap crowns being constructed of full length boards. Also, by utilizing at least one full length board in the cap, current tooling may be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Batesville Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan M. Hankel, Dennis C. Laphan, Donald R. Maier, William F. Neth, Hans E. Ritter, Patrick M. Saaf
  • Patent number: 6101692
    Abstract: A casket includes a casket shell and a handle bar. The casket includes a side wall with a plurality of external hardware bosses formed integrally and contiguously with the side wall and protruding outwardly therefrom. Each hardware boss is generally hollow and formed to define an interior region that is at least partially bounded by a respective protruded wall offset outwardly from the side wall. A respective first transition wall integrally connects the side wall and respective protruded wall, and a respective second transition wall spaced from the first transition wall and integrally connects the side wall and respective protruded wall, each of the first and second transition walls being formed to include a handle-receiving void, and a handle bar extending through the voids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: Batesville Services, Inc.
    Inventors: John E. Linville, Dennis C. Laphan, Anthony S. Casablanca
  • Patent number: 6094789
    Abstract: A casket comprises a shell including a floor, a pair of side walls and a pair of end walls. A pair of caps are closable upon the shell. At least one of the walls is constructed of at least two panels having adjacent abutting edges forming a joint between the panels. A decorative feature disguises the joint to create the appearance of the two panels being a single panel. Each cap has a crown, a longer dimension and a shorter dimension, and is constructed of a plurality of boards extending parallel to the longer dimension and including a center spine board. The center spine board is fabricated from a single full-length board sawed in two; remaining ones of thee cap crown boards are non-full length boards. The gap between the head and foot end caps when closed in combination with the matching grain of the spine boards creates the appearance of the cap crowns being constructed of full length boards. Also, by utilizing at least one full length board in the cap, current tooling may be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: Batesville Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan M. Hankel, Dennis C. Laphan, Donald R. Maier, William F. Neth, Hans E. Ritter, Patrick M. Saaf
  • Patent number: 5928599
    Abstract: A method of forming an article of manufacture which includes an undercut therein comprises the steps of providing a tool, removably positioning at least one consumable form adjacent to the tool, providing settable material from which to mold a finished part, molding the material onto the tool and on the form so as to encapsulate the form within the material to thereby form an undercut therein, allowing the material to set to form the finished part and separating the tool from the finished part and the encapsulated form. A method is also provided for forming articles of manufacture of various configurations utilizing a single generic tool by repeating the steps with differently shaped forms removably affixed to the single generic tool in different locations to produce a plurality of finished parts of varying configurations with the single generic tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Batesville Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis C. Laphan, Ilija Rojdev
  • Patent number: 5771550
    Abstract: A method of lining a casket with a liquid impervious liner comprises the steps of providing a casket shell having a pair of side walls, a pair of end walls and a bottom wall, providing a plastic liner having a pair of side walls, a pair of end walls and a bottom wall, inserting the liner into the casket, heating the liner to soften the liner, applying a pressure differential across the softened liner relative to the casket shell to urge the side, end and bottom walls of the softened liner into engagement with the side, end and bottom walls of the casket shell, and permitting the liner to cool. A combination casket and liner is constructed by the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Batesville Casket Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis C. Laphan, Ilija Rojdev
  • Patent number: 5727291
    Abstract: A casket is provided with an integral memorabilia compartment for the placement, display and storage therein of personal effects and mementos of memorialization of the deceased. In one form the casket comprises a shell, a cap pivoted to the shell, and an openable and closable memorabilia compartment forming a part of the cap. In another form the casket comprises a shell, a cap pivoted to the shell, and an openable and closable memorabilia compartment forming a part of the shell. In both forms the memorabilia compartment is so positioned and configured as to provide convenient access to mourners paying respects to the deceased for placing personal effects and mementos therein and to provide display of the personal effects and mementos placed therein for viewing by the mourners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: Batesville Casket Company, Inc.
    Inventors: John P. Biondo, Dennis C. Laphan, Donald R. Maier, William F. Neth, Charles F. Winburn
  • Patent number: 5709016
    Abstract: A casket is assembled from prefabricated components to provide an attractive and aesthetically appealing casket design with a minimum amount of metal components so that the casket is adapted for cremation. A shell of the casket is constructed from upstanding sidewalls with a peripheral frame and facing panel secured to the frame. The respective walls are joined by cooperating cam and post connectors that they can be easily assembled without skilled personnel or specialized tooling. A cap enclosing the casket shell is constructed with a peripheral rim formed from rim members also joined by the cam and post connectors. A dish assembly is positioned on an inside surface of the cap and includes puffing members which are securely retained within cooperating grooves on the rim and dish assembly to thereby avoid the need for metal staples or other mechanical fasteners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1998
    Assignee: Batesville Casket Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Gulick, Dennis C. Laphan, John R. Enneking, Carolyn Wetzler, Leslie W. Smith, James F. Kirschner, Gary L. Henby, Wilbur A. Schebler
  • Patent number: 5689869
    Abstract: A handle structure for a casket (10) is provided. The handle structure includes a bar (33) and a casket shell (12) spaced apart from the bar (33). The casket shell (12) includes a side panel (28) having an outwardly-facing side surface (66) positioned behind the bar (33) and fixed relative thereto. The side surface (66) includes an outer portion (64) and an edge (60) defining a recessed portion (62) of the side surface (66) positioned inwardly of the outer portion (64) of the side surface (66). The recessed portion (62) cooperates with the outer portion (64) to define a cavity (68) positioned behind the bar (33) so that a person carrying the casket (10) can grip the bar (33) without engaging the side surface (66).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignee: Batesville Casket Company, Inc.
    Inventors: John E. Linville, Dennis C. Laphan, Anthony S. Casablanca
  • Patent number: 5611124
    Abstract: A casket is provided with an integral memorabilia compartment for the placement, display and storage therein of personal effects and mementos of memorialization of the deceased. In one form the casket comprises a shell, a cap pivoted to the shell, and an openable and closable memorabilia compartment forming a part of the cap. In another form the casket comprises a shell, a cap pivoted to the shell, and an openable and closable memorabilia compartment forming a part of the shell. In both forms the memorabilia compartment is so positioned and configured as to provide convenient access to mourners paying respects to the deceased for placing personal effects and mementos therein and to provide display of the personal effects and mementos placed therein for viewing by the mourners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1997
    Assignee: Batesville Casket Company, Inc.
    Inventors: John P. Biondo, Dennis C. Laphan, Donald R. Maier, William F. Neth, Charles F. Winburn
  • Patent number: 5519923
    Abstract: The combination of a casket and non-invasive externally removable hardware for lifting the casket. The combination comprises a casket shell including a socket in a wall thereof, a plate, a handle operably connected to the plate for lifting the casket, a stud passing through the plate, means for translating the stud relative to the plate, a retainer connected to the stud, and resilient material surrounding the stud and disposed between the plate and the retainer. The handle, when the stud is inserted into the casket shell wall socket, is removably securable to the casket shell upon actuation of the translating means to translate the stud and retainer toward the plate compressing the resilient material therebetween and causing the resilient material to swell to fill the socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1996
    Assignee: Batesville Casket Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Ilija Rojdev, Dennis C. Laphan
  • Patent number: 4881306
    Abstract: A casket bed has a rectangular metal frame formed by inserting tongues projecting from some frame members into slots in the adjacent frame member. Bands of industrial strapping are wrapped horizontally and longitudinally about the frame to complete the formation of the bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1989
    Assignee: Batesville Casket Company, Inc.
    Inventors: John Ernat, Dennis C. Laphan