MODULAR COLUMBARIUM FOR STORING FUNERARY URNS

Abstract

A modular columbarium for storing funerary urns, comprising a plurality of individual containers able to be coupled together in a matrix arrangement, preferably in rows and columns. Said individual containers are each made up of a part made from injection-mouldable plastic material defined by a base and side walls, such that it defines an inner space provided to house at least one funerary urn, wherein each container includes removable closing means provided to close off the inner space from the outside, wherein the closing means include at least one inner door which isolates the inner space from the outside environment, the inner door having releasable locking means and a male-female coupling system for the joining thereof to the individual container.

Claims

1. A modular columbarium (1) for storing funerary urns, comprising a plurality of individual containers (2) which are able to be coupled together in a matrix arrangement, preferably in rows and columns, each individual containers (2) are substantially cube-shaped with rounded corners, and are each made up of a part made from injection-mouldable plastic material defined by a base and side walls, such that it defines an inner space provided to house at least one funerary urn, wherein each container includes removable closing means provided to close off the inner space from the outside, wherein the closing means include at least one inner door which isolates the inner space from the outside environment, the inner door having releasable locking means and a male-female coupling system for the joining thereof to the individual container (2), characterised in that securing means for holding the individual containers (2) together are included, comprising said securing means a plurality of rods (3) which pass through channels (25) made in the outer face of the side walls in each of the individual containers (2), and wherein these channels (25) are made up of the ribs (24).

2. The modular columbarium (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the releasable means have a rotary latch (5) with a projection, the projection being able to be inserted into a locking element able to be fastened in a housing located in the outer rim of the individual container (2), the rotary latch (5) including at least one hole made up of a predetermined shape provided for the insertion of a specialised tool with a shape complementary to that of the hole, such that the rotary latch (5) is able to rotate from an open position to a closed position or vice versa.

3. The modular columbarium (1) according to claim 2, characterised in that the locking element (6) is fastened to a contact surface present on the rim of the individual container (2) by clipping means.

4. The modular columbarium (1) according to claim 2, characterised in that the locking element (6) comprises an elongated segment (60) which is fastened to a contact surface present on the rim of the individual container (2) by a pair of clipping flanges (61), the elongated segment (60) including a half-moon shaped recess (62) in order to partially house the rotary latch (5).

5. The modular columbarium (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that each individual container (2) has a surface on the side walls thereof provided with a plurality of reinforcing ribs.

6. The modular columbarium (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that individual containers incorporate at least one dividing wall able to be removably assembled inside the individual container (2) which divides the inner space into sub-compartments.

7. The modular columbarium (1) according to claim 6, characterised in that it includes guide means present on the inner portion of the individual container (2) wherein the dividing wall is slidable.

8. The modular columbarium (1) according to claim 7, characterised in that the guide means consist of cavities which run through the inside of side walls facing each other, wherein the dividing wall has a protruding rim at each of the opposite ends thereof having dimensions suitable to fit into the corresponding cavities.

9. The modular columbarium (1) according to claim 2, characterised in that the inner door incorporates a substantially laminar decorative element on an outer face.

10. The modular columbarium (1) according to claim 9, characterised in that the decorative element is made from stone material, preferably marble.

11. (canceled)

12. (canceled)

13. The modular columbarium (1) according to claim 16, characterised in that the rod (3) has at least one threaded portion.

14. (canceled)

15. (canceled)

16. The modular columbarium (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that each part made from plastic material is made up of two halves which are dimensionally complementary to each other and able to be coupled together by fitting.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a modular columbarium according to the present invention;

[0024] FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of an individual container that forms part of the modular columbarium according to the present invention;

[0025] FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the individual container shown in FIG. 2;

[0026] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the individual container provided with a dividing wall;

[0027] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the individual container provided with dividing walls arranged in the shape of a cross which define four independent compartments;

[0028] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an inner door;

[0029] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an individual container with two front inner doors;

[0030] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a container with four front inner doors;

[0031] FIG. 9 is a perspective detail view of a container wherein the releasable means can be seen;

[0032] FIG. 10 shows elevation and perspective detail views of the rotary latch that forms part of the releasable means;

[0033] FIG. 11 is a perspective detail view of the locking element that forms part of the releasable means; and

[0034] FIG. 12 is a schematic elevation view wherein the rotary latch is arranged in a locking position.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0035] In light of the aforementioned figures, and in accordance with the adopted numbering, one may observe therein an example of a preferred embodiment of the invention, which comprises the parts and elements indicated and described in detail below.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 1, a modular columbarium for storing funerary urns is represented, generally indicated with the reference (1), which comprises a plurality of individual containers (2) able to be coupled together in a matrix arrangement, in a plurality of rows and columns.

[0037] As seen in greater detail in FIGS. 2 and 3, the individual containers (2) are made up of a part made from injection-mouldable plastic material, substantially cube-shaped with rounded corners, defined by a base (20) and a plurality of side walls (21), such that it defines an inner space (22), for example, with dimensions of 28×28.8×29 cm, provided for housing funerary urns (not shown as they do not form part of the object of the invention). It should be mentioned that in a condition of use of the container (1), the base (20) acts as a rear wall.

[0038] Each individual container (2) includes removable closing means (described below) provided to close off the inner space from the outside.

[0039] It should be noted that each individual container (2) is made up of two halves which are dimensionally complementary to each other, as seen more clearly in FIG. 3, and able to be coupled together by fitting. In this case, the two halves are symmetrical to each other.

[0040] The side walls (21) of each individual container (2) have an external surface provided with a plurality of reinforcing ribs (23).

[0041] In order to keep the individual containers (2) integrally joined together in order to form the columbarium (1), a plurality of threaded rods (3) are provided which pass through channels (25) made along the outer face of the side walls in each of the individual containers (2). These channels (25) are made up of the ribs (24) that are present.

[0042] In particular reference to the closing means, they include at least one inner door (4), with a general parallelepiped geometrical configuration, which isolates the inner space from the outside environment, the inner door having releasable locking means and a male-female coupling system for the joining thereof to the individual container (2). Thus, the upper and lower ends of each inner door (4) include extensions (40) provided to be fastened on walls of the individual container (2). The number of inner doors (4) will depend on the number of individual inner compartments that each of the individual containers (2) has, and are made from a plastic material that can be the same as or different from the one used in the manufacturing of the individual container (2).

[0043] Thus, for example, FIG. 7 shows how two inner doors (4) linked to two individual compartments are provided, while FIG. 8 shows how four inner doors (4) are arranged, each linked to a respective individual compartment.

[0044] As far as the aforementioned releasable means, they have a rotary latch (5) made up of a cylindrical body (50) from which a projection (51) protrudes laterally (see FIG. 10), the projection being able to be inserted into a locking element (6) able to be fastened in a housing (26) located in the outer upper and/or lower rim of the individual container (2). Housings (71) are also provided wherein the locking elements (6) are assembled, as seen in FIG. 9.

[0045] In this manner, when the projection (51) is rotated, the removal of the inner door is locked. The rotary latch (5) includes a pair of holes (52) in the cylindrical body (50) with a predetermined shape, provided for the insertion of a specialised tool (not shown) having a region with a shape complementary to that of the aforementioned holes (52), thus enabling the latch to be rotated from an open position to a closed position or vice versa.

[0046] It should be mentioned that the locking element (6) comprises an elongated segment (60) which is fastened to a contact surface present on the rim of the individual container (2) by a pair of clipping flanges (61). As seen in FIGS. 11 and 12, the elongated segment (60) includes a half-moon shaped recess (62) wherein the rotary latch (5) is partially located.

[0047] In order to expand the capacity of the number of funerary urns, individual containers can incorporate one or more dividing walls (7) able to be removably assembled inside the individual container which divides the inner space into sub-compartments. Thus, in the example shown in FIG. 4, the inside of the individual container (2) is divided into two sub-compartments by a dividing wall (7), whereas in FIG. 5, two additional dividing walls (7′) have been included which are arranged on a horizontal plane.

[0048] Advantageously, guide means present on the inner portion of the individual container are provided wherein the dividing walls (7, 7′) can slide for easy assembly and disassembly. In this case, the guide means consist of cavities (24) which run through the inside of side walls (21) facing each other, wherein the dividing wall has a protruding rim at each of the opposite ends thereof having dimensions suitable to fit into the corresponding cavities(24). The guide means are also present in the dividing wall (7) at an intermediate height in order to facilitate the assembly of the dividing walls (7′), as seen in FIG. 4.

[0049] In order to improve the aesthetic or visual finish of the columbarium (1), the inner door (4) incorporates a substantially laminar decorative element in the shape of a plate made from stone material, for example, marble, on the outer face thereof (meaning, the one visible from the outside), wherein it is able to be personalised, meaning, it can include an image associated with the ashes of the deceased person.

[0050] The details, shapes, dimensions and other accessory elements, used to manufacture the modular columbarium of the invention, may be suitably substituted for others which do not depart from the scope defined by the claims which are included below.