Patent Application
20230277403
This disclosure relates generally to a bed structure and, more particularly, to a bed structure that encloses a rolling table for displaying a body for identification.
We all die. After death, for some of us our body will be displayed at a funeral home or other facility for our friends and family to view as part of the grieving process prior to being sent to our final resting place. Some of those bodies will be buried in a cemetery or interred in some other fashion and some of those bodies will be cremated. In either case, viewing of the body family and friends automatically provides identification of it. For those that do not choose the traditional way of having a viewing of a body, mix-ups have occurred where bodies have been cremated when that wasn't the intent, which obviously can't be reversed. Therefore, some jurisdictions require an identification process of the body to take place when there isn't a traditional viewing and before cremation to prevent such mistakes.
Funeral homes currently do identification viewings of bodies on removal cots, rolling tables or even through a photograph. Even though all of these things are normal for funeral directors and other people in the industry, it can be unpleasant and distasteful to the general public when seeing a loved one in any of those situations. A more dignified viewing process for body identification would be better.
The following discussion discloses and describes an identification bed assembly for displaying a body for identification. The bed assembly includes a bed structure having a headboard, a first sub-structure having a head end and a foot end and a second sub-structure having a head end and a foot end, where the head end of the first sub-structure is attached to one side of the headboard and the head end of the second sub-structure is attached to another side of the headboard so that an opening is provided between the first and second sub-structures. The bed structure also includes a first cushion positioned on top of the first sub-structure and a second cushion positioned on top of the second sub-structure. The bed structure further includes a door coupled to the foot end of the first sub-structure by hinges and being latchable to the foot end of the second sub-structure by a latch. The bed assembly further includes a rolling table that is rollable into the opening between the sub-structures when the door is unlatched and open and is disguised from view when the door is closed and latched.
Additional features of the disclosure will become apparent from the following description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
The following discussion of the embodiments of the disclosure directed to a bed structure that encloses a rolling table for displaying a body for identification is merely exemplary in nature, and is in no way intended to limit the disclosure or its applications or uses.
As discussed above, a dignified viewing process for body identification before cremation is desired. People are generally used to seeing their loved ones in the final stages of their lives in a hospital, nursing home or hospice bed. However, using a traditional bed with a mattress for body identification purposes isn't practical because the mattress would absorb bodily fluids. As will be discussed in detail below, a body identification bed is proposed for use when displaying a body for identification purposes. The proposed bed provides families with a dignified way to say their final goodbyes to a loved one and start the grieving process on a healthy note and also provides a very practical way for funeral directors to display the body. The proposed bed appears to be a traditional bed, but instead the body is actually on a rolling table that rolls into and out of the bed structure through a hinged door at the foot of the bed. The bed is lined with cushions on each side so when a family member feels around while spending their final moments with their deceased loved one, it will seem as if the body is laying on a mattress.
The bed structure 12 also includes a door 84 having a vertical panel 86 and a top panel 88. The vertical panel 86 is secured to an inside of the post 62 by hinges 90 and 92 at one end. A slidable door latch 94 is screwed to an inside side of the post 64 and is slid into a hole (not shown) in the underside of the top panel 88 when the door 84 is in the closed position to hold it in that position and conceal the rolling table 22.
It is noted that the bed structure 20 is made of wood in this non-limiting embodiment where the various panels and pieces are secured together in any suitable manner using screws, dowels, glue, etc. Further, the bed structure 20 is seven feet long and fifty-six inches wide. The cushions 80 and 82 are fourteen inches wide. The top of the platform 26 is slightly lower than the top of the cushions 80 and 82 so that it appears that the deceased person 12 is laying in bed.
The foregoing discussion discloses and describes merely exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from such discussion and from the accompanying drawings and claims that various changes, modifications and variations can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined in the following claims.
