Self-Supporting Plastic Loculus With Ribbed Stackable Structure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing columbaria construction techniques using materials like cement, concrete, fiberglass, steel, and plastic face issues such as excessive weight, non-self-supporting structures, increased volumes, and impermeability challenges due to manual sealing, necessitating additional work and potential human error.

Innovation Solution

A self-supporting, stackable, single-body loculus made of plastic material with integrated ribs or corrugations for strength and a wedge-shaped design to collect liquids, eliminating the need for external supports and ensuring impermeability through a seamless construction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If single-body fiberglass loculi are made in one piece from a mold, then impermeability is ensured, but they must have a truncated pyramid shape which increases overall volumes

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveimpermeabilityVSAvoidoverall volumes

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The loculus is divided into multiple panels that are assembled together to form the complete structure. This segmentation allows the loculus to maintain a compact parallelepiped shape without requiring oversized dimensions for mold extraction, while still achieving impermeability through proper panel joining and sealing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Strength

If traditional cement or concrete loculi are used, then sturdy and durable structures are achieved, but excessive weight requires adequate bases or foundations

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesturdinessVSAvoidweight

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The material composition is changed from heavy cement or concrete to lighter plastic materials such as polyethylene or polypropylene. This parameter change maintains the structural strength and durability required for loculi while significantly reducing the weight, eliminating the need for extensive bases or foundations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Strength

If cement or concrete loculi are used, then structural strength is achieved, but porous nature requires additional works to achieve impermeability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidimpermeability

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The material is changed from porous cement or concrete to inherently impermeable plastic materials. This parameter change eliminates the need for additional sealing works or refinishing while maintaining structural strength, as the plastic material itself provides the required impermeability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Manufacturing precision

If fiberglass loculi are made with panels assembled by joining, then perfect inner sizing is achieved, but manual sealing with silicone products creates potential human error

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinner sizingVSAvoidsealing quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The manual sealing process is replaced with a mechanical or automated joining system. The panels are connected through integrated joining mechanisms that ensure consistent and reliable sealing without depending on operator skill, thereby eliminating human error while maintaining precise inner sizing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

5Manufacturing precision

If steel or aluminum loculi are used, then optimal inner sizing is achieved, but thin sheets require supporting racks with inclination for fluid collection

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinner sizingVSAvoidsupporting rack structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The loculus body and fluid collection features are merged into a single integrated structure. The plastic loculus incorporates built-in ledges or inclined surfaces for fluid collection without requiring separate supporting racks, thereby simplifying the overall device while maintaining optimal inner sizing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

6Device complexity

If loculi are made to be self-supporting and stackable, then construction complexity is reduced, but structural strength must be increased

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconstruction complexityVSAvoidstructural strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The loculus is designed with pre-integrated stacking features and connection elements that enable self-supporting and stackable construction. These preliminary design actions incorporate strengthening ribs and interlocking mechanisms directly into the loculus structure, providing the necessary structural strength while simplifying construction by eliminating the need for external supporting racks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS12595674B2Self-supporting loculus

Publication Date: 2026.04.07 LASEF DI M B S SRL

AI summary

A modern loculus made in one piece, i.e. devoid of joints or welding, of a plastic or polymeric material is described. The loculus is self-supporting and does not require an outer supporting rack. This result is achieved by implementing at least the vertical side walls with ribs or ribbing, or by implementing the vertical side walls corrugated. The loculus is stackable with the leaning base supported by the upper wall of the underlying loculus and the leaning base is inclined towards the bottom wall and defines a tank for collecting liquids. The upper wall is inclined towards the bottom wall with the same inclination as the leaning base.