ALEXANDRIA, Va., June 16 -- United States Patent no. 12,305,412, issued on May 20.
"Monolithic columbarium unit" was invented by Walter Andrew Martinez (San Franciso, Calif.).
According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "System and for interment of cremated remains with module above-ground columbariums. Columbariums are formed from either a monolithic block of stone or individual blocks that are stacked on top of each other. Spacers may be used between adjacent blocks in the vertical stack to enable two adjacent units to be interleaved. Support rods may extend through interleaved portions to enable adjacent units to be rotated with respect to each other as well as penetrating down into a below-ground foundat...