Abstract: A slat wall death care merchandise display unit comprising a back wall with a plurality of slats attached such that a plurality of parallel, uniform slots are created. A category delineator can be inserted to divide and organize the display of death care related merchandise. Additionally, a cornice can be inserted into at least one slot to provide a display location for category headers. Moreover, an illumination source can be hidden under the cornice to provide additional lighting in the viewing of the death care related merchandise.

Abstract: An inexpensive decorative handle assembly for carrying a decedent confinement chamber, such as a casket or coffin, comprising a bar, and a plurality of end caps consisting of a bar restraint and a fastener, and at least one decorative aspect. One end of the bar fits within each bar recess preventing the bar from moving with respect to the end caps. The decedent confinement chamber is adapted to mate with each fastener, thereby preventing the end caps from moving with respect to the chamber, and thus securing the bar to the chamber, forming a handle. The decorative handle assembly further comprises one or more of a variety of decorative aspects including, but not limited to, decorative lugs and decorative corner pieces.

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.

Abstract: A casket display structure has a floor-supported casket support adapted to support and display a casket. At least one standard is connected to and extends upwardly from the casket support. A decorative panel is hung on the standard. A rearward facing decorative panel may also be hung on the standard. In that case a second casket support may be positioned on an opposite side of the decorative panels from the first casket support. Two such casket display structures may be positioned perpendicularly to one another with the side edge of the second display structure abutting the rearward facing decorative panel of the first display structure. By utilizing three two-tiered casket racks in such an arrangement, a total of six caskets can be displayed.

Abstract: For simplifying the production of a coffin or casket and to minimize the consumption of material as far as possible, different wall thicknesses are used for the walls of the coffin, namely the material thickness of the bottom is greater than that of the side walls and additional elements such as feet, grips, fasteners, fastener profiles, hinges, embellishments and the same are made integral with the coffin upper part/or the lower part or the detachable securing of such elements are made integral with the coffin upper part or the coffin lower part.

Abstract: A casket handle and removable lug (escutcheon plate) combination frees the lug from a fixed connection to the casket wall in common with the connections of the handle. The lug instead is mounted separately upon the casket, employing spring-urged detents engageable with the lug to hold the lug in assembled relation with the handle and the casket.

Abstract: A casket display structure has a back wall and wing walls that are removably-attached to the back wall to form an alcove. A double-tiered display rack is mounted between the wing walls. The display structure includes a lower casket rollout rack connected to the fixed double-tiered rack by a scissors unit.

Abstract: A casket display system having an enclosure with two side walls and a back wall, and having a casket support structure supported by the side walls. The casket support structure includes a fixed support for an upper casket and a movable support for a lower casket. The fixed support for the upper casket includes cantilever arms mounted on upper horizontal support members which extend between the upper and lower caskets and are supported by the side walls. The movable casket support has a dolly and a scissor mechanism. The scissor mechanism is mounted to a lower horizontal support member which is connected the side walls. The side walls include internal support structure which support the casket support structure and include floor-engaging portions which extend beyond the cantilever arms to provide support for the upper casket beyond it center of gravity. A hydraulic actuator can operate the movable casket support.

Abstract: A casket display structure has a back wall and wing walls that are removably-attached to the back wall to form an alcove. A double-tiered display rack is mounted between the wing walls. The display structure includes a lower casket rollout rack connected to the fixed double-tiered rack by a scissors unit.

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).

Abstract: A decorative casket carrying and presentation tray comprises a pair of side rails, a pair of end rails connected between the side rails, and a cross rail connected between the pair of side rails intermediate the end rails. Pallbearer handles are slidable within the end and cross rails to and between concealed, inoperable positions and exposed, operable positions. A stop block is pivotable to each end rail to and between a concealed, inoperable position and an exposed, operable position. The tray is fabricated of decorative wood.

Abstract: A combination burial casket and hardware comprises a casket shell having a wall, a plate secured to the wall and having a rear edge and a forward surface, an arm, adapted to receive and support a handle bar, pivoted to the plate, and including at least one transverse pivot member, with the plate including at least one rearward facing notch formed in the plate rear edge and receiving the at least one transverse pivot member, the plate forward surface concealing the transverse pivot member, and a stop operable between the plate and the arm limiting pivotal movement of the arm relative to the plate. The arm comprises a pair of elongated arm members or is an integral one piece arm member. The transverse pivot member comprises a pivot bar or a pair of pivot pins. The stop comprises a first projection on the plate and second and third projections on the pivot member. Either the plate or the arm include ornamentation. The arm and pivot member are cast as a single part.

Abstract: Hardware for a casket which may be quickly and easily twisted into fixed engagement with the casket at a predetermined orientation. The hardware may be easily removed from the casket without leaving metal hardware components in or on the casket. Specifically, an anchor member is fixed to the casket and comprises a twist locking connector which mates with a twist locking connector fixed to an item of casket hardware. The item of hardware preferably comprises a casket handle or other handle component such as a handlebar mount. The twist locking connectors of the anchor member and the item of casket hardware include stop surfaces which engage during a twisting motion of the item of casket hardware. This twisting motion is preferably less than a full turn of the item of casket hardware.

Abstract: A funeral bier with exchangeable pictures and illumination comprising a frame structure having shortened rectangular side walls parallel with each other, elongated rectangular rear and front walls parallel with each other secured at their lateral edges to the lateral edges of the side walls in a rectangular configuration, a bottom wall in a rectangular configuration secured at its edges to the lower edges of the side walls and a lid in a rectangular configuration pivotally secured to the upper edge of the rear wall for providing access to the interior of the frame structure; a picture frame removably secured to the exterior face of the front wall with a transparent window supported therein adapted to receive a picture between the window and the front wall, the frame having a horizontal lower support and spaced vertical lateral supports; and an illumination device positioned between the upper edges of the side structures and parallel with and above the lower structure for illuminating the window, the illuminat

Abstract: Casket hardware which may be quickly connected and disconnected without the use of tools and without necessitating access to the inside of the casket. The casket hardware essentially includes a mounting plate having an upper leg including a casket handle mount and a lower leg including a slot opening to one end of the plate. The slot is shaped to receive a wooden pin or dowel extending across a groove contained in an inner side of a base portion of the casket while a lower portion of the plate supports the casket base portion. The end of the lower leg is bent in a "U" shape to fit within the groove such that the slot may be aligned with the pin or dowel. The slot includes an open end portion for initially receiving the pin or dowel and a closed end portion in which the pin or dowel is restrained when the support plate is attached to the casket. An intermediate portion of the slot extends transversely between the open and closed end portions.

Abstract: Handling apparatus for a casket has a first member for applying a laterally inwardly directed force to a wall of the casket, a second member for applying laterally outwardly and upwardly directed forces to a lower edge of the casket, a third member interconnecting the first and second members, and a handle connected to one of the first, second and third members. When the handling apparatus is placed in contact with the casket lower edge and wall and the handle lifted upwardly a couple is applied to the apparatus and hence the casket thus retaining the apparatus in contact with the casket and enabling the casket to be lifted and transported with the apparatus. The apparatus is quickly removed by simply removing upward force from the handle. Alternatively, a clamp in the form of the threaded bolt can be included in the apparatus for clamping the casket edge between the second member and the bolt for semi-permanent installation of the apparatus on the casket.

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.

Abstract: A reusable casket assembly comprising a two part burial system comprising an ornate, reusable outer shell that is mated to an inner capsule. The decorative shell esthetically and operationally covers the inner capsule in which the body is interred. The inner capsule functions without the outer shell. A preexisting ornate casket is converted into an ornate outer shell by simply removing the interior padding and bottom of the preexisting casket. Pins installed in the outer shell selectively lock the inner capsule therein. The inner capsule is preferably molded of durable plastic. Esthetic ornamentation is added to the exterior of the capsule to provide a suitable appearance. The inner capsule has indents molded into its side walls that selectively receive suitable pins installed in the outer shell. While the outer shell is combined with the capsule, the casket assembly functions and appears as a unitary casket. Alternatively, the inner capsule may be used alone.

Abstract: Casket hardware comprises a corrosive trim plate adapted to be secured to an outer surface of a wall or a casket, an arm adapted to support a casket handlebar and having a bolt connected thereto, the bolt being adapted to pass through the plate and the casket wall, a nut threadably engaging the bolt interior of the casket, a seal surrounding the bolt between the nut and the inner surface of the casket wall and a non-corrosive compressive load carrying member between the casket wall and the arm for creating tension in the bolt as the nut is tightened against the seal. When the corrosive trim plate corrodes and falls away from between the casket wall and the arm the non-corrosive compressive load carrying member maintains the bolt in tension thereby maintaining the seal in compression between the nut and the casket wall inner surface.

Abstract: A casket display structure has a back wall and wing walls that are removably-attached to the back wall to form an alcove. A double-tiered display rack is mounted between the wing walls. The display structure includes a lower casket rollout rack connected to the fixed double-tiered rack by a scissors unit.

Abstract: An externally mounted removable hardware assembly for a casket having a threaded bolt extending through a hole in a casket side wall. Inside the casket, the bolt threadably engages a nut which is snap-fit within a retention can. The nut has a longitudinally threaded bore therein and is formed from complementary nut sections which mate. An ejector pin is slidably mounted in a longitudinal bore in the bolt. The ejector pin may be depressed from outside of the casket. The pin slides within the bolt bore and contacts the retention cap thereby forcing the retention cap off of the nut allowing the nut halves to fall apart. Once the nut is dislodged from the retention cap and the nut sections have split apart and separated from the bolt, the bolt is thereby freed to be removed from the casket through the hole in the casket exterior wall without opening of the casket.

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 casket bier pedestal has two vertical plastic sheets joined together at right angles along their center lines. They have horizontal edges, a central portion for which is notched. A rigid plastic cap having a cruciform slot receives and holds the horizontal edges of the sheets perpendicular to each other so that the pedestal does not become unstable.

Abstract: A crematory loader apparatus is provided for loading objects to be incinerated into a preheated crematory. The loader has a frame along with a slidable support surface attached to the frame for supporting an object thereon which slides in a track supporting the slidable top surface during sliding of the top surface between a first position for loading the object onto the slidable support surface and a second position canterlevering the slidable support surface into the crematory. A plurality of legs are attached to the frame and support the frame and the slidable support surface.

Abstract: A casket system formed of a unitary casket cover having opposed sides, ends, a top and a open bottom, a coffin dimensioned to receive a human body therein and being further dimensioned to be received within the casket cover through the open bottom of the casket cover, and web members extending below the casket cover and attached to it for maintaining the coffin within the cover, the webs being releaseable so as to remove the casket cover from the coffin prior to depositing the coffin in a grave.

Abstract: A combined casket and burial vault assembly comprises a casket lid having a peripheral depending lip, a casket body having tapered side walls, tapered end walls, and a peripheral flange portion adapted for receiving the casket lid thereon, a removable half couch, and a reusable display carrier having two opposed side walls, two opposed end walls and a reinforced bottom wall. The depending lip of the casket lid and the peripheral flange portion of the casket body are tapered in a complementary manner to create a hermetic seal when the lid is placed on the casket body. The display carrier includes ornamental hardware and hand rails or other carrying means for transporting the combined assembly from place to place. The casket lids, casket bodies and half couches are all separately stackable in a nested manner to facilitate storage. The casket lids and casket bodies are provided with removable interior lining and padding for attachment when needed.

Abstract: An independant carrier for caskets and the like, which carrier provides handles whereby the casket may be readily carried about with the carrier capable of having the handles folded into a collapsible relationship for storage and ease of handling when not in use.

Abstract: A carrying device which may be placed under a generally rectilinear article, such as an air conditioner or television, and which is provided at its opposite ends with handles which may be grasped by two or more people to lift the article in a more convenient manner than by trying to embrace the article with a rope or strap for lifting purposes.

Abstract: A casket lifting, supporting and transporting device operable by a single man; a wheeled frame having frame sections with lifting assemblies moveable under the ends of a casket mounted on a casket pedestal; elevating, supporting and lowering mechanisms operable by the single individual associated with the frame sections for receiving the casket thereon, elevating it, supporting it, storing it (if desired) and lowering it onto another support after transport to another location.

Abstract: A casket is provided, having a groove extending therearound, near the bottom thereof, and being completely without handles. A carrying device is provided, for engaging in the groove when applied thereto, the carrying device being readily detachable for re-use.