Biodegradable Coffin With Impermeable Zip Seal

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Solution Overview

Problem

The use of zinc coffins in death care poses environmental issues due to their non-biodegradability, causing prolonged decomposition and disposal challenges, and existing biodegradable coffins lack impermeable zips, compromising airtightness and handling safety.

Innovation Solution

A biodegradable coffin design featuring a box made of biodegradable materials like wood or fiberboard, with a flexible bag composed of a multilayer structure including cotton fabric and bioplastic layers, incorporating an impermeable zip and anchoring means using eco-friendly adhesives, ensuring airtightness and ease of handling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Duration of action of stationary object

If zinc coffins are used, then the corpse remains undecomposed for a longer period, but the zinc coffin cannot be biodegraded and must be disposed of as waste

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepreservation periodVSAvoidnon-biodegradability
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material parameters from zinc (non-biodegradable) to biodegradable materials such as natural fibers, plant-based composites, or treated wood that can decompose naturally. This parameter change allows the coffin to maintain structural integrity during the preservation period while enabling biodegradation after use, eliminating waste disposal issues.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention employs composite materials that combine biodegradable structural components with functional layers for preservation. The coffin may use a biodegradable outer shell with inner linings or treatments that provide temporary preservation, allowing both extended duration and eventual biodegradation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If zinc material is used, then the corpse is kept undecomposed, but manipulation is dangerous due to thin sheet causing potential cuts

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepreservation functionVSAvoidhandling safety
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces rigid thin zinc sheets with flexible biodegradable materials that can be safely handled. These flexible materials maintain the necessary preservation function while eliminating the cutting hazard associated with thin metal sheets, allowing safe manipulation during preparation and placement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the physical state and mechanical properties from rigid thin metal to flexible biodegradable material, transforming the handling characteristics from dangerous to safe while preserving the functional integrity needed for corpse preservation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-generated harmful factors

If existing biodegradable coffins are used, then environmental impact is reduced, but they lack impermeable zips compromising airtightness

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenvironmental impactVSAvoidairtightness
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates composite construction with biodegradable base materials combined with biodegradable impermeable layers or coatings. These composite structures provide both environmental sustainability and the necessary airtight sealing function, including zipper mechanisms made from biodegradable materials that maintain impermeability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the material parameters to include biodegradable impermeable substances that can form sealed closures, transforming the previous lack of airtightness into a functional feature that maintains both environmental friendliness and sealing reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Object-generated harmful factors

If biodegradable materials are used, then environmental sustainability is improved, but mechanical resistance and airtightness must be controlled through tests

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenvironmental sustainabilityVSAvoidtesting requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent selects biodegradable materials with optimized parameters that inherently meet mechanical resistance and airtightness requirements, reducing the need for extensive testing. By choosing materials with proven properties and appropriate thicknesses or treatments, the invention simplifies the validation process while maintaining environmental sustainability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP2716274B1Biodegradable coffin
Publication Date: 2016.03.16 LIMBO DISSENY
  • EP2716274B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2716274B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2716274B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A biodegradable coffin that has a box and a flexible bag. The flexible bag comprises a first main body (12) with a recess-form structure and a second body in the manner of an upper lid (5) connected to the opening of the main body (12), both bodies (5-12) comprising a multilayer structure formed by at least an inner layer (8) of impermeable material and at least an outer layer (9) of a natural textile material arranged within, next to the inner layer (8), the flexible bag (2) being supplemented, furthermore, with a front longitudinal part and a rear longitudinal part that both belong to an impermeable zip (6-15) for opening and closing the flexible bag (2-2'), means for anchoring the flexible bag (2-2') to the inner surface of the box (1) being included.