Tactile Tile Reinforced Embedment Plate
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current tactile warning devices for visually impaired individuals in public walkways are prone to damage from ultraviolet light, cracking, and severe impacts, leading to high maintenance costs and short lifespans, and existing solutions fail to securely embed in moldable materials like concrete or asphalt, causing installation and air pocket issues.
Innovation Solution
The embedment tile features cross beams with hollow chambers and air release means to facilitate smooth installation and secure embedding in moldable materials, while reinforcement ridges and durable materials like stainless steel enhance durability against impacts and environmental factors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If plastic embedded tile devices are used to provide tactilely detectable warning surfaces, then installation is simple and cost-effective, but the devices are easily damaged by ultraviolet light, cracking, and snowplow impacts, resulting in high long-term maintenance costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from plastic to metal (stainless steel or aluminum), fundamentally altering the durability characteristics while maintaining the embedded tile functionality. This material substitution resolves the contradiction by providing both ease of installation and high resistance to UV light, cracking, and impact damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite construction by combining metal materials with embedded reinforcement structures (such as reinforcement ribs or internal strengthening elements) to create a tile that is both easy to install and highly durable against environmental and mechanical damage.
2Reliability
If existing embedment tile designs are used, then tactile detection function is provided, but air pockets obstruct efficient movement of moldable material during installation, making embedment time-consuming and difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates porous or permeable structures within the embedment tile design, allowing air and moldable material to flow through during installation. This eliminates air pocket formation that would otherwise obstruct the movement of moldable material, significantly reducing installation time while maintaining the tactile detection function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes air pockets from the embedment process by incorporating air release channels or void spaces in the tile design, allowing air to escape during installation and preventing it from obstructing the moldable material flow.
3Reliability
If existing embedment tile designs are used, then tactile warning function is provided, but the tiles do not securely interlock with moldable materials, requiring additional weights to prevent floating
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the embedment tile into multiple segments or modular components with interlocking features, allowing secure attachment to moldable materials through the segmentation design itself, eliminating the need for additional external weighting mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediary elements such as anchoring protrusions, interlocking ribs, or chemical bonding agents that mediate between the tile and moldable material, creating secure interlocking without requiring additional weights or complex external fastening systems.
4Ease of manufacture
If plastic embedded tiles are used, then initial cost is low, but replacement is required every five to ten years, resulting in high long-term maintenance costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from inexpensive plastic to durable metal, increasing the service life from five to ten years to potentially decades, while the modular design allows for cost-effective replacement only of damaged sections rather than entire systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables selective replacement of only the damaged portions of the tile system rather than replacing the entire installation, recovering the majority of the initial investment by retaining undamaged sections and extending the overall service life.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an embedment tile for producing a tactilely detectable surface in a moldable material and method for using same. The tile comprises a tile member having a pattern of upwardly extending projections on its upper surface forming a tactilely detectable pattern, and a cross beam joined to the lower surface of the tile member. The cross beam defines a hollow chamber and apertures to allow for the release of air and inflow of moldable material to secure the embedment tile when the moldable material hardens. The cross beam can define a lower open portion at a cross beam end portion that eases installation by permitting a more direct flow path into the chamber for moldable material. The embedment tile can also include a reinforcing member joined to the lower surface of the tile member and/or a transverse reinforcing member joined to a lower surface of the tile member.