Magnetic Casket Medallion with Interchangeable Button for Customization
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing production methods for casket medallions are expensive, time-consuming, and labor-intensive, requiring multiple dies and hand-painting for each unique design, leading to high costs and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A casket medallion system using a medallion blank with a magnet on the rear side and a recess for a button, where the button features a two-dimensional image overlying a metallic or plastic surface, secured by magnets, allowing for quick assembly and customization onsite without the need for multiple dies or hand-painting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional medallion production methods are used with multiple dies and hand-painting, then each unique design can be produced, but production costs and time increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The medallion is divided into separate components: a reusable medallion blank and interchangeable button elements. This segmentation allows the base medallion to be produced once using a single die, while customization is achieved by swapping button elements, thereby maintaining design versatility without requiring multiple complete medallion dies.
Solution Approach 2:
The medallion blank is prepared in advance with all necessary mounting features (recesses, magnet positions) during a single production run. This preliminary preparation enables rapid customization later by simply inserting different button elements, eliminating the need for time-consuming hand-painting and multiple die operations for each unique design.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple expensive dies are used for each medallion design, then unique designs can be achieved, but production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
A single medallion blank design serves multiple functions by accommodating various button elements through standardized recesses. This universal base design can be paired with different buttons (photographs, symbols, text) to create diverse medallion variations, eliminating the need for multiple expensive dies while maintaining design variety.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of creating unique physical dies for each design variation, the patent uses a single master medallion blank that can be repeatedly produced. Customization is achieved through interchangeable button elements that are simpler to manufacture and replace, effectively using a copyable base template rather than unique dies for each variation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If hand-painting is used for each medallion, then custom images can be applied, but labor time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The manual hand-painting process is replaced with a mechanical button-making system. Buttons with pre-applied images, photographs, or symbols are manufactured using automated button-making equipment, then simply inserted into the medallion blank recesses. This substitution eliminates tedious hand-painting while maintaining full image customization capability.
Solution Approach 2:
All image application work is performed in advance during button manufacturing using automated equipment. The buttons arrive pre-customized with images, symbols, or text already applied through mechanical processes. This preliminary preparation eliminates time-consuming hand-painting at the medallion assembly stage, reducing production time while maintaining customization.
4Productivity
If a single medallion die is used with interchangeable buttons, then production efficiency improves, but assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The medallion is segmented into a base blank and separate button elements with standardized interfaces. This segmentation enables rapid assembly by simply inserting buttons into pre-formed recesses, improving production speed. The apparent complexity is managed through modular design principles that simplify the assembly process despite multiple components.
Solution Approach 2:
The medallion blank serves as an intermediary component that standardizes the interface between the cap panel and various button elements. This intermediary structure with standardized recesses and magnet positions simplifies assembly by providing a consistent mounting system, reducing overall system complexity despite the variety of interchangeable buttons.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution reduces production costs and time by allowing a single medallion die to be used, enabling funeral directors to create custom medallions rapidly using commercially available button-making equipment, eliminating the need for multiple expensive dies and tedious hand-painting.
Implementation Method 1
The medallion comprises a medallion blank having at least one magnet on a rear side thereof... the at least one magnet removably securing the medallion blank to the magnetic material of the cap panel
Implementation Method 2
the button comprising a button front, a magnetic metallic button back... the at least one magnet removably securing the button in the recess of the medallion blank
Data Source
AI summary
A casket comprises a casket shell adapted to receive the remains of a deceased and a casket cap closable on the casket shell. The cap includes a dish assembly mounted to an underside thereof including a cap panel of a sheet of magnetic material. At least one medallion is removably mounted on the cap panel. The medallion comprises a medallion blank having at least one magnet on a rear side thereof and having a recess on a front side thereof, and a button removably received in the recess of the medallion blank. The button comprises a button front, a magnetic metallic button back, and a two-dimensional image overlying an upper surface of the button front.