3.2: Casket Shells

base molding

Molding along lowermost edge of body panels

non-gasketed units

Notice the single latch in the center of the ogee flange (on both the open head end and the closed foot end); these latches denote that the casket is a non-gasketed (non-sealing) unit. -Latch closure -Threaded closure -Chemical compounds - synthetic rubber tape (a.k.a. Butyl tape) -Epoxies -Hermetically sealed

casekt shell

Term that refers collectively to all component parts of the casket

Casket Arm

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

Lug (Ear or Escutcheon)

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

casket bar

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

cap

The topmost portion of the casket shell

header flange

The turned-under (or horizontal) portion of the header

threaded fastener is used when?

Used on Ziegler Cases

Individual Swing Bar

Usually three small bars on each side and hinged to raise and lower. Also found at the ends of the casket

sliding lock bar:

• End Lock • Side Lock • Front Lock

bail handle

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

Hermetically Sealed

Airtight and impervious to external influence • Completely sealed by fusion or soldering - Not common today - non-gasketed kind of closure

hinged panel

Also called Hinged Cap • Cap is in two pieces • During viewing, only the crown portion at the HEAD END is opened

stamped hardware

-Hardware sections are pressed out on a hydraulic press • This method is much less expensive

gasketed closure

-Sliding lock bar -Lever lock -Threaded fastener - used on Ziegler cases

other casket parts:

-bed (wire with mattress or wool stuffed) -hinges -Locks (discussed later in this lesson) -Insert for full couch: generally referred to as an Inner panel -cap bracket

shell:

-cap -crown -pie -header -ogee flange -header flange

Slip Panel (a.k.a. Priest Casket or Slip Top)

Also commonly used on Orthodox Jewish Caskets

body:

-body ledge -body panels -base molding -body ledge flange -casket bottom

shape of the body panels:

1. Flaring Square 2. Urnside 3. Vertical • Sides at 90 degree angle to bottom • "State Casket": panels are 90 degrees to bottom AND corners form 90 degree angles

Two major sections of the shell:

1. The cap (lid) • "Lids" - toilets and peanut butter jars!! NO BITCH 2. The body of the casket

standard burial vault dimensions

86" L x 30" W

most expensive shell type available?

Because of the intense amount of labor required, the round corner/urnside design is the most expensive shell available

Casket Exterior Size

Both wood and metal: 84" L x 29" W

Single hinged Panel (a.k.a. hinged panel)

Commonly used on Orthodox Jewish Caskets (these caskets are often referred to as an "Aron" or "Aaron")

casket tip

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

urnside casket

It is important to note that the term "urnside" has NOTHING to do with the corner of the casket. Many funeral directors use the term "urn corner" which is incorrect. The SIDE PANEL has the urn shape and, as you can see in the two pictures above, can be found on a square corner casket OR a round corner casket. It is true that on a round corner/urnside casket, the part where the side panels and end panels meet is indeed urn-shaped. However, remember that when determining the shell design (i.e. round or square corner), we do so when viewing from above the casket (see p. 56 of the text.)

casket hardware

Refers to the handles, ornamental fixtures, and their fittings that are attached to the casket shell: • Lug (Ear) • Arm • Tip • Bar

what does a swing bar include to be mobile?

Swing Bar requires an arm to make it mobile

chemical compound closure

Synthetic rubber tape

cap bracket

The cap bracket is often confused with the casket hinge. The purpose of the cap bracket is to allow the casket cap to remain in an open position. Without the cap bracket, the cap would still be able to be opened (because of the hinge), but you would have to manually hold it in the open position.

casket body

The portion of the casket that actually receives & holds the body of the deceased

return tip

Tip curves inward toward the body panel and is attached to the casket body panel

oversize caskets

Traditionally increase by 2 inches in width and by 3 inches in length for each size increase • "X" = +2 inches in width and +3 inches in length • "XX" = +4 inches in width and +6 inches in length

stationary bar

non-moveable and does not incorporate an arm as the bar is directly attached to the lug

Full side swing bar

one long swing bar

Individual Stationary Bar

same as individual swing bar but not hinged

Top Body Molding (Body Ledge)

• Also called Body Ledge Flange • Molding along the uppermost edge of the body panels • Where the gasket is placed on sealing caskets • Counterpart to cap's Ogee Flange

corner

• An optional part of the hardware that is attached to the four corners of the body panels • Custom/detachable corner pieces • Life Symbols by Batesville • Act as lugs for continuous stationary bar • Enhance eye appeal • Cover unfinished weld seams

slip panel or slip top

• Cap at the head end of the casket is COMPLETELY REMOVED for viewing • Cap is not hinged to body; held with dowels • Body can be viewed from either side of the casket • Common in the Orthodox Jewish casket • "Aron" • Similar to "Priest Casket" • Only half-couch

header (bridge or cap filler)

• Constructed in "cut-top" caskets • Gives strength/rigidity at point of transverse cut

gasket channel

• Found only on cut-top (half-couch) gasketed caskets • Holds the transverse gasket that seals the space between the head and foot caps

general shell deigns

• General shape (as viewed from the top): 1. Elliptical 2. Octagonal 3. Round corner 4. Square corner ("Miter") • Easiest and least costly to manufacture

infant caskets

• Generally begin at 1 foot long • Sizes are in 6 inch increments up to 66" • Standard adult unit would be used past that • Some units are combination units • The casket also serves as the outer burial container

plastic extrusion molding

• Hardware is molded by injecting molten plastic into a die • Plastic hardware most commonly seen in: • Corners • Lugs • Tips

Non-Gasketed Caskets (Non-Sealing)

• Latch Closure • Threaded Closure • Chemical Compound

Interior size metal

• Metal: 78" L x 23" W • Interior height is 16-24 inches

cast hardware

• Most expensive method • Molten metal poured into mold; cooled; removed for use • Found on high quality caskets

non-gasketed closure

• No gasket is utilized • Non-Sealing • Found on: 1. Metal • 20, 18 gauge 2. Wood • Casket Liner Insert • Removable metal until placed inside a wooden casket shell

Cap Opening Styles

• Non-Perfection Full Couch • Perfection Full Couch • Perfection Half Couch • Hinged Panel • Slip Panel

components of the cap:

• Ogee • Crown • Pie • Header

latch closure

• Similar to jewelry box • Used on wooden caskets and inexpensive metal

Gasketed Caskets (Sealing)

• Sliding Lock Bar • Lever Lock • Threaded Fastener

Ogee

• Sometimes called the Rim • "S" shaped molding that is a component of the cap • Not always an "S" but generally resembles a double-curved line (or the joining of a convex & concave line)

Two types of bars

• Swing Bar: • Individual vs. Full Side • Stationary Bar: • Individual vs. Continuous

non-perfection

• The crown of the casket opened upward and the ogee opened down producing the original full or half couch. • No longer in use -Historically, the crown of the casket opened upward and the ogee opened downward producing the original full or half couch. These are no longer in use

perfection full couch

• The ogee (rim), crown and pies are formed as one unit and raise as one piece

perfection cut

• The ogee is an integral part of the cap and is attached to the crown • Perfection Full Couch • Perfection Half Couch

Cap is in two pieces:

• The rim (ogee) and foot panel are one piece • This is hinged to the top body molding • The head panel is the second piece and is hinged to the rim (ogee)

Perfection Half Couch Casket

• The rim (ogee), crown, and pies are formed as one unit • Transverse cut in the cap that forms two pieces

crown

• The uppermost part of the cap • Everything above the rim (ogee)

pie or fishtail

• The wedge-shaped portion of the cap at each end of the crown • It is part of the crown

That portion of the casket shell containing the following components:

• Top Body Molding (Body Ledge) • End/Side Body Panels • Base Molding • Body Ledge Flange • (Top Body Molding Flange) • Casket Bottom

ogee (rim) flange

• Turned-under edge (horizontal) portion of the rim • Comes into contact with the gasket (if one is used) • OR...comes into contact with the top body molding flange (body ledge flange) • Flat outer face of a rolled-steel joist, esp. of an I- or H-beam

threaded closure

• Used on hinged cap • Thumbscrew from crown into ogee which is received by a metal sleeve

Interior size wood

• Wood: 75" L x 22" W • Interior height is 16-22 inches