US1794109A - Shrine - Google Patents

Description

E. ECKERT Feb. 24, 1931.

SHRINE' 2 Sheets- Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 19. 1928 E 3 w Nk c .VE m M m, W 2 m I 2 6 M 4% 1m 2 v E. ECKERT Feb. 24, 1931.

SHRINE Filed Nov. 19. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jy l' qd 7 INVENTOR.

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Patented Feb. 24, 1931 UNITED sraras EDNA sexes/r, or NEWARK, NEW J RSEY SHRINE Application filed'November 19, 1928. Serial No. 320,525.

This invention relates generally to religious objects and has particular relation to a minature shrine or altar.

An object of the invention is to provide a 7, miniature shrine or altar for use in devotion-' al exercises which is artistic and dignified in appearance. A further object is to provide a miniature shrine or altar having illuminating features simulating an illuminated altar in or nave of a church or cathedral. A further object is to provide a shrine in which the devotional object contained, such as a crucifix or statuette, is clearly defined in relief against a suitably attractive and artistic background. A further object is to provide, in a shrine or altar, a highly ornamental background for the devotional object and which background is capable, either with natural or artificial illumination, to clearly portray the devotional object. A further obj ect is to provide a minature shrine or altar for use in homes, class-rooms or the like.

Other objects will be in part obvious from the annexed drawings and in part indicated from the following analysis of the invention,

in which reference is made to the accompanying drawings illustrating an embodiment of my idea.

In these drawings- Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the minature shrine or altar in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a central verticalsection thereof;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section along line 33 of Fig. 2; 7

Fig. 4 is a modified form of the shrine illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section of the shrine illustrated in Fig. 4.

Referring now to the drawin s, there is illustrated a cabinet or casing generally designated at 10 and comprising a base portion 11, an eaved roof 12, and a front wall 13 extending therebetween, the wall being provided with a cut-out portion or window opening l which is of such shape to simulate a church or cathedral window. A panel of stained glass 15 is inserted rearwardly of the wall 13 and maintained in fixed relation thereon as by a frame or beading 16 secured to the rear of the wall 13. .As indicated in Fig. 1, the glass is suitably ornamented in the style typical of church windows, and in such color or colors as to'harmonize artistically 1 with the color or finish of the cabinet.

On the front portion of the cabinet are arranged three naves which house the devotional objects, of which the central nave may contain a crucifix 18, the right hand nave containing a statue 19 of the Virgin, and the third shrinea statue of Saint Joseph, designated at 20. By reference to Fig. 3, the central nave is separated from the side naves by partition members 21, and is provided with an eaved roof 22, said parts extending forwardly a greater distance than the caved roofs 23 and end walls 24 of the side naves. The devotional objects which are mounted forwardly of the wall 13 are arranged substantially against the rear Wall of the naves and are supportedpn the upper portion of the base 11. Each nave is provided with the longitudinally disposed molding pieces 19a, the effect being that the devotional objects, such as the crucifix and statutes, have the appearance of being enclosed on their sides and top so as to be viewable in clear relief from the front.

The base portion of the shrine is chambered or recessed as at 26, the said chamber being provided with an inclined forwardwall 27 covered with a reflecting surface, as a reflector 28. An opening 32 forwardly of each devotional object is arranged in the upper part of the base 11 and communicates with the chamber 26. A source of illumination, such as a light 30, is connected by suitable wiring 31 withthe usual light circuit. Light rays emanating from the lamp 30 are reflected by the reflector 28 thru theopenings .32 of the base portion 11 andon to the objects contained within the naves.

Spaced rearwardly of wall 13 is a rear wall 34 of the cabinetlO which is secured to the base 11 in any suitable fashion, and having at its top portion a forwardly extending part fitting with the eaved roof 12. There is thus formed a space between the walls 13 and 34 in communication with the chamber 26 of the base, and light rays emanating from the lamp 30 illuminate the stained glass panel 15. It will be apparent that the lamp 30 is at all times hidden from view, yet lights up the devotional objects by an arrangementof indirect lighting, and similarly illuminates'the glass whereby the ornamentation thereof is rendered viewable from the front of the shrine.

Referring to Fig. 4, there is illustrated a modified form of. shrine which utilizes the same illuminating features previously described. A statue 40 is set on a base 41 and arranged in front of the stained glass windows 43 disposed in the wall 44. Light rays from the lamp are directed on to the statue from the reflector 45 and thru the opening 46 in the upper portion of the shrine base. Similarly, the light rays illuminate the windows 43.

As illustrated in Fig. 5, a drawer 47 in the base portion of the cabinet and opening to the front thereof may be provided and is adapted to contain religious articles such as rosary beads or the like.

The shrine, as above described, may be set up in the home or in a class-room, for instance, and may be illuminated by connection with the ordinary house lighting circuit. There is thus provided a minature shrine or altar which is artistic and dignified, and

which simulates the lighting effects found in churches and cathedrals.

It will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and O'tlll ilClVtllltageous results attained, As many changes could be made in carrying out the above invention, without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended, that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, in combination, a cabinet comprising a base, vertical side walls and a rear wall extending upwardly therefrom and a roof, a devotional object mounted on the base so as tobe enclosed in the cabinet, and a source of illumination within the base and obscured from direct view thereby, said source being operative to direct light rays on. to the object.

2. In a device of the character described. in combination, a cabinet having front and rear walls and a base, a devotional object mounted forwardly of the front wall on the base, the front wall having a window open ing, an ornamental glass panel disposed on said front wall across the opening and forming a background for said object, and a neans of illumination obscured from view in the base and disposed below the object rearwardly of the glass panel, and operative to direct light rays onto the panel.

3. In a device of the character described, in combination, a cabinet comprising front and rear walls and a base, a devotional ol jectmounted forwardly of the front wall on the base, the front wall having a window opening, ornamental glass panel disposed on the front wall across the opening and forming a background for said object, the base being provided with a chamber extending belowthe object,-and a source of illumination enclosed in said chamber and obscured from direct view therein and operative'to direct light rays on to the panel.

4. In a device of the character described. in combination, a cabinet having front and rear walls, the front wall having a window opening, an ornamental glass panel disposed across said opening, a base, a devotional ob ject mounted on the base and forwardly of the front wall, and a source of illumination enclosed in the base, and means inclusive of said source to indirectly illuminate the object and to illuminate the glass panel.

5,. In a device of the character described, in combination, a cabinet having front and rear walls and a base, the front wallhaving a window opening, a glass panel disposed across said opening, a devotional object mounted on the base and forwa dly of the front wall, the base being provided with a chamber having an openi forwardly of the object, and a source of i ll'ui-i-iinationenclosed in the base and arranged todirect light rays forwardly on to the object and to illuminate the glass panel. V

In a device of the character described. incombination, a cabinet having front and rear walls and a base, the front wall having a window opening, a glass panel disposed across said opening, a devotional object mounted on the base and forwardly of the front wall, a chamber disposedin the base, the base having an opening forwardly of the object and communicating with the chamber, a source of illumination enclosed in the chamber and adapted to illuminate the glass panel, and means in the chamber adapted to direct the light rays from said source of illumination thru the opening: on to the object.

7. In a device of the character described, in combination, a'cabinet having front-and rear walls and abase,the front wall having a window opening, a glass panel disposed across'said opening, a plurality of naves. ar-

rangedon the base and forwardly of the front wall, a devotional object arranged in each nave, a chamber disposed in the base, the base having an opening forwardly of each object and communicating With the chamber, a source of illumination enclosed in the chamber and adapted to illuminate the glass panel, and means in the chamber adapted to direct the light rays from said source of illumination thru the openings on to the objects.

Signed at Newark, New Jersey, this 8th day of November, 1928.

EDNA ECKERT.

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