The present invention relates generally to gravestone markers and method for use thereof, and more specifically to gravestone markers constructed from a solid slab of granite and including a protected viewing chamber.
The use of gravestone markers to honor the memory of persons who have passed away, especially family members, using granite or other stone is well known in the prior art. While a granite tombstone or gravestone marker that is engraved with information is a time enduring memorial, it would be desirable to include memorabilia in addition to the tombstone to honor the love one that has passed away. For example, it would be desirable to provide photographs and perhaps other small objects and memorabilia at the grave site that could remain there perpetually as long as the gravesite is there.
The invention described in this patent application accomplishes these objectives by providing a granite gravestone marker that includes a protected viewing chamber having a clear transparent cover or display window of bulletproof material either glass or acrylic. The protected viewing chamber is also weatherproof, waterproof, and moisture proof.
Heretofore there has not been available a system or method for a gravestone marker with the advantages and features of the present invention.
A gravestone marker comprising a slab of granite including top and bottom walls, left and right-side walls, and a back wall. A front wall face includes a chamber that has been hollowed out of the granite slab. The front face granite chamber includes a second hollowed out opening ledge surrounding the granite slab chamber opening.
The granite slab chamber is sized to receive small objects including photographs and small memorabilia. A translucent clear sheet of bullet proof glass or plastic is sized in length, width, and thickness to fit snuggly into the granite chamber L-shaped peripheral ledge defining the opening the chamber. The glass sheet also receives adhesive around the edge surfaces of the clear sheet of glass that allows the sheet to be permanently installed over the granite slab chamber. The glass sheet forms a display window.
In an alternative embodiment, a portion of the granite slab rear or back wall can be cut away from the granite slab and temporarily separated to allow polishing the interior walls of the granite chamber near each corner of the granite slab chamber. The back granite cutaway wall is reattached to the granite slab by a permanent adhesive once the chamber interior walls are polished.
The protected permanent viewing chamber is large enough to receive small objects of memorabilia and photographs that can be positioned in a secure chamber that can be viewed by a person standing next to the gravesite.
The bulletproof glass protective sheet that is translucent is sized and shaped to fit snugly in the granite chamber peripheral ledge with waterproof granite epoxy adhesive. The glass sheet can also be attached to the granite frame with other waterproof adhesives.
It is an object of the invention to provide an improved gravestone marker made from a single slab of granite such that the marker has a protected viewing chamber that is protected from the outdoor environmental, harsh elements, and vandalism.
It is another object of the invention to provide a gravestone marker that allows relatives and friends the ability to view memorabilia and photographs at a gravesite into a viewing chamber that is permanently accessible outdoors.
The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention illustrating various objects and features thereof.
As required, detailed aspects of the present invention are disclosed herein, however, it is to be understood that the disclosed aspects are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art how to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.
Certain terminology will be used in the following description for convenience in reference only and will not be limiting. For example, up, down, front, back, right and left refer to the invention as orientated in the view being referred to. The words, “inwardly” and “outwardly” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the aspect being described and designated parts thereof. Forwardly and rearwardly are generally in reference to the direction of travel, if appropriate. Said terminology will include the words specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof and words of similar meaning.
Referring to the figures in more detail,
However, before the bulletproof glass display window 14 is manually put in place with epoxy adhesive, against granite L-shaped peripheral support ledge 12a, memorabilia such as photographs and other small objects (not shown) to honor the deceased are placed within the chamber 12d. The display window 14 is then permanently attached with adhesive 16 to the granite slab 12. The memorabilia can be viewed through the display window 14 once in place. The glass material for the display window is made of a durable glass or acrylic plastic that can be bulletproof, waterproof, and hermetically sealed to protect the photographs and other objects placed in the granite marker chamber 12d.
With expect to the first embodiment of the invention, a granite slab is selected with the objective to include removal of a back-chamber wall for a short period of time to allow the granite chamber interior walls to be polished along the chamber edges and corners. After the polishing is finished, the same granite bac wall is permanently attached back to the grave marker with appropriate epoxy adhesive in such a way that an observer would believe that the grave marker is basically made from a single slab that has not been cut.
Both embodiments of the invention provide for a well-protected grave marker that includes photographs and memorabilia that are protected from bullets, vandalism, and the elements in an outdoor setting.
Just as with the previous embodiment,
The luminescent sand 62 could be placed just on the top face of the bottom wall 78 within the chamber 52d, or it could be placed within a recess 60 within that bottom face of the bottom wall 78.
The glass 54 is preferably a 9 mm toughened bulletproof glass formed by fast-cooling processes resulting in superior protective glass which retains a clear view into the chamber 52d.
It is to be understood that while certain embodiments and/or aspects of the invention have been shown and described, the invention is not limited thereto and encompasses various other embodiments and aspects.
This application is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/403,535 filed Jan. 11, 2017, which is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/931,106 filed Nov. 3, 2015, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/228,637 filed Mar. 28, 2014, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,175,495, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 14228637 | Mar 2014 | US |
Child | 14931106 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 15403535 | Jan 2017 | US |
Child | 16289060 | US | |
Parent | 14931106 | Nov 2015 | US |
Child | 15403535 | US |