Blank for a lightweight casket

Claim 2

A blank for folding into a body containment section of a casket, the blank comprising: a first stabilizing surface element, the first stabilizing surface element being a unitary element, a second stabilizing surface element positioned to lie above the first stabilizing surface element and spaced-apart therefrom, the second stabilizing surface element being a unitary element, and a core having a top surface and a bottom surface, the core being sandwiched between the first and second stabilizing surface elements, the bottom surface of the core being attached to the first stabilizing surface element and the top surface of the core being attached to the second stabilizing surface element, the core including a first section and a second section spaced-apart from the first section to form an elongated gap therebetween, the first and second sections of the core being arranged so that the blank can be bent along the gap, each of the first and second sections of the core being attached to both the first and second unitary stabilizing surface elements.

Claim 3

The blank of claim 1, wherein the second stabilizing surface element includes a bridge portion covering the gap between the first and second sections of core.

Claim 4

The blank of claim 2, wherein the bridge portion of the second stabilizing surface element is formed to include an elongated scored fold line above the gap.

Claim 5

The blank of claim 3, wherein the first stabilizing surface element is formed to include an elongated scored fold line beneath the gap and adjacent to the scored fold line on the bridge portion.

Claim 6

The blank of claim 1, wherein the core further includes a third section spaced apart from the second section to form a second gap therebetween, the second stabilizing surface element further including a second bridge portion covering the second gap, the second and third sections of the core being arranged so that the blank can be bent along the second gap.

Claim 7

The blank of claim 5, wherein the second bridge portion of the second stabilizing surface element is formed to include a second scored fold line above the second gap.

Claim 8

The blank of claim 5, wherein the first, second, and third sections are rectangular planar sections and the second section is positioned to lie between the first and third sections.

Claim 9

The blank of claim 1, further comprising an additional layer of core having a top surface and a bottom surface, the bottom surface of the additional layer of core being attached to the second stabilizing surface element, and a third stabilizing surface element attached to the top surface of the additional layer of core.

Claim 10

The blank of claim 8, wherein the additional layer of core is sized to have substantially the same area and is substantially the same shape as the second section of the second stabilizing surface element, the bottom surface of the additional layer of core is attached to the second section of the second stabilizing surface element, and the third stabilizing surface element is sized to have substantially the same area and is substantially the same shape as the additional layer of core.

Claim 11

The blank of claim 1, wherein the core comprises an open-celled material.

Claim 12

The blank of claim 10, wherein each cell of the open-celled material includes a wall that is positioned to lie in orthogonal relation to the first and second stabilizing surface elements.

Claim 13

The blank of claim 11, wherein the cells are cylindrically shaped cells and the core includes a plurality of such cells interconnected and forming a honeycomb pattern.

Claim 14

The blank of claim 1, wherein the core comprises a closed-cell material.

Claim 15

The blank of claim 13, wherein the closed-cell material is polystyrene foam.

Claim 16

The blank of claim 1, further comprising a decorative material attached to the underside of the first stabilizing surface element.

Claim 17

The blank of claim 1, wherein the second stabilizing surface element covers the entire top surface of the core.

Claim 18

The blank of claim 16, wherein the second stabilizing surface element includes a coating made from a hydrophobic material to prevent the penetration of aqueous-based liquids through the second stabilizing surface element.

Claim 19

The blank of claim 1, wherein the first stabilizing surface element covers the entire bottom surface of the core.

Claim 20

The blank of claim 18, wherein the first stabilizing surface element includes a coating made from a hydrophobic material to prevent the penetration of aqueous-based liquids through the first stabilizing surface element.

Claim 21

The blank of claim 1, wherein a support plate is attached to the first stabilizing surface element adjacent to the gap between the first and second sections of the core.

Claim 22

The blank of claim 20, wherein the support plate includes an insert core having a top surface and a bottom surface, an insert stabilizing surface element attached to the top surface of the insert core, the bottom surface of the insert core being attached to the first stabilizing surface element.

Claim 23

A blank for folding into a body containment section of a casket, the blank comprising: an elongated first stabilizing surface element having a generally centrally located center section with first and second longitudinally extending transversely spaced-apart sides and first and second transversely extending, longitudinally spaced-apart ends, a first end section appended to the first end of the center section, a second end section appended to the second end of the center section, a first side section appended to the first side of the center section, and a second side section appended to the second side of the center section, each of the first and second end sections and first and second side sections being foldable relative to the center section, the first stabilizing surface element being a unitary element, a core having a top surface and a bottom surface, the core being positioned to lie above the first stabilizing surface element and the bottom surface of the core being attached thereto, the core including a first section attached to the center section of the first stabilizing surface element, a second section attached to the first side section of the first stabilizing surface element, the second section being spaced apart from the first section to form a first space therebetween, and a third section attached to the second side section of the first stabilizing surface element, the third section being spaced apart from the first section to form a second space therebetween, and a second stabilizing surface element attached to the top surface of the core, the second stabilizing surface element including a first bridge portion covering the first space formed between the first and second sections and a second bridge portion covering the second space formed between the first and third sections, the second stabilizing surface element being a unitary element.

Claim 24

A blank for folding into a body containment section of a casket, the blank comprising: an elongated first stabilizing surface element having a generally centrally located center section with first and second longitudinally extending transversely spaced-apart sides and first and second transversely extending, longitudinally spaced-apart ends, a first end section appended to the first end of the center section, a second end section appended to the second end of the center section, a first side section appended to the first side of the center section, and a second side section appended to the second side of the center section, each of the first and second end sections and first and second side sections being foldable relative to the center section, the first stabilizing surface element being a unitary element, a core having a top surface and a bottom surface, the core being positioned to lie above the first stabilizing surface element and the bottom surface of the core being attached thereto, the core including a first section attached to the center section of the first stabilizing surface element, a second section attached to the first side section of the first stabilizing surface element, the second section being spaced apart from the first section to form a first space therebetween, and a third section attached to the second side section of the first stabilizing surface element, the third section being spaced apart from the first section to form a second space therebetween, and a second stabilizing surface element attached to the top surface of the core, the second stabilizing surface element including a first bridge portion covering the first space formed between the first and second sections and a second bridge portion covering the second space formed between the first and third sections, the second stabilizing surface element being a unitary element.

Claim 25

The blank of claim 22, further comprising a fourth section of the core positioned to lie on the first end section and a fifth section of the core positioned to lie on the second end section.

Claim 26

The blank of claim 23, wherein each of the first and second end sections of the first stabilizing surface element includes a first side portion adjacent to the first side section of the first stabilizing surface element, a second side portion adjacent to the second side section of the first stabilizing surface element, and a center portion therebetween, the fourth section of the core is attached to the center portion of the first end section, and the fifth section of the core is attached to the center portion of the second end section.

Claim 27

The blank of claim 23, wherein each of the first and second end sections of the first stabilizing surface element includes a first side portion adjacent to the first side section of the first stabilizing surface element, a second side portion adjacent to the second side section of the first stabilizing surface element, and a center portion therebetween, the fourth section of the core is attached to the first side portion of the first end section, and the fifth section of the core is attached to the first side portion of the second end section.

Claim 28

The blank of claim 25, further comprising a sixth section of the core attached to the second side portion of the first end section and a seventh section of the core attached to the second side portion of the second end section.

Claim 29

The blank of claim 2, wherein the bridge portion is elongated and covers the entire gap.

Claim 30

The blank of claim 2, wherein the bridge portion folds into the gap and toward the first stabilizing surface element when the blank is bent along the gap.

Claim 31

The blank of claim 2, wherein the second stabilizing surface element provides the body containment portion with a seamless inner surface adjacent to the first and second sections of the core after the blank is folded into the body containment portion.

Claim 32

The blank of claim 5, wherein the first bridge portion is elongated and covers the entire first gap and the second bridge portion is elongated and covers the entire second gap.

Claim 33

The blank of claim 5, wherein the first bridge portion folds into the first gap and toward the first stabilizing surface element when the blank is bent along the first gap and the second bridge portion folds into the second gap and toward the first stabilizing surface element when the blank is bent along the second gap.

Claim 34

The blank of claim 5, wherein the second stabilizing surface element provides the body containment portion with a seamless inner surface adjacent to the first, second, and third sections of the core after the blank is folded into the body containment portion.