Casket Ornament Attachment Mechanism Using Recessed Nesting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mechanisms for attaching decorative ornaments to caskets and other funerary items are limited in their ability to securely and aesthetically integrate three-dimensional ornaments that are 360 degrees around a vertical axis.
Innovation Solution
A combination casket and ornament system that includes a casket shell with keyhole-shaped grooves, an L-shaped adapter with studs and a post, and a three-dimensional decorative ornament that is secured to the adapter using the post and a cylindrical hole in the ornament.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional fasteners with heads (shoulder screws) are used to attach ornaments, then the ornament can be secured to the casket shell, but the attachment mechanism is visually visible and less aesthetically appealing
Solution Approach 1:
The fastener head is extracted and removed from the system. The patent uses a fastenerless approach where the ornament is directly inserted into the casket shell corner through a recess, eliminating the visible head that would compromise aesthetics while maintaining secure attachment through the recess structure itself
Solution Approach 2:
The ornament is nested into the casket shell corner through a recess that is formed within the corner structure. The ornament fits into this nested space, creating a seamless integrated appearance while the recess provides the mechanical retention without requiring external fasteners
2Adaptability or versatility
If three-dimensional ornaments that are 360 degrees around a vertical axis are used, then personalization options are enhanced, but the attachment mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The casket shell corner is designed with a universal recess structure that can accommodate various three-dimensional ornaments with different shapes, sizes, and designs. The recess provides a standardized interface that works with any ornament that fits the dimensional parameters, eliminating the need for different attachment mechanisms for different ornament types
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment mechanism is segmented into two independent components: the recess formed in the casket shell corner and the ornament with its base dimensions. This segmentation allows the ornament to be a separate three-dimensional object that can be freely designed while the recess provides the standardized receiving structure, simplifying the overall attachment approach
3Reliability
If keyhole-shaped grooves with studs are used to attach the adapter, then the adapter can be securely mounted to the casket shell, but the installation process requires precise alignment
Solution Approach 1:
The recess is pre-formed in the casket shell corner during manufacturing, and the ornament base dimensions are pre-designed to match this recess. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for precise alignment during installation, as the ornament simply needs to be inserted into the pre-configured recess space
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using protruding studs that require insertion into grooves (which would require precise alignment), the design inverts the approach by using a recess that receives the ornament base. This inversion simplifies the installation process as the ornament is passively received rather than actively engaged through alignment-critical features
Data Source
AI summary
A combination cremation urn and ornament comprises a base adapted to receive cremation ashes therein, an upstanding post mounted to an upper surface of said base and extending upwardly therefrom, and a decorative ornament that is three-dimensional an entire 360 degrees about a vertical axis of said decorative ornament, said decorative ornament having a hole extending upwardly from a bottom thereof into said decorative ornament, said post received in said hole as said decorative ornament is positioned on said base to secure said decorative ornament to said base.