US-12618257-B2 - Columbarium for containing funerary objects

US12618257B2US 12618257 B2US12618257 B2US 12618257B2US-12618257-B2

Abstract

A columbarium for containing funerary objects, provided with at least one self-supporting base structure which can be arranged so as to rest on a supporting surface and forms a plurality of niches for housing funerary objects; the base structure comprises a plurality of portions of profiled elements which are mutually interconnected and are arranged along at least two mutually perpendicular directions, in order to delimit at least one portion of the niches; the portions of profiled elements each have at least one longitudinal seat for the insertion of a portion of at least one respective elongated connecting element for the mutual connection of at least two of the portions of profiled elements arranged contiguously to each other.

Inventors

Filippo Rossi

Assignees

BIONDAN NORTH AMERICA INC.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20231220
Priority Date: 20230213

Claims (10)

1 . A columbarium for containing funerary objects, provided with at least one self-supporting base structure which is configured to be arranged so as to rest on a supporting surface and forms a plurality of niches, for housing funerary objects, wherein said at least one base structure comprises a plurality of portions of profiled elements which are mutually interconnected and are arranged along at least two mutually perpendicular directions, in order to delimit at least one portion of said niches, said portions of profiled elements each having at least one longitudinal seat for insertion of a portion of at least one respective elongated connecting element configured for a mutual connection of at least two of said portions of profiled elements arranged contiguously to each other wherein said at least one longitudinal seat communicates with at least one respective longitudinal engagement groove which is accessible from the outside, said longitudinal engagement groove being provided with mutually opposite walls which are threaded for an engagement of said screw-type locking means and wherein said at least one elongated connecting element is fixed to at least one of the portions of profiled elements in which said elongated connecting element is inserted by virtue of screw-type locking means.
2 . The columbarium according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one longitudinal seat is formed inside said portions of profiled elements.
3 . The columbarium according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one plate for closing said niches which can be fixed, by virtue of fixing means, to at least one outer face of said base structure.
4 . The columbarium according to claim 3 , wherein at least the portions of profiled elements arranged along a lateral perimeter of said base structure have, on side thereof arranged at said outer face of said base structure, at least one accommodation groove for at least one peripheral portion of at least one closure plate.
5 . The columbarium according to claim 3 , wherein said portions of profiled elements have at least one said longitudinal engagement groove which can be accessed from said outer face of said base structure for the accommodation of fixing screws for the anchoring to said outer face of said base structure of at least one body for connection between portions of profiled elements which are mutually contiguous.
6 . The columbarium according to claim 3 , further comprising at least one pair of base structures positioned to face each other wherein the rear face of a base structure is directed opposite to the corresponding rear face.
7 . The columbarium according to claim 3 , wherein said portions of profiled elements have, on a side thereof directed oppositely to said outer face, at least one longitudinal wing, which protrudes substantially parallel to said outer face.
8 . The columbarium according to claim 6 , further comprising connecting means for a mutual connection of said at least one pair of base structures.
9 . The columbarium according to claim 8 , further comprising closure plates, fixed to longitudinal wings of said portions of profiled elements and configured to close at least some of said niches on a side thereof directed toward the face of the corresponding base structure that is opposite with respect to said outer face.
10 . The columbarium according to claim 9 , wherein said connecting means act at said closure plates.

Description

The present invention relates to a columbarium for containing funerary objects. As is known, columbaria constituted by a structure that forms a plurality of funerary niches or recesses, which are usually closed by slabs of marble or other stone-like material and inside which funerary objects, such as for example coffins, cinerary urns or funerary boxes, can be placed are installed in cemeteries. Usually, columbaria are made of masonry or concrete and are provided in the walls of the constructions and buildings that are part of the cemetery. Small columbaria with a self-supporting base structure, typically for housing cinerary urns, are also known and are placed in a stand-alone arrangement on floors or other supporting surfaces as part of parks or gardens or areas of another kind. Columbaria of this type may have niches on two opposite faces of their base structure and are normally made of concrete blocks or slabs of stone-like material which are pre-assembled together, and therefore they have a considerable weight. The installation of this type of columbarium is quite complex, since it is performed by transporting their base structure, which is already assembled, to the site of use, with the difficulties associated with the weight of the base structure. The aim of the present invention is to provide a columbarium for containing funerary objects that is capable of improving the background art in one or more of the above aspects. Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a columbarium that is easy and convenient to install. Another object of the invention is to provide a columbarium that can be assembled at the site of use, so as to simplify its transportation. A further object of the invention is to provide a columbarium that has a solid structure capable of validly bearing the load of marble slabs. Another object of the present invention is to provide a columbarium that can be installed without requiring particular skills on the part of the operators. A still further object of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks of the background art in a manner that is alternative to any existing solutions. Not least object of the invention is to provide a columbarium for containing funerary objects that is highly reliable, relatively easy to provide, and can be manufactured at competitive costs. This aim, as well as these and other objects that will become better apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a columbarium for containing funerary objects according to claim 1, optionally provided with one or more of the characteristics of the dependent claims. Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of the columbarium for containing funerary objects according to the invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a columbarium according to the invention; FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a columbarium according to the invention; FIG. 2a is an enlarged-scale exploded view of a detail of the columbarium according to the invention; FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a part of a columbarium according to the invention; FIG. 3a is an enlarged-scale view of a detail of FIG. 3; FIG. 3b is an enlarged-scale view of another detail of FIG. 3; FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a base structure of a columbarium according to the invention; FIGS. 5 and 6 are sequential perspective views of steps of installation of a columbarium according to the invention; FIGS. 7 and 8 are transverse sectional view of two types of portions of profiled elements that can be used for the provision of the base structure of a columbarium according to the invention. With reference to the figures, the columbarium for containing funerary objects according to the invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 1, comprises at least one self-supporting base structure 2, which is adapted to be rested on a supporting surface 3, constituted for example by a floor, a concrete casting or another suitable surface. The base structure 2 forms a plurality of niches 4, which allow to house funerary objects within them, such as for example cinerary urns, funerary boxes, photographs of the deceased, or others. According to the invention, the basic structure 2 is provided by means of a plurality of portions of profiled elements 5, which are connected to each other and are arranged along at least two mutually perpendicular directions, so that they delimit, with at least one of their directions of extension, at least one portion of the niches 4. In practice, the portions of profiled elements 5 form, with at least one of their portions of extension, at least one of the side walls that delimit the niches 4. In particular, the portions of profiled elements 5 are obtained from profiled bars, conveniently made of metallic material, having a longitudinal ext