Reusable Transparent Casket Assembly with Movable Panels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional caskets do not offer sufficient visibility for viewing deceased individuals without exposing them, and they are often not reusable or adaptable for cremation processes, leading to unnecessary expenses and hygiene concerns.
Innovation Solution
A transparent, reusable casket assembly with LED lighting, featuring removable and separable side panels and a hinged design that allows for easy placement and removal of a cremation insert container and deceased body without lifting, along with a modular structure for versatile use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a transparent casket is used to provide visibility during viewing ceremonies, then visibility is improved, but the casket cannot be reused for cremation processes
Solution Approach 1:
The casket is divided into two separate components: a reusable opaque casket body and a removable transparent viewing insert. The insert contains the deceased and can be taken out for cremation, while the casket body remains for future use. This segmentation allows the transparent portion to be separated before cremation, enabling reuse of the casket structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The transparent viewing insert is designed to nest within the opaque casket body. The insert fits inside the casket like a container within a container, allowing the casket to serve dual purposes: providing transparent viewing when the insert is in place, and serving as a reusable cremation container when the insert is removed.
2Illumination intensity
If the casket lid is opened to allow close viewing, then visibility is improved, but hygiene and safety concerns worsen due to exposure of the deceased
Solution Approach 1:
The transparent casket material allows visual observation without physical exposure. Family members can view the deceased through the transparent walls and lid while the casket remains closed, eliminating the need to open the casket for viewing purposes.
Solution Approach 2:
The transparent material acts as an intermediary that allows visual information to pass through while blocking physical contact. This mediator enables viewing while maintaining the protective barrier of the closed casket, preventing contamination or exposure risks.
3Illumination intensity
If a expensive transparent casket is purchased for viewing ceremonies, then visibility is improved, but unnecessary expenses increase when the casket is not reused
Solution Approach 1:
The opaque casket body is designed to be universally reusable for multiple purposes: it can serve as a cremation container, a storage box, or be reused for future viewings with different inserts. This multi-functionality justifies the investment by ensuring the casket provides value beyond a single viewing ceremony.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of discarding the entire casket after one use, the design allows recovery and reuse of the main casket body. The transparent insert is the disposable component that is removed and discarded after cremation, while the valuable casket structure is retained for future use.
4Ease of operation
If the deceased body is lifted over the side wall for placement into the casket, then placement is achieved, but ease of operation worsens due to difficulty of handling
Solution Approach 1:
The casket is equipped with a ramp or inclined plane at the opening that creates an equipotential path for lowering the deceased. Instead of requiring vertical lifting over the high side wall, the ramp allows the body to be gently lowered at a reduced angle, making handling easier and safer for funeral directors.
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
Enables hygienic, cost-effective, and versatile viewing and cremation processes by maintaining visibility without exposing the deceased, reducing unnecessary expenses, and facilitating easy handling and movement of the body and cremation insert.
Implementation Method 1
The present invention is directed to a reusable transparent casket assembly which is further enhanced by the installation of LED lighting within the base structure of the casket
Data Source
AI summary
A casket assembly includes a floor structure, transparent side walls and end walls extending upwardly from a lower rail to define side panels and end panels, and a transparent lid attached to at least one of the side walls. A cardboard insert container made of a material suitable for cremation is sized for receipt within the enclosed casket interior. At least one of the side panels or end panels is movable between a closed position to completely enclose the casket interior and an open position to allow horizontal movement of the insert container holding a deceased human body into and out from the casket interior without having to lift the insert container over the top edge of the side and end panels.