JPH01182879A - Modular floor cover unit with built-in light - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To make the unit useful as a guide system for an occupant of a building by providing an electric light emitting means as a visual indicator in a housing. CONSTITUTION: The floor coating unit 41 has at least one opening 46 on its top surface and the light-transmissive housing 47 is inserted into the opening 46. The light emitting means 53 is positioned in the housing 47. The upper part of the housing 47 is adjacent to the top surface of the floor coating unit 41 and can easily be seen when the light emitting means 53 is turned on. Further, an illuminating unit 41a is arranged in specific pattern along the floor of the building and when the light emitting means 53 is turned on, a visually recognizable passage appears on the floor, so that an occupant of the building can reach a specific place in the housing along the passage. Consequently, this is useful as a building occupant guide system.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to - Illuminable signal units for boat fishing, and more particularly to modular floor covering signal units having electrical lighting means located therein.

Modular floor coverings, employing individual units such as carpet tiles, have become the material of choice for finishing floors and decks in a variety of buildings. Such floor coverings are easy to install due to the small dimensions of each modular unit, easy to maintain as damaged units can be replaced individually, and are easily accessible to electrical cables, conduits, pipes and other service areas beneath the floor. Make it easier to approach. With these characteristics,
Modular floor coverings are ideal for high traffic stationary buildings such as hospitals or modern office or hotel buildings.
It is also particularly useful in transportation structures such as ships, trains, buses, and aircraft.

In these types of buildings, it is often necessary to have a way to direct people into, out of, or from place to place within the structure. Such guidance systems include emergency signals to quickly guide building occupants out of the building in the event of an emergency, as well as daily guidance systems to efficiently guide pedestrian traffic within the building.

The floor is an excellent location for such a guidance system. Where complex traffic patterns exist, such as in hospitals, color coded stripes are commonly placed in halls or corridors. In the case of emergency signals, the floor is considered to be a location less obscured by smoke than locations in the walls or ceiling of a building, as in US Pat. No. 4,347,499. However, to the applicant's knowledge, no modular floor covering system has ever been provided in which some of the units incorporate illuminable signaling means, allowing the floor covering system to serve as an occupant guidance system. do not have. Such systems are architecturally attractive, easy to install, and easy to maintain.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an electrically energized and illuminable
It is an object of the present invention to provide a modular floor covering unit that provides visually distinguishable indicators.

Another object of the invention is to provide a floor covering system for a building that serves as a guidance system for occupants of the building.

A particular object of the invention is to provide a floor covering unit and floor covering system as described above, wherein the floor covering material is a carpet.

Yet another object is to provide units and systems, such as low voltage units and systems.

According to the present invention, the Applicant provides a modular floor covering unit having an electroluminescent means that serves as an incorporated visual indicator. This modular unit consists of a body of considerable thickness with a generally planar top surface, such as a carpet tile.

The light emitting means is partially located within the body of the modular unit and another part is located adjacent to the upper surface of the body of the modular unit. The latter part of the light emitting means is visually discernible when the light emitting means is energized.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the body for the floor covering unit has at least one opening opening into the upper side of the floor covering unit. A light transmissive housing is positioned to be inserted into the opening, and a light emitting means is positioned within the housing. The upper part of the housing is adjacent to the top surface of the floor covering unit and is easily visible when the lighting means is energized.

The floor covering unit of the invention can be used as an individual decorative or information unit, or in a device for guiding the occupants of a building in a path along the floor of the building. The device for guiding occupants consists of a plurality of modular floor covering units arranged opposite each other for covering the floor of a building, at least some of the units being able to be illuminated. The illuminable units are arranged in a predetermined pattern along the floor of the structure, and the power means is electrically connected to the light emitting means of the illuminable units, such that when the light emitting means is energized, a visually discernible passageway is created. Appears on the floor and allows occupants of the structure to follow this path to a predetermined location within the structure.

1 and 2 illustrate the use of the apparatus 40 of the present invention to guide occupants of a building, such as a theater T, to an emergency exit door E. FIGS. The device consists of a plurality of modular floor covering units 41 arranged one against the other to cover the floor of a building. Some of the units are illuminable units, designated 41a, arranged in a predetermined pattern so as to provide a visually discernible path for guiding building occupants to the building's emergency exit when energized. There is.

3 and 4 illustrate the apparatus of the invention in a building such as a hotel, which has a plurality of conference rooms arranged along a corridor. This apparatus is similar to the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, except that the illuminable floor covering units 41 & are of a plurality of different illuminable colors, as detailed below. That's true. The illuminable units in this example have different transition paths (A, B or C) into conference rooms (A, B or C) with different illuminable colors.

B or C).

Figures 4 and 5 show yet another embodiment of the invention in a building such as Hotel H, which has a plurality of guest rooms R1 arranged along a corridor and adjacent to the guest rooms along the corridor. It has an emergency exit EE. The illuminable units 4]a are arranged in a predetermined pattern to guide the occupants of the cabin to the emergency exit. If there are guest rooms located along both sides of the hallway, the illuminable floor covering units are placed on each side of the hallway in close proximity to the door thresholds of the guest rooms on each side of the hallway. In the event of a fire, such a pattern may cause
The occupant of each guest room shall be placed on the floor in front of the threshold of the doorway to the room.
The route to the designated emergency exit can be confirmed. Preferably, the illuminable unit located outside each doorway is
Indicates the transition direction that the occupant should follow along the route.

Figures 7 to 9 show a modular unit of the invention implemented in the form of an elongated edging unit 42 having a width a fraction of its length and arranged along the side of a hallway.

The edging unit can be used alone or in combination with other sized modular units as shown. In the broadest sense, a modular floor covering unit is any unit manufactured to standard dimensions, regardless of its specific application, that is installed on a floor in abutting relationship with other such units to form a floor covering. , which is a flat (rather than a rolled carpet) unit.

10-15 illustrate a set of individual elongate modular units useful in forming the apparatus disclosed in FIGS. 3 and 4. Some units have direction indicators 4
4 (Fig. 11, Fig. 13, Fig. 15), and the others do not have this. Some units give a single path (A) of one color (Fig. 14), others give two paths (A, B) of two different colors (Fig. 12).
, yet others have three paths of three different colors (A.

B, C) are given (Figure 10).

Referring again to FIGS. 3 and 4, such sets of units can be assembled to provide different routes to different conference rooms (A, B, C). The number of paths that can be provided by one modular unit is limited only by the number of paths that can be conveniently discerned by the eye.

The structure of the individual illuminable units 41a is shown in the form of carpet tiles 45 in FIGS. 16, 17, and 20-25.

Each unit has at least one opening 46 opening into its upper surface. A light transmissive housing 47 is inserted into each opening. As explained below, each aperture 47 includes at least one light emitting diode (LED) 53 electrically connected to an electrical union 49 by a flat cable 48. If the tile 45 contains multiple different colored paths, the LEDs 53 of each field path are connected by cables to different electrical unions, one union for each path on the tile. Housing 47 and electrical cable 48 are removably attached to the bottom of each unit by tape 50 to allow easy removal of housing 47 during repair of the unit. Individual ED53 is shown in Figure 18 and Figure 1.
As shown in FIG. 9, they are preferably connected in parallel, so that if a single LED is disconnected, it will not affect the remaining LEDs.

FIG. 20 shows the optically transparent housing 47 in detail. The housing is an integrally molded, optically transparent member having a flange portion 51 extending outwardly from the bottom. The flange portion serves to attach the housing to the carpet tile and prevent it from being pulled out of the opening of the modular unit into which it is inserted (see Figure 21). The housing has a top or dome portion 52 that is visible when installed in a floor covering unit (see Figure 21).
.

In FIGS. 22 and 23, carpet tile 4
5 is seen to have pile tufts 58 forming a fibrous surface 55, a primary backing 56 connecting the pile tufts, and a secondary backing 57 behind the primary backing to impart dimensional stability to the carpet. The secondary backing material is formed from an elastic plastic material that is substantially thicker than the primary backing material. The fibrous surface 55 consists of pile yarns forming pile tufts 58, the tufts having a lower portion that penetrates into the primary backing 56 and engages the secondary backing. The carpet desirably has relatively dense pile tufts, such that the pile tufts surrounding the housing assist in taking and distributing the weight of a wheeled vehicle and prevent a person walking across the housing from damaging the housing. reduce sex.

The pile tufts 58 are preferably cut to bloom and expand, so that the pile tufts cover more of the surface 55 of the carpet unit 45 and create a gap along the housing inserted into the opening 46 cut in the carpet unit. Reduce. Preferably, the housing 47 is made from a water and solution impermeable material and L
The ED 53 is hermetically housed therein and the union between the electrical cable 48 and the housing is sealed. Furthermore,
Housing 47 should be made from a high impact resistant material that protects the enclosed LED from crushing.

Preferably, the housing is colored to match the color of the carpet 45 so that the housing is camouflaged in the carpet when not illuminated.

The housing 47 also desirably has a textured top surface to diffuse light and reduce the visibility of the housing in the carpet. If the carpet 45 is a carved surface carpet having areas of high pile tuft and areas of low pile tuft, the housing can be made more discreet by locating it in the area of low pile tuft.

This is advantageous in helping to hide differences in the feel of the carpet to those walking on it caused by the hard nature of the housing.

When the housing 47 is inserted into the carpet, it extends upwardly no higher than the surrounding pile tufts 58, preferably up to 1/8" from the carpet surface 55, as seen in FIGS. 22 and 23. More specifically, the amount of recessing is such that when the surrounding carpet pile 58 is compressed under an average load, the top of the housing 47 does not protrude above the top of the surrounding carpet pile. Referring to FIGS. 24 and 25, the top portion 5 of the optically transparent housing
2 is preferably rounded and has beveled or rounded end portions to reduce the risk of heels getting caught in the housing, thus reducing the risk of tripping by persons walking on the unit.

Figures 26-29 illustrate various patterns in which the light-transmissive housing 47 can be placed in a floor covering unit.

The illuminable units are in mating engagement (see Figure 27)
It can be placed either in the opposite position or out of mating engagement (see FIG. 5) by inserting a non-illuminable unit. For example, the fifth
In the figures and FIG. 6, one non-illuminable unit is located between each illuminable unit. This reduces the number of lightable units and thereby helps camouflage the lightable units on the floor. If multiple different illuminable colors are desired (e.g. three separate paths A
, B, C), each modular tile can provide some of the illuminable colors (see FIG. 26) or all of the illuminable colors (see FIG. 28). When the floor covering unit is positioned to provide a pathway, the illuminable units are placed end to end (see Figure 27).
It can be arranged or separated by one or more non-illuminable units (see Figure 29).

If the floor covering unit includes multiple housings and lighting means as shown in FIG. Can be placed to form a single path (
(See Figure 16). If the floor covering unit includes housings 47 arranged in multiple rows to provide a multi-path floor covering, the rows are preferably substantially parallel;
Make each column give a different color when illuminated.

Referring to FIG. 30, a plurality of illuminable carpet tiles 41
A suitable electrical control system for the
Consists of. The low voltage source is about 24 volts or less, preferably I2 volts, and includes an LE as the light emitting means as shown.
Used for D53. The control unit can be a manual switch to simply turn the lighting path on and off, or it can be a smoke detector to automatically turn on the emergency exit path in case of a fire. If desired, a pattern generator 73 (see FIG. 31) can be used when it is desired to pulsate the light to form the appearance of moving lights flowing in a path on the floor.

Although the drawings and specification disclose typical preferred embodiments of the invention and use specific terminology, this is used in a boating sense and is not intended to be limiting. .

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 is a perspective view of a theater building in which the apparatus of the present invention is used to guide theater occupants to the exit door; FIG.
FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 3; FIG. The figure shows a detailed view of the apparatus of Figure 3, and Figure 5 shows a corridor of a building, such as a hotel, in which the apparatus of the present invention is used to guide occupants of individual rooms in the building to exits from the building. 6 is a perspective view of the device shown in FIG. 5; FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 5 except that it shows the use of elongated border strips instead of squares as a modular unit; FIG. 8; FIGS. 16-15 are exploded perspective views of a modular floor covering unit of the present invention in the form of carpet tiles; FIGS. Fig. 19 is a wiring diagram of the embodiment shown in Fig. 16 and Fig. 17, respectively, and Fig. 20 is a perspective view of the light-transmissive housing used in the embodiment of Fig. 16 and Fig. 17, in which a light emitting diode is installed. , FIG. 21 is a diagram showing the light emitting means of FIG. 20 in a carpet tile, and FIG.
Figure 21 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 22--22 of Figure 21 of the optically transparent housing inserted into the carpet tile;
3 is a view similar to FIG. 22, but a side view of the light-transmissive housing, and FIG. 24 is a cross-section taken along line 24--24 of FIG. 21 of the light-transmissive housing inserted into the carpet tile. 25 is a view similar to FIG. 24, but an end view of the light-transmissive housing; FIGS. 26-29 are views showing typical configurations of the modular unit to be lit;
FIGS. 0 and 31 are exemplary wiring diagrams that allow electrical configuration of the modular floor covering unit of the present invention. 41.42. ,,modular floor covering unit,45,,
, carpet tiles, 46. , , opening 47 , , light-transmissive housing 53 . ,, light emitting diode,
55. ,, fiber surface, 56. ,. Primary backing material, 57. ,,Secondary backing material, 58. . , Pile Tuft, 72. ,,Controller unit. Procedural amendment November 18, 1988 Fumiyuki Yoshida, Commissioner of the Patent Office, - Be1, Indication of the case Patent Application No. 8210 of 19882, Name of invention Modular floor equipment unit with built-in light 3, Make amendments Participant 4, Agent 6, Amend the contents of the attached appendix 2 and the scope of claims. Attachment Claim L: An apparatus for guiding an occupant of a building along a transition path along a floor within the building, comprising a plurality of modular floor covering units disposed opposite each other for covering the floor, The modular units have a textile surface, and some of the modular floor covering units are illuminable and are placed on the floor and arranged in a predetermined pattern extending along the floor; each has at least one relatively small opening in the top surface of the unit spaced inwardly from a side of the unit, and a relatively small optically transparent housing is positioned to be inserted into each of said openings. completely surrounded by a textile surface, positioning a light emitting means within each of said housings and electrically connecting a power means to said light emitting means of said certifiable modular floor covering unit, such that said light emitting means is powered by said power means. When energized, the illuminable modular floor covering units cooperate to define a visually discernible passageway in the floor, which can be followed by an occupant of the structure to a predetermined location within the structure. equipment. A device for guiding occupants of a building along a transition path along a floor in a building, the device comprising a plurality of modular floor covering units disposed opposite each other for covering the floor, each of the modular floor covering units comprising: a carpet tile having a fibrous surface, some of said modular floor covering units being illuminable and placed on the floor and arranged in a predetermined pattern extending along the floor, each of said illuminable floor covering units has at least one relatively small aperture spaced inwardly from the side of the unit into the fiber side of the carpet tile, and an integrally molded relatively small light-transmissive housing is disposed within each of the apertures. positioning the light emitting means within each of the housings and electrically connecting the power means to the light emitting means of the illuminable modular floor covering unit; When the means is energized by said power means, the cooperation of said illuminable modular floor covering unit defines a visually discernible path in the fiber surface of the carpet tile, which path is followed by a building occupant to construct the building. A device that allows you to go to a predetermined location inside an object. In combination with a building such as a hotel that has multiple conference rooms arranged along a hallway, this is a device that guides conference attendees to a designated conference room along a transition route along the hallway. a plurality of abuttingly disposed modular floor covering units, each of the modular floor covering units having a fibrous surface, some of the modular floor covering units being illuminable and resting on the floor; The illuminable floor covering units are arranged in a predetermined pattern extending along a hallway to each of the conference rooms, and the illuminable floor covering units are of a plurality of different colors, the different illuminable colors directing the transition path to each conference room. each of the illuminable floor covering units having at least one relatively small aperture opening in the top surface of the unit spaced inwardly from a side of the unit, the illuminable floor covering unit having a relatively small light transmissivity; a housing is positioned to be inserted into each of said openings and completely surrounded by said fiber surface, an electrical light emitting means is positioned within each of said housing, and power means is provided to said light emitting means of said illuminable modular floor covering unit. and when said light emitting means is energized by said power means, the cooperation of said illuminable modular floor covering unit defines a visually discernible passageway in the floor, which allows meeting attendees to A device that allows you to follow the hallways to reach each conference room in the building. L. In combination with a building such as a hotel that has a plurality of guest rooms arranged along a corridor and an emergency exit located nearby along the corridor, guests are transported along a transition path from the room to the emergency exit along the corridor. an apparatus for guiding a floor of a hallway, the apparatus comprising a plurality of abuttingly disposed modular floor covering units for covering a hallway floor, each of the modular floor covering units having a fibrous surface; the illuminable floor covering units are illuminable and arranged on the floor in a predetermined pattern extending along the hallway to the emergency exit, each of the illuminable floor covering units being spaced inwardly from the side of the unit. a relatively small light-transmissive housing having at least one relatively small aperture opening in an upper surface thereof, a relatively small light-transmissive housing positioned to be inserted into each of said apertures and completely surrounded by said fiber surface; electrically connecting an electrical light emitting means to the light emitting means of the illuminable modular floor covering unit, such that when the light emitting means is energized by the power means, the illuminable modular floor covering unit A device in which a visually discernible passageway is defined on the floor by the cooperation of covering units, allowing hotel guests to follow this passageway to the nearest emergency exit. L. In combination with a building such as a hotel with a plurality of guest rooms arranged along both sides of a corridor and emergency exits located nearby along the corridor, the hotel guests are transported along the corridor along the transition route to said nearby area. A device for guiding to an emergency exit,
a plurality of opposingly disposed modular floor covering units covering the floor of the hallway along at least both sides of the hallway, each of the modular floor covering units having a fibrous surface, and at least a portion of the modular floor covering units; illuminable floor covering units placed on the floor and arranged in a predetermined pattern extending along both sides of the hallway to said nearby emergency exit, said illuminable floor covering units being placed in each of the hallways in close proximity to the guest room doors. a relatively small light transmissive housing disposed on a side, each of the illuminable floor covering units having at least one relatively small opening in the top surface of the unit spaced inwardly from the side of the unit; inserted into each of said apertures and completely surrounded by said fibrous surface;
locating an electrical light emitting means within each of the housings and electrically connecting a power means to the light emitting means of the illuminable modular floor covering unit, such that when the light emitting means is energized by the power means, the A device in which illuminable modular floor covering units cooperate to define a visually discernible passageway on both sides of a hallway, which hotel guests can follow to reach a nearby emergency exit. Rainbow A modular floor covering unit, such as a tile, incorporating an illuminable electrical light device to serve as a visual direction indicator, the modular unit having a fibrous surface and spaced inwardly from the side of the unit to the top surface of the unit. at least one relatively small aperture, a relatively small light-transmissive housing positioned to be inserted into the aperture and completely surrounded by the fiber surface, and an electroluminescent means disposed within the housing. A modular floor covering unit located in the L. A modular floor covering unit, such as a carpet tile or carpet edge, incorporating an illuminable electrical light device and serving as a visual direction indicator when electrically energized, the modular unit having a textile surface;
at least one relatively small through opening spaced inwardly from a side of the unit and opening into the top surface of the unit; a relatively small light transmissive housing positioned to be inserted into the opening; completely surrounded by a fibrous surface, comprising means for attaching said housing within said opening, and having an electroluminescent means located within said housing, said housing being made of molded plastic having a textured upper surface for diffusing light; A modular floor covering unit that is formed and thus hidden from view and unobtrusive when illuminated. Rainbow A modular floor covering unit incorporating an illuminable electrical light device and serving as a visual direction indicator when electrically energized, the modular unit comprising: a carpet tile having a fiber surface consisting of pile tuft; at least one relatively small through-opening opening into the pile tuft surface of the unit spaced inwardly from a side of the fibers, the relatively small permeable housing being positioned to be inserted into the opening; completely surrounded by a surface and comprising means for mounting said housing within said opening, said housing having a beveled top serving to prevent the heel of a shoe from becoming caught; Modular floor covering unit with edge section.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. An apparatus for guiding an occupant of a building along a transition path along a floor in a building, comprising a plurality of modular floor covering units disposed opposite each other for covering the floor; The modular units have a fibrous surface, and some of the modular floor covering units are illuminable and are placed on the floor and arranged in a predetermined pattern extending along the floor, each of the modular floor covering units has at least one relatively small opening in the top surface of the unit spaced inwardly from a side of the unit, and a relatively small optically transparent housing is positioned to be inserted into each of said openings. completely surrounded by a textile surface, a light emitting means is located within each of said housings, and a power means is electrically connected to said light emitting means of said illuminable modular floor covering unit, such that said light emitting means is powered by said power means. When energized, the illuminable modular floor covering units cooperate to define a visually discernible passageway in the floor, which can be followed by an occupant of the structure to a predetermined location within the structure. equipment. 2. The apparatus of claim 1 including electrical control means for energizing said light emitting means in said illuminable floor covering unit in a desired sequence. 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of said illuminated floor covering units has a plurality of apertures each including one of said light transmissive housings and a light emitting means located within each of said housings. 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said plurality of housings and light emitting means in each illuminable floor covering unit are arranged in a single row. 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the plurality of housings and light emitting means in each illuminable floor covering unit are arranged in a plurality of substantially parallel rows. 6. The illuminable floor covering unit is of a plurality of different illuminable colors, the different illuminable colors indicating transition paths leading to different locations within the building. 5. The device according to 3, 4 or 5. 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the predetermined pattern arrangement of illuminable floor covering units includes elongated rows of matingly engaging illuminable units. 8. said predetermined pattern arrangement of said illuminable floor covering units comprises an elongated row of floor covering units, wherein only some of the floor covering units in this row are illuminable units; 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the unit is non-illuminable. 9. The predetermined pattern of illuminable floor covering units includes a row of floor covering units, some of the units in this row are illuminable, and the illuminable units in this row are arranged between adjacent illuminable units. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one non-illuminable unit is positioned spaced apart from one another. 10. An apparatus for guiding an occupant of a building along a transition path along a floor in a building, the device comprising a plurality of modular floor covering units disposed opposite each other for covering the floor, each of said modular floor covering units includes carpet tiles having a fibrous surface, some of the modular floor covering units being illuminable and placed on the floor and arranged in a predetermined pattern extending along the floor; Each has at least one relatively small aperture spaced inwardly from the side of the unit and opens into the fiber side of the carpet tile, with an integrally molded relatively small light transmissive housing disposed within each of said apertures. a light emitting means is located within each of said housings, a power means is electrically connected to said light emitting means of said illuminable modular floor covering unit, and said light emitting means is electrically connected to said light emitting means of said illuminable modular floor covering unit; When the light emitting means is energized by the power means,
A device in which the cooperation of said illuminable modular floor covering units defines a visually discernible path on the fiber surface of the carpet tile, which path can be followed by an occupant of the structure to reach a predetermined location within the structure. . 11. The apparatus of claim 10, including electrical control means for energizing the light emitting means in the illuminable floor covering unit in a desired sequence. 12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein each of said illuminable floor covering units has a plurality of apertures each including one of said light transmissive housings and a light emitting means located within each of said housings. 13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the plurality of housings and light emitting means in each illuminable floor covering unit are arranged in a single row. 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the plurality of housings and light emitting means in each illuminable floor covering unit are arranged in a plurality of substantially parallel rows. 15. The illuminable floor covering unit is of a plurality of different illuminable colors, the different illuminable colors indicating transition paths leading to different locations within the building. 15. The device according to 12, 13 or 14. 16. The predetermined pattern arrangement of the illuminable floor covering units is in mating engagement with the illuminable unit apparatus. 11. The apparatus of claim 10, including an elongated row of slits. 17. The predetermined pattern arrangement of illuminable floor covering units includes an elongated row of floor covering units, wherein only some of the floor covering units in this row are illuminable units, and the remaining floor covering units in this row 11. The device of claim 10, wherein the unit is not illuminable. 18. The predetermined pattern of illuminable floor covering units includes a row of floor covering units, wherein only a portion of the units in this row are illuminable, and the illuminable units in this row are arranged such that the illuminable units in this row are 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the at least one non-illuminable unit is located spaced apart from each other. 19. In combination with a building such as a hotel having a plurality of conference rooms arranged along a hallway, a device for guiding conference attendees to a designated conference room along a transition route along the hallway, the device a plurality of modular floor covering units disposed opposite each other, each of the modular floor covering units having a fibrous surface, some of the modular floor covering units being capable of being illuminated and resting on the floor; and arranged in a predetermined pattern extending along a hallway to each of the conference rooms, the illuminable floor covering units being of a plurality of different colors, the different illuminable colors providing a transition path to each conference room. each of the illuminable floor covering units having at least one relatively small aperture opening in the top surface of the unit spaced inwardly from a side of the unit, the illuminable floor covering units each having a relatively small aperture opening in the top surface of the unit; positioning a flexible housing to be inserted into each of said openings and completely surrounding said fiber surface, positioning an electrical light emitting means within each of said housings, and powering said light emitting means of said illuminable modular floor covering unit. When the means are electrically connected such that the light emitting means is energized by the power means, the cooperation of the illuminable modular floor covering unit defines a visually discernible passageway in the floor, allowing meeting attendees to A device that allows you to follow this passage to reach each conference room in the building. 20. In combination with a building such as a hotel that has a plurality of guest rooms arranged along a corridor and emergency exits located nearby along the corridor, guests are transported along a transition route from the rooms to the emergency exit along the corridor. An exit guidance device comprising a plurality of opposed modular floor covering units covering a hallway floor, each of the modular floor covering units having a fibrous surface, one of the modular floor covering units the illuminable floor covering units are illuminable and arranged in a predetermined pattern mounted on the floor and extending along the hallway to the emergency exit, each of the illuminable floor covering units being spaced inwardly from the side of the unit. at least one relatively small aperture opening in an upper surface, a relatively small light-transmissive housing positioned to be inserted into each of the apertures and completely surrounded by the fiber surface, each of the housings locating an electrical light emitting means within the illuminable modular floor covering unit and electrically connecting a power means to the light emitting means of the illuminable modular floor covering unit;
Thus, when said light emitting means is energized by said power means, a visually discernible passageway is defined in the floor by the cooperation of said illuminable modular floor covering unit, which passageway can be followed by hotel guests to reach nearby locations. A device that allows access to an emergency exit. 21. In combination with a building such as a hotel with a plurality of guest rooms arranged along both sides of a corridor and emergency exits located close together along the corridor, hotel guests are transported along the corridor along the transition route to the said vicinity. an emergency exit guidance device comprising a plurality of abutting modular floor covering units covering a hallway floor along at least both sides of the hallway;
each of the modular floor covering units having a fibrous surface;
At least some of the modular floor covering units are illuminable and arranged in a predetermined pattern mounted on the floor and extending along both sides of the hallway to the nearby emergency exit, and the illuminable floor covering units each illuminable floor covering unit having at least one relatively small opening spaced inwardly from a side of the unit and opening into the top surface of the unit; ,
A relatively small light transmissive housing is positioned to be inserted into each of said apertures and completely surrounded by said fibrous surface, an electroluminescent means is positioned within each of said housings, and said illuminable modular floor covering unit is A power means is electrically connected to the light emitting means, and when the light emitting means is energized by the power means, a visually discernable passageway is defined on each side of the hallway by cooperation of the illuminable modular floor covering unit. A device that allowed hotel guests to follow this path to a nearby emergency exit. 22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the modular floor covering unit extending along both sides of the hallway is an elongated edging unit having a width that is only a fraction of its length. 23. A modular floor covering unit, such as a tile, incorporating an illuminable electrical light device and serving as a visual direction indicator, the modular unit having a fibrous surface;
at least one relatively small opening spaced inwardly from a side of the unit and opening into the top surface of the unit; a relatively small optically transparent housing positioned to be inserted into the opening; 1. A modular floor covering unit completely encased by a housing having electrical lighting means located within said housing. 24. A modular floor covering unit, such as a carpet tile or carpet edge, incorporating an illuminable electrical light device and serving as a visual direction indicator when electrically energized, the modular unit comprising a textile surface and a unit. at least one relatively small through-opening spaced inwardly from a side of the unit and opening into the top surface of the unit, a relatively small light-transmissive housing positioned to be inserted into the opening; completely surrounded by a surface and comprising means for mounting the housing within the opening, and positioning an electroluminescent means within the housing, the housing being formed from molded plastic having a textured upper surface for diffusing light. This allows it to be hidden from view and unobtrusive when illuminated.
Modular floor covering unit. 25. A modular floor covering unit according to claim 23 or 24, wherein said housing is made of a water-impermeable material and sealably encloses said light emitting means, so that said light emitting means is protected from foreign objects such as spilled liquids. . 26. Apparatus according to claim 23 or 24, wherein the housing is a colored translucent housing having a predetermined color that serves to camouflage the housing in a floor covering unit. Claim 27, comprising a carpet tile having a fibrous surface, a primary backing connecting the fibrous surfaces, and a secondary backing positioned behind and connected to the primary backing to impart dimensional stability to the unit. 25. Modular floor covering unit according to claim 23 or 24. 28. The modular floor covering of claim 27, including housing attachment means located behind said secondary backing and engaging said secondary backing and said housing to mount an inserted housing within said opening. unit. 29. The carpet tile is a tufted carpet having pile threads forming tufts on its surface;
28. The modular floor covering unit of claim 27, wherein the lower portion extends into the primary backing, has a thickness substantially greater than the thickness of the primary backing, and is formed from a resilient plastic material. 30, the housing extends above the height of the surrounding pile tufts, the housing is elongate and relatively narrow over at least a majority of the housing, and the pile tufts have a widthwise cross-section of about 1/2 inch or less; Claim: wherein the pile tufts are relatively dense and surround the housing to assist in taking and distributing the weight of a wheeled vehicle, reducing the possibility of damage to the housing by a person walking across the housing. 29. The modular floor covering unit of claim 29. 31. The relatively dense pile tufts are formed from textured yarns each having a plurality of continuous synthetic filaments, and the pile tufts bloom and expand to cover more of the surface of the tufted carpet, and the pile tufts are formed from textured yarns each having a plurality of continuous synthetic filaments inserted therein. 31. The modular floor covering unit of claim 30, cut to reduce the appearance of gaps along the housing. 32. A modular floor covering unit incorporating an illuminable electrical light device and serving as a visual direction indicator when electrically energized, the modular unit comprising:
a carpet tile having a fibrous surface comprising pile tuft and at least one relatively small through opening spaced inwardly from a side of the unit and opening into the pile tuft surface of the unit, the carpet tile having a relatively low light transmission property; a housing is positioned to be inserted into said opening and completely surrounded by said textile surface, comprising means for attaching said housing within said opening, said housing being positioned within said housing, said housing being completely surrounded by said textile surface; A modular floor covering unit having a beveled top edge portion to help prevent snagging. 33. Claim wherein the housing is retracted from the pile tuft surface a sufficient distance such that when the pile tuft surface is compressed during human walking, the housing does not extend substantially above the compression surface of the pile tuft surface. 33. A modular floor covering unit according to paragraph 32. 34. The modular floor covering unit of claim 32, wherein the pile tufts are cut to bloom and expand to cover a larger area of the tufted carpet and reduce the appearance of gaps along the housing inserted therein.