초록 ▼

A modular casket made of lightweight materials is structurally reinforced using a structural sealant, and/or longitudinally-arranged reinforcing members, and/or laterally-arranged reinforcing members, to stiffen and rigidize the casket against flexion along longitudinal and lateral axes, as well as

A modular casket made of lightweight materials is structurally reinforced using a structural sealant, and/or longitudinally-arranged reinforcing members, and/or laterally-arranged reinforcing members, to stiffen and rigidize the casket against flexion along longitudinal and lateral axes, as well as torsional flexion. The structurally reinforced casket is sealed or more readily sealed against leakage and provides other benefits of structural stiffness and rigidity with relatively small cost and weight penalties.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A structurally reinforced modular casket comprising: a base panel having head and foot end portions and left and right edge portions;a head end panel and a foot end panel mechanically coupled to said head end portion and said foot end portion of said base panel, respectively, in a generally upsta

1. A structurally reinforced modular casket comprising: a base panel having head and foot end portions and left and right edge portions;a head end panel and a foot end panel mechanically coupled to said head end portion and said foot end portion of said base panel, respectively, in a generally upstanding manner;a left side panel and a right side panel mechanically coupled to said left edge portion and said right edge portion of said base panel, respectively, and said left side panel and said right side panel mechanically coupled to said base panel in a generally upstanding manner to define a cavity between respective inwardly-facing surfaces of said base panel, said left and right side panels, and said head and foot end panels, for receiving a deceased body;a lid that is positionable atop said left and right side panels and said head and foot end panels for enclosing said cavity;a structural sealant applied in an uncured state to the inwardly-facing surfaces of said base panel, said left and right side panels, and said head and foot end panels to form a substantially continuous and generally tub-shaped sealant layer lining the inwardly-facing surfaces and filling a portion of said cavity; andwherein said sealant is cured to a hardened state to rigidize, seal, and substantially permanently join said base panel, said left and right side panels, and said head and foot end panels. 2. The structurally reinforced modular casket of claim 1, further comprising at least one chosen from (i) at least one longitudinal reinforcing member arranged near at least one of said left and right edge portions of said base panel, and (ii) a lateral reinforcing member arranged transversely between said left and right side panels. 3. The structurally reinforced modular casket of claim 1, wherein said structural sealant comprises first and second layers. 4. The structurally reinforced modular casket of claim 3, wherein said first layer of said structural sealant comprises a lower-density panel-lining layer and said second layer comprises a higher-density layer that substantially covers said first layer and is generally spaced from said base panel, and said left and right side panels, and said head and foot end panels, by said first layer. 5. The structurally reinforced modular casket of claim 4, wherein said first layer of said structural sealant comprises a foam. 6. The structurally reinforced modular casket of claim 5, wherein said second layer of said structural sealant forms a substantially solid sheet layer. 7. The structurally reinforced modular casket of claim 6, wherein said first layer comprises a spray-applied thermoset urethane foam and said second layer comprises a spray-applied thermoset acrylic or urethane. 8. A structurally reinforced modular casket comprising: a base panel having head and foot end portions and left and right edge portions;a head end panel and a foot end panel mechanically coupled to said head end portion and said foot end portion of said base panel, respectively, in a generally upstanding manner;a left side panel and a right side panel disposed at said left edge portion and said right edge portion of said base panel, respectively, and said left side panel and said right side panel coupled to said base panel and to said head and foot end panels in a generally upstanding manner to define a cavity between respective inwardly-facing surfaces of said base panel, of said head and foot end panels, and of said left and right side panels, for receiving a deceased body;a lid that is positionable atop said left and right side panels and said head and foot end panels for enclosing said cavity;a structural sealant applied to the inwardly-facing surfaces of said base panel, said left and right side panels, and said head and foot end panels to form a substantially continuous sealant layer that is cured to a hardened state to rigidize, seal, and substantially rigidly join said base panel, said left and right side panels, and said head and foot end panels; andwherein said structural sealant comprises a lower-density panel-lining first layer and a higher-density second layer that substantially covers said first layer and is generally spaced from said base panel and said left and right side panels by said first layer. 9. The structurally reinforced modular casket of claim 8, wherein said first layer of said structural sealant comprises a foam. 10. The structurally reinforced modular casket of claim 8, wherein said second layer of said structural sealant forms a substantially solid sheet layer. 11. The structurally reinforced modular casket of claim 8, wherein said first layer comprises a spray-applied thermoset urethane foam and said second layer comprises a spray-applied thermoset acrylic or urethane. 12. A structurally reinforced modular casket comprising: a base panel having head and foot end portions and left and right edge portions;a head end panel and a foot end panel mechanically coupled to said head end portion and said foot end portion of said base panel, respectively, in a generally upstanding manner;a left side panel and a right side panel disposed at said left edge portion and said right edge portion of said base panel, respectively, and said left side panel and said right side panel coupled to said base panel and to said head and foot end panels in a generally upstanding manner to define a cavity between respective inwardly-facing surfaces of said base panel and of said left and right side panels, for receiving a deceased body;a lid that is positionable atop said left and right side panels and said head and foot end panels for enclosing said cavity;a structural sealant applied to the inwardly-facing surfaces of said base panel and said left and right side panels to form a substantially continuous sealant layer that is cured to a hardened state to rigidize, seal, and substantially permanently join said base panel, said left and right side panels, and said head and foot end panels; andwherein the inwardly-facing surface of at least one of said base panel and said left and right side panels comprises a plurality of stiffening ribs defining a plurality of voids therebetween, and wherein said structural sealant substantially fills said voids. 13. A structurally reinforced modular casket comprising: a base panel having head and foot end portions and left and right edge portions defining a perimeter region;a head end panel and a foot end panel mechanically coupled to said head end portion and said foot end portion of said base panel, respectively, in a generally upstanding manner;a left side panel and a right side panel disposed at said left edge portion and said right edge portion of said base panel, respectively, and said left side panel and said right side panel coupled to said base panel and to said head and foot end panels in a generally upstanding manner to define a cavity between inwardly-facing surfaces of said base panel and said left and right side panels for receiving a deceased body, said left and right side panels each having a plurality of stiffening ribs;a lid that is positionable atop said left and right side panels and said head and foot end panels for enclosing said cavity; andat least one chosen from (i) at least one longitudinal reinforcing member arranged near at least one of said left and right edge portions of said base panel and positioned in a through-hole formed in each of said stiffening ribs of said left or right side panel, and (ii) a structural sealant applied in an uncured state to said inwardly-facing surfaces of said base panel, said left and right side panels, and said head and foot end panels, and cured to a hardened state to form a generally tub-shaped sealant layer lining and substantially permanently joining the inwardly-facing surfaces of said base panel, said left and right side panels, and said head and foot end panels, and filling a portion of said cavity. 14. The structurally reinforced modular casket of claim 13, wherein each of said left and right side panels comprises adjacent first and second panel portions, said first and second panel portions coupled to one another via at least one fastener. 15. The structurally reinforced modular casket of claim 13, comprising a lateral reinforcing member having left and right upstanding leg portions arranged along respective ones of said left and right side panels, and further comprising a horizontal portion spanning substantially between said left and right edge portions of said base panel arranged transversely between said left and right side panels. 16. The structurally reinforced modular casket of claim 13, comprising said structural sealant in the form of a two-layer structural sealant applied to respective inner surfaces of said left side panel, said right side panel, said head end panel, said foot end panel, and said base panel of said casket, said two-layer sealant including a lower-density panel-lining first layer and a higher-density second layer applied to said first layer, said first and second layers both being cured to a hardened state. 17. A structurally reinforced modular casket comprising: a base panel having head and foot end portions and left and right edge portions defining a perimeter region;a head end panel and a foot end panel mechanically coupled to said head end portion and said foot end portion of said base panel, respectively, in a generally upstanding manner;a left side panel and a right side panel disposed at said left edge portion and said right edge portion of said base panel, respectively, and said left side panel and said right side panel coupled to said base panel and to said head and foot end panels in a generally upstanding manner to define a cavity between inwardly-facing surfaces of said base panel, said head and foot end panels, and said left and right side panels;a lid that is positionable atop said left and right side panels and said head and foot end panels for enclosing said cavity;at least one chosen from (i) a longitudinal reinforcing member in the form of a hollow tube arranged along at least one of said left and right edge portions of said base panel, and (ii) a structural sealant applied in an uncured state to said inwardly-facing surfaces of said base panel, said left and right side panels, and said head and foot end panels, and cured to a hardened state to form a generally tub-shaped sealant layer lining and substantially permanently joining the inwardly-facing surfaces of said base panel, said left and right side panels, and said head and foot end panels, and filling a portion of said cavity. 18. The structurally reinforced modular casket of claim 17, wherein each of said left and right side panels comprises adjacent first and second panel portions, said first and second panel portions coupled to one another via at least one fastener. 19. The structurally reinforced modular casket of claim 17, comprising a lateral reinforcing member having left and right upstanding leg portions arranged along respective ones of said left and right side panels, and further comprising a horizontal portion spanning substantially between said left and right edge portions of said base panel arranged transversely between said left and right side panels. 20. The structurally reinforced modular casket of claim 17, comprising said structural sealant in the form of a two-layer structural sealant applied to respective inner surfaces of said left side panel, said right side panel, said head end panel, said foot end panel, and said base panel of said casket, said two-layer sealant including a lower-density panel-lining first layer and a higher-density second layer applied to said first layer, said first and second layers both being cured to a hardened state.