Tactile tile product for the visually impaired

The present invention provides a tactile tile comprising hemispherical outward protruding domes on an upper surface for pedestrian traffic, and a plurality of longitudinal and transverse members integral with each other and integral with a bottom side of the tile opposite the upper surface forming a honeycomb pattern.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes the problems of durability and replaceability found in conventional pedestrian identification and wayfinding surfaces by providing textured tile units which can be detachably installed and set into position on or in freshly poured or on hardened concrete or other non-hardened or hardened material, such as asphalt, to be incorporated into a surface to provide visual and tactile warnings to the visually impaired or handicapped, or to other pedestrians in need of warning.

In a preferred aspect of the invention, pre-cast textured tiles are provided for their flush detachable installation in a pedestrian-use surface, which tiles comprise a substantially planer top surface for human contact, with the surface itself comprising a plurality of raised surface elements projecting upward for human contact and sound emitting purposes, preferably arrayed in geometric rows effective to allow unimpeded access therethrough of wheelchair devices and the like; a bottom surface comprised of a plurality of transverse and longitudinal or crisscrossing members integral with the opposite side of the human-contacting top surface, optionally integral with each other; and further optionally comprising one or more anchor means integral with one or more portions of the bottom surface, such as transverse, longitudinal or crisscrossing member portions, for facilitating the detachable installation of the tiles onto pedestrian use material, such as concrete and the like.

In other aspects of the invention the inventive pedestrian-use tile may be provided in a variety of geometric shapes, such as substantiality planar top surfaces with angled, rectangular, trapezoidal, hexagonal, octagonal and triangular shapes effective to fit together in a plurality of their usage and juxtaposed with each tile unit in a flush-fitting manner effective to form a continuous unbroken surface covering which mimics in a flush-fitting manner the walking surface topography of a selected or desired pedestrian-use surface, such as a sidewalk portion facing a street or body of water, a portion of a subway platform, or a sloping sidewalk portion intended for wheel chair use and the like.

In further preferred aspects of the present invention, the inventive pedestrian-use tiles as detachably installed are substantially less prone to fracture and breakage under usage and in collisions with snow removal equipment and other machinery, and are easily replaceable as desired or as necessitated.

In still further aspects of the invention, there are provided an array of business functions, heretofore unavailable, which comprise the design, manufacture, use, marketing, sale and other business activities involving the inventive tile products.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following Detailed Discussion of Preferred Embodiments with accompanying drawings, examples and claims.

Patents:
US 7,674,066 issued 2010-03-09   [MORE INFO]

Type of Offer: Sale



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