Skull Mounting Sling Structure for Damage-Free Display
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for mounting big game skulls with or without horns or antlers often result in damage and destruction of the skull due to drilling, adhering, or manipulation, limiting their use to display boxes and preventing accurate data collection for conservation studies.
Innovation Solution
A skull mounting device comprising a central portion and multiple support straps that secure the skull laterally to a base, distributing weight points across the skull to maintain stability without altering its structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If traditional mounting methods (drilling, adhering, manipulating) are used to secure skulls to bases, then mounting stability is improved, but skull integrity deteriorates due to damage and destruction
Solution Approach 1:
A sling-like mounting device made of soft material serves as an intermediary between the skull and the base. The device distributes mounting forces across multiple contact points (nasal area, top of skull, sides) without requiring direct attachment to the skull, thereby maintaining skull integrity while achieving stable mounting.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting device is divided into multiple segments or straps that wrap around different portions of the skull (central portion, lateral portions, nasal area). This segmentation allows forces to be distributed across multiple points rather than concentrated at single attachment points, reducing stress and damage to the skull.
2Adaptability or versatility
If skulls are mounted in display boxes with hooks or attachments, then display functionality is improved, but data collection accuracy deteriorates due to altered skull structure
Solution Approach 1:
The sling-like mounting device acts as a mediator that enables display functionality without requiring structural modifications to the skull. By wrapping around the skull and attaching to the base, it provides secure mounting while leaving the skull's natural structure intact, thus preserving measurement accuracy for scientific studies.
3Reliability
If multiple attachment points are created on the skull for mounting, then mounting reliability is improved, but skull integrity deteriorates due to multiple drilling and manipulation points
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting device serves as an intermediary that provides multiple attachment points on itself rather than on the skull. The straps and portions of the device can be secured to the base at multiple locations, distributing mounting forces without creating multiple holes or alterations in the skull structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The sling-like mounting device is made of flexible material that can conform to the skull's shape and wrap around it. This flexibility allows the device to achieve secure mounting through friction and distribution of forces across the skull's surface without requiring penetration or permanent attachment points in the skull.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a skull mounting device having a central portion and a support strap extending from a first side of the central portion. The first support strap has a first free end. A second support strap extends from a second side of the central portion. The second support strap has a second free end. A top portion extends upwardly from the central portion. The top portion has a first sling connection point configured to connect to the first free end and a second sling connection point configured to connect to the second free end. A lower portion has a first nose support strap from the first side of the central portion. The first nose support strap has a first nose end. A second nose support strap extends in a direction opposite from the first nose support strap. The second nose support strap has a second nose end.