Death care merchandise display unit

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/307,791, filed May 10, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,161,705, issued Dec. 19, 2000; which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/788,324, filed Jan. 24, 1997, now U.S. Pat. 5,901,862, issued May 11, 1999.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an integrated display system for death care merchandise such as caskets, coffins, urns, burial vaults and materials for decorating or adorning the same. The display systems of the invention are particularly designed for use by prospective purchasers in a preview room. In addition, they may be useful for displaying death care merchandise during its intended use, such as in a memorial or funeral service as well as viewing room.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various casket display systems are known in the art. The more primitive of such systems consist of a casket display rack or support. See, for instance, U.S. Pat. No. 2,937,768 which discloses a two-tiered casket display rack having a rigid C-shaped frame-like structure for the display of two caskets—one casket supported above another.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,405,017 discloses a more contemporary casket display system for full caskets. The display system of the '017 patent includes a two-tiered casket display rack retractable by means of a scissors unit which, in turn, is connected to a rod. The display rack of the '017 patent is not an integral part of the casket display system.

While the casket display system of the '017 patent offers a more serene setting than the primitive systems of the prior art, as set forth in the '768 patent, they do not permit the full display of merchandise used in the funeral and death care industry. In addition, it does not permit the display of all types of merchandise such as adornment accessories, urns and burial vaults.

Further, the display systems of the prior art containing a rollout rack onto which a full casket is mounted basically require the presence of two caskets—one on a top shelf and the second on a bottom shelf. Such systems are difficult to manage and handle especially since the lower casket is often required to be in a retracted state.

The need exists therefore for a display system which permits the exhibition of a greater volume and a greater type of death related merchandise at greater ease for the prospective purchaser. In addition, the need exists for a display system which can be more easily assembled and utilized than afforded by the systems of the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A death care merchandise display unit which maximizes the types and styles of death care merchandise comprises two vertical, parallel, spaced wing wall panels and a vertical back wall having lateral edges secured to the rear edges of the wing wall panels. The display unit may contain a retractable rack connected to the two vertical spaced wing wall panels having a slide mechanism. The slide mechanism is preferably one having one of its members attached to the inside of the wing wall panel and another member attached to the retractable rack. The retractable rack typically is employed for displaying a burial vault, coffin or casket.

The display unit may further contain a cornice. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the cornice projects from the vertical back wall of the merchandise display area.

Further, the display unit of the invention may contain one or more retractable drawers in relatively close proximity to the rack(s) displaying the burial vault, coffin or casket.

In still another embodiment of the invention, slat or slot walls comprise at least a portion of the back wall; display shelving interconnecting the ridges within the slat walls for placement of urns and other death care merchandise.

Yet another embodiment of the invention is directed to a modular death care merchandise display unit having means for interconnecting two or more modular units.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1

is a frontal view of one embodiment of the display unit of the invention.

FIG. 2

is a side view of the display unit of

FIG. 1

illustrating the retractability of the bottom rack.

FIG. 3

is a frontal angled side view of a display unit of the invention.

FIG. 4

is a frontal view of a preferred slide mechanism for use with the retractable drawer in the invention.

FIG. 5

is a dual slide mechanism for use with the retractable drawer in the display unit of the invention;

FIGS. 5

a

and

5

b

being frontal views.

FIGS. 6 and 7

are frontal views of display units having two and three sectional decedent confinement chambers, respectively.

FIG. 8

details a method of securing the back end of a decedent confinement chamber to a wall of the alcove of the display unit.

FIG. 9

is an exploded view of the drawer assembly unit for use with the invention.

FIG. 10

is an alcove for possible use with the invention having slat wall.

FIG. 11

is a top view of the cornice assembly for use in the invention.

FIG. 12

is an exploded view of the cornice assembly secured to the back wall.

FIG. 13

is an exploded view of the modular display unit of the invention.

FIG. 14

illustrates a decorative endcap for the modular display unit of the invention.

FIG. 15

is an exploded view of the modular (or non-modular) display unit having floor tubing member.

FIG. 16

is a top view of the display of floor tubing member of FIG.

15

.

FIG. 17

is a cross-sectional view of the left wing floor tubing member of FIG.

16

.

FIG. 18

is a cross-sectional view of left wing floor tubing member of FIG.

16

.

FIG. 19

is a frontal view of a death care merchandise display unit containing multiple alcoves.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention provides an integrated display system for death care related merchandise. The display system of the invention is principally used in a preview room where selection of death care related merchandise by the decedent's loved ones occurs. In addition, the display system of the invention may be used in death related ceremonial areas such as the viewing room of a funeral home as well as at funeral and memorial services.

The display system of the invention is defined by a back wall and side or wing walls. One of the principal advantages of the display system of the present invention is that it maximizes the number and types of death care merchandise which may be displayed in a given area.

The display system of the invention may further be a modular assembly; permitting it to be assembled and disassembled within a short period of time as well as on an “as needed” basis. The ability of the display system to be modular permits purchasers to buy all or sections of the system when so desired.

The display system contains a number of novel features which may be used alone or in combination with each other.

FIGS. 1 and 2

show an embodiment of the death care merchandise display system

10

of the invention, principally for use in preview rooms. The display system

10

comprises a back wall

12

and two side or wing walls

14

and

16

. Wing walls

14

and

16

are connected with back wall

12

at the rear section of the wing wall. The vertical back wall

12

may be removably secured to the rear edges of wing walls

14

and

16

.

As set forth in

FIG. 3

, wing wall panels

14

and

16

are attached to back wall panel

12

by conventional ready-to-assemble (“RTA”) fittings in the art. Depicted are fitting

13

with flanges which mate with fitting

15

having an approximate ½″ deep recessed area. Back wall panel

12

has an L-shaped cut

11

and wing wall panels

14

and

16

have receptor notch

9

for the RTA fittings.

The back and wing wall panels of the display system of the invention are typically plywood but may be fiberwood or other durable material such as a synthetic plastic material as plexiglass or Mylar. The back wall or wing wall(s) may be covered with a fabric-like material or have a textured surface. When so desired, the fabric-like material may be removably attached to the panel allowing the user to select the color and texture.

Back wall panel

12

and wing wall panels

14

and

16

may include known means for removably attaching objects such as signs and photographs. The means for attaching objects include, e.g., peg-board type attachments, slat wall, tackable surfaces, hook-and-loop fabric (e.g., VELCRO®) attachments, magnetic attachments or other known devices for removably attaching objects to a vertical surface for display of the objects.

The alcove defined by back wall panel

12

, left wing wall panel

14

and right wing wall panel

16

may display one or more decedent confinement chambers

36

. The decedent confinement chambers may be actual size, sectionals of actual size or miniatures. The alcove may contain stationary or retractable chambers or a combination thereof.

FIG. 1

illustrates an alcove having two actual size decedent confinement chambers. The lower chamber,

36

a,

rests on display rack

18

. The upper nonretractable chamber,

36

b,

rests on shelving brackets

34

, which are secured to wing wall panels

14

and

16

.

Display unit

10

may further contain identification placards

51

in front of decedent confinement chambers

36

a

and

36

b.

In preview rooms, placards

51

are used to inform the customer of features of the displayed casket. Signage

39

or other communicative materials may further be mounted on back wall

12

or wing walls

14

or

16

to designate information about the death related merchandise (when used in a showroom display setting) or the decedent (when used in a viewing room, funeral home or memorial service setting). When used in a preview room display setting, each of decedent confinement chambers

36

a

and

36

b

may be displayed with signage or other communicative means providing information to the prospective purchaser of the chamber. Signage

39

may be used in lieu of or in addition to placards

51

.

The wing and wall panels, illustrated in

FIGS. 1 and 2

are typically 5 to 7 feet, preferably 6 feet, tall. The length of back wall

12

is sufficient to contain an actual size decedent confinement chamber.

Rack

18

is preferably extendable from back wall panel

12

.

FIG. 2

illustrates a side view of

FIG. 1

before and after the extension of rack

18

from the back wall panel. When fully extended, the interior of both decedent confinement chambers

36

a

and

36

b

may be viewed. Lid

38

b

may be fully raised. In addition, when rack

18

is in a retracted state, lid

36

a

of decedent confinement chamber

36

a

may be fully raised without abutting other elements of the display unit.

Retractable rack

18

, when present, is an integral part of death care merchandise display system

10

. As set forth in

FIG. 3

, rack

18

may consist of horizontal beam

20

. Typically, two horizontal beams—shown as

20

a

and

20

b

—are employed to more evenly distribute the weight of the decedent confinement chamber. Vertical beam

22

connects the horizontal beams

20

a

and

20

b

and provides additional support to the rack: One or more vertical beams may be used.

The rack is typically metallic, such as steel or aluminum, and is of a construction capable of holding the weight exerted on it by the decedent confinement chamber.

The means for rolling rack

18

outwards for better view may be any slide assembly mechanism conventionally used for heavy-duty drawers, such as side mounted draw guide assemblies used in the manufacture of office furniture. As set forth in

FIG. 3

, such slide mechanisms may be characterized by a hollow U-shaped guide rail

24

fastened to the interior of each of the wing walls of the display unit and an extendible runner rail

26

which, when the rack is not retracted, is encased within the U-shaped guide rail

24

. Runner rail

26

further consists of bottom plate

28

which is mounted to the ends of horizontal beam

20

a

at

30

a

with

30

b

by screw fastener

30

c.

Where two horizontal beams are employed, runner rail

26

contains additional mating end

32

b

for mounting to the horizontal beam at

32

a

with screw

32

c.

Where desired, the slide mechanism may further contain rolling bodies on the runner rail for engaging with the races in the guide rail.

Further, either the guide rail or the runner rail is preferably provided with a stopper that prevent the rack from being rolled out too far while allowing it to be pulled out far enough for the lid to be free of impediments.

A particularly preferred slide mechanism for use in the invention is the drawer slide assembly

27

set forth in

FIG. 5. A

case member

29

is secured to the inner surface of each of the wing wall panels; the two case members being parallel to each other. Retractable intermediate member

31

is then secured to case member

29

through one or more access holes

33

. Retractable drawer member

35

is then mounted to intermediate member

31

through mounting holes

37

. A plate, similar to plate

28

, rests on the bottom of case member

29

and serves to secure the assembly into mounting receivers

30

a

and

32

a

of horizontal beam

20

of rack

18

. Such slide mechanism are commercially available as drawer slide No. 3320 from Hettich America, L.P. of Harrisonville, Mo.

Where rack

18

is to be employed with a ready-for-use decedent confinement chamber, it is preferred to use dual heavy duty extension slides to provide increased support.

FIG. 5

exemplifies a dual slide mechanism. Referring to

FIG. 5

a,

case members

29

a

and

29

b

are secured to the inner surface of each of the wing wall panels. The case members have top and bottom lips

25

for holding intermediate members

31

a

and

31

b

within case members

29

a

and

29

b,

respectively. Retractable intermediate members

29

a

and

29

b

are secured to the case members through one or more access holes

33

a

and

33

b,

respectively. Sliding drawer members

35

a

and

35

b

are then mounted to intermediate members

29

a

and

29

b

through mounting holes

37

a

and

37

b,

respectively.

FIG. 5

b

illustrates an inside view of case member

29

a

having plate

28

with receivers

30

a

and

30

b

for securing thereto the horizontal beam.

As used herein, the term “decedent confinement chamber” shall refer to a casket, coffin or burial vault and, where appropriate, urns. The term shall include ready-for-use caskets, coffins and burial vaults as well as the facade of caskets, coffins and burial vaults. Where the display unit is to be used in a preview room and designed not to be opened, it is especially preferred to use facades of such caskets, coffins and burial vaults. The facade typically includes those outer sides and surfaces of the chamber visible to the observer. Where the chamber is being used to exhibit only the facade, the inner chamber is hollow.

The retractable rack illustrated in

FIG. 3

may be used with caskets or coffins as well as burial vaults. The decedent confinement chamber may either be the facade of such chambers or a ready-for-use chamber. The facade of chamber

36

a

and

36

b

of

FIG. 2

would include the top, front and sides of the chamber.

The display unit of the invention may contain more than one retractable decedent confinement chamber. When two retractable racks are so desired, a solid support (such as plywood or metal sheet) may rest on shelving brackets

34

to give the upper retractable rack the requisite support. Alternatively, shelving brackets

34

may be substituted with a solid support surface extending from (and secured to) left wing wall

14

to right wall panel

16

. Drawer slide assembly units similar to those illustrated in

FIGS. 3 and 5

would be used for both of the retractable decedent confinement chambers.

It is often desirable, especially where the display unit contains a retractable decedent containment chamber, to secure the unit to a stationary support. Thus, the back wall

12

may be secured to the adjoining wall (or sheetrock) surface of the building. Alternatively, or in addition to securing the back wall to the adjoining wall, the base of the wing wall or back wall may be bolted, by means of conventional fasteners, to the floor. By doing so, the potential torque on the display due to the extendible decedent confinement chamber will be counteracted.

The display unit of the invention may contain one or more non-retractable (stationary) racks either in addition to or in lieu of retractable rack

20

.

FIG. 1

illustrates shelving

34

for the mounting of a non-retractable decedent confinement chamber. Additional support for the chamber may be provided by extending shelving

34

the length of the interior of the alcove defined by back wall

12

and wing walls

14

and

16

. Due to the torque imparted by the retractable rack in its extended position, it is best that the retractable rack be placed on the bottommost section of the display unit when a stationary rack is used in combination with a retractable rack.

In order to increase the number and types of decedent confinement chambers being displayed, the display unit of the invention may further contain sectional decedent containment chambers. A sectional decedent containment chamber is a partial casket, coffin or burial vault cut in such a manner so as to be mounted on the receiving wall. FIG

6

illustrates an alcove containing two sectional decedent confinement chambers

36

a

and

36

b.

As set forth in

FIG. 6

, a sectional decedent containment chamber

40

, cut at 90°, allows the observer to view the butt end

42

of the chamber along with all external ornamentation of the segmented chamber. The partial chamber may be a facade only or, when desired to be viewed with the lid in the open position, contain an interior view of the segmented chamber being presented.

The decedent containment chamber for use in the invention may further be sectioned at an angle greater than 90° from the wall panel. For instance, as depicted in

FIG. 7

, the sectioned chamber

41

may be cut such that the butt end of the chamber is seen by the observer at an oblique angle. When secured on a flat wall, the sectional decedent containment chamber

40

, allows the observer to more keenly view a chamber appearing higher with the alcove. In addition, the interior of an opened chamber is more easily viewable when the chamber is sectioned at an angle greater than 90°. When so sectioned, the partial chamber appears to the observer in a position which is slanted in a downward direction.

Decedent confinement chambers including sectionals thereof may be easily mounted onto the wall of the alcove. FIG

8

depicts the back end of a characteristic decedent confinement chamber used in the invention. The decedent confinement chambers

8

a

and

8

b

illustrated in

FIG. 8

are “quarter caskets”, each representing one quarter of a full size casket. As depicted, the unit is about six feet tall and four feet wide. The chambers have blocks

7

a

and

7

b

on their rear surface. The lower edges of blocks

7

a

and

7

b

are beveled, for mating with blocks

6

a

and

6

b,

which are beveled on their upper surfaces. The mating grooves of blocks

6

a

and

7

a

and blocks

6

b

and

7

b

create a French cleat

120

by which the chamber may be suspended on the wall.

The merchandise display unit of the invention may further contain one or more retractable drawers

44

or display boards for displaying accessories typically used with the decedent confinement chamber on display. Such accessories include fabrics for the cap panel—that portion of the interior of the chamber lining the upper part of the lid, as well as the overlay—the fabric which lies across the outside of the chamber when the lid of the chamber is opened. The drawer could further be modified to hold the samples of ornamental trims for the exterior of the chamber being displayed.

The retractable drawer unit

45

of

FIG. 9

consists of two sets of retractable drawers

44

a

and

44

b.

In operation, each of the drawers may display adornment materials for separate decedent confinement chambers. The drawers are retractable by conventional bottom mounted drawer slides conventional in the art. The top surface

47

of the drawer unit

45

may contain recessed area

49

for placement of sign placard

51

. Base

53

of placard

51

fits within recessed area

49

. The front surface of the placard may contain additional information about the chamber on display (where used in a preview room) or the decedent (where used in a funeral home or memorial service setting).

As illustrated in

FIG. 6

, retractable drawer unit

45

may extend from wing wall

14

to wing wall

16

. Top shelf

47

of drawer unit

45

may form the support for decedent confinement chamber

42

as displayed in FIG.

6

.

Either or both the back wall or the wing wall panels of the merchandise display system of the invention may be comprised of slat wall.

FIG. 10

illustrates a wall of the alcove containing slat wall

50

. Shelving is set within the recessed grooves

52

defined by slat wall

50

. Elbow shelving

54

joining one recessed groove of a slat wall with another may further be used in place of planar shelving

55

. Elbow shelving consists of a horizontally flat section

56

onto which the merchandise is displayed, and support

58

, angled to fit an adjacent recessed groove.

Merchandise such as urns and miniature decedent confinement chambers may be displayed on slat wall shelving. The base

51

of the slat wall alcove may be raised for display of other objects. The use of slat walls has particular applicability in the display of miniaturized decedent confinement chambers, such as miniaturized burial vaults or caskets.

The merchandise display system of the invention may further contain a cornice. Any conventional cornice or soffit disclosed in the art may suffice. For instance, the cornice may consist of a horizontal beam which extends from wing wall

14

to wing wall

16

. Typically, the use of a cornice will increase the display height to above 7 feet. In a preferred embodiment, the height of the wing wall panels and back wall panels, when cornice is added, is about 7.5 feet.

A particularly preferred cornice is that set forth in

FIG. 3

which is easy to produce and which affords to the display a more than adequate amount of light. The cornice

60

is mounted along the back wall

10

of the display unit, preferably within the upper portion of the back wall. The cornice is principally composed of a left cantilevered vertical beam

62

and a right cantilevered vertical beam

64

, both of which extend from back wall

10

. Horizontal beam

66

is mounted at the frontal edges of vertical beams

62

and

64

.

The horizontal beam

66

of the cornice assembly

60

extends along the majority of the back wall of the display system. Horizontal beam

66

is affixed to the display system

10

by means of the two vertical beams

62

and

64

which extend from backwall

12

. Horizontal beam

66

of the cornice typically extends greater than 50% of the length of the back wall of the merchandise display system; most typically along the entire length of the merchandise display unit. One or more mounting supports

68

may be disposed in spaced relationship from back wall

10

to horizontal beam

66

where necessary to provide additional support.

An illuminating source may be concealed to the observer within the interior of the cornice design, preferably along the vertical beams of the cornice system. Exemplary of the illumination source are one or more track or pendant lights

70

which may easily be manipulated such that the light is directed onto selected merchandise within the display system. Track or pendant lights

70

are secured by conventional screws or nuts and bolts to the inside surface-of vertical beams

62

and/or

64

.

As set forth in

FIG. 11

, the top surfaces of vertical beams

62

and

64

which contain an illuminating source contain recessed chambers

72

for storing the electrical cable wiring. The wiring leads out of the cornice assembly through aperture

73

and is plugged into the electrical outlet behind the back wall. The cable wiring for illumination means

70

leads through aperture

63

in vertical beam

62

up to recessed surface

72

and exits the cornice assembly through aperture

73

. The electrical wiring is not evident to the observer of the display unit.

The horizontal beam of the cornice assembly may contain information center

69

for the display of information about either the decedent (where the unit is employed in memorial settings or funerals) or the merchandise displayed (where the unit is employed for point-of-sale merchandise). For instance, in point-of-sale merchandise, the information center can display information about the materials used in the manufacture of the decedent confinement chamber, such as “Stainless Steel”, “Veneer”, “Hardwood”, “Steel”, etc. as well as information about the merchandise on display, such as “Interiors” for a display illustrating the interior of the decedent confinement chamber.

Information center

69

may be imprinted on a decorative plate which may be secured onto the top surface of horizontal beam

66

directly or fitted into a recessed area on the horizontal beam. In a preferred embodiment, the horizontal beam of the cornice contains a decorative trim

71

complementary to the trim of the display system. The decorative trim may run the perimeter of information center

69

.

The vertical beams

62

and

64

in

FIG. 12

of the cornice may be secured to the back wall of the display unit and the horizontal beam secured to the vertical beam by various known means, e.g., by a RTA fitting, by a threaded screw connection, by gravity lock method, or otherwise as known to those in the art. The preferred connecting member is the ready-to-assemble (“RTA”) fitting

120

, which includes a threaded fastener such as a machine-threaded screw extending longitudinally outward from the end of the receiving member and attached to a threaded nut or other threaded retaining device. For instance, the screw head of the RTA fitting may extend from the back wall of the connecting member. Receiving member is attached to the receiving end.

FIG. 12

demonstrates one method of securing the cornice assembly to back wall

12

. Vertical beams

62

and

64

are secured to back wall

12

by threaded screws extending from the back of back wall panel

12

into the vertical beam. Mounting brackets are secured to the top

124

and bottom

122

of the front vertical beams

62

and

64

. Mating screws are inserted into the back of horizontal beam

66

which interlock within the groove

128

of mounting bracket

120

.

The configurations for use in the invention may further be characterized as a modular display system wherein modular units are prefabricated and are removably attached to one another to create the desired alcove configurations. In this manner, pieces of the display unit may be mixed or matched as well as be purchased concurrently with each other or at different times.

FIG. 13

exemplifies the modular display unit. The base unit

80

of the modular system contains back wall

12

a

secured to wing wall panels

14

a

and

16

a.

The top surfaces of wing wall panels

14

a

and

16

a

as well as the top surface of back wall

12

a

has a lip

15

as more clearly detailed in FIG.

14

. The bottom

17

of second modular unit

86

is recessed and interlocks with lip

15

of base unit

80

. Alternatively, the top of base member

80

may interlock with the bottom of second modular unit

86

by other conventional means.

Second modular unit

86

, in turn, contains lip

15

b

on the top surface of left wing wall, right wing wall and back wall panel for engaging the recessed groove running the bottom perimeter of third modular unit

90

.

As depicted in

FIG. 13

, base modular unit

80

contains retractable rack

18

a

for a decedent confinement chamber. The features of this rack are identical to that described herein for FIG.

3

. In place of retractable rack

18

a,

base modular unit

80

may contain any of the features discussed herein for the death care merchandise display. For instance, base modular unit

80

may contain, in place of retractable rack

18

a,

shelving, such as that illustrated in

FIG. 1

as

34

for a stationary decedent confinement chamber or may contain the requisite hardware for receiving a butt end display for sectional decedent confinement chambers. The third modular unit

90

may contain a cornice (illustrated in

FIG. 3

) with or without illumination means.

Decorative endcap

140

, as shown in

FIG. 14

, further may be affixed to the top lip of either base unit

80

, second modular unit

86

or third modular unit

90

. Endcap

140

has a recessed groove which interlocks with the lip

142

of the uppermost unit of the display. The endcap can easily be unsnapped off of the lip to add additional modules when so desired.

The base unit of the modular system, as well as the lower portion of the non-modular display system of the invention, may further comprise (i.) a tubing base assembly which may contain, where a retractable rack is needed, a pullout track assembly; and (ii.) the wall assembly comprising back wall and wing wall panels. The retractable rack may further be a part of the tubing base assembly.

FIG. 15

demonstrates tubing assembly

180

comprising wing tubing

184

and

186

and back wall tubing

182

. Tubing

184

,

186

and

182

may be composed of any durable material including steel and aluminum. In a preferred embodiment, this tubing is extruded aluminum. It may be produced as a single piece (as shown in

FIG. 15

) or consist of three interlocking separate pieces. This tubing is further preferably hollow as depicted in FIG.

17

. The perimeter of the wing wall and back wall tubing further contains a recessed area

188

along its upper perimeter in which the wing wall panels

14

and

16

and back wall panel

12

of the alcove may be secured.

Where the display system is to employ a retractable decedent confinement chamber, slide mechanisms are attached to the tube wing panels

184

and

186

. As set forth in

FIG. 16

, tubing assembly

180

may further contain the rack

18

as illustrated in FIG.

3

.

FIG.

17

and

FIG. 18

are cross-sectional areas of the tubing assembly guiding slide mechanism. As presented, the slide mechanism may correspond to the same slide mechanism presented in

FIG. 4

, casing

29

being secured to the inner wall of wing tubing

184

and wing tubing

186

. A lip

190

may project from the wing tubing to shield the slide assembly from contact.

Some or all of the above embodiments of the invention may be configured to present multiple alcoves, principally for use in preview rooms.

FIG. 19

depicts four alcoves

92

,

94

,

96

and

98

. Alcoves

94

and

96

present sectional caskets (approximately one quarter size). Alcoves

92

and

98

present top and bottom full size caskets. The lower casket

100

in alcove

98

is on a retractable rack. Cornice

60

of alcove

98

contains track or pendant light

70

.

Alcove

96

further contains signage

38

, principally used for recording information about the merchandise within the alcove. It further contains retractable drawers

44

, principally used for adornment merchandise. Wing wall panels adjoining two adjacent alcoves may share a common wall panel. Alternatively, the display may consist of distinct alcoves contiguous with each other. To give each of the units a more uniform look, dowel

150

, as set forth in

FIG. 12

, may extend from the wing wall panel into vertical beam of the cornice. Recessed receptors in the vertical beam and wing wall panel serve as the acceptor for the end of the dowel.

A finish on any or all of the surfaces of the merchandise display unit may be placed to more closely coordinate with the merchandise being displayed. For instance, where the merchandise display is of caskets or coffins, the back and side walls of the display unit may be pigmented to enhance the colors of the merchandise.

Various modifications may be made in the nature, composition, operation and arrangement of the various elements, steps and procedures described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.