Page 8
University Daily Kansan, April 28, 1982
。
KU student solves embalmers' problems
By BARB EHLI Staff Reporter
Positioning a corpse while embalming it is a mortician's problem, but it took an engineering student to design a solution.
Morticians had to be content to improvise with a combination of rope, trash can, a rubber head block, buckets and tape until John Macy, Hosining senior, developed a system of body blocks.
With the financial backbone of a Hoskington mortician and lawyer, and 12 to 14 months of time, Macy designed Lego-like blocks with interlocking parts, took kids from manufacturers cost-call analysis and marketing studies.
But Macy said the original idea came from the mortician.
"It's his basic idea. He was the mortician." Macy said. "He saw the definite need for it. I took his idea and developed a product."
Macy said he expected his product to earn "conservatively $7 million," but Macy has already earned a free one-week trip to the American Society of
Mechanical Engineers national finals in Phoenix, Ariz. this November. He is one of 11 finalists from across the country to compete, but not own the patent on the body blocks.
To submit his project, Macy needed volunteers to demonstrate how the blocks would be used. Only his fiancée would pose for the pictures.
"Have you ever asked 'How would you like to wear leotards and pose on some blocks for a picture?', '"Macy asked.
MACY STOOD outside of the glass display case where his project was displayed on the third floor of Learned Library, explained the body blocks' functions.
"There are 115 different positions or configurations for a body," Macy said. "With the interlocking aspect, at least 90 percent of the time they would be able to be used."
Macy said the blocks held the arms in place by offering support under the elbow.
Another configuration with the blocks solves the problem of holding the head up on a body that has a curvature of the head. You'll encounter, among older people, Macy said.
For a tall corpse, he said morticians could order a longer coffin, or, by bending the knees, they could fit the body into a shorter coffin.
"If they're freshly dead, you can move them around and position them."
So no matter what the size of the body, the blocks can adjust to hold it, with one-20,000th of an inch clearance on either side, Macy said.
Macy carefully researched and planned his project.
He said he learned about plastic and tia uses, talked to several manufact-
"I learned how to embalm," he said.
"I learned how to embalm for background."
Macy said he considered using several different types of materials for the blocks until he settled on polypropylene plastic.
Steel blocks wouldn't work because they would scratch the mortician's porcelain tide tops. Macy said, and it was not practical for manufacturing purposes.
"Plastic was the best because of the chemical composition," Macy said.
and easy to clean, even with strong substances like bleach, in order to conform to state and Federal health laws.
"You've got blood and miscellaneous
you don't want it to stick." Macan said.
Macy described the two types of plastic dies or forms that he had to collect.
One type was a thermoforming plastic that operates on the principle of a candle, Macy said. Heat can melt a candle and put it in the plasmon be reused, Macy said.
HE SAID the plastic would be durable
Thermosetting plastic, when heated,
becomes a hard substance that doesn't
change its molecular structure, much
like the concrete that dries. Macy said.
This summer Macy will be working full-time for Bendix in the plastic industry.
Macy's said that plaques are a rater
business aid that butts the user of
the computer because it says "Don't
use"
"I want to洗 in plastics," Macy
wrote, "we got some other ideas I'm
working with."
On the record
Burglaries stole almost 7,000 worth of cash sometimes between 11:15 p.m. Sunday and 10:30 p.m. Monday from a restaurant in Manhattan. Massachusetts ST., police said.
Police did not know how the burglar entered the building or how they got into the safe. There are no suspects.
Police said employees locked the money in a safe and left. When they returned in the morning, the money was missing.
BURGLARS ALSO STOLE more than $1,700 worth of cash and checks sometime between 8:45 and 9:45 a.m. Monday from Potter's 66 Service station, 23rd and Louisiana streets, police said.
Burglar entered the office and took a bag. The guard claimed the checks off the desk, police said.
BURGLARS TOOK about $400 worth of camera equipment sometime April 12 from Alpha Tau Omae fraternity, 1537 Temple St. police said.
There are no suspects.
After breaking into a room, burglaries stole a 35mm camera, lens and flash
attachment, police said. There are no suspects.
THEVES ALSO STOLE two sewing machines sometime between April 16 and 17 from Grace Sellards Pearson residence hall, KU police said.
Thieves removed the hair sewing machines, worth more than $100 each, from the building.
There are no suspects.
BURGLARS STOLE an un-
determined amount of change
sometime between 11am on Sunday
and 4pm on Monday. Wheels
skate center, 3210 west St., police said
Burglar hid inside the skate center, and took rolled quarters, dimes and nickels, police said. There are no suspects.
BURGLARS ALSO stole change,
sometime between April 12 and Monday
from a residence at 1244 Prospect Ave.
police said.
Police said burglars may have used a key to enter the residence and steal more than $200 worth of quarters, dimes and half dollars.
There are no suspects.
VALID ID CARDS
Instantly Laminated Color
available at
-DENT SYSTEMS
Room 1114-A Ramada inn
841-5905
The Jayhawk Sports Car Club will be holding a
CLUB MEETING
Thursday, April 29
7:30 P.M.
403) Wescoe
All car enthusiasts are encouraged to attend
Join Jayhawk West
Join Jaynawk West
Be part of the
"1st Annual Happening"
coming in May.
"You'll like the changes"
Now accepting 501 retainer-
deposits on 1-8 B.I.R. Apts. for Fell.
* Indoor Pool
* Free shuttle bus
* Free Wi-Fi
* 24 hr. Maintenance
Call today and compare our rates!
842-4444
7 days ago
In Book
524 Frontier Road
It Could Only Happen at ...
THE HAWK • 1340 OHIO
Button-Up Levis Sale
Come to King of Jeans First Ever
Today thru Saturday only et K.U.'s Favorite Jeans For Less!
Levis Men's
Button-up Straight Legs No. 501 Shrink-to-fit [reg. $21]
$16.99
Levis Gal's "501"
Levis Newest
Button-up Shrink-to-fit especially for gals [reg. $30]
Levis Recycled Gal's Button-ups Straight legs, shrink-to-fit
$17.99
Levis Recycled Button-up Denim Shorts
$6.99
Get 'em while they're hot!
in
KING of Jeans
740 Massachusetts