Methods and Apparatus for Handling Cremation Ashes

Abstract

A crematorium ashes transfer container made of paper and/or cardboard comprises: one or more sides and/or walls defining a cavity to receive the ashes; an outlet in one of the sides and/or walls allowing exit of ashes in the cavity from the container, the outlet comprising a nozzle and a removeable cap that closes the nozzle, the nozzle being capable of sealing engagement with a long term storage container, whereby ashes within the cavity of the container can be transferred to the long term storage container without being visible during transfer and without leakage of ashes during transfer.

A method of transferring cremation ashes into a long term ashes storage container, comprises: a. providing ashes from a cremation, b. providing a long term ashes storage container having an inlet and providing a crematorium ashes transfer container made of paper and/or cardboard that comprises a nozzle capable of sealing engagement with the inlet on the long term storage container, c. transferring the ashes into the crematorium ashes transfer container, d. sealing the crematorium ashes transfer container, e. opening the nozzle, f. connecting the nozzle with the inlet of the long term storage container so as to be in sealing engagement therewith, and g. transferring the ashes into the long term storage container.

A kit comprises the transfer container and the long term storage container.

Claims

1. A method of transferring cremation ashes into a long term ashes storage container, comprising: a. providing ashes from a cremation, b. providing a long term ashes storage container having an inlet and providing a crematorium ashes transfer container that comprises a nozzle capable of sealing engagement with the inlet on the long term storage container, wherein the crematorium ashes transfer container is made of paper and/or cardboard, c. transferring the ashes into the crematorium ashes transfer container via the nozzle, d. sealing the crematorium ashes transfer container with the ashes inside, e. opening the nozzle, f. connecting the nozzle with the inlet of the long term storage container so as to be in sealing engagement therewith, and g. transferring the ashes into the long term storage container.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising transferring the ashes into the long term storage container without the ashes being visible or leaking during transfer.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the nozzle has a screw thread and the inlet has a screw thread and the method comprises screwing the nozzle into or onto the inlet so as to form a seal therewith prior to transferring the ashes.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the crematorium ashes transfer container is as defined in claim 5.

5. A crematorium ashes transfer container, for storage of ashes from a crematorium and for subsequent transfer of ashes into a separate, long term storage container, wherein the transfer container is made of paper and/or cardboard and comprises: one or more sides and/or walls defining a cavity to receive the ashes; an outlet in one of the sides and/or walls allowing exit of ashes in the cavity from the container, the outlet comprising a nozzle and a removeable cap that closes the nozzle, the nozzle being capable of sealing engagement with the long term storage container, whereby when in said sealing engagement ashes within the cavity of the container can be transferred to the long term storage container without being visible during transfer and without leakage of ashes during transfer.

6. The crematorium ashes transfer container of claim 5, wherein the one or more sides and/or walls are in the form of a tube.

7. The crematorium ashes transfer container of claim 5, wherein the outlet is located on an upper surface of the container, a region of the one or more sides and/or walls around the circumference of the container at the top of the container is slightly reduced in circumference compared with the circumference of the side wall below that region, and wherein the container further comprises an outer cap in the form of an open ended sheath that is of similar cross section to the side wall below that region and fits around the region of reduced circumference so as to obscure the outlet and its cap.

8. The crematorium ashes transfer container of claim 5, wherein the container is substantially circular or rectangular in cross section.

9. The crematorium ashes transfer container of claim 8, made entirely of biodegradable components.

10. The crematorium ashes transfer container of claim 8, wherein the container can only be filled via the nozzle.

11. The crematorium ashes transfer container of claim 5, wherein the cavity has an interior profile such that once opened there are no interior nooks or crannies or crevices that can trap ash and prevent complete emptying of ash from the container during transfer.

12. The crematorium ashes transfer container of claim 5, wherein the nozzle seals to a corresponding fitting on a long term ashes storage container.

13. The crematorium ashes transfer container of claim 5, wherein the nozzle has a screw thread and is sealable with a screw cap, for use with a long term storage container having an inlet with a screw threaded fitting.

14. A kit comprising (i) the crematorium ashes transfer container of claim 5, and a sealable, long term ashes storage container comprising a cavity and an inlet for transfer of ashes into the cavity, wherein the nozzle on the transfer container can sealingly engage with the inlet on the storage container, or (ii) the crematorium ashes transfer container of claim 5, and a nozzle extension having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the nozzle on the transfer container can sealingly engage with the proximal end of the nozzle extension.

15. A method of handling ashes comprising: a. providing ashes from a cremation, b. providing a crematorium ashes transfer container that comprises a sealable nozzle capable of sealing engagement with an inlet on a long term storage container, c. transferring the ashes into the crematorium ashes transfer container via the nozzle, and d. sealing the crematorium ashes transfer container with the ashes inside, wherein the crematorium ashes transfer container is as defined in claim 5.

Description

EXAMPLE

[0085] The present invention is now described in more and specific details with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0086] FIGS. 1a-c shows (1a) a side view of a transfer tube of the invention, (1b) a view from below of the transfer tube and (1c) a view from above of the transfer tube;

[0087] FIG. 2 shows a side view in cross section of the transfer tube;

[0088] FIG. 3 shows a side view of the transfer tube, expanded to shows the tube body, screw cap and upper cap separated;

[0089] FIG. 4 shows a side view of the tube being inserted into an urn;

[0090] FIG. 5 shows a side view of the tube attached to an urn during transfer of ashes into the urn;

[0091] FIG. 6 shows a side view of the tube with a nozzle extension, expanded to show both separately; and

[0092] FIG. 7 shows a side view of the tube with nozzle extension attached and transferring ashes into a bag.

[0093] Referring to FIGS. 1a-c, 2 and 3, a cylindrical transfer tube 10 comprises a body 11 having outer side wall 13 and outer cap 12. The outer cap has a top end wall 15 and the tube body has bottom end wall 14. FIG. 1a shows a side view of the tube with upper cap fitted, FIG. 1b shows a view from below and FIG. 1c shows a view from above.

[0094] FIG. 2 shows the tube in cross section, with upper cap fitted. Cavity 16 of the tube is bounded by interior side wall 17, bottom end wall 14 and cavity top wall 18. All walls are of stiff cardboard as is conventional in relation to the known scatter tubes. An upper, interior portion of the cavity top wall is supported by reinforcing ring 19.

[0095] Located on upper cavity wall 18, nozzle 24 is formed by a portion of the upper wall being drawn into and extending into a narrowed tube-like exit, continuous with the upper wall and having a screw thread 25 on its exterior circumference. In FIG. 2 the nozzle screw cap 26 is screwed onto the nozzle 24 and the thread is not visible. The thread is visible in FIGS. 3 and 4. Both nozzle and cap are of corn-starch-based polymer and biodegradable. The smooth interior contour of the nozzle, formed from the cavity top wall means there are no internal voids or baffles or pockets, and hence when inverted ashes are not trapped internally and the whole of the cavity can be emptied of ashes, leaving none behind.

[0096] Outer cap 12 slides onto the upper portion of the tube, formed by the interior side wall 17 extending upwards and beyond outer side wall 13, forming a shoulder 27 where the outer side wall ends. The cap hence slides downwards as far as the shoulder, forming when in that position a completed, closed transfer tube having a substantially cylindrical appearance. With the outer cap fitted, the screw cap 26 is obscured.

[0097] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the transfer tube is shown after being filled with ashes and sealed by its cap, and then the tube containing ashes has now been opened, in that the cap 26 has been removed. It is shown in FIG. 4 being screwed into threaded inlet 31 on cat-shaped urn 30. It is further shown in FIG. 5 in sealed engagement with the urn and inverted so that ashes may transfer into the urn while being invisible to observers and without leakage.

[0098] Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the tube is shown with nozzle extension 34 having an internal screw thread (not shown) at its proximal end, expanded to show both items in FIG. 6 but in FIG. 7 with the extension screwed onto threaded portion 25 of the nozzle 24 and inverted while transferring ashes 35 into bag 36. Use of the extension enables transfer without sight of ashes as the space between the tube and the bag neck is straddled by the extension tube, and with reduced spillage as the tube penetrates deep into the bag neck even though the extension does not fit tightly into any corresponding fitting on the bag (or other receptacle).

[0099] The invention thus provides a transfer container for transfer of cremation ashes after cremation, first to receive ashes after cremation into the transfer container and then for transfer from the transfer container into a desired end storage container, e.g. urn or the like, together with methods of using the same and kits comprising the same.

LIST OF PARTS

[0100] 10 transfer tube

[0101] 11 body

[0102] 12 outer cap

[0103] 13 outer side wall

[0104] 14 bottom end wall

[0105] 15 top end wall of outer cap

[0106] 16 cavity

[0107] 17 interior side wall

[0108] 18 cavity top wall

[0109] 19 reinforcing ring

[0110] 24 nozzle

[0111] 25 nozzle thread

[0112] 26 nozzle screw cap

[0113] 27 shoulder

[0114] 30 urn

[0115] 31 urn inlet

[0116] 34 nozzle extension

[0117] 35 ash

[0118] 36 bag