FR2690334A1 - Pedestrian crossing aid for the visually impaired - uses roadside post with top marked in Braille and vibrating hammer under top to indicate safe crossing time - Google Patents

Abstract

The crossing aid is placed at locations on the roadside and is in the form of an upright post with a square section (10) having on three of its faces a corrugated sheet (1) partially or totally covered with phosphorescent paint or adhesive strips. The post is welded to a square base that is fastened by four bolts to a concrete base set in the ground. The top of the post carries Braille inscriptions (7) identifying the street, while the corrugated sides are locatable with a cane. The interior of the post has an electromagnet driving a vibrating hammer, that strikes a rubber pad fixed under the top of the post to signal when the pedestrian crossing lights are green. USE - Combined street marker and safe crossing indicator for visually impaired.

Description

LOCATION TERMINAL FOR VISUAL DEFICIENTS
The present invention relates to a device enabling the visually impaired to identify their position in an urban environment, to warn them of the appropriate moment to cross the road on the pedestrian crossing, to signal to them the peculiarities of this road and to warn motorists, the night, the presence of a pedestrian crossing.

 Today, the only means available to the blind to move alone in an urban environment remains counting streets and steps (thus learning a circuit) and listening to sounds.

 The device according to the invention overcomes this drawback.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention
Figure I shows the device in right view.

Figure 2 shows the device in front view.

Figure 3 shows the device in top view.

Figure 4 shows the device from below.

FIG. 5 represents the device in real situation.

Figure 6 shows the detail of the vibrator.

This device consists of a square base post (10), fixed in
/ (3) the ground ar a plate (2) provided with four bolts for example and placed on the right of the boat (lowering of the pavement at the level of a pedestrian crossing) or elsewhere if the place requires information for the blind.

On three sides of the bollard (except therefore on the roadside) is fixed a corrugated plate (1) (by welding for example). This undulation allows blind people with a telescopic rod to locate the terminal.

 The four sides of the bollard are phosphorescent (paint or adhesives) allowing motorists to spot the pedestrian crossing at night.

Braille (embossing system or adhesive braille (according to the PLASTI deposited process) is written on the upper surface of the bollard.
BRAIL for example)) information concerning the names of the streets present (5), the direction or directions of traffic by arrows coded in Braille (6) and by the number of these arrows is deductible the number of lanes of the pavement.

 Other information may be entered in location (7) if necessary.

 The terminal is provided on the inside with a vibrating device (8-9) consisting of a solenoid-type coil (8) and a hammer (9) which strikes a bonded rubber pad (11) so to vibrate the upper part of the bollard, thus signaling the ideal period of time to cross the road. This device is connected by an electrical control wire (4) to the electrical cabinet for the traffic lights or directly to the pedestrian lights. The upper part of the bollard vibrates when the "pedestrian is green". The vibrations stop or work intermittently as soon as the "pedestrian flashes". By placing your hand on this part of the terminal, you can easily perceive the vibrations.

 This device therefore allows the visually impaired (blind, partially sighted, elderly, ...) to know when they can cross the road, to learn about the specifics of this road and the names of the streets present (for the blind describing the braille) and finally to alert motorists at night to the presence of a pedestrian crossing.

Claims (7)

 1 / Locating device for visually impaired people characterized in that it comprises a body of square section (10) comprising on three of its faces a corrugated sheet (I) partially or entirely covered with phosphorescent paint or adhesives, the body is welded to a base (2) of square shape, itself fixed by four bolts in a base (3) of concrete buried in the ground, the body (10) has on its upper face inscriptions in Braille (5,6 and 7 ) and has inside a vibrating device (8 and 9) whose hammer (9) strikes a pellet in $ t) rubber glued inside the upper part of the terminal, and this device welded or screwed to the part upper interior of the body (10) is connected by an electric control wire (4) to the electrical cabinet of the lights or directly to the signaling lights.  2 / Device according to claim 1 characterized by a body (10) of square section and a height of 80 cm to 120 cm approximately.  3 / Device according to claim 1 characterized in that this body (10) is fixed to the ground by a plate (2) provided with 4 bolts inserted in a concrete base (3).  4 / Device according to claim 1 characterized by the welding on three sides of the body (10) of a corrugated plate (1).  5 / Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the whole is partially or completely covered by a paint or phosphorescent adhesives.  6 / Apparatus according to claim 1 characterized in that it comprises in its interior an electrical device (8 and 9) whose hammer (9) by striking on a rubberized and glued pad (11) causes vibrations on the upper part of the body (10).  7 / Device according to claim 1 characterized in that on the upper part of the body (10) are glued or embossed information in Braille (5, 6 and 7).