AU2010201685B2

AU2010201685B2 - Tactile Ground Surface Indicator

Info

Publication number: AU2010201685B2
Application number: AU2010201685A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Daniel Dedomenico
Original assignee: CTA Australia Pty Ltd
Current assignee: CTA Australia Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2007-07-05
Filing date: 2010-04-28
Publication date: 2013-09-26
Anticipated expiration: 2028-05-29
Also published as: AU2010201685A1; AU2008202373B2; AU2008202373C1; AU2009233692B2; AU2009233692A1; AU2008202373A1; NZ568738A; NZ572592A

Abstract

C:WRPonbDCCUL\2870342_l.DOC-28I4/2010 Abstract There is disclosed a tactile ground surface indicator comprising a generally circular indicator portion which is arranged to be fixed over the ground surface and which has an 5 inclined substantially smooth circumferential side face and a top, wherein the top comprises: a gripping portion engageable with the sole of a person's shoe, an uppermost extent of the gripping portion lying in a plane which, when the indicator portion is so fixed, is generally parallel with the ground surface; and 10 an upwardly projecting narrow peripheral ring surrounding the gripping portion, the ring having an upper end which is engageable with the shoe sole and having an exposed, substantially upright radially outer face and a generally upwardly extending radially inner face, whereby an R13 anti-slip rating in accordance with Australian 15 Standard 4586:2004 is conferred upon the indicator portion. CAN~onbrOCCMLUIg70342_1 DOC.2Xf4J2OlO 1(5 Fig. 4A ___5 A,65 0.50 Fig. 4E 25-1 FFig. 4D

Description

Australian Patents Act 1990 - Regulation 3.2 ORIGINAL COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title "Tactile Ground Surface Indicator" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: C:\NRPORTBL\DCC\[L\2872894_1 DOC - 27/2/08 H \Intevoven\NRPonbl\DCC\AZM4G540688 1 _ doc-23/082013 Tactile Ground Surface Indicator The entire content of the complete specification of Australian patent application no. 2009233692 as originally filed (including the content incorporated therein by 5 reference) is hereby incorporated herein by reference. The present invention relates to tactile indicators which are disposed on a ground surface to provide a tactile and/or visual indication to a person, particularly a blind or vision-impaired person, walking on the surface. 10 Tactile ground surface indicators are specially configured protrusions which are positioned on walking surfaces. Such indicators are typically found in public areas in and around buildings and stairs, or at pedestrian crossings and the like, to forewarn pedestrians, particularly blind or vision-impaired persons, of an upcoming obstruction or hazard. When the person feels the 15 tactile indicators under their feet, they are made aware that their next step should be taken with caution. Tactile ground surface indicators can be located, for example, in approaches to steps or stairs, edges of railway platforms, traffic crossings, ramps and so forth. 20 It is generally important to configure a tactile ground surface indicator such that the risk of a person slipping when walking on or onto the indicator is minimised. According to the invention, there is a tactile ground surface indicator comprising a generally 25 circular indicator portion which is arranged to be fixed over a ground surface and has: an upper section; and an inclined, substantially smooth, circumferential side face extending to the upper section and having an uppermost extent that lies in a plane arranged to be generally parallel with the ground surface when the indicator portion is so fixed, 30 wherein the upper section includes a narrow, circumferentially extending ring adjacent the side face, the ring having an uncovered radially inner side surface and a radially outer side surface that is substantially perpendicular to the plant whereby it provides a face which extends upwardly from the plant so as to be radially outwardly exposed, the upwardly extending face H:\1nI\lerwovcn\NRPortb\DCC\AZM\540688 I _1 doc-23/A8/2013 -2 and the radially inner side surface terminating at an upper end of the ring, such that the ring protrudes upwardly to provide grip when the indicator portion is so fixed and the upper section is stepped upon. 5 A preferred embodiment of the invention provides a tactile ground surface indicator comprising a generally circular indicator portion which is arranged to be fixed over the ground surface and which has an inclined substantially smooth circumferential side face and an upper section, wherein the upper section comprises: a gripping portion engageable with the sole of a person's shoe, an uppermost extent of the gripping portion lying in a plane which, when the 10 indicator portion is so fixed, is generally parallel with the ground surface; and an upwardly projecting narrow peripheral ring surrounding the gripping portion, the ring having an upper end which is engageable with the shoe sole and having an exposed, substantially upright radially outer face and a generally upwardly extending radially inner face, whereby an R13 anti-slip rating in accordance with Australian Standard 4586:2004 is conferred upon the 15 indicator portion. The ring defines a protuberance, which may catch and engage the sole of the person's shoe, particularly as moved or forced against the top in a direction having a sideways component, thereby preventing slipping and conferring improved anti-slip characteristics to the tactile 20 ground surface indicator. The substantially smooth inclined side face can afford the indicator enhanced visual characteristics, aesthetic appeal and/or simplified manufacture, whilst the upper section of the indicator portion, particularly said narrow ring, serves to prevent a person slipping, the risk of 25 which may otherwise be particularly high as a result of the side wall being smooth. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the radially outwardly exposed face extends from an upper end of the side face. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the radially outwardly exposed face may lie radially inward of the upper end of the circumferential 30 side face; the ring may thus be spaced from the side face (though in that instance is nevertheless adjacent to it).

Hm\Inerwonc\NRPorbl\)CC\AZM\53222291I do-15M7/211) -3 In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the gripping portion comprises plural upwardly projecting rings substantially concentric with said narrow ring. Said plural rings may be easily formed (such as by a lathe) and offer enhanced visual characteristics/aesthetic appeal, and provide excellent grip. 5 Preferably, said plural rings have a substantially uniform radial pitch. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, said plural rings are continuous. In an alternative embodiment, those rings may be discontinuous. 10 Preferably, said narrow ring is a closed ring. The ring may, however, be defined by a radially outermost winding of a spiral configuration of the upper section, which configuration may also define the rings of the gripping portion. 15 Preferably, said narrow ring is continuous. However, it may be discontinuous. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the upper end of said narrow ring and upper ends of said plural rings are coplanar. 20 Preferably, the radially outwardly exposed face has a height of the order of half a millimetre. Preferably, the indicator portion is formed from stainless steel. 25 Consistent with national standard no. AS/NZS 1428, tactile ground surface indicators according to preferred embodiments of the present invention provide areas of raised ground surface texture treatment, designed to provide blind or vision-impaired pedestrians with warning and/or directional orientation information. 30 The present invention will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the drawings, in which: H:\umlnterwoven\ NRPonbl\DCC\AZM\l5322229_I doc.15/7/2013 -4 Figure IA is a perspective view of a tactile ground surface indicator according to a first embodiment of the invention; Figure lB is a top view of the indicator showing Figure IA; Figure IC is a cross-sectional elevation view taken through section J-J in 5 Figure 1 B, showing deformable longitudinal ribs of a casing of the indicator; Figure 1D is a cross-sectional elevation view taken through section K-K in Figure 1 B, showing channels of the casing of the indicator; Figure 2A is a perspective view of the body portion of the tactile ground surface indicator according to both the first embodiment and a second embodiment of the 10 invention; Figure 2B is a top view of the body portion shown in Figure 2A; Figure 2C is a cross-sectional elevation view taken through section D-D in Figure 2B; Figure 2D is a rotated side view of the body portion shown in Figures 2A to 2C. 15 Figure 3A is a perspective view of a tactile ground surface indicator according to the second embodiment of the invention; Figure 3B is a top view of the indicator showing Figure 3A; Figure 3C is a cross-sectional elevation view taken through section F-F in Figure 3A; 20 Figure 4A is a perspective view of an indicator portion of the indicators according to both the first and second embodiments; Figure 4B is a top view of the indicator portion shown in Figure 4A; Figure 4C is a cross-sectional elevation view taken through section D-D in Figure 4B; 25 Figure 4D is a view of detail E as shown in Figure 4C; and Figure 4E is a rotated side view of the indicator portion shown in Figures 4A to 4D. A tactile ground surface indicator I according to a first embodiment of the invention, as depicted in Figure IA, comprises a body portion 3 which is moulded as a single piece from 30 stainless steel, or machined from a solid bar of stainless steel, and, as can best be seen in Figures IC and ID, comprises an indicator portion 5 which will be positioned above a 11 nzm\lItecn\osiNRPorbl\DCC\AZM\5322229_ I doc.1507/2013 -5 ground surface, and a downwardly projecting portion in the form of a stem 7 which is receivable in a cavity, provided in the ground, which locates the indicator 1 in position. The indicator I further comprises a generally elongate casing 9, which is received over, 5 and engaged with, the stem 7, the casing, which is for holding the indicator 1 in the ground, being made from suitably deformable plastic, whereby it can deform against an annular wall of the cavity when the indicator I is driven into the cavity. The casing in this embodiment is moulded as a single piece of plastically-deformable 10 plastic, and is moulded to, the stem 7. The casing 9 is configured as a cap which covers the stem 7, the cap defining a recess 11 which is occupied by the stem 7. The casing 9 has a generally circular outer transverse cross-sectional profile. The exterior of the casing 9 is provided with a pair of opposed ridges or ribs 13 which 15 extend linearly and longitudinally along the casing 9 from a top end of the casing 9. The ribs 13 are provided at diametrically opposite positions on the casing 9. The ribs 13 protrude radially outwardly to be engageable with the annular wall of the cavity so as to deform against the wall when the indicator 1 is driven into the cavity, thus permanently locking the casing in the cavity and fixing the indicator I in the ground. To this end, the 20 outermost extents of the ribs 13 are spaced apart by a distance which slightly exceeds the diameter of the cavity. In an alternative embodiment, two pairs of ribs are provided the ribs of each pair lying at diametrically opposite positions on the casing to define planes which are perpendicular to 25 each other and which each form an acute angle of 600 with the plane in which the channels 17 are arranged. The lower end 15 of the casing 9 is tapered radially inwardly to facilitate driving of the indicator I into the ground. 30 The casing 9 further comprises a pair of longitudinally extending channels 17 which are H ,m\lnteroven\NRPonbl\DCC\AZM\5122229_I doc.-157f2013 -6 disposed at diametrically opposite positions on the exterior of the casing 9 and extend generally linearly between the top and bottom ends of the casing 9. The channels 17 define spaces into each some of the material of the casing 9 can be displaced when the casing 9 is driven into the cavity, under a radially inward pressure exerted by the cavity 5 wall, giving rise to a radially outward biasing of the casing against the cavity wall, which assists retention of the indicator I in the ground. An annular channel 19 is provided in the exterior of the stem 7, the channel 19 defining a space into which a complementarily configured, radially inwardly projecting portion 21, in 10 the form of an annular rim, provided on the casing 9 in the recess 11, is received. The channel 19 defines a transversely extending portion which in turn defines an upper shoulder 23, providing a downwardly facing surface 25. The channel 19 also defines a further transversely extending portion which in turn defines a lower shoulder 27, providing an upwardly facing surface 29. 15 Similarly, the projecting portion 21 defines, on the casing 9, a transversely extending portion which in turn defines an upper shoulder 30, providing a downwardly facing surface 31. The projecting portion 21 also defines a further transversely extending portion which in turn defines a lower shoulder 33, providing an upwardly facing surface 35. 20 The downwardly facing surface on the casing 9 abuts the upwardly facing surface on the stem 7 to restrain the body 3 from upward movement relative to the casing 9. Similarly, abutment of the downwardly facing surface of the stem 7 with the upwardly facing surface of the casing 9 prevents downward movement of the body 3 with respect to the casing, as 25 does abutment of the upper end of the casing 9 with the underside of the indicator portion 5. Relative movement between the casing 9 and body 3 is thus prevented. In other embodiments, the abutting surfaces need not face exactly upwardly and downwardly but rather need merely to have respective upwardly and downwardly facing 30 components.

HI \nI cmosen\NRPonbl\)CC\AZM\5322229_ Idoc.15/)7/2011 -7 As can be seen in Figures IC and 1 D, the recess 11 and stem 7, and particularly the channel 19 projecting portion 21, are complementarily profiled such that the casing 9 is closely received over and fitted to the stem 7. 5 As will be clear from Figures lB and ID, the channels 17 lie in an upright plane which is perpendicular to an upright plane in which the ribs 13 lie. The ribs 13 are thus provided intermediate the channels 17 around the exterior of the casing 9. In the following description of the second embodiment, the same reference numerals as 10 used in respect of the first embodiment will be used to designate common features. The indicator l' according to the second embodiment is shown in Figures 3A to 3C. It is identical to the indicator I of first embodiment in every respect except that the casing comprises opposed ridges or ribs 13' which, instead of extending longitudinally along the 15 casing 9', extend around the casing 9'. The ribs 13' each extend between the channels 17 and are provided at opposite sides of a longitudinally-extending plane passing through the channels, the ribs 13' thus defining a substantially annular deformable portion. The ribs 13' are provided approximately halfway down the casing. 20 In an alternative embodiment, the casing comprises more than two ribs, constituting protuberances or protruding portions, extending therearound to define a substantially annular deformable portion. In another alternative embodiment, the deformable portion is defined by deformable wings protruding from the casing. 25 Because the casing 9/9' in each of the first and second embodiments is permanently fixed to the stem 7, each indicator 1/1' is, advantageously, provided as a single or unitary item, whereby it is very quick and easy to install. In another embodiment, the exterior of the casing is configured with a plurality of radially 30 outwardly projecting protuberances or protruding portions, in the form of ribs or ridges which are arranged axially or longitudinally along the casing and which each extend H K ,n\ntrwovenNRPonbl\DCC\AZf\5322229_ I d -I5/)712013 -8 therearound. The ridges or ribs provide a serrated longitudinal cross-sectional profile, affording the exterior of the casing a barbed configuration, with each ridge/rib extending upwardly and radially outwardly to define an annular edge. 5 The indicator portion 5 of indicators I and ' is illustrated in Figures 4A to 4E. The indicator portion 5, which is provided as a single piece, has a generally circular transverse cross section and includes a bottom portion 56, defining, at the bottom of the indicator portion 5, a peripheral shoulder 55 and a downwardly facing surface 58 receivable against the ground surface. The indicator portion 5 further includes an upper section 57 and a 10 sloped or tapered smooth side face 59, extending upwardly and radially inwardly from the bottom portion 56 to the upper section 57 and being inclined at an angle of approximately 350 to 450 from the downwardly facing surface 58. The diameter of the bottom portion is 35 millimetres. 15 The upper section 57 is defined by an upwardly facing surface 61, which is bounded by an upper end of the side wall and which in each described embodiment is level with the upper end of the side wall. The diameter of the upwardly facing surface 61, and thus the upper section 57, is 25 millimetres. The distance between the downwardly facing surface 58 and the upper section 57 is 4 to 5 millimetres. 20 The upper section 57 comprises a narrow, upwardly projecting ring 60 located at a radially outermost position on the surface 61 and extending upwardly from the surface 61 to protrude outside of the outer face of an imaginary cone defined by extrapolation in the upward and radially inward direction in which the side face 59 extends. The upper end 64 25 of the ring 60 lies outside of said outer face. The ring 60 has a height of the order of half a millimetre. The ring 60 is able to catch and engage the sole of the person's shoe, particularly as moved or forced against the upper section 57 in a direction having a sideways component, thereby 30 preventing slipping, and thus conferring improved anti-slip characteristics to the tactile ground surface indicator.

1H \mlnicmoven\NRdPonb\DCC\AZM\5322229_1. -157/213 -9 To enhance gripping further, the upper section 57 further comprises a gripping pattern 63 provided on the surface 61, the gripping pattern 63 comprising a plurality of narrow concentric rings 65 extending upwardly from the surface 61. The upper ends or tips of the 5 rings, which define the uppermost extent of the gripping portion 63, lie in a plane which is 0.5 millimetres above the surface 61 and are coplanar with the upper end 64 of the ring 60. The concentric rings 65 each have a thickness of 0.4 millimetres, as does the peripheral 10 ring 60. The concentric rings 65 have a radial pitch P of 1.1 millimetres, each ring 65 thus having a thickness which is approximately 35% of the radial pitch P. Annular spaces 66 are defined between the rings 65, the annular spaces having a radial dimension of 0.7 millimetres, as does the annular space defined between the ring 60 and the outermost ring 65. 15 Advantageously, the configuration of the top 57, particularly the ring 60 in combination with the gripping portion 56, affords the indicator I an RI3 anti-slip rating in accordance with Australian Standard AS 4586:2004. 20 A disc-shaped portion 67 is located on the centre of the upwardly facing surface 61 and extends upwardly therefrom to end flush with the upper ends of the rings 65. The disc-shaped portion 67 has a diameter of 3mm. Manufacture of the indicator I and ' according to the first and second embodiments firstly 25 comprises moulding of the body portion 3, including the indicator portion 5, from stainless steel, or machining it from a solid billet of stainless steel. With the body portion 3 arranged upside down, the stem 7 is then centrally positioned in a mould which defines the external configuration of the casing 9/9', the flat underside of the 30 indicator portion 5 abutting a lower end of the mould to close that lower end. Molten plastic is then injected into the space between the mould and the stem, through a suitable H \dmnternoen\NRPobl\DCC\AZM\5322229_ . do-15A7/2013 -10 opening provided in the mould. The plastic is then allowed to cool and set, whereupon the finished indicator 1/1' is removed from the mould. Because the casing 9/9' in each embodiment is fixed to the stem 7, each indicator I/I' is, 5 advantageously, inserted as a single or unitary item, whereby it is very quick and easy to install. In another embodiment of the invention, the plurality of concentric rings defining the gripping portion may be omitted (so that surface 61 would be continuous), and replaced 10 with a carborundum infill received on the surface 61 and bounded by the peripheral ring, the upper surface of the infill being coarse, e.g. "sandpaper-like", and lying in a plane which is below the upper end of the peripheral ring. It will be apparent to a person skilled in the relevant art that various changes in form and 15 detail can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps 20 but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

Claims

1. A tactile ground surface indicator comprising a generally circular indicator portion which is arranged to be fixed over a ground surface and has: 5 an upper section; and an inclined, substantially smooth, circumferential side face extending to the upper section and having an uppermost extent that lies in a plane arranged to be generally parallel with the ground surface when the indicator portion is so fixed, wherein the upper section includes a narrow, circumferentially extending ring 10 adjacent the side face, the ring having an uncovered radially inner side surface and a radially outer side surface that is substantially perpendicular to the plane whereby it provides a face which extends upwardly from the plane so as to be radially outwardly exposed, the upwardly extending face and the radially inner side surface terminating at an upper end of the ring, such that the ring protrudes upwardly to provide grip when the 15 indicator portion is so fixed and the upper section is stepped upon.

2. A tactile ground surface indicator according to claim 1, wherein said ring is adjacent the circumferential side face. 20

3. A tactile ground surface indicator according to claim 1, wherein a lower end of the upwardly extending face is coincident with the uppermost extent of the circumferential side face.

4. A tactile ground surface indicator according to any one of the preceding claims, 25 wherein the upwardly extending face has a height of the order of half a millimetre.

5. A tactile ground surface indicator according to any one of the preceding claims, including a gripping portion radially inward of the ring, arranged to provide grip when the upper section is stepped upon. H m/nimcmoven\NRPonbl\DCC\AZM\532222 doc-5I /07/2013 - 12

6. A tactile ground surface indicator according to claim 5, wherein the gripping portion comprises plural upwardly projecting rings substantially concentric with said narrow ring. 5

7. A tactile ground surface indicator according to claim 6, wherein said plural upwardly projecting rings have a uniform radial pitch.

8. A tactile ground surface indicator according to claim 6 or 7, wherein said plural rings are continuous. 10

9. A tactile ground surface indicator according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein each one of said plural rings is closed.

10. A tactile ground surface indicator according to any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein 15 the upper end of said narrow ring and upper ends of said plural rings are coplanar.

11. A tactile ground surface indicator according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said narrow ring is closed. 20

12. A tactile ground surface indicator according to claim 11, wherein said narrow ring is continuous.

13. A tactile ground surface indicator according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the indicator portion is formed from metal. 25

14. A tactile ground surface indicator according to claim 13, wherein said metal is stainless steel.

15. A tactile ground surface indicator according to any one of the preceding claims, 30 wherein the upper section confers upon the indicator portion an R13 anti-slip rating in accordance with Australian Standard 4586:2004. H \m\i derwtoven\NRPoribl\DCC\AZM\322229_ I doc-IS/071201 - 13

16. A tactile ground surface indicator according to any one of the preceding claims, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.