Abstract: An apparatus for supporting a deceased includes a casket and a panel. The casket fits the dimensions of a human deceased, and includes bottom and side panels. The panel is disposed in the casket, and includes a head portion, a bottom portion, and a plurality of hinges. The head portion contacts a head end of the casket. The bottom portion is coupled to the casket bottom. The hinges are disposed between the head portion and the bottom portion of the panel. The panel is movable between first and second configurations using the hinges. In the first configuration the panel is configured to support at least a portion of the human deceased at a first distance from the casket bottom, and in the second configuration at least the portion of the human deceased is spaced closer to the casket bottom. The first distance is greater than the second distance.

Abstract: This design for a modular casket uses a tension cable system to function as the weight bearing floor for the interior. The cable weaves through eyepieces mounted to either stanchions or side panels to form a zigzag webbing along the bottom of the casket and tension is applied to the cable using a ratchet. The interior flooring is completed by laying a sheet of foam over the cable webbing on top of which the casket's mattress is laid. Both the lid and the base are comprised of four partitions that are either flexibly attached to one another to enable a compact accordion like fold or are separate pieces which easily align. In both the wood and steel versions of this design, the caskets are fully assembled without the use of tools.

Abstract: A casket system includes a casket container and a movable platform. The casket container has a bottom, and includes a plurality of rollers supported by said bottom. The movable platform is disposed within the casket container. The movable platform including slots extending through the platform and aligned horizontally with the plurality of rollers, the movable platform having a raised position and a lowered position, wherein at least a portion of a first number of the plurality of rollers extend through the slots and stand proud the movable platform in the lowered position, and a portion of fewer than the first number of the plurality of rulers stand proud the movable platform in the raised position.

Abstract: A casket is provided that is made entirely from ecologically friendly materials, yet still provides a furniture quality appearance. The casket includes a box having a bottom, a front wall, a rear wall, and a pair of end walls. A lid is pivotally supported relative to the box by a hinge assembly for movement between a closed position and an opened position. The casket also includes a locking mechanism that is operable to secure the lid in the closed position. The box, the lid, the hinge assembly, and the locking mechanism are made entirely from naturally occurring materials.

Abstract: A coffin having a curved bottom surface and a removable cover that accommodates bodies of differing lengths having, within an enclosure, a support platform that adjusts to different angles so as to accommodate bodies of different sizes.

Abstract: A temporary casket made substantially from burnable material, having a positionable inclining mechanism inside a casket shell. The temporary casket may be inserted into a formal, traditional casket where the temporary casket shell protects the traditional casket. Inside the temporary casket, a plank is attached by a clamp or bracket to an adjusting mechanism for adjusting the tilt angle between the plank and the floor of the casket shell. The mechanism also includes a vertical threaded rod that engages the clamp, allowing the rod to be rotatable and move the clamp axially along the rod to lift or lower the plank. This allows a funeral director to easily adjust the deceased to achieve the most “restful” state, and without jostling or appearing disrespectful to the deceased. After a service, the deceased, along with the temporary casket and the mechanism itself, may be cremated.

Abstract: A coffin with a removable 2 piece cover that accommodates bodies of differing lengths having, within an enclosure, a 2 piece platform that adjusts so as to allow the body to form a v-shape by bending the body at the hip whereby the longitudinal length of the body can be adjusted.

Abstract: A temporary casket made substantially from burnable material, having a positionable inclining mechanism inside a casket shell. The temporary casket may be inserted into a formal, traditional casket where the temporary casket shell protects the traditional casket. Inside the temporary casket, a plank is attached by a clamp or bracket to an adjusting mechanism for adjusting the tilt angle between the plank and the floor of the casket shell. The mechanism also includes a vertical threaded rod that engages the clamp, allowing the rod to be rotatable and move the clamp axially along the rod to lift or lower the plank. This allows a funeral director to easily adjust the deceased to achieve the most “restful” state, and without jostling or appearing disrespectful to the deceased. After a service, the deceased, along with the temporary casket and the mechanism itself, may be cremated.

Abstract: A leveling bed assembly for a casket includes a support member having a first end and a second end. The support member pivots allowing the first end of the support member to be raised from a level position to a raised position. A support stop is in contact with the second end of the support member. A spring member is attached to the first end of the support member. The spring member flexes when the first end of the support member is in the raised position. A post supports the flexed spring member in the raised position.

Abstract: A coffin, for allowing inclination for display of a deceased person in a natural position. The coffin has a pair of side walls that are divided at a transverse seam into first and second longitudinal portions. The side walls have top and bottom edges which are planar across the seam when in a planar position, and are hingeably attached at the top edges to allow the first portion to be inclined with respect to the second portion. A brace assembly maintains the coffin in its inclined position. Bellows conceal the brace assembly to maintain the aesthetics of the coffin. Following display of the deceased person, the brace assembly is released and the coffin is returned to the planar position for transport.

Abstract: A metal casket that is readily assembled at a location remote from the location of manufacture. The casket has several different potential embodiments. For example, first and second tabs on respective first and second side walls are overlapped to form a joint connecting the first and second walls. In another embodiment, a plurality of side walls has peripheral slots extending from lower sections of respective walls. A bottom has a periphery extending into the peripheral slots of the side walls to join the bottom and the side walls together. In a further embodiment, a portion of a plurality of side walls have an upward opening groove for receiving a decorative material. In a still further embodiment a casket cover includes a cap providing an exterior finish of the casket and a dish disposed within the cap to provide an interior finish for the cover of the casket. The cover further has a frame with a first slot for receiving an edge of the cap and a second slot for receiving an edge of the dish.

Abstract: A combination of a casket and a liquid retaining system for the casket comprises a casket shell, a body support structure mounted in the casket adapted to support a deceased thereon and a tray positioned atop the body support structure and adapted to be positioned beneath the deceased supported on the body support structure, and a tray for retaining liquids of decomposition of the deceased. The liquid retaining system may further include a liner supported atop the tray bottom wall and beneath the deceased and secured to the upper edges of the side and end walls of the casket shell.

Abstract: A casket having a fully combustible, full height lift mechanism for raising and lowering the bed of the casket and for rotating the bed about the longitudinal axis of the casket that includes an integral C-shaped bracket that supports a drive screw, a seat that threadably engages the drive screw for supporting the bed frame of the casket, and integral fasteners for securing the assembly to the casket. The mechanism may include a tilt mechanism supported within the C-shaped bracket. In one embodiment, the tilt mechanism restrains one edge of the seat such that continued rotation of the drive screw rotates the seat. In another embodiment, the tilt mechanism drives an edge of the seat such that rotation of the tilt mechanism rotates the seat.

Abstract: A coating apparatus is disclosed having a metal bath, an enclosure extending over the bath, a mandrel extending into the bath, and a gas seal mounted on the enclosure in communication with the atmosphere therein. The gas seal has a frame with a slot extending therethrough, first and second rolls aligned with the first and second ends of the slot, and a door extending between the rolls and over the seal. The door being pivotally mounted on the frame to open inwardly at the first end and outwardly at the second end.

Abstract: In a casket, a rigid bed frame is adjustably mounted at its end so that the casket bed frame can be raised, lowered and tilted. Mounted on the rigid bed frame is an adjustable body support positioned at about the thoracic area for raising the chest and lifting the chin off the chest. It is contemplated that the adjustable device has a pair of hinged frames with a power transmission mechanism for sliding one edge of the frame to pivot the hinged edges of the frame of the bed. Alternatively, an inflatable bladder underlies the body and is used to raise it, or is positioned between a pair of hinged members and causes the upper hinged member to raise the body. Two pairs of hinged members may be positioned across the width of the bed frame underlying the body, and the upper hinged member of each pair may be raised to different heights thereby allowing the thoracic area of the body to be rotated about a longitudinal axis of the bed frame.

Abstract: A casket bed system comprises an air mattress having a plurality of independently inflatable sections to enable a corpse to be positioned for mourner viewing. The head of the corpse may be vertically adjusted relatively to the foot level, the upper torso may be angularly tilted slightly toward the viewing side of the casket and the head may be adjusted relative to the chest to properly space the chin from the chest to provide a natural, restful appearance.

Abstract: A body positioning device (10) for elevating, supporting and securing the legs of a cadaver (40) at various displacements from a supporting surface (42) for various procedures in preparation for burial. The body positioning device (10) comprises a first support (12), a second support (14), and a base (34). The first support (12) and second support (14) include receptacles or indentations (28) dimensioned to receive cadaver legs (40) and are connected such that the body positioning device (10) may be oriented in various positions to obtain a plurality of displacements of the cadaver legs (40) from a support surface (42). The base (34) acts as a cantilever to overcome the moment caused by the weight of the cadaver to prevent tilting of the body positioning device.

Abstract: A casket bed comprises a mechanism for vertically adjusting the thoracic area of a body. The bed comprises two parts connected by a hinge and arranged such that the hinge may be raised with respect to the ends of the bed. The hinge is located along the bed such that it is adjacent the thoracic area of a body whereby vertical adjustment of the hinge adjusts the position of the thoracic area.

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.

Abstract: A casket assembly of the casket surround type in which the casket surround includes a movable floor and an adjustment mechanism for raising and lowering the floor or tilting the floor. The floor is raised during the viewing process to provide an optimal viewing position and is lowered following the viewing process so that the vault can be sealed and the sealed vault may be transported within the casket surround to the burial site. The casket surround comprises a simple core structure to which the various components of exterior ornamentation are removably secured so that damaged components may be readily and selectively removed and replaced. One end wall of the casket surround is hinged adjacent its lower edge so that it may be pivoted to a lowered, open position to facilitate insertion or removal of the vault from the casket surround.

Abstract: Casket hardware for supporting and adjusting a body supporting spring frame comprising a screw, a barcket engaged with the screw to travel along it, and a part of the spring frame engaged with the bracket and being held to the bracket in part by the screw.

Abstract: A device for manipulating cadavers is described incorporating a support apparatus and a harness apparatus. The support apparatus is comprised of two side rails assemblies, a foot rail assembly and a head rail assembly. The harness apparatus, which is secured to the support apparatus by a plurality of hooks is comprised of at least two upside down, generally U-shaped brackets which are joined at their apex by an axle. Slidably associated with the axle are means by which the apparatus can be lifted by an overhead crane. The design permits the apparatus to be easily and quickly assembled and disassembled by the mortician. It also permits the mortician to work on the cadaver without interference from the apparatus itself.

Abstract: A coffin bed adjusting apparatus for providing both elevation and tilt adjustments to a coffin bed in a burial casket. The bed frame is connected to a bed support member which is pivotally mounted to an elevating support member. The elevating support member is threadedly mounted on a threaded shaft, the rotation of which adjusts the vertical height of the bed. A rack is slidably mounted on a threaded shaft, the rotation of which adjusts the vertical height of the bed. A rack is slidably mounted to the elevating support member, and is engaged to a pinion which is also mounted to the elevating support member. The rotation of the pinion drives the rack, which translates the rotating movement into a pivoting of the bed support member thereby causing a desired tilt of the casket bed frame. This pivoting is achieved by the interaction of a slot in the bed support member and an arm on the rack. The pinion which moves the rack is rotated by a second shaft.

Abstract: A coffin bed adjusting apparatus for providing both elevation and tilt adjustments to a coffin bed in a burial casket. The bed frame is connected to a bed support member which is pivotally mounted to an elevating support member. The elevating support member is threadedly mounted on a threaded shaft, the rotation of which adjusts the vertical height of the bed. A rack is slidably mounted to the elevating support member, and is engaged to a pinion which is also mounted to the elevating support member. The rotation of the pinion drives the rack, which translates the rotating movement into a pivoting of the bed support member thereby causing a desired tilt of the casket bed frame. This pivoting is achieved by the interaction of a slot in the bed support member and an arm on the rack. The pinion which moves the rack is rotated by a second shaft. The second shaft engages the pinion only to rotate it but the pinion freely slides vertically on the second shaft.

Abstract: An inexpensive, vertically movable, casket bed consists of two, preferably U-shaped, frame ends having threaded apertures directly engaging a vertical adjustment screw. The frame ends include slots preferably with a protruding edge for receiving the ends of side members, the side members having notches on their lower extremities which lockingly engage with the frame ends. At least one notch on each side member is shaped to permit longitudinal variation in the distance between frame ends. Spring-biased, longitudinal straps are supported by cross members contacting the side members. The adjustment screw is supported in a cup-shaped base support and retained in position by tangs holding a cap fixed to the screw in the smaller portion of a keyhole-shaped slot in an upper support plate fixed to the casket end.

Abstract: A uniquely constructed body support frame for a casket. Support members include generally "N" shaped rails of cold rolled steel. Longitudinal support members include two such "N" shaped rails, adjoined at interfacing vertical sections, and are bowed along their length. Corner braces connect between the longitudinal support members and transverse support members. The transverse head and foot support members attach to standard mounting apparatus in a tab in groove construction.

Abstract: A mechanism for raising, lowering and tilting a casket bed. The mechanism includes and upstanding threaded rod mounted in a casket for rotation about its longitudinal axis. A bracket is attached to the threaded rod for vertical movement along the rod upon rotation thereof. The bracket has a leg with an opening which receives the rod. This leg is inclined to the rod at the same angle as the lead angle of the threads on the rod. The diameter of the opening in the leg is smaller than the crest diameter of the threads of the rod to form a driving engagement between the threads of the rod and the bracket leg. A casket bed frame is pivotally connected to a the bracket. A friction material is positioned between the bracket and the casket bed frame.

Abstract: A device for suspending bodies in caskets consisting of a sheet of flexible wire fabric adapted to be disposed generally horizontally in a casket and to cover substantially the entire internal area thereof; and a series of hanger brackets arranged along each interior side of the casket and affixed therein, each edge of the fabric being securable to each of the brackets at selected, vertically spaced apart points, so that the contour of the fabric may be adjusted to display the body neatly and attractively despite variations in the thickness, bulk, and conformation thereof.

Abstract: A corpse positioner and restrainer comprising a substantially rigid member having weakened diagonal portions terminating in a cradling portion is disclosed. The corpse positioner and restrainer further includes cutout portions disposed on opposite sides of said cradling portion, and transverse portions extending from respective cutout portions substantially perpendicularly to opposite edges of the rigid member. The rigid member is adapted to be folded along said weakened diagonal portions until said transverse portions are vertically disposed beneath said cradling portion, whereby said cradling portion is collapsibly supported by said transverse portions.