SELF-SUPPORTING LOCULUS

Abstract

A modern loculus made in one piece, i.e. devoid of joints or welding, of a plastic or polymeric material is described. The loculus is self-supporting and does not require an outer supporting rack. This result is achieved by implementing at least the vertical side walls with ribs or ribbing, or by implementing the vertical side walls corrugated. The loculus is stackable with the leaning base supported by the upper wall of the underlying loculus and the leaning base is inclined towards the bottom wall and defines a tank for collecting liquids. The upper wall is inclined towards the bottom wall with the same inclination as the leaning base.

Claims

1. A single-body loculus (1, 1) made of a plastic material, with a leaning base (3) for leaning a coffin, vertical side walls (4, 5), a vertical bottom wall (6), a front opening (8) opposite the bottom wall (6) and an upper wall (7), wherein the side walls (4, 5) are made with ribs or ribbing (9) or are corrugated, and the loculus (1) is self-supporting, wherein the loculus (1, 1) is stackable with the leaning base (3) supported by the upper wall (7) of the underlying loculus (1), and wherein the leaning base (3) is inclined towards the bottom wall (6) and defines a tank for collecting liquids, characterized in that the upper wall (7) is inclined towards the bottom wall (6) with the same inclination as the leaning base (3).

2. Loculus (1, 1) according to claim 1, wherein the bottom wall (6) is made with ribs or ribbing (9) or is corrugated.

3. Loculus (1, 1) according to claim 1, wherein said ribs or ribbing (9) extend uninterruptedly from the lower perimeter of the loculus (1) to the upper perimeter of the loculus (1).

4. Loculus (1, 1) according to claim 1, wherein the minimum thickness of the vertical walls (4-6) is 5 mm and the maximum thickness is 10 mm.

5. Loculus (1, 1) according to claim 1, wherein the leaning base (3) protrudes outwards with respect to the lower perimeter of the loculus (1), like an inclined plane, and the upper wall (7) defines a step or recess (12) with the side walls and bottom wall (6), and the leaning base (3) of the loculus (1) overlying is inserted into said step or recess (12), thus creating a shape coupling.

6. Loculus (1, 1) according to claim 1, made in one piece by molding and devoid of joints or welding.

7. Loculus (1, 1) according to claim 1, made in polyethylene.

8. Loculus (1, 1) according to claim 1, devoid of outer supporting racks.

9. Loculus (1, 1) according to claim 1, comprising mechanical means (14) for anchoring to other identical loculi.

10. Loculus (1, 1) according to claim 9, wherein said mechanical means (14) are at least partially incorporated into the material of the loculus.

11. Loculus (1, 1) according to claim 9, wherein said mechanical means (14) comprise a plurality of first plates (15) at least partially embedded in the material of the loculus (1), each at an outer corner of the loculus (1), and corresponding second plates (16) outside the loculus (1), which can be screwed to said first plates (15) of adjacent or overlapping loculi.

12. Loculus (1, 1) according to claim 9, comprising a panel (10) for closing the front opening (8) of the loculus (1), and said mechanical means (14) optionally comprise anchoring elements for anchoring the closing panel (10).

13. Loculus (1, 1) according to claim 9, wherein said mechanical means (14) comprise elements (17) which implement a stop element and which prevent the longitudinal displacements of the loculi (1) once constrained to each other.

Description

BRIEF LIST OF THE FIGURES

[0037] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become clearer in the review of the following detailed description of a preferred, although not exclusive, embodiment, illustrated by way of example and without limitations with the aid of the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0038] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a loculus according to the present invention;

[0039] FIG. 2 is a side and elevation view of the loculus shown in FIG. 1;

[0040] FIG. 3 is a sectional schematic view of the loculus shown in FIG. 1, considered on a median vertical plane of the loculus;

[0041] FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the loculus shown in FIG. 1;

[0042] FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the loculus shown in FIG. 1, taken on a median horizontal plane of the loculus;

[0043] FIG. 6 is a perspective and exploded view of an accessory of the loculus shown in FIG. 1;

[0044] FIG. 7 is a perspective and partial view of a detail of the loculus shown in FIG. 1 and of a loculus adjacent thereto as they are being joined;

[0045] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the loculus shown in FIG. 1, provided with mechanical means for anchoring to other loculi;

[0046] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a columbarium formed by joining several loculi identical to the loculus shown in FIG. 1, in a closed configuration;

[0047] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a columbarium formed by joining several loculi identical to the loculus shown in FIG. 1, being closed;

[0048] FIG. 11 is a top perspective view of a second embodiment of the loculus according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0049] FIG. 1 shows a perspective of a loculus 1 according to the present invention, comprising a single-body box-shaped body 2 and a front closing panel 10.

[0050] The body 2 of the loculus is defined by a leaning base 3, a right vertical side wall 4, a left vertical side wall 5, a bottom wall 6 and an upper wall 7. The leaning base 3 and the walls 4-7 are made in one piece, as a single body, and are thus devoid of welding, seals, joints, etc. The front opening 8 of the loculus, through which the remains of the deceased are inserted, is opposite the bottom wall 6; in other words, a coffin is intended to slide on the leaning base 3 during the burial.

[0051] The body 2 of the loculus 1 is intended to be closed by the front closing panel 10, as will be described hereunder.

[0052] The loculus 1 shown in the figures is formed by molding a plastic material, preferably polymeric and even more preferably polyethylene.

[0053] At least the vertical side walls 4 and 5, and also the bottom wall 6 in the example shown, are stiffened with ribs or ribbing 9 extending without interruptions from the lower perimeter of the loculus 1 up to the upper perimeter. Alternatively, the walls 4-6 can be made corrugated.

[0054] The stiffening ribs 9 extend vertically and, in fact, give sufficient stiffness to the body 2 of the loculus 1 for making it self-supporting.

[0055] In the example shown in the figures, the stiffening ribs 9 are both on the outer surface of the walls 4-6 and on the respective inner surface, but the solution with stiffening ribs 9 on only one of the two inner/outer surfaces, whereas the other surface stays flat, is also conceivable.

[0056] In the example shown in the figures, the vertical walls 4-6 have a thickness ranging from 5 mm to 10 mm. For example, the loculi 1 produced with a thickness of 10 mm are mainly intended to be laid down in cement or concrete in the absence of additional works and can thus replace all the solutions defined as modern by the operators of the field. The loculi 1 with a thickness of 5 mm are instead a valid alternative to those projects where so-named traditional solutions are already present, i.e. made of bricks, and when in fact desiring to replace or improve a part of the loculus.

[0057] In the loculus 1 shown in the figures, the thickness is constant between the valleys and ridges of the stiffening ribs 9.

[0058] The stiffening ribs 9 are preferably all equal one another but can generally differ in shape and size between one wall and another, for example between the bottom wall 6 and the side walls 4-5, or also on the same wall, for example they can be bigger in the proximity of the front opening 8 and of the bottom wall 6 with respect to the central area. Generally, the pitch between the stiffening ribs 9 can also be constant, as in the example of the figures, or variable, with stiffening ribs 9 spaced further away in some areas and closer in others.

[0059] The loculus 1 shown in the figures is stackable. The upper wall 7 is inclined with respect to a horizontal plane which intercepts the upper edge of the front opening 8. Advantageously, the leaning base 3 is also inclined with the same inclination as the upper wall 7. Thus, the shape of the body 2 of the loculus 1 is box-shaped but not truncated cone shaped.

[0060] FIG. 2 shows the loculus 1 in a side and elevation view: observing this figure, it can be noted how the leaning base 3 is an inclined plane, with an inclination oriented towards the bottom wall 6, protruding below the body 2 of the loculus 1, i.e. protruding beyond the lower perimeter, like a wedge. This characteristic is clearer in FIG. 3.

[0061] FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional schematic view of the loculus 1, i.e. a view considered on a vertical sectional plane (parallel to the side walls 4-5) passing at the center of the leaning base 3. As can be noted, the upper wall 7 and the leaning base 3 have the same inclination, i.e. are parallel. Possible liquids are collected at the lower and back corner 11. Consequently, when two loculi 1 are overlapped, the leaning base 3 of the overlying loculus 1 leans on the upper wall 7 of the underlying loculus 1 and an interlocking is defined at the back and upper corner 12.

[0062] FIG. 4 shows the loculus 1 in a top plan view. From this figure, it is possible to realize how the stiffening ribs 9 extend vertically at regular pitch, i.e. orthogonally to the surface of the sheet, on the side walls 4, 5 and on the back wall 6.

[0063] FIG. 5 is a sectional view considered on a horizontal plane. The leaning base 3, on which the grooves 13 used to drain possible liquids towards the lower and back corner 11 are formed, is visible from the top.

[0064] FIG. 6 shows, in perspective, a mechanical means assembly 14, whose function is to allow the anchoring of several loculi 1 such as to make a columbarium. In particular, the mechanical anchoring means 14 comprise first brackets 15 screwed to the body 2 of the loculi 1, such as to define an anchoring point integral with the body 2 itself, and at least one second bracket 16 which can be screwed to the first brackets 15 by staying in an intermediate position between two adjacent or overlapping loculi. The threaded holes for screwing the first brackets 15 can be formed, for example, by incorporating threaded rivets while molding. An anchoring element 17, in particular a pressure disc, can be screwed to a corresponding second bracket 16 into a threaded hole 18 thereof, such as to exert pressure on the marble coating of the loculus 1 and to ensure the stable positioning thereof.

[0065] FIG. 7 shows, in perspective and in detail, two identical loculi 1, 1 side by side and ready to be anchored one another by using mechanical anchoring means 14. The right vertical side wall 4 of the loculus 1 is placed alongside the left vertical side wall of the loculus 1, by screwing the brackets 15 and 16, such as to create a strong constraint between the loculi 1, 1. The pressure disc 17 is screwed into the hole 18 for keeping the loculi 1, 1 in place.

[0066] FIG. 8 shows this circumstance: the loculus 1 is shown, in a front perspective, with the opening 8 closed by the front closing panel 10. The discs 17 are shown already screwed, even though the stony coating is not drawn for more clarity.

[0067] FIG. 9 shows, in a front perspective, a columbarium 100 made by vertically constraining a plurality of other identical loculi 1, 1, 1 to the loculus 1 by means of the mechanical means 14.

[0068] FIG. 10 shows the columbarium 100 with the upper loculi already sealed with the respective front panels 10 and the remaining loculi 1 in the process of being closed; the respective front panels 10 are about to be positioned at the front opening 8 of the respective loculus 1.

[0069] FIG. 11 shows, in a perspective top view, a second embodiment of the loculus 1 according to the present invention. The loculus 1 is different from the loculus 1 simply in that the front opening 8 is at the long side of the loculus 1.