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November 14, 2006
For want of a nail HurriQuake
Popular Science has released their list of the most significant technological developments of the year, and I'm impressed with the low-tech ingenuity of their grand-prize winner, designed to take on earthquakes and hurricanes -- and kick Mother Nature's butt.
Bostitch engineer Ed Sutt has dedicated his career to designing a better nail. The result is the HurriQuake, and it has the perfect combination of features to withstand nature’s darker moods.
The bottom section is circled with angled barbs that resist pulling out in wind gusts up to 170 mph. This “ring shank” stops halfway up to leave the middle of the nail, which endures the most punishment during an earthquake, at its maximum thickness and strength.
The blade-like facets of the nail’s twisted top—the spiral shank—keep planks from wobbling, which weakens a joint. And the HurriQuake’s head is 25 percent larger than average to better resist counter-sinking and pulling through.
The best part: It costs only about $15 more to build a house using HurriQuakes. $45 per 4,000.
I can't wait to see what they've got in store for for the mousetrap.
Posted by Mike Lief at November 14, 2006 10:42 PM
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