Headstone Socket Preserver

Abstract

A headstone socket preserver for insertion in the ground adjacent to a burial site. The headstone socket preserver has a body comprising a top surface, a bottom surface spaced from the top surface along a first axis, and at least one peripheral surface extending between the top surface and the bottom surface. The body can have a decreasing width dimension, measured along a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis, between the top surface and the bottom surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A headstone socket preserver for insertion in the ground adjacent to a burial site, comprising:
 a body comprising:
 a top surface; 
 a bottom surface spaced from the top surface along a first axis; and 
 at least one peripheral surface extending between the top surface and the bottom surface, 
 wherein the body has a decreasing width dimension, measured along a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis, between the top surface and the bottom surface. 
   
     
     
         2 . The headstone socket preserver of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one peripheral surface of the body comprises:
 a pair of side surfaces that are spaced along the second axis; and   a front surface and a rear surface that are spaced along a third axis that is perpendicular to the first and second axes.   
     
     
         3 . The headstone socket preserver of  claim 2 , wherein the pair of side surfaces converge between the top surface and the bottom surface. 
     
     
         4 . The headstone socket preserver of  claim 3 , wherein the pair of side surfaces converge between the top surface and the bottom surface at an angle from about 3 degrees to about 15 degrees. 
     
     
         5 . The headstone socket preserver of  claim 3 , wherein the pair of side surfaces converge between the top surface and the bottom surface at an angle from about 5 degrees to about 10 degrees. 
     
     
         6 . The headstone socket preserver of  claim 2 , wherein the front and rear surfaces converge between the top surface and the bottom surface. 
     
     
         7 . The headstone socket preserver of  claim 3 , wherein the front and rear surfaces converge between the top surface and the bottom surface at an angle from about 3 degrees to about 15 degrees. 
     
     
         8 . The headstone socket preserver of  claim 3 , wherein the front and rear surfaces converge between the top surface and the bottom surface at an angle from about 5 degrees to about 10 degrees. 
     
     
         9 . The headstone socket preserver of  claim 2 , wherein the front, rear, and side surfaces are trapezoidal. 
     
     
         10 . The headstone socket preserver of  claim 1 , wherein the headstone socket preserver comprises a lifting element configured to permit lifting of the body of the headstone socket preserver. 
     
     
         11 . The headstone socket preserver of  claim 10 , wherein the lifting element is one of a wire loop or a bolt including a head, wherein the lifting element extends upwardly from the top surface of the body of the headstone socket preserver. 
     
     
         12 . The headstone socket preserver of  claim 10 , wherein the lifting element is a handle defined by the body of the headstone socket preserver. 
     
     
         13 . The headstone socket preserver of  claim 12 , wherein the body comprises first and second portions spaced along the second axis and a bridge portion extending between the first and second portions, wherein the bridge portion defines the handle. 
     
     
         14 . The headstone socket preserver of  claim 1 , wherein the body of the headstone socket preserver is hollow. 
     
     
         15 . The headstone socket preserver of  claim 14 , wherein the body of the headstone socket preserver defines an interior volume, wherein the body of the headstone socket preserver defines an opening extending through the bottom surface of the body from an exterior of the body of the headstone socket preserver to the interior volume. 
     
     
         16 . The headstone socket preserver of  claim 1 , wherein the body of the headstone socket preserver is formed of molded polymer. 
     
     
         17 . A method comprising:
 forming, by molding, at least a portion of a body of a headstone socket preserver, the body comprising:
 a top surface; 
 a bottom surface spaced from the top surface along a first axis; and 
 at least one peripheral surface extending between the top surface and the bottom surface, 
   wherein the body has a decreasing width dimension, measured along a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis, between the top surface and the bottom surface.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein forming, by molding, the at least a portion of the body of the headstone socket preserver comprises forming an entirety of the body as a unitary component. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein forming, by molding, the at least a portion of the body of the headstone socket preserver comprises:
 forming the body as at least two portions; and   welding the at least two portions together to form the body.   
     
     
         20 . A method of creating a socket configured to receive a headstone therein adjacent to a burial site, comprising the steps of:
 placing a socket preserver in a hole at a burial site, the socket preserver being formed of molded plastic;   following filling of an area of the hole around the socket preserver with soil, removing the socket preserver, leaving a socket recess; and   placing a bottom portion of the headstone in the socket recess.