Wooden Locking Fasteners With Pin Interface for Casket Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wooden fasteners often fail to securely connect casket components, especially under substantial weight, and may slip out of position without adhesives, posing challenges for biodegradable and religiously compliant applications.
Innovation Solution
Development of wooden locking fasteners with a pin interface that engages a pin to lock the fastener in place, along with a fastener finishing device to manufacture these fasteners, allowing for secure connection of casket components without metal components or adhesives.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional wooden fasteners are used to connect casket components, then biodegradable and religious compliance requirements are met, but the fasteners fail to securely connect components under substantial weight and may slip out of position
Solution Approach 1:
The wooden fastener is divided into distinct functional segments: a head portion for positioning, a shaft for insertion, and a pin interface with engagement features. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function optimally, with the pin interface providing mechanical interlocking to prevent slippage while maintaining overall biodegradability
Solution Approach 2:
The pin interface incorporates movable engagement features that allow the fastener to adapt to slight variations in hole positioning and material movement. The engagement features can flex or adjust within the pin opening, providing dynamic compensation that prevents slippage under load while maintaining secure connection
2Strength
If conventional wooden fasteners are used without metal components or adhesives, then biodegradable and religious compliance requirements are met, but the fasteners fail to support substantial weight
Solution Approach 1:
The fastener utilizes composite wood construction with layered or laminated wood structures that provide enhanced strength-to-weight ratio. Different wood types or treatments may be combined within the single fastener body to optimize both load-bearing capacity and biodegradability, creating a composite material solution that meets both strength and material compatibility requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The pin interface incorporates curved or rounded engagement features rather than sharp edges, allowing for better stress distribution and reduced stress concentration points. The curved geometry of the engagement features helps distribute loads more evenly across the wood grain, increasing overall load-bearing capacity while maintaining wooden construction
3Ease of manufacture
If wooden dowels are used as fasteners, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but the fasteners can slip out of position without adhesives
Solution Approach 1:
The fastener is segmented into distinct functional zones with the pin interface featuring separate engagement elements from the main shaft. This segmentation allows the engagement features to be formed through relatively simple machining or molding processes while providing reliable mechanical interlocking that prevents slippage without requiring adhesives
Solution Approach 2:
The pin interface features self-locking engagement elements that automatically secure the fastener in position upon insertion. The geometry of the engagement features creates mechanical interlocking that self-adjusts to hold the fastener securely without requiring external adhesives or additional fastening steps, maintaining manufacturing simplicity while ensuring position stability
Data Source
AI summary
A locking fastener may include a head and a shaft with a pin interface configured to engage a pin for locking the locking fastener in place. Such locking fasteners may be used to connect a plurality of casket components, and are especially useful for wooden caskets. Methods of making such locking fasteners using a fastener finishing device are also described herein.