Patron-accessible memorialization structures
Memorialization structures, niches, and methods for manufacturing niches having a recess or cavity that is accessible after installation of the memorialization structures and/or post-burial or post-entombment of a deceased are generally described. In some embodiments, a memorialization niche may include a recess and a door configured to enclose the recess. The door may include a lock configured to prevent public access to the recess. A patron associated with the niche may unlock the door and access the recess. The patron may remove objects from and/or insert objects into the recess post-burial or -entombment of the deceased without disturbing the memorialization structure and/or adjacent memorialization structures and/or requiring a memorial operator to unseal the recess. Accordingly, the patron may continually update the personalization effects of a memorialization structure and achieve a dynamic memorial for the deceased while maintaining the security of any bodily remains and/or personal objects stored in the recess.
1 . A memorialization assembly comprising:
a memorialization structure selected from a grave stone, a grave marker, a crypt, a mausoleum, a columbarium, a burial vault, and a cremation niche, wherein the memorialization structure comprises a cavity; and
a niche arranged at least partially within the cavity, the niche comprising:
a niche front face defining an opening, and
a recess extending from the opening, wherein the recess is configured to retain therein a plurality of objects comprising at least one personal object and bodily remains; and
a lock configured to secure a panel in a closed position enclosing the recess, the lock being configured to be selectively locked and unlocked via a secure access locking mechanism to permit restricted patron access to the recess post-entombment or post-burial of human bodily remains associated with the niche.
2 . The memorialization assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the panel is transparent.
3 . The memorialization assembly of claim 1 , wherein the niche is affixed to the memorialization structure via a fastener.
4 . The memorialization assembly of claim 1 , wherein the niche is affixed to the memorialization structure via mortar.
5 . The memorialization assembly of claim 1 , wherein the niche further comprises a niche back face configured to couple the niche to the memorialization structure.
6 . The memorialization assembly of claim 1 , further comprising at least one display component affixed to the niche front face, the at least one display component being configured to hold at least one design element.
7 . The memorialization assembly of claim 1 , wherein the lock is selected from the group consisting of an electronic keypad locking mechanism, a biometric locking mechanism, a voice-recognition locking mechanism, an iris-scanning locking mechanism, and a software-controlled locking mechanism.
8 . The memorialization assembly of claim 1 , further comprising an electronic media system arranged within the recess.
9 . The memorialization assembly of claim 8 , wherein the electronic media system comprises a display device visible through the opening, the electronic media system being configured to present one or more of a video and a digital picture via the display device.
10 . The memorialization assembly of claim 8 , wherein the electronic media system comprises an audio device.
11 . The memorialization assembly of claim 1 , wherein the recess is configured to store cremated human bodily remains disposed within a cremation storage device.
12 . The memorialization assembly of claim 1 , wherein the memorialization structure is configured to store non-cremated, full-body remains entombed within an entombment cavity arranged within the memorialization structure.
13 . A method of production for a memorialization assembly, the method comprising:
receiving a memorialization structure selected from a grave stone, a grave marker, a crypt, a mausoleum, a columbarium, a burial vault, and a cremation niche, wherein the memorialization structure comprises a cavity;
providing a niche arranged at least partially within the cavity, the niche comprising:
a niche front face defining an opening, and
a recess extending from the opening, wherein the recess is configured to retain therein a plurality of objects comprising at least one personal object and bodily remains; and
providing a lock configured to secure a panel in a closed position enclosing the recess, the lock being configured to be selectively locked and unlocked via a secure access locking mechanism to permit restricted patron access to the recess post-entombment or post-burial of human bodily remains associated with the niche.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein receiving the memorialization structure comprises providing the memorialization structure, wherein the memorialization structure is configured for affixing the niche.
15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein receiving the memorialization structure comprises:
receiving a preexisting memorialization structure; and
retrofitting the preexisting memorialization structure.
16 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising providing a niche back face configured to couple the niche to the memorialization structure.
17 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising affixing the niche to the memorialization structure via a fastener.
18 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising affixing the niche to the memorialization structure via mortar.