Safety Tile for Pedestrian Tactile Detection

Abstract

A safety tile for embedding into a pedestrian-accessible surface, and a method of its use, are disclosed. The safety tile comprises a substantially planar tile member that includes an upper surface, a lower surface, and at least one side surface. The upper surface includes a plurality of projections extending upwardly therefrom, and the lower surface may include a plurality of downwardly projecting ribs. A plurality of anchor bolts are included that traverse the tile member from the upper surface to the lower surface through an aperture therein. Preferably the projections are shaped and pattered so as to be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines. The rounded head of each anchor bolt is preferably shaped and patterned similarly to each of the plurality of projections and positioned on the upper surface so that the rounded head of each anchor bolt takes the place of one projection in the pattern. In use, after the tile is set into an uncured surface material, each anchor bolt is tapped down into the uncured material to be captured thereby. The rounded head of each anchor bolt may be unscrewed from its anchor nut, in one embodiment, to facilitate removal of the tile from the surface.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 306,556, filed on Jan. 2, 2006, and incorporated herein by reference.STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT [0002] Not Applicable. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0003] This invention relates to embedded sidewalk tiles, and more particularly to an embedded sidewalk tile for detection by visually impaired pedestrians. DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART [0004] The Americans with Disabilities Act requires that certain walkway surfaces accessible by the public to be detected tactilely by visually impaired persons. Such tactilely detectable surfaces serve as warnings concerning hazards such as traffic crossings, stairways, curb ramps, loading docks, stages and other elevated platforms, and the like. As such, several prior art devices have been devised for adding a tactilely detectable pattern in existing pedestrian-accessible surfaces adjacent to poten...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention is a safety tile that can be embedded into a pedestrian-accessible surface, such as a sidewalk or train platform. The safety tile has a substantially planar tile member with projections on the upper surface and ribs on the lower surface. The projections are compliant with accessibility guidelines for pedestrian crossings. The safety tile is installed by applying force to the top surface and expels air from underneath it, making firm contact with the surface material. The safety tile is easy to install, firmly holds the surface, and can be easily removed and replaced if damaged. The invention provides protection against damage and can be fashioned in different shapes and colors."

Problems solved by technology

Such a device has the drawback, however, of air becoming trapped under the tile during installation.

Over time air under such a tile causes a bottom surface of the tile to lift off of the cement embedment material and bow undesirably.

However, over extended use in the elements these caps frequently become removed, exposing the nail head to pedestrians.

Further, over time such mechanical concrete nail can become loose, particularly near transit thoroughfares where structural vibration is common.

Nevertheless, such a device still does not fully expel trapped air from under the tile during installation, and such trapped pockets of air, over time, cause the tile to buckle and bow undesirably.

Further, the V-shaped channels of such a device are optimally made of stainless steel, which increases the cost of manufacturing such a device.

However, such a device has the further drawback that the safety tile, once set into the cement surface, cannot easily be removed if the tile is damaged or worn.

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