Urns

Abstract

Title: Urn. Urn comprising: - a body (10) with a cylindrical cavity (13) and, - a partition (2), sliding within the cylindrical cavity (13) to delimit a lower compartment (131) with the bottom (12), closed by the partition (2), and an upper compartment (132) above the partition (2), opening into the opening (14). The body (10) and the partition (2) are made of crushed cork granules and a molding binder. Figure 2

Description

Title of the invention: Urn FIELD OF INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to an urn intended to receive ashes and a plant. STATE OF THE ART

[0002] Urns are known in multiple embodiments and are intended to be placed in cavities or buried.

[0003] DESCRIPTION AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The invention relates to an urn comprising a body with a cylindrical cavity and a partition wall sliding in the cylindrical cavity to delimit a lower compartment with a bottom, closed by the partition wall and an upper compartment above the partition wall, opening into the opening and capable of receiving a lid, the body, the partition wall and the lid being made of crushed cork granules combined with a binder for molding these parts of the urn.

[0005] This urn has the advantage of combining the compartment intended to receive a plant seedling with the compartment closed by the partition wall, which is, in a way, automatically sealed by the partition wall locking into the cylindrical cavity of the urn. The upper compartment can thus receive a seedling or young plant already in the ground, or a seed with its peat to allow it to develop.

[0006] The cork granules, held together by the binder forming the urn, retain a certain porosity which allows water to drain away gently and roots to penetrate the urn partition and the partition wall.

[0007] This urn can remain as a decorative plant pot indoors or outdoors until the roots penetrate the cork granule wall or the lateral porosity of the walls becomes extreme.

[0008] The urn can also be placed in the ground immediately.

[0009] The outer surface of the urn can be decorated by printing, for example by sublimation, directly onto the wall of smooth molding cork granules, which allows the natural material to be retained; the printing of the decoration on the surface is without particular constraints of limitation of surface area or color or pattern both on the top and on the bottom of the urn.

[0010] According to another characteristic, the partition wall slides downwards but in a way that is difficult to reverse in the upward direction within the cavity cylindrical, which guarantees its almost permanent locking in the inserted position within the cylindrical cavity.

[0011] Thus, when the ashes are placed in the cylindrical cavity, the partition wall is pushed onto the top of the ashes and this partition will remain attached to the cylindrical cavity and can only be removed by its at least partial destruction.

[0012] According to another feature, the partition wall is formed of a thick ring fitted closely to the section of the cylindrical cavity and surrounding a thin disc constituting the most permeable part of this partition and whose deformation under the effect of the thrust exerted in the downward direction up to above the contents of the lower compartment creates the blocking of the partition in this pushed-in position, by a kind of ratcheting effect blocking the rise of the partition.

[0013] The partition wall forms a sort of basin above the area delimited by the thin disc, which helps to retain moisture in the upper cavity that receives the shoot or young plant. This partition remains porous, however, and can be penetrated by the roots in the same way as the lateral wall of the body delimiting the cylindrical cavity.

[0014] According to another characteristic, the body has a substantially cylindrical external shape with a base whose thickness decreases towards the middle region. This reduced thickness of the base in its central area promotes porosity and allows moisture to escape.

[0015] In general, the wall of the urn body and the partition wall are elements having a certain porosity favorable to the good development of the plant in the upper compartment.

[0016] According to another characteristic, the porosity of the urn components is variable locally or globally by the degree of compression of the molding material formed from the cork granules and the binder.

[0017] This differential porosity makes it possible to target the parts of the urn which will preferentially allow the evacuation of any excess water poured into the upper compartment.

[0018] According to another characteristic, the lid is chosen from the following lids:

[0019] - a lid fitted with a peripheral spout and covering the opening of the urn and two cavities forming a handle between them, or

[0020] - a cover comprising a crown with a rebate return combining with the rebate of the opening and a cap covering the opening of the crown.

[0021] These different possibilities adapt to the different uses of the urn with or without planting in the upper compartment and depending on the nature of the plant placed in the upper compartment.

[0022] The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing an urn as defined above by molding a mass formed from a composition of crushed cork granules and a biodegradable binder. Brief description of the drawings

[0023] The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to examples of urns according to the invention shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0024] [Fig-1] Cross-section of a first embodiment of the urn,

[0025] [Fig.2] Cross-section of the urn with the partition wall in place,

[0026] [Fig.3] urn with a plant in the upper compartment,

[0027] [Fig.4] section of the urn lid according to [Fig.1],

[0028] [Fig.4A] Perspective view of the lid of the [Fig.4],

[0029] [Fig.5] Cross-section of a second embodiment of the urn,

[0030] [Fig.5A] exploded view of the second embodiment of the urn,

[0031] DESCRIPTION OF IMPLEMENTATION METHODS OF THE INVENTION

[0032] Fig. 1 shows in vertical section an embodiment of the urn 1 according to the invention.

[0033] The urn 1 consists of a body 10 with a wall 11 of a shape, for example, generally cylindrical or similar to a convex external shape, delimiting a cylindrical cavity 13 of a cross-section, for example, circular. The body 10 has a base 12 and its opening 14 is or may be covered by a lid 3.

[0034] The cylindrical cavity 13 receives a partition 2, which is a piece with a cross-section closely fitted to the cross-section of the cylindrical cavity 13. This partition 2 subdivides the cavity 13 into a closed lower compartment 131 and an upper compartment 132 opening through the opening 14. The partition 2 is positioned above the ashes in the lower compartment 131 according to the required volume. When pressure is applied to the partition 2, it slides and is pushed into the cylindrical cavity 13; it is held relatively irreversibly above the lower compartment 131 and remains locked in this position by its friction against the surface of the cylindrical cavity 13.

[0035] The partition wall 2 has the shape of a thick crown 21 fitted to the section of the cylindrical cavity 13 and surrounding a thin disc 22, the top of the partition thus forming a basin 23. This allows the partition to deform under pressure when pushed in and to lock in the opposite direction.

[0036] In addition, the thickness of the crown 21 ensures the regularity of its downward movement in the cylindrical cavity 13, preventing this partition wall 3 from tilting or even tipping over during its movement.

[0037] The base 12 of the urn has a decreasing thickness towards its central part 121 and the top receives a lid engaged by its shape in the opening of the urn.

[0038] The assembly formed by the body 10, the partition 2, and the lid 3 is made of crushed cork granules combined with a binder. The various components of the urn are preferably obtained by molding. They are biodegradable.

[0039] Fig. 2 shows the filling of compartment 131 and the descent of partition wall 2 until it contacts the contents of compartment 131. Partition wall 2 is pressed against the top of the contents of the lower compartment 131; it is enough to vibrate the urn slightly to level the top of the contents and then firmly press the partition wall so that the mechanical reaction of the contents of compartment 131 acts on the partition wall and deforms it slightly; thus the peripheral rim braces itself against the surface of the cylindrical cavity 13 and locks itself by a sort of ratcheting effect.

[0040] The upper compartment 131 can then be filled with soil to plant something.

[0041] Figure [Fig. 3] shows in cross-section the result of this arrangement of the urn.

[0042] Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the lid 3 of the urn 1 with its rim 31 coming protruding to rest on the top of the urn opening.

[0043] This cover 3 has two diametrically opposed cavities 32, forming between them a kind of recessed handle allowing the cover 3 to be easily grasped between two fingers for removal. These cavities have a crescent-shaped cross-section and face each other.

[0044] Fig. 5 shows another embodiment of the urn in which the side wall borders the opening 14a by a rebate 111a which receives a lid 4a with a return 42a having a rebate edge 421a of complementary shape to that of the rebate 111a of the wall.

[0045] This cover 4a is itself fitted with a crown whose opening also has a rebate 411a receiving the cap 43a, which forms a small cover. The multi-part cover 4a allows the covering of the opening 14a to be modified according to the use of the upper compartment 132 between:

[0046] - a complete closure with the cover 4a,

[0047] - a partial opening of the top by removing the cap 43a leaving exposed a reduced central part, for example, to surround the stem of a plant installed in compartment 132,

[0048] - a complete opening leaving the entire upper part of the body 10 of the urn exposed.

[0049] This urn has a cylindrical cavity 13a and receives an identical partition wall to that of urn 1. The same applies to the other common parts of this method of realization, bearing the same references as in [Fig.1] and whose description will not be repeated.

[0050] The manufacturing process of the urn 1,1a consists of grinding cork (cork bark) to form granules which are combined with a binder such as a resin to obtain a paste which will be molded to make the body, the partition wall and the lid in one or more parts.

[0051] The molding mass preferably has a granule composition of around 85-95% by weight and the binder is a medium-term biodegradable binder.

[0052] The compactness of the urn components can be different locally or globally to have variable porosity.

[0053] The body 10 and the partition 2, as well as the lids 3 and 3a, are preferably adapted to cylindrical internal cavities of circular cross-section 13, of various dimensions. However, the external shapes of the urn body 10 and the lids remain open to different aesthetic interpretations and are not necessarily cylindrical with a circular cross-section.

[0054] To maintain a certain porosity, the wall 11 and the thickness of the bottom 12 as well as that of part of the partition wall 2 will be reduced at least in certain parts.

[0055] NOMENCLATURE OF MAIN ELEMENTS

[0056] 1,1a Urn

[0057] 10, 10a Body

[0058] 11 Wall

[0059] 12 Background

[0060] 13 Cavity

[0061] 131 Lower compartment

[0062] 132 Upper compartment

[0063] 14, 14a Opening

[0064] 2 Partition wall

[0065] 21 Crown

[0066] 22 Disc

[0067] 23 Basin

[0068] 3 Cover

[0069] 31 Peripheral nozzle

[0070] 32 Cavities forming a handle

[0071] 4a Other cover

[0072] 41a Crown

[0073] 41 the Crown Rebate

[0074] 42a Return

[0075]

[0076]

[0077] 421a Return rebate 43a Cap 431a Cap rebate

Claims

Demands

1. Urn comprising: - a body (10) with a cylindrical cavity (13) and a bottom (12) and an opening (14), - a partition wall (2), * sliding in the cylindrical cavity (13) to delimit a lower compartment (131) with the bottom (12), closed by the partition wall (2) and an upper compartment (132) above the partition wall (2), opening into the opening (14) and capable of receiving a lid (3), - the body (10), the partition wall (2) and the lid (3) being made of crushed cork granules, combined with a binder for molding these parts of the urn, and the partition wall (2) is formed of a thick ring (21) fitted to the section of the cylindrical cavity (13) and surrounding a thin disc (22).

2. Urn according to claim 1, characterized in that the partition wall (2) slides reversibly downward in the cylindrical cavity (13).

3. Urn according to claim 1, characterized in that the body (10) of smoke has an external shape substantially cylindrical with the bottom (12) whose thickness decreases towards the center.

4. Urn according to claim 1, characterized in that the wall (11) of the body (10) and the partition wall (2) are porous.

5. Urn according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the porosity of the components of the urn is locally variable by the degree of compression of the molding material of the cork granules combined with the binder.

6. Urn according to claim 1, characterized in that the lid is selected from the following lids: - a lid (3) fitted with a peripheral spout (31) and covering the opening (14) of the urn (1), as well as two cavities (32) in the lid forming a handle, - a lid (4a) composed of a crown (41a) with a return (42a) with a rebate (421a) combining with the rebate (11a) of the opening (14a) and a cap (43a) covering an opening of the crown (41a).

7. Urn according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it is obtained by molding a composition of crushed cork granules combined with a binder.

8. Urn according to claim 7, characterized in that the crushed cork granules represent between 85 and 95% of the weight of the urn.

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