Funeral Directing -- Casket Parts

Crinkled

An exterior casket finish in which the metal is coating with a substance that wrinkles as it dries; usually used on less expensive caskets

Corner

An optional part of the hardware that is attached to the four corners of the body panels

Production Methods

(1) Cast Hardware (2) Stamped Hardware

Padding Materials

(1) Cotton (2) Polyethylene foam (3) Shredded paper (4) Spun Polyester (5) Excelsior (wood wool) - wood shavings

Lining Materials

(1) Crepe (2) Satin (3) Valvet (4) Linen (5) Linen Weave (6) Twill Weave

Backing Materials

(1) Fiberboard (2) Masselin (3) Plastic

Component Parts of Handles

(1) Lug (2) Arm (3) Bar (4) Tip (5) Corner

Component Parts of Caskets

(1) Shell (2) Cap (3) Rim (Ogee) (4) Crown (5) Pie (Fishtail) (6) Rim Flange (Ogee flange) (7) Gasket Channel (8) Body (9) Top Body Molding (Body Ledge) (10) Top Body Molding Flange(Body Ledge Flange) (11) Body Panels (12) Base Molding (13) Hardware

Cloth Covering Types

(1) Smooth (2) Embossed

Types of Handles

(1) Swing bar (2) Stationary bar (3) Bail Handle

Octagon

A casket having eight angles or corners and therefore has eight sides or surfaces on the side panel

Elliptic

A casket having ends in the shape of a half circle

Single Hinged Panel

A casket in which the cap is in two pieces; the rim (ogee) and the foot panel is one piece which is hinged to the top body molding; and the head panel being the second piece which is hinged to the rim (ogee)

Perfection Full Couch

A casket in which the rim (ogee), crown, and pies are formed as one unit and which raises in one piece

Perfection Half Couch

A casket in which the rim (ogee), crown, and pies are formed as one unit with a transverse cut in the cap, forming a two-piece lid for the casket

Pillow

A cloth bag filled with soft material used to support the head of the deceased

Head Panel

A component part of the casket interior which is inside the head portion of the cap; no distinction is made between the head panel and the foot panel in full couch caskets

Stamped Hardware

A hardware production method of lesser expense whereby the casket hardware section are pressed out on a hydraulic press

Doeskin (Moleskin)

A heavy durable cotton fabric with a short (1/8th inch or less), thick, velvety nap on one side; woven cloth with a suede-like appearance with a nap less than 1/8th inch

Brushed

A metal casket is first painted, then scratched with an abrasive material to the base metal, and then finished with a sealer and buffed until smooth high gloss is obtained -Mainly in stainless steel, copper, and bronze caskets

Plastic Extrusion Method

A method of molding plastic by injecting molten plastic into a dye

Top Body Molding (Body Ledge)

A molding along the uppermost edge of the body panels

Swing Bar

A moveable casket handle with a hinged arm. It can be full length, individual, or single

Stationary Bar

A non-moveable casket handle. It can be full length, individual, or single

Bail Handle

A single handle in which the lug, arm, and bar are combined in one unit

Hammertone

A sprayed finish that has the appearance of small indentations in the metal (as if struck by a ballpeen hammer); the indentations are in the pain and appear as the paint dries; usually found on inexpensive caskets

Gimp (Fold)

A strip of metal, plastic, or cloth that is attached to the inside of the panel, covering the area at which point the roll (cove, puffing) is anchored

Plastic

A synthetic or natural organic material shaped when soft then hardened

Tailored Interior

A tightly drawn form of casket interior

Broadcloth

A twilled, napped, woolen, or worsted fabric with a smooth lustrous face and dense texture; a fabric usually made of cotton, silk, or rayon woven in a plain or rip weave with a semi-gloss finish

Throw (Overlay, Overthrow)

Aesthetic covering for the foot cap or inner foot panel of the casket

Rim (Ogee)

An "S" shaped molding that is a component part of the casket cap

Fiberboard

Cardboard

Vertical Side Square (State Casket)

Casket body style with the body sides at a 90 degree angle to the bottom

Urnside

Casket design which displays a body panel with the shape of an urn

Stained

Casket exterior which a color stain is applied

Unfinished

Casket exterior which has no stain or protective varnish

Unstained

Casket exterior which has no stain, but may be covered with protective varnish

Natural Finish

Casket exterior which may be stained or unstained with an outer protective coating of varnish or polyurethane

Tufted Interior

Casket interior created by placing a padding material between a lining material and a backing material, with subsequent stitches taken, forming small raised puffs -Carriage and biscuit are the two most common in caskets

Crushed Interior

Casket interior created by placing the lining material on a metal form, adding weights, steaming the material, and then attaching it to a suitable upholstery (backing) material

Shirred Interior

Casket interior in which the material is drawn or gathered in parallel fashion in a particular sewing process

Full Couch

Casket is fully opened at the head and food

Flaring Square

Casket shell design in which the sides and ends of the casket body flare out from the bottom to the top; a casket shell design that is narrower and shorter at the bottom than at the opening of the top

Semi-Tailored Interior

Combination of a tailored interior with one or more other styles of interior; for effect

Foot Panel

Component part of the casket interior which is inside the foot portion of the cap

Roll (Cove, Puffing)

Component part of the casket interior which lines the rim (ogee) and surrounds the cap panel

Body Panels

Compose the sides and ends of the casket shell

Polymer

Compound similar in appearance to plastic, that has a high molecular weight creating an extremely durable substance

Circle Corner

Curved corner formed by the addition of a rounded corner piece that has been stamped or milled during the manufacturing process. -Welded into position

Linen

Fabric made from flax, noted for its strength, coolness, and luster

Valvet

Fabric of silk, cotton, and possibly rayon, with a thick, soft pile or nap

Satin

Fabric woven to create a smooth, lustrous face and dull back. Made from silk, nylon, or rayon

Linen Weave

Fabric woven to look like linen used as casked linen material

Gasket Channel

Found on cut top of gasketed caskets; is an integral part of the food panel header on gasketed caskets; the function is to hold the transverse gasket to seal the space between the head and foot cap

Inner Panel

Functional or ornamental covering that usually covers the food end of the casket in the full couch casket; may be located at the both the head and foot of the full couch casket

Gloss

High shine

Mattress Cover

Interior cloth or material which covers the mattress or bedding of the casket

Apron (Overlay skirt)

Lining attached to the undersurface of the foot panel of the casket and/or a component part of the throw (overlay, overthrow), which extends downward into the body of the casket

Fiberglass

Material consisting of extremely fine filaments of glass embedded in various resins

Smooth

Material has no raised surfaces

Body Lining

Material that drapes the inside perimeter of the body of the casket

Base Molding

Molding along the lower most edge of the body panels

Combination

More than one style used in the interior

Flat

No shine

Sprayed

Paint is sprayed onto the casket

Blanket

Piece of fabric used to cover the body of the deceased, especially the lower legs and feet when displayed in a full open casket

Hinge Cover (Skirt)

Portion of the casket interior covering the hinges that attach the casket cap to the casket body; usually extends from the roll and becomes a part of the body lining

Extendover

Portion of the casket interior which extends over the top body molding (body ledge) for aesthetic value

Bed

Portion of the casket upon which the deceased human remains are placed -Adjustable -Stationary

Masselin

Pressed paper in sheet form; used in casket construction as backing (upholstery material)

Square Corner

Side and ends are joint at a 90 degree angle. Sometimes called the mitered corner, it is less expensive than the round corner because it requires fewer component pieces and fewer hours of labor

Twill Weave

Textile weave in which threads are crossed over one another to give an appearance of diagonal lines

Arm

That part of the casket handle that attaches the bar to the lug

Bar

That part of the casket handle, attached to the lug or arm, which is grasped by the casket bearer

Body

That portion of the casket shell containing the top body molding, body panel, base molding, and casket bottom

Half Couch

The casket top is divided into two sections. Only the head section is open

Shell

The component parts that compose the cap (lid) and the body of the casket

Tip

The decorative or ornamental part of the casket handle that covers the exposed ends of the bar

Plated

The finish created when base metal is coated by another metal via an electrolytic process; it is identified when used in casket construction by the term "deposit" as in "copper deposit"

Cap Panel

The focal part of the interior, which fills the inside of the crown or uppermost part of the cap

Top Body Molding Flange (Body Ledge Flange)

The horizontal portion of the top body molding (body ledge) where the gasket is placed on gasketed protective caskets

Cast Hardware

The most expensive hardware production method in which molten metal is poured into a mold, allowed to cool, and then is removed from the mold

Lug

The part of the casket handle that is attached to the casket body

Cap

The top most part of the casket shell, including the ogee, crown, pie and header

Rim Flange (Ogee Flange)

The turned under edge or horizontal portion of the rim that comes into contact with the gasket or body ledge flange (top body molding flange)

Crown

The uppermost part of the cap, extending from rim to rim; everything above the rim

Pie (Fishtail)

The wedge shaped portion of the cap (lid) at each end of the crown

Crepe

Thin crinkled cloth of silk, rayon, cotton, or wool

Embossed

To ornament with raised work; to raise relief from surface; material having designs raised above the surface

Laminated

Type of finish made by uniting superimposed layers of different materials

Cloth Covered

Type of finish where wood is covered with cloth

Polished (Gloss)

Type of finish which a surface made smooth and glossy usually by friction: brought to a highly developed, finished, or refined state: burnished

Satin

Type of finish which has less luster than semi-gloss

Semi-Gloss

Type of finish which is low luster

Flat Finish (Matte Finish)

Type of finish which is used on casket exterior that is free of gloss: dull, lusterless surface: no shine of gloss

Painted

Type of finish which where there is an application of paint, single or multicolored

Secality Head Panels

Unique design is created in the head panel

Plush

Woven cloth with a nap exceeding 1/8th inch (high pile)