Lightweight casket having foldable features
A method for use with a casket arrangement having a first configuration and a second configuration includes moving the casket arrangement while in the second configuration, changing the casket arrangement from the second configuration to the first configuration, and moving remains of a deceased disposed within the casket arrangement while in the first configuration. The casket arrangement includes a bottom panel and intrinsically formed side panels and end panels. The side panels and end panels include upper portions that extend upward and connect in the first configuration, and which extend in a direction other than upward in the second configuration.
1. A method for use with a casket arrangement, the casket arrangement including a casket bottom formed of a pliable material, side panels coupled to the casket bottom and formed of the pliable material, and end panels coupled to the casket bottom and formed of a pliable material, wherein each side panel includes a lower section and an upper section foldably attached thereto, wherein the casket bottom, the side panels, and the end panels define an interior for receiving a deceased, the method comprising:
disposing the upper section in a first configuration extending in a direction upward from the lower section;
inserting the casket arrangement into a casket while said upper section is in a second configuration extending in a direction downward from a top portion of the lower section; and
moving the casket arrangement while the upper section is in a third configuration extending in a direction other than vertically upward from the top portion of the lower section.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the casket arrangement further includes flaps extending laterally from, and foldably attached to, each end of each side panel; and
disposing the upper section in the first configuration further includes extending the flaps of opposing upper sections toward each other.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein each flap comprises a substantially rectangular panel.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein:
the casket arrangement further comprises at least a first tab attached to the one of the flaps; and
disposing the upper section in the first configuration further includes disposing the first tab into one of the end panels.
5. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
moving remains of a deceased disposed within the casket arrangement while the upper section is in the first configuration.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
moving remains of a deceased disposed within the casket arrangement while the upper section is in the first configuration.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein each end panel includes a lower end panel and an upper end panel foldably attached thereto, and wherein moving the remains of the deceased further comprises moving the remains of the deceased disposed within the casket arrangement while the upper end panel is disposed vertically upward from the lower end panel.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein moving the casket arrangement while the upper section is in the third configuration further comprises moving the casket while each upper end panel extends in a non-vertical direction from a top portion of the corresponding lower end panel.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the casket arrangement further includes at least a first upper connecting extension foldably attached to a first end of each upper section along a fold line, and disposing the upper section in the first configuration includes moving each first upper connecting extension from a position extending downward from a first vertical level defined by the top portion of the lower section to a position extending laterally and above the first vertical level, and extending first upper connecting extensions of opposing upper sections toward each other.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the casket arrangement further includes at least a first lower connecting extension foldably attached to a first end of the lower section along a second fold line that is collinear with the fold line of a corresponding first upper connecting extension, and wherein each first upper connecting extension moves about fold line independent of the corresponding first lower connecting extension.
11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
disposing a casket insert within a container formed by the side panels, end panels, and casket bottom of the casket arrangement.
12. A method for use with a casket arrangement, the casket arrangement including a casket bottom formed of a pliable material, side panels coupled to the casket bottom and formed of the pliable material, and end panels coupled to the casket bottom and formed of a pliable material, each end panel including a lower end panel, and an upper end panel, the lower end panel extending vertically upward from the bottom panel and fixed in position, wherein each side panel includes a lower section and an upper section foldably attached thereto, wherein the casket bottom, the side panels, and the end panels define an interior for receiving a deceased, the method comprising:
a) moving the casket arrangement while the casket arrangement is in a second configuration, wherein in the second configuration each upper section extends in a direction other than vertically upward from the lower section, and each upper end panel extends in a direction other than vertically upward from the lower end panel;
b) changing the casket arrangement from the second configuration to a first configuration, wherein in the first configuration each upper section extends upward from the lower section, and each upper end panel extends upward from the lower end panel; and
c) moving remains of a deceased disposed within the casket arrangement while the casket arrangement is in the first configuration.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein step c) further comprises moving the remains of the deceased while a head of the deceased is disposed proximate a first of the end panels and feet of the deceased are disposed proximate a second of the end panels.
14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising, prior to step a), removing a lid from the casket arrangement in the second configuration, and, after step b) replacing the lid on the casket arrangement in the first configuration.
15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the casket arrangement further includes at least one upper connecting extension foldably attached to a first end of the upper section along a fold line, and wherein step b) further comprises:
b1) moving a first upper connecting extension from a position extending downward a first vertical level defined by a top of the lower section to a position extending laterally and above the first vertical level, abutting a first upper end panel;
b2) securing the first upper connecting extension to the first upper end panel.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the casket arrangement further includes at least a first lower connecting extension foldably attached to a first end of the lower section along a second fold line that is collinear with the fold line, and wherein step b1 further comprises moving the first upper connecting extension independent of the first lower connecting extension.
17. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
disposing a casket insert within a container formed by the side panels, end panels, and casket bottom of the casket arrangement.