Cemetery monument, memorial or grave marker and method for assembling same

Abstract

The present invention is a cemetery monument, memorial or grave marker and a method for assembling the same. The monument is attached to a solid stone base. Vertical metal or stone panels are affixed to each other and a top and bottom horizontal panel to form a substantially hollow chamber. At least one of the panels contains memorial indicia of the deceased. Openings are provided through at least one panel forming a decorative pattern. The monument or grave marker further includes illumination means and a power source electrically coupled to the illumination means.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A cemetery monument for the deceased comprising: 
 A stone base,    A plurality of spaced-apart vertical panels attached to said base;    A top panel and a bottom panel attached to said vertical panels thus defining a hollow Enclosure, at least one of said vertical panels containing indicia of the deceased thereon.    
     
     
         2 . The monument of  claim 1  wherein said panels are constructed of stone or metal.  
     
     
         3 . The monument of  claim 1 , wherein said panels may be of various sizes, shapes and thicknesses.  
     
     
         4 . The monument of  claim 1 , wherein said panels may carry or contain etched, carved or cast memorial or identifying information.  
     
     
         5 . The monument of  claim 1 , wherein said panel edges may be angled to allow the assembly of encloses of various shapes and designs.  
     
     
         6 . The monument of  claim 1 , wherein said panels may be aligned by stainless steel set pins positioned in a panel edge that correspond to holes located in adjoining panels.  
     
     
         7 . The monument of  claim 1 , wherein said panels are joined together by a bonding agent or fastening means.  
     
     
         8 . The monument of  claim 1 , wherein said bonding agent is an epoxy resin.  
     
     
         9 . The monument of  claim 1 , wherein said fastening means include threaded bolts and nuts or rod or coupling assemblies.  
     
     
         10 . The monument of  claim 1 , wherein said fastening means may be decorative and provide security.  
     
     
         11 . The monument described in  claim 1 , wherein said panel edges may contain gasketing or sealing material to prevent water infiltration into the enclosure.  
     
     
         12 . The monument described in  claim 1 , wherein one or more of said panels may have an attached metal inscription plaque for descriptive information.  
     
     
         13 . The monument described in  claim 12  wherein said plaque is mechanically fastened to said panel.  
     
     
         14 . The monument described in  claim 12  wherein said plaque may contain gasketing or sealing material.  
     
     
         15 . A cemetery monument for the deceased comprising; 
 A stone base;    A vase;    A plurality of spaced-apart vertical panels attached to said base;    A top panel attached to said vertical panels thus defining a hollow enclosure, at least one of said vertical panels containing indicia of the deceased thereon.    
     
     
         16 . The monument of  claim 15  wherein said vertical panels comprise two side panels and a front end rear panel.  
     
     
         17 . The monument of  claim 15  wherein said panels are constructed of stone or metal.  
     
     
         18 . The cemetery monument of  claim 15  wherein said panels may carry or contain etched, carved or cast memorial or identifying information.  
     
     
         19 . The cemetery monument of  claim 16  wherein said side panels each have two vertical flanges on the front and rear inside edges that receive the vertical side edges of the front and rear panels, thus maintaining them in a vertical or slightly angled parallel separation.  
     
     
         20 . The cemetery monument of  claim 16  wherein said front panels and said rear panels are secured using decorative nuts and a threaded rod or coupling structure or device attached on the interior of the enclosure which allow said front and rear panels to be secured into the carved flanged areas on the side panels with said side panels providing a separation of said front and rear panels enabling the creation of a hollow enclosure.  
     
     
         21 . The cemetery monument of  claim 15  wherein an illuminating means is provided on the interior of the enclosure with supporting power means electrically coupled to said illumination means for providing said electrical power.  
     
     
         22 . The cemetery monument of  claim 21  wherein said illumination means contains a controlled mechanism.  
     
     
         23 . The cemetery monument of  claim 21  wherein the source of said electrical power is solar energy.  
     
     
         24 . The cemetery monument of  claim 18  wherein said etched, carved or cast memorial, artistic or identifying information or elements are carved into and through the panel creating an aperture to the interior of said monument.  
     
     
         25 . The cemetery moniment of  claim 24  wherein said apertures may be sealed using translucent panels secured on the interior of said structural panel surfaces to prevent leakage.  
     
     
         26 . The cemetery monument of  claim 25  wherein said translucent panels may be constructed of plastic or glass.  
     
     
         27 . The cemetery monument of  claim 26  wherein said translucent panels may be colored.  
     
     
         28 . A grave market for the deceased comprising: 
 A plurality of spaced-apart vertical panels;    A top and bottom horizontal panel attached to said vertical panel, thus defining a hollow enclosure, at least one of said panels containing indicia of the deceased thereon.    
     
     
         29 . The grave marker of  claim 28 , wherein said panels are constructed of stone or metal.  
     
     
         30 . The grave marker of  claim 28 , wherein said panels may carry or contain etched, carved or cast memorial or identifying information.  
     
     
         31 . The grave marker of  claim 28 , wherein said panels may be aligned by stainless steel set pins positioned in a panel edge edge that correspond to holes located in adjoining panels.  
     
     
         32 . The grave marker of  claim 28 , wherein said panels are joined together by a bonding agent or fastening means.  
     
     
         33 . The grave marker of  claim 28 , wherein said fastening means include threaded bolts and nuts or rod or coupling assemblies.  
     
     
         34 . The grave marker of  claim 28 , wherein said fastening means may be decorative and provide security.  
     
     
         35 . The grave marker of  claim 28 , wherein said panel edges may contain gasketing material to prevent water infiltration into the enclosure.  
     
     
         36 . The grave marker of  claim 28 , wherein one of said panels may have an attached metal inscription plaque for descriptive information.  
     
     
         37 . The grave marker of  claim 28 , wherein said plaque is mechanically fastened to said panel.  
     
     
         38 . The grave marker of  claim 28 , wherein said plaque may contain gasketing or sealing material.  
     
     
         39 . The grave marker of  claim 28 , wherein an illuminating means is provided on the interior of the enclosure with supporting power means electrically coupled to said illuminating means for providing said electric power.  
     
     
         40 . The grave marker in  claim 39 . Wherein said illumination means contains a controlled mechanism.  
     
     
         41 . The grave marker of  claim 39 , wherein the source of said electrical power is solar energy.  
     
     
         42 . The grave marker of  claim 30 , wherein said etched, carved or cast memorial, artistic or identifying information or elements are carved into and through the panel creating an aperture to the interior of said grave marker.  
     
     
         43 . The grave marker of  claim 42 , wherein said apertures may be sealed using translucent panels secured on the interior of said structural panels surfaces to prevent water infiltration.  
     
     
         44 . The grave marker of  claim 43 , wherein said translucent panels my be constructed of plastic or glass.  
     
     
         45 . The grave marker of  claim 44 , wherein said translucent panels may be colored.