Headstone Support

Abstract

The invention herein relates to a headstone support. The headstone support has a base and a socket. The headstone socket is configured to receive the headstone in a tight fit so as to reduce movement and/or shifting of the headstone. The headstone socket can have at least four corners. The corners are connected by sidewalls. The sidewalls may be complete sidewalls or partial sidewalls. The base of the headstone support has flanges that extend outward from the sidewalls. The base is configured to disperse the weight of the headstone. The base may attach directly to or rest on a vault or may be placed on compacted ground. The headstone support may have openings configured for drainage. The openings may be positioned inside the socket. Alternatively, the openings may be positioned on the sidewalls.

Claims

1. A headstone support comprising: a headstone socket and a base; wherein said headstone socket is configured to receive a headstone such that a headstone does not move; wherein said headstone socket comprises at least four corners, wherein said corners are connected by sidewalls; said base extending from said headstone socket, wherein said base comprises a flange extending beyond said sidewalls of said headstone socket away from a center of said headstone socket, wherein said flange of said base is configured to disperse the weight of a headstone.

2. The headstone support of claim 1, wherein said headstone socket and said base are comprised of plastic.

3. The headstone support of claim 2, wherein said headstone socket and said base are comprised of a single molded piece.

4. The headstone support of claim 1, wherein said headstone socket is configured to receive a headstone that is four inches wide and thirteen inches long.

5. The headstone support of claim 1, wherein said base is configured to attach to a casket.

6. The headstone support of claim 1, wherein said sidewalls of said headstone socket are complete sidewalls.

7. The headstone support of claim 6, wherein said sidewalls further comprise a stabilizing fin positioned thereon.

8. The headstone support of claim 1, wherein said sidewalls of said headstone socket are partially completed sidewalls.

9. The headstone support of claim 1, wherein at least one of said sidewalls comprises an opening configured to allow for drainage.

10. The headstone support of claim 1, wherein said sidewalls comprises an opening configured to allow for drainage.

11. The headstone support of claim 1, wherein said headstone socket comprises at least one opening within the perimeter of said sidewalls, wherein said opening is configured to allow for drainage.

12. The headstone support of claim 1, wherein said headstone socket comprises a plurality of openings within the perimeter of said sidewalls, wherein said opening is configured to allow for drainage.

13. The headstone support of claim 1, wherein said base is ten inches wide by twenty inches long.

14. The headstone support of claim 1, wherein said headstone socket is configured to receive a military headstone.

15. The headstone support of claim 1, wherein said headstone socket is four inches wide by thirteen inches long.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective side view of an embodiment of a headstone support.

[0015] FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of the headstone support in FIG. 1.

[0016] FIG. 3 illustrates a top down perspective view of the headstone support in FIG. 1.

[0017] FIG. 4 illustrates a transected side view of the headstone support in FIG. 1.

[0018] FIG. 5 illustrates a transected side perspective view of the headstone support in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0019] While the presently disclosed inventive concept(s) is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, certain illustrated embodiments thereof have been shown in the drawings and will be described below in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the inventive concept(s) to the specific form disclosed, but, on the contrary, the presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s) is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the inventive concept(s) as defined in the claims.

[0020] The phrases “in one embodiment,” “in various embodiments,” “in some embodiments,” and the like are used repeatedly. Such phrases do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. The terms “comprising,” “having,” and “including” are synonymous, unless the context dictates otherwise. Such terms do not generally signify a closed list.

[0021] Reference is now made in detail to the description of the embodiments as illustrated in the drawings. While embodiments are described in connection with the drawings and related descriptions, there is no intent to limit the scope to the embodiments disclosed herein. On the contrary, the intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents. In alternate embodiments, additional devices, or combinations of illustrated devices, may be added to, or combined, without limiting the scope to the embodiments disclosed herein.

[0022] FIGS. 1-5 illustrate a one embodiment of a headstone support 10 configured to support a headstone (not depicted). In this embodiment, the headstone support includes a headstone socket 14 and a base 16. The headstone socket 14 is configured to be positioned on top of a vault after the vault has been positioned in an open grave. Alternatively the headstone socket 14 can be configured to attach to the vault by adhesive or other attachment constructions known in the art. In alternate embodiments, the headstone support is a single molded piece.

[0023] The headstone socket 14 is defined by four corners 18 having four side walls 20, 21 extending between the corners. The headstone support also includes a stabilizing fin 15. The stabilizing fin 15 is preferably positioned in the center of the side walls 20. Alternatively, the side walls can be formed as incomplete or partial walls between the corners. The socket 14 is configured to receive and secure the headstone in a tight fit such that the headstone cannot move within the socket. In an alternate embodiments, the headstone socket has more than four side walls or the headstone socket has at least four corner supports configured to secure the headstone. Alternative shapes can be utilized for alternative shaped headstones. In these alternate embodiments, the dimensions of the socket are configured to fit the dimensions of the headstone.

[0024] In a one embodiment, the headstone socket 14 is ten inches (10″) deep and configured to receive a headstone that is four inches (4″) wide by thirteen inches (13″) long. The dimensions of the socket may vary depending on the size and weight of the desired headstone.

[0025] The base 16 is configured to expand the footprint of the headstone and allow for dispersion of the pressure on the vault from the weight of the headstone. The base 16 has flanges 22 that extend in an outward direction from the socket 14. The base 16 may have bolt openings 17 configured to attach the headstone support to a burial vault. Alternative attachment means may also accomplish the attachment of the base to a burial vault. In a one embodiment, the base is ten inches (10″) wide by twenty inches (20″) long. The size of the base may vary depending on the size and weight of the headstone and/or the conditions in which the headstone support 10 is utilized.

[0026] The base 16 has a plurality of openings 24 located within the perimeter of the socket 14. The openings 24 are configured to allow drainage of liquids from within the socket 14. Alternatively, a lower portion of the sidewalls 22 have a plurality of openings configured to allow for drainage of a liquid from within the socket 14.

[0027] In a preferred embodiment, for military headstones, the base 16 is generally planar with a rectangular socket 14 extending from the base. The flanges 22 extend in a generally planar direction outward from the socket 14. In alternate embodiments, the base is curved to engage with the curved surface of a casket or vault.

[0028] In an alternate embodiment, the base 16 has a plurality of openings 24 for bolts and the base is configured to attach to the vault or casket. In other embodiments, the base is configured to attach to the vault or casket by other attachment constructions known in the art.

[0029] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the foregoing specific exemplary processes and/or devices and/or technologies are representative of more general processes and/or devices and/or technologies taught elsewhere herein, such as in the claims filed herewith and/or elsewhere in the present application.

[0030] The features described with respect to one embodiment may be applied to other embodiments or combined with or interchanged with the features of other embodiments, as appropriate, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0031] Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the following claims.

[0032] While certain exemplary embodiments are shown in the figures and described in this disclosure, it is to be distinctly understood that the presently disclosed inventive concept(s) is not limited thereto but may be variously embodied to practice within the scope of the following claims. From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the following claims.