Headstone support brace

Abstract

A headstone brace has a first side brace having a channel along a portion of the first side brace, a second side brace having a channel along a portion of the second side brace where the second side brace is in an opposed and spaced channel-facing relationship with the first side brace, and at least one back brace secured on one end to the first side brace and on the other end to the second side brace where the headstone brace when attached to a headstone allows viewing of any inscriptions or artwork on the front of the headstone.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A headstone brace comprising: 
 a first side brace having a channel defined along a portion of said first side brace;    a second side brace having a channel defined along a portion of said second side brace wherein said second side brace is in an opposed and spaced channel-facing relationship with said first side brace; and    at least one back brace secured on one end to said first side brace and on the other end to said second side brace wherein said headstone brace when attached to a headstone allows viewing of any inscriptions or artwork on said headstone.    
     
     
         2 . The headstone brace of  claim 1  wherein said first side brace and said second side brace each has a base member, a front leg member and a back leg member wherein said front leg member and said back leg member defines said channel.  
     
     
         3 . The headstone brace of  claim 1  wherein said channel has a width greater than the thickness of said headstone.  
     
     
         4 . The headstone brace of  claim 1  wherein said back brace has at least one slot adjacent each end.  
     
     
         5 . The headstone brace of  claim 4  wherein the length of said slot is parallel with the length of said back brace.  
     
     
         6 . The headstone brace of  claim 2  wherein said back leg member is wider than said front leg member.  
     
     
         7 . The headstone brace of  claim 2  wherein said back leg member has a plurality of notches.  
     
     
         8 . The headstone brace of  claim 1  wherein said brace is made of a durable material.  
     
     
         9 . A headstone brace kit comprising: 
 a pair of side braces wherein each side brace has a channel for receiving the side edges of a headstone; and    at least one back brace having first and second ends wherein each end is adapted to be attached to one of said pair of side braces.    
     
     
         10 . The kit of  claim 9  further comprising fastening hardware for securing said at least one back brace to said pair of side braces.  
     
     
         11 . The kit of  claim 9  further comprising at least one shim for placement between said side braces and said headstone.  
     
     
         12 . The kit of  claim 9  wherein each of said side braces is U-shaped.  
     
     
         13 . The kit of  claim 12  wherein each of said side braces has a base member, a front member and a back member.  
     
     
         14 . The kit of  claim 13  wherein said back member is wider than said front member.  
     
     
         15 . The kit of  claim 13  wherein said back member is notched.  
     
     
         16 . A method of reinforcing a headstone, said method comprising: 
 placing a channel of a first side brace onto a side edge of a headstone;    placing a channel of a second side brace onto the other side edge of said headstone; and    attaching one end of a back brace to said first side brace and the other end to said second side brace.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising pulling said first side brace and said second side brace towards each other creating a snug fit of said headstone brace to said headstone.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising adding at least one shim between said headstone and said one or more of said side braces.  
     
     
         19 . A method of reinforcing a headstone comprising: 
 pre-assembling one end of at least one back brace to a first side brace having a channel along a portion of said first side brace and the other end to a second side brace having a channel along a portion of said second side brace wherein said channels of said first and second side braces are facing each other, said pre-assembly forming a headstone brace; and    sliding said pre-assembled headstone brace onto said headstone.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising pulling said first side brace and said second side brace towards each other creating a snug fit of said headstone brace to said headstone.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising securing said back brace to said first and second side braces.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising adding at least one shim between said headstone and said one or more of said side braces.