Abstract: A one-way valve is mounted on a wall of a casket for venting gas and vapor pressure build up interiorly of the casket incident to body decomposition.

Abstract: A metal casket shell will includes sides, ends, bottoms and lids blanked and formed from pre-painted or pre-finished material. Corner connectors fasten the sides thereby eliminating the need to weld and grind these joints.

Abstract: A lid support releasably locks a casket lid in an open position relative to a casket body. A curved arm with a curved slot is pivotably connected at one end to the lid and the other end having a circular opening at the adjacent end of the slot. A follower has a stem disposed in the slot and is movable therein as the lid is moved between its open and closed position. A tubular boss coupled with the stem is adapted to enter the circular opening under the influence of a spring to releasably lock the lid in its open position. Upon depressing the stem against the bias of the spring, the boss is adapted to be withdrawn from the opening and the stem is adapted to enter the slot to permit the lid to be moved to its closed position.

Abstract: Swing bar hardware for caskets comprises an arm having a top and bottom for receiving a bar at its bottom. A clevis pivotally connected to the arm at its top with a bolt extending laterally from the clevis. A decorative lug having an opening which receives, an insert which engages surrounding surfaces of the lug opening. The base of the insert is adopted to connect with a side wall of a casket; and the clevis engages surfaces of the insert. When the bolt is tightened to the side wall of the casket, the lug will be held on to the side wall and the insert will be connected to the side wall. The lug is non-load bearing and the arm, clevis, insert and bolt is load bearing when the casket is lifted by the bar.

Abstract: A casket is provided with a stationary hardware system for coupling bars to the sides of the casket such that no load is carried by decorative hardware when lifting the casket with the bars. Each system includes a block for attachment to the side of the casket and a clamp for embracing the bar. Camming surfaces on the block cooperate with surfaces on the clamp to tighten the grip of the clamp about the bar upon tightening a bolt and nut assembly that couples the clamp and block to the casket side.

Abstract: A hinge is adapted to be mounted in either of two mountings, a first or flush mounting which enables closing of a cover so that it touches a container portion, and a second or spaced mounting in which the cover is maintained in spaced relation to the container portion. The hinge comprises a strap which is detachably coupled to a hinge base. The strap comprises a strap plate and at least two hooks affixed thereto. The hinge base comprises a hinge plate having an aperture in a center portion thereof a vertically protruding arcuate rib, and a support bar. In a first mounting the strap is detachably and rotatably mounted on the support bar of the hinge base so that both hooks of the strap are mounted on the support bar. In the second mounting the cover is initially detached from the container, laterally displaced along the axis of the support bar, and replaced so that only one of the hooks is mounted on the support bar.

Abstract: A panel of fabric is guided from a spool to a gathering device. The gathering device includes a spindle located above and across the width of the panel of fabric and having a plurality of spaced apart wheels attached thereto. Extending radially from the wheels are a plurality of flexible mechanical fingers, or alternately, flexible bristles. As the wheels rotate the flexible projections gather the fabric into folds. A panel of backing material is guided to underlay the gathered fabric. The gathered fabric is then adhered to the backing material. A means for conveying the fabric and backing material is also provided.