NZ738412A - Improved Tactile, Stem, Sleeve & Method - Google Patents

Abstract

Tactile indicators are installed on a walking surface. The tactiles have a cap portion and a stem. In use, the stem is inserted and secured in a hole in the walking surface with the cap portion protruding above the walking surface to provide tactile indication for visually impaired persons. The stem has an external surface that has a plurality of mounds and/or parts of mounds to assist in the securement of the stem in the hole. has an external surface that has a plurality of mounds and/or parts of mounds to assist in the securement of the stem in the hole.

Description

Improved Tactile, Stem, Sleeve & Method Field of Invention The present invention relates exclusively to tactile indicators that are adapted to be positioned, in use, on a walking surface in order to provide tactile and/or visual indication to a visually-impaired person who walks on the walking surface.

The invention also relates to a method of installing such tactile indicators on the walking surface.

The present invention is solely limited to the field of such tactile indicators that are for visually-impaired people, and hence the specification and the scope of the appended claims are not to be construed to cover any other type of article or method that is unrelated to such tactile indicators for visually impaired persons.

Background Tactile ground surface indicators are protrusions that are located on ground surfaces, or walking surfaces, on which visually-impaired people walk. Such tactile indicator are found typically in and around buildings and stairs, or along sidewalks and kerbs of roads. These tactile indicators provide indication to the visually-impaired people of an upcoming obstruction or hazard which they will encounter as they continue to walk in a particular direction.

Tactile ground surface indicators can be located, for example, in the approach to steps, edges of railway platforms, traffic crossings and ramps, and so forth.

A visually-impaired person can use a walking cane to detect the tactile indicators, or perhaps is able to see the tactile indicators using any limited vision capability. The tactiles thus provide an indication to the visually-impaired person that the next steps should be taken with caution, because of the presence of some obstacle or potential hazard.

In Australia, for example, the design of tactile indicators relate to Australian Standard AS/NZS 1428.4:2009 (“the Australian Standard”), entitled “Design For Access And Mobility. Part 4: Tactile Indicators”. This Australian Standard defines the term “Tactile Ground Surface Indicators” as – Areas of raised ground surface texture treatment, designed to provide blind or vision-impaired pedestrians with warning and/or directional orientation information. This is the definition used in this specification for tactile indicators.

These tactile indicators often appear as dots on the walking surface, since the anchoring portion of the installed tactiles are under the surface, and hence not visible.

In accompanying prior art Figure 1A, the tactile indicators 10 can have the appearance of an ordered arrangement of dots on the walking surface 20.

In the prior art, in order to create these arrangement of dots, each of the tactile indicators is in the form of a short disc-like object, such as in Figure 1B.

In a cross-sectional view of prior art Figure 1B, the tactile indicators have a cap- like appearance, comprising a stem 30 depending from a cap 10. During installation, the stem 30 is inserted into a hole in the walking surface to secure the tactile indicator on the surface.

Installation Problems In the Prior Art The tactile indicators are usually made of metal, stainless steel, polyurethane or sometimes from stone, concrete or other suitable hard material, or a combination of appropriate materials.

In prior art Figure 1B, as part of the installation procedure of tactile indicators, a hole 21 is drilled in the walking surface 20. Typically, the walking surface consists of concrete, brick or stone, and other common materials used for making pavements and walking surfaces.

During the process of drilling hundreds of holes that are required for inserting the stems of the tactile indicators, it is noted that the diameter of drill bits, used to create the holes, gradually wear down during the process. Consequently, the holes created with a new drill bit will have a slightly larger diameter compared to holes created progressively with the same drill bit after it has been worn down during the process of creating many holes. Merely as an example, the holes might start off being 8mm in diameter, and the holes created by the worn-drill bit could be around 7.2mm in diameter. The workman, drilling the holes, has to replace the drill bit several times during the course of a day of drilling thousands of such holes.

The stems of the tactile indicators, which are inserted into these holes, all start off having a constant external diameter. Then, when the stems are inserted into the holes, the said variance in hole-diameters means that stems, which are inserted into the smaller-diameter holes, will experience more abrasion from internal surfaces of the hole, compared to stems that are inserted into the larger-diameter holes.

In the instances when stems are inserted into the smaller-diameter holes, a proportionately greater amount of the material of the stem surface would be abraded off the surface of the stem, in order to enable the stem to fit into the smaller-diameter hole.

As the stem is forced into the hole, the material from the stem can be abraded off or sheared off the stem resulting in a residue of particulate or wear-material (“wear material”). As the stem is forced into the hole, it is observed that the wear-material tends to be pushed in the opposite direction, namely upwards and out of the hole, where it sits underneath the cap. The presence of such wear-material, sitting underneath the cap, may potentially interfere with the ability of the undersurface 11 of the cap to sit evenly on the walking surface 20.

Manufacterers of such tactile indicators are aware of this problem of stem abrasion. In prior art Figure 1B, the known cap 10 of the known tactile indicators is provided, on its undersurface 11, with a circular rebate 12 or circular trough 12 (not drawn to scale). This circular rebate 12 is able to receive any residue of wear-material resulting from abrasion of the stem as the wear-material is pushed out of the hole, when the stem 30 is being pressed into the hole.

The need to provide the rebate or trough 12 in the cap is something that can increase the cost of manufacturing the tactile indicators in Figure 1B, since the trough has to be created in the cap, for example, by an added step of milling.

Also, the excess wear-material, produced in the manner described above, can still hinder the tactile indicators from being seated properly in the hole, leading to the possiblity of the undersurface of the cap resting unevenly on the walking surface.

An object of the present invention is to overcome or ameliorate any one or more of the problems in the prior art, or alternatively to provide an improved alternative.

The references herein to and descriptions of prior proposals or products are not intended to be, and are not to be construed as, statements or admissions of common general knowledge in the art. In particular, the prior art discussion herein does not relate to what is commonly or well known by the person skilled in the art, but assists in the understanding of the present invention of which the identification of pertinent prior art proposals is but one part.

Summary of Invention According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tactile indicator adapted to be installed on a walking surface, the tactile indicator comprising: a cap portion; and a stem attachable to the cap portion so as to depend therefrom, the stem adapted to be, in use, inserted and secured in a hole in the walking surface to thereby secure the tactile indicator thereto with the cap portion protruding above the walking surface to provide tactile indication for visually impaired persons who walk on the walking surface; wherein the stem has a mound-supporting external surface that has thereon a plurality of mounds and/or parts of mounds.

In an exemplary embodiment, the tactile indicator is provided with a sleeve with an external sleeve-surface, and the mound-supporting external surface is said external sleeve-surface.

Preferably, the mounds and/or parts of mounds are adapted, in use, to abut internal surfaces of the hole to aid with securement of the stem in the hole.

Preferably, the mounds are made of a material able to be, during the installation of the tactile indicator, at least partly abraded by friction contact with internal surfaces of the hole.

In a preferred embodiment, the plurality of mounds and/or parts of mounds generally resemble each other in shape. Alternatively, the plurality of mounds may include mounds of a variety of two or more different shapes.

In a preferred embodiment, all of the plurality of mounds are discrete mounds and/or parts of mounds are discrete entities. Alternatively, some or all of the mounds are arranged to overlap nearby mounds.

Preferably, the plurality of mounds include mounds in the form of lumps.

The plurality of mounds may be distributed on the external surface of the stem in a regular arrangement. Alternatively, the plurality of mounds may be distributed on the external surface of the stem in a random arrangement.

In an exemplary embodiment, some or all of the plurality of mounds may be provided with smaller-mounds located on the mounds.

The stem may be formed integrally with the cap portion as a single-piece construction. Alternatively, the stem may be separate from the cap portion, such that the stem and cap portion are attachable to one another prior to the stem being inserted in the hole.

The mound-supporting external surface may also provided with a plurality of localised depressed regions.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a stem adapted to be attached, in use, to a cap portion of a tactile indicator, such that the tactile indicator, when assembled, comprises: a cap portion; and the stem attached to the cap portion so as to depend from the cap portion, the stem adapted to be inserted and secured in a hole in the walking surface to thereby secure the tactile indicator thereto with the cap portion protruding above the walking surface to provide tactile indication for visually impaired persons who walk on the walking surface; wherein the stem has a mound-supporting external surface that has thereon a plurality of mounds and/or parts of mounds.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sleeve adapted to be fitted on a stem of a tactile indicator, such that the tactile indicator, when assembled, comprises: a cap portion; and the sleeve fitted on a stem, and the stem attached to the cap portion so as to depend from the cap portion, the stem and sleeve adapted to be inserted and secured in a hole in the walking surface to thereby secure the tactile indicator thereto with the cap portion protruding above the walking surface to provide tactile indication for visually impaired persons who walk on the walking surface; wherein the sleeve has a mound-supporting external surface that has thereon a plurality of mounds and/or parts of mounds.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of installing a tactile indicator on a walking surface, the tactile indicator comprising: a cap portion; and a stem attachable to the cap portion so as to depend therefrom, the stem adapted to be inserted and secured in a hole in the walking surface to thereby secure the tactile indicator thereto with the cap portion protruding above the walking surface to provide tactile indication for visually impaired persons who walk on the walking surface; the stem having an external surface that is provided with a plurality of mounds or parts of mounds thereon; wherein the method includes the step of inserting the stem into the hole such that parts of the plurality of mounds or parts of mounds on the stem are abraded as a result of forcing the stem into the hole.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of installing a tactile indicator on a walking surface, the tactile indicator comprising: a cap portion; a stem attachable to the cap portion so as to depend therefrom; and a sleeve adapted to be attached around the stem; the stem with the sleeve thereon being adapted to be inserted and secured in a hole in the walking surface to thereby secure the tactile indicator thereto with the cap portion protruding above the walking surface to provide tactile indication for visually impaired persons who walk on the walking surface; the sleeve having an external surface that is provided with a plurality of mounds or parts of mounds thereon; wherein the method includes the step of inserting the stem and sleeve into the hole such that parts of the plurality of mounds or parts of mounds on the sleeve are abraded as a result of forcing the stem and sleeve into the hole.

Drawings In order that the invention might be more fully understood, embodiments of the invention will be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Prior Art Figure 1A is a plan view of tactile indicators arranged in a grid arrangement on a walking surface; Prior Art Figure 1B is a cross-sectional, schematic, side view of a prior art tactile indicator that has a rebate or circular trough for receiving wear-material; Figure 2A is a schematic, cross-sectional, side view of a tactile indicator constructed in accorance with an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2B is a schematic top view of the embodiment of Figure 2A; Figure 2C is a side view of the embodiment of Figure 2A; Figure 3A is a schematic, side view of a further embodiment of the invention showing a tactile indicator where the parts of mounds each have an asymmetrical shape; Figure 4A is a schematic, perspective view of another embodiment of the invention showing a tactile indicator that has a variety of differently-shaped mounds, having mounds as well as parts of mounds; Figure 5A shows another embodiment in which some or all of the plurality of mound-elements are provided with smaller-mounds located on some or all of the mound-elements; and Figure 5B is a variant of the embodiment of Figure 5A, in which embodiment some or all of the plurality of half-mound-elements are provided with smaller-mounds located on some or all of the half-mound-elements.

Figure 6 shows a rough schematic drawing, being a cross-sectional side view, of a type of embodiment in which the mounds are located on a sleeve, where the sleeve is fitted onto the stem of the tactile; Figure 7A is a first embodiment of a sleeve that has mounds on the surface of the sleeve; Figure 7AA is a top view of the sleeve of Figure 7A showing the hollow cylindrical interior that is adapted to receive a stem therein; Figure 7B is a second embodiment of a sleeve that has half-mounds or part of mounds which are of asymmetrical shape on the surface of the sleeve; Figure 7C is a third embodiment of a sleeve that has small mounds on top of the larger mounds that are on the surface of the sleeve; Figure 7D is a fourth embodiment of a sleeve that has small mounds on top of the larger asymmetrical mounds that are on the surface of the sleeve; Figure 8A is a shaded side view of a further embodiment of a sleeve that, in addition to mounds, is also provided with a plurality of localised depressed regions; Figure 8B is a perspective view of the sleeve of Figure 8A; Figure 8C is a top, plan view of the sleeve of Figure 8A; and Figure 8D is a side, cross-sectional, view of the sleeve of Figure 8A In some of the above diagrams, the stems or sleeves are illustrated as having indefinite length, in that the articles may be manufactured to varying lengths, depending on the requirement of the particular usage.

The Australian Standard defines certain proportions for the tactile indicators, and also distance proportions between adjacent tactiles, however, the accompanying drawings are not necessarily draw precisely to these standard dimensions nor to precise scale, and are provided merely for illustration as examples.

Description Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 2A is a cross-sectional, side view of an embodiment of a tactile indicator in the form of a surface tactile 1A. The tactile 1A is adapted to be installed on a walking surface 20.

The tactile 1A comprises a cap portion in the form of a circular indicator 100.

The tactile 1A also comprises a stem in the form of a post 300A.

In the embodiment, the post 300A is integrally formed with the circular indicator 100 so that the post 300A depends from the undersurface 110 of the circular indicator.

In the embodiment of Figure 2A, the post 300A is made of solid steel, however, in other modifications, the stem can be hollow.

The post 300A is oriented preferably perpendicular to the undersurface of the circular indicator 100.

As part of the installation proecedure, the post 300A is adapted to be inserted and secured in a hole 21 in the walking surface to thereby secure the tactile indicator therein. When installed in this manner, the circular indicator 100 sits on top of, and protrudes above the walking surface to provide tactile indication for visually impaired persons who walk on the walking surface. When a person, with a visual impairment, walks on the walking surface, the person is able to detect the presence of the circular indicator 100, for example by use of a walking cane, because of its protrusion above the walking surface.

In the embodiment of Figure 2A, the post 300A is formed integrally with the circular indicator 100 as a single-piece construction. In manufacture, the tactile 1A may be cast as a single item, or may be milled from a single piece of steel. The stem may also be welded onto the cap. Other manufacturing methods such as 3D printing may be used to create the tactile 1A.

Figure 2A is represented as a rough schematic, with the features not drawn to scale, and in this drawing the end tip is merely represented roughly as a rectangular cross section, whereas Figure 2C shows a modification where the end tip has a degree of tapering.

In other modifications, the post 300A can be a manufactured as a separate item from the circular indicator 100. In such a case, the post 300A and circular indicator 100 would be attachable to one another before the post 300A is inserted in the hole.

For example, in another modification, the circular indicator can be provided with a hole though which a modified post can be inserted. The modified indicator and post can be shaped so that the circular indicator is held in place, after the modified post is secured in the hole.

Mounds The stem has a mound-supporting external surface that is provided thereon with a plurality of mounds and/or parts of mounds.

In the embodiment of Figure 2A, the post 300A has an external surface that is provided with a plurality of mounds, in the form of mound-elements 400A thereon. Thus, the external surface acts as a mound-supporting external surface that is provided with a plurality of mounds thereon.

The notion of the mounds being supported on the external surface does not infer that the mounds can be removed or detached from the external surface. In the embodiment, the mound-elements are integrally formed as part of the external surface of the post 300A.

Figure 2A is drawn as a simplified schematic drawing to illustrate features of the embodiment, and is not drawn to scale, and is a schematic diagram.

Figure 2B is a schematic top view of the embodiment shown in Figure 2A.

Figure 2C is a side view of an embodiment that has similar features to the embodiment shown in Figure 2A.

The plurality of mound-elements 400A are adapted, in use, to abut internal surfaces 22 of the hole 21 to aid with securement of the post 300A in the hole.

During installation, the post 300A is inserted into the hole. The radius of the hole 21 is preferably slightly smaller than the maximum radius of the post 300A, as measured from the axis of the post to the outer surfaces of the outermost surfaces of mound-elements 400A. The rationale for this is that the abutment of the mound- elements 400A against the internal surfaces 22 of the hole has a degree of friction fit.

The mound-elements, in a sense, enable the post 300A to be fitted in a hole that has a slightly larger diameter than the diameter of the surface tactile 1A, such that the act of inserting the stem into the hole, causes the mound-elements to be abraded, and, as a result, creating a tight fit in the hole.

As the post 300A of the surface tactile 1A is inserted into the hole, the outmost, lateral parts of the mound-elements 400A abut and abrade against the internal surfaces 22 of the hole 21. The wear-material, that is abraded off the mound-elements 400A, will tend to collect in between the gaps surrounding the mound-elements 400A. Also, a small portion of the wear-material may trickle or fall down into the bottom of the hole.

Thus, the gaps between the mounds serves to avoid the wear-material being pushed up and out of the hole. This is because the gaps, surrounding the mound-elements 400A, act as a region that can accommodate the wear-material.

The mound-elements 400A are made of the same material as the post 300A.

Preferably, the material from which at least the mound-elements 400A are made from is a material that is adapted, during the installation, to be at least partly abraded by friction contact with internal surfaces of the hole. Examples of such usable materials are Polyurethane, Nylon and Polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

The material, from which the mound-elements 400A are made, should not be so hard as to be un-abradable. This is because, in a case where the stem is larger than the hole diameter, the insertion of a post, made of un-abradable material, into the hole could cause damage or fracture of the internal surfaces of the hole.

Mounds In the embodiment shown in Figure 2A to 2C, the plurality of mound-elements 400A generally resemble each other in shape. Whereas, in other modifications, the plurality of mound-elements may include mound-elements of a variety of two or more different mound-shapes.

In the embodiments of Figures 2A and 2C, all of the plurality of mound-elements 400A are discrete mounds. In other words, a discrete mound means there is no overlap between adjacent mound-elements 400. The same applies to embodiments that have parts of mounds which do not overlap each other.

In further modifications, however, some or all of the mound-elements are arranged to overlap nearby mound-elements (not illustrated in the drawings).

In the embodiments of Figures 2A and 2C, the mound-elements 400A are in the form of lumps located on the peripheral, cylindrical outer surface of the post 300A. In these embodiments, in terms of shape, the mound-elements 400A are shaped as lumps that somewhat resemble, by analogy, the contour of elongated halves of mango fruits.

In the embodiments of Figures 2A and 2C, each of the mound-elements is a generally discrete object which does not overlap with adjacent mounds. In other modifications, the modified mound-elements can overlap each other, provided that each the mounds maintain their own identity as mounds. The function of the mounds- elements is to provide spaces, surrounding the mound-elements, that can accommodate wear material.

In contrast to the concept of a mound of the present invention, the invention specifically excludes those features that uniformly extend around the circumference of a stem portion. Such physical features that extend uniformly around the circumference of the stem do not fall within the scope of the word “mound”, according to the present invention in its broadest aspect. For example, a screw thread would not fall within the definition of a mound, because the ridge of the thread extends entirely around the circumference of the screw. As another example, a collar or flange, that encircles the circumference, would not be regarded as a mound. Such non-mound features, that uniformly circle the circumference, are not functionally the same as a mound. In particular, when wear-material is abraded off the mounds, such uniform features, that circle the circumference, would prevent the wear-material from dropping down to the botton of the hole. In that instance, another negative result would be that wear-material may collect in the gap between the stem and inner surface of the hole. The wear- material could be forced upwards and out of the hole. Moreover, such uniform features that encircle the circumference could result in more wear-material being shorn off, in comparison to the mounds which present less area of contact between the mounds and the inner surface of the hole. Hence, the concept of a mound, found in this invention, is that it does not, by internal definition, extend completely around the circumference of the stem portion.

Modified Mounds Figure 3A is a side view of a further embodiment of a tactile indicator where the mound-elements 400B each has an asymmetrical shape. The mound-elements are in the form of a partial mound.

By way of comparison, in Figure 2A, when the post 300A is oriented vertically, as when it is installed, the lower part of the mound-elements 400A are curved upwards towards to form a dome that slopes from all sides. In contrast to that, in the further embodiment of Figure 3A, the shape of the mound-elements 400B is not symmetrically.

Instead, the mound-elements 400B of Figure 3A comprise only the lower half of the mound-elements 400A of the earlier embodiment of Figure 2A.

The functional concept, of the embodiment in Figure 3A, is that it would be easier to press the stem into the hole during installation, but it would be more difficult to withdraw from the hole, due to the asymmetrical or unsymmetrical shape of the mound- elements 400B.

In the side profile of Figure 3A, it can be seen that, when the stem is being forced into the hole, the slope of the mound presents an inclined surface as the stem enters the hole. Whereas, when there is an attempt to pull the stem out of the hole, the partial domes act as serrations that hinder, to a degree, the withdrawal of the stem from the hole.

Combination of Mound-Elements Figure 4A shows a perspective view of yet a further embodiment in which the mounds of the stem include a combination of fully symmetrical mound-elements 400A, as well as asymmetrical mound-elements 400B.

Mound-elements on Mound-elements Figure 5A shows another embodiment in which some or all of the plurality of mounds 400C comprise smaller mounds 401 located on the outer surface of the larger mound-elements 400C. An advantage of this modification, where the larger mound- elements 400C have smaller mound-elements 401 thereon, is that, when the stem is inserted into a hole with a larger diameter, the outermost smaller mound-elements 401 are the first to be sheared off, before the main portion of the underlying larger mould- elements 400C may comes into direct contact with the side of the hole. A consequence of the smaller mound-elements 401 being the first portion to be sheared is that less wear-material is created during the initial shearing process. This embodimemnt is therefore able to be fitted in a range of holes of varying diameter sizes.

With regard to the embododiment in Figure 5A, it is noted that the size of the smaller mounds, relative to the main mounds, is not restricted to the ratio that can be asceratined from this and other of the appended drawings, which are given as examples only.

In the embodiments of Figures 2C, 3A, 4A and 5A, the plurality of respective mound-elements are distributed on the external surface of the post 300 in a regular arrangement. However, there are numerous other possible variations of such regular arrangements, such as an orthogonal grid, a diamond grid, or other discernible regular pattern.

Figure 5B shows another embodiment where the main asymetric mound- elements 400D are provided with smaller mound-elements 401 located on the extremity of the main mound-elements 400D.

In yet other modifications, the plurality of mound-elements may be distributed on the external surface of the post 300 in a random, irregular arrangement with no discernible pattern (not illustrated). For example, the mounds may be provided in a random arrangement that resembles numerous pimples on a face where there is no discernible regular pattern or grid of the arrangement of the mound-elements.

Dimensions of mounds The invention, in its broadest aspect, is not limited to the provision of mounds having specific dimensions.

Rather, in the embodiments, the mounds, and even the smaller mounds that are on the mounds, are able to be sacrificially abraded when the stem is pushed into the hole. The size and dimensions of the mounds are governed by the overall function of the outermost part of the mound-elements being sacrificially abraded, while the rest of the mound-element acts to hold the tactile securely in the hole.

Some dimensions of mounds are given as follows, by way of example only: In Figure 3A and 4A, the maximum height of the main mound is of the order of 0.4mm.

The word “height”, in respect of a mound-element, means the furthest, lateral distance of a point on the mound-element, measured from the base cylindrical surface of the stem. In other words, the word height does not imply a distance in a vertical direction with respect to earth’s gravity, but rather refers to a height-distance that extends laterally away from the side surface of the stem.

In the embodiments of Figures 2A, 3A, 4A and 5A, all the mounds are of similar lateral-height. However, in other modifications, a plurality of mound-elements can include mounds of varying height. In such embodiments, some mounds can protrude to a height of around 0.2 to 0.4 mm beyond the lateral surface of the stem. The physical dimensions are described by way of example only, and are not limiting on the invention in its broadest aspect.

In another modification, the mound-elements, that are closer to the cap, have a greater height than the mounds that are closer to the tip. This creates a manner of tapering towards the end of the stem, and is intended to facilitiate entry of the stem into the hole.

Sleeve Embodiment In the embodiments described thus far, the plurality of mound-elements are located on the post, however, in other further modified embodiments, the post includes a sleeve with an external sleeve-surface, and the mound-supporting external surface is located on said external sleeve-surface.

The schematic diagram of Figure 6 illustrates an embodiment where the sleeve is in the form of a sleeve portion 500 on which the plurality of mound-elements are located on the external surface of the cylindrical sleeve portion 500. The mound-elements, located on the sleeve portion 500 perform the same function as the mound-elements located directly on the stem of earlier embodiments.

Figure 7A is a first embodiment of a sleeve that has mounds 400A on the surface of the sleeve. The description of the mound-elements on the sleeve of Figure 7A are analogous to the description of such mound-elements 400A in the embodiment of Figure 2C.

Figure 7AA is a top view of the sleeve of Figure 7A showing the hollow cylindrical interior 450 that is adapted to receive a stem therein.

In Figure 7AA, the interior of the sleeve shows a smooth, inner cylindrical surface, implying that the stem that is received therein would have a correspondingly smooth, cylindrical outer surface. However, in other modifications, corresponding surfaces of the stem and inner sleeve may be provided with shapes, configurations or mechanisms that assist with the mutual engagement or connection of the sleeve and stem. For example, in such modifications, the stem may be provided with keyways or grooves that assist with engagement of the stem to the inner sleeve.

Figure 7B is a second embodiment of a sleeve that has mounds 400B of asymmetrical shape on the surface of the sleeve. The description of the mound- elements on the sleeve of Figure 7B are analogous to the description of such mound- elements 400B in the embodiment of Figure 3A.

Figure 7C is a third embodiment of a sleeve that has small mounds on top of the larger mounds that are on the surface of the sleeve. The description of the mound- elements on the sleeve of Figure 7C are analogous to the description of such mound- elements 400C, 401 in the embodiment of Figure 5A.

Figure 7D is a fourth embodiment of a sleeve that has small mounds on top of the larger asymmetrical mounds that are on the surface of the sleeve. The description of the part mound-elements on the sleeve of Figure 7D are analogous to the description of such asymmetrical, part mound-elements in the embodiment of Figure 5B that have small mound-elements 401 on top of the main mound-elements 400D.

The examples of sleeves in Figures 7A, 7B, 7C and 7D are adapted to fit onto stems. (The stems are not shown in these diagrams. The diagrams here only show the sleeves).

For embodiments where the sleeve is provided with mound-elements, different embodiments may be sold either in a form that includes (i) a full-assembly of such a sleeve fitted on a stem of a tactile, or sold as (ii) a separate sleeve such that, before installation in the ground, the sleeve is, at that time, fitted onto a stem of a tactile.

Mound-Elements & Depressed Regions A further embodiment is shown in Figures 8A to 8D. The design of the sleeve of the tactile is able to accommodate being inserted into holes of different diameters, as explained above, hence, in the further embodiment shown in Figures 8A to 8D, the external surface of the cylindrical sleeve portion 500, in addition to a plurality of mounds, is also provided with a plurality of localised depressed regions. These regions are defined as being depressed relative to the level of the external surface of the cylindrical sleeve portion 500 These localised depressed regions are not limited to a particular shape. In the embodiment of Figures 8A to 8D, the localised depressed regions are in the form of shallow oval-shaped depressions 600. In other embodiments, these localised depressed regions may be shallow circular-shaped depressions, for example only. In yet other embodiments, the localised depressed regions may be of irregular shape, or a variety of shapes and/or sizes.

The shallow oval-shaped depressions 600, in a sense, assist with the post 300A being fitted in a hole that has a smaller larger diameter than the diameter of the surface sleeve, such that the act of inserting the stem and sleeve into the smaller hole, causes the mound-elements as well as portions of the external surface of the cylindrical sleeve portion 500 to be abraded. Thus, the provision of the shallow depressions 600 means that there is less material to be abraded off when the stem and sleeve have to be fitted into holes that are of slightly smaller diameter.

In such embodiments having a plurality of localised depressed regions, the variation of the plurality of mounds are as described above, and are not limited to a particular shape of mound to accompany the plurality of localised depressed regions.

The embodiment of Figures 8A to 8D has been described in terms of the localised depressed regions being on the external surface of a sleeve, but in other embodiments the localised depressed regions may also be on the external surface of the stem itself.

Manufacture Embodiments of the tactiles can be manufactured by moulding, casting or welding, depending on the material used for manufacture, however, embodiments may be manufactured using other processes such as 3D printing that may be suitable for the particular material. The invention in its broadest aspect is not limited to tactiles made from a specific manufacturing method.

Terminology In this specification, no distinction should be made between referring to the inner surface (singular) or inner surfaces (plural) of the single hole. It is regarded as a matter of semantics whether one refers to the inner cylindrical part of the hole as having a surface or having surfaces.

Various embodiments of the feature of the stem have been described and illustrated, however, the invention in its broadest aspect is not restricted to a particular scale or proportion of the stem with respect to the cap. For example, the stem may be shorter or longer than the examples given, and the cap can have dimenions that are larger or smaller with respect to the ratio of its relationship to the size of the stem.

The reference to an external surface, having mound-elements, is not to be construed such that the mound-elements are separate items from the external surface.

In other words, the mound-elements cannot be removed from the surface of the stem.

In this specification, where the words comprise or comprises or derivatives thereof are used in relation to elements, integers, steps or features, this is to indicate that those elements, steps or features are present but it is not to be taken to preclude the possibility of other elements, integers, steps or features being present.

In the present specification, terms such as “surface”, “component”, “apparatus”, “means”, “device” and “member” may refer to singular or plural items and are terms intended to refer to a set of properties, functions or characteristics performed by one or more items having one or more parts. It is envisaged that where a “surface”, “component”, “apparatus”, “means”, “device” or “member” or similar term is described as being a unitary object, then a functionally equivalent object having multiple components is considered to fall within the scope of the term, and similarly, where a “component”, “apparatus”, “assembly”, “means”, “device” or “member” is described as having multiple items, a functionally equivalent but unitary object is also considered to fall within the scope of the term, unless the contrary is expressly stated or the context requires otherwise.

Orientational terms used in the specification and claims such as vertical, horizontal, top, bottom, upper and lower are to be interpreted as relational and are based on the premise that embodiments of the tactile indicator will usually be considered in an orientation as if it were installed on a flat walking surface, with the cap portion being on the surface, and with the axis of the stem portion preferably, for most cases, being perpendicular to the walking surface.

The embodiments of the invention have been described by way of example only, and modifications are possible within the scope of the appended claims which, as mentioned at the outset, only relate solely and exclusively to the field of tactile indicators that are provided on a surface to act as tactile and/or visual indications to a blind of visually-impaired person who walks on the surface. The scope of the appended claims specifically exclude any devices and methods that do not relate to such tactile indicators for visually-impaired persons.

Claims (23)

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. A tactile indicator adapted to be installed on a walking surface, the tactile indicator comprising: a cap portion; and a stem attachable to the cap portion so as to depend therefrom, the stem adapted to be, in use, inserted and secured in a hole in the walking surface to thereby secure the tactile indicator thereto with the cap portion protruding above the walking surface to provide tactile indication for visually impaired persons who walk on the walking surface; wherein the stem has a mound-supporting external surface that has thereon a plurality of mounds and/or parts of mounds.

2. A tactile indicator of claim 1 wherein the tactile indicator is provided with a sleeve with an external sleeve-surface, and the mound-supporting external surface is said external sleeve-surface.

3. A tactile indicator of claim 1 or 2 wherein the mounds and/or parts of mounds are adapted, in use, to abut internal surfaces of the hole to aid with securement of the stem in the hole.

4. A tactile indicator of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mounds are made of a material able to be, during the installation of the tactile indicator, at least partly abraded by friction contact with internal surfaces of the hole.

5. A tactile indicator of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the plurality of mounds and/or parts of mounds generally resemble each other in shape.

6. A tactile indicator of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the plurality of mounds include mounds of a variety of two or more different shapes.

7. A tactile indicator of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein all of the plurality of mounds are discrete mounds and/or parts of mounds are discrete entities.

8. A tactile indicator of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein some or all of the mounds are arranged to overlap nearby mounds.

9. A tactile indicator of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the plurality of mounds include mounds in the form of lumps.

10. A tactile indicator of any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the plurality of mounds are distributed on the external surface of the stem in a regular arrangement.

11. A tactile indicator of any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the plurality of mounds are distributed on the external surface of the stem in a random arrangement.

12. A tactile indicator of any one of the preceding claims, wherein some or all of the plurality of mounds are provided with smaller-mounds located on the mounds.

13. A tactile indicator of any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the stem is formed integrally with the cap portion as a single-piece construction.

14. A tactile indicator of any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the stem is separate from the cap portion, and the stem and cap portion are attachable to one another prior to the stem being inserted in the hole.

15. A tactile indicator of any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the mound-supporting external surface is also provided with a plurality of localised depressed regions.

16. A stem adapted to be attached, in use, to a cap portion of a tactile indicator, such that the tactile indicator, when assembled, comprises: a cap portion; and the stem attached to the cap portion so as to depend from the cap portion, the stem adapted to be inserted and secured in a hole in the walking surface to thereby secure the tactile indicator thereto with the cap portion protruding above the walking surface to provide tactile indication for visually impaired persons who walk on the walking surface; wherein the stem has a mound-supporting external surface that has thereon a plurality of mounds and/or parts of mounds.

17. A stem of claim 16 wherein the stem is in accordance with only the stem of any one of claims 1 to 15 excluding the cap portion.

18. A sleeve adapted to be fitted on a stem of a tactile indicator, such that the tactile indicator, when assembled, comprises: a cap portion; and the sleeve fitted on a stem, and the stem attached to the cap portion so as to depend from the cap portion, the stem and sleeve adapted to be inserted and secured in a hole in the walking surface to thereby secure the tactile indicator thereto with the cap portion protruding above the walking surface to provide tactile indication for visually impaired persons who walk on the walking surface; wherein the sleeve has a mound-supporting external surface that has thereon a plurality of mounds and/or parts of mounds.

19. A sleeve of claim 18 wherein the mound-supporting external surface and the plurality of mounds and/or parts of mounds thereon are in accordance with how those features are defined in any one of claims 1 to 15 excluding the cap portion and stem.

20. A method of installing a tactile indicator on a walking surface, the tactile indicator comprising: a cap portion; and a stem attachable to the cap portion so as to depend therefrom, the stem adapted to be inserted and secured in a hole in the walking surface to thereby secure the tactile indicator thereto with the cap portion protruding above the walking surface to provide tactile indication for visually impaired persons who walk on the walking surface; the stem having an external surface that is provided with a plurality of mounds or parts of mounds thereon; wherein the method includes the step of inserting the stem into the hole such that parts of the plurality of mounds or parts of mounds on the stem are abraded as a result of forcing the stem into the hole.

21. A method of claim 20 wherein the tactile indicator is in accordance with the indicator defined in any one of claims 1 to 15.

22. A method of installing a tactile indicator on a walking surface, the tactile indicator comprising: a cap portion; a stem attachable to the cap portion so as to depend therefrom; and a sleeve adapted to be attached around the stem; the stem with the sleeve thereon being adapted to be inserted and secured in a hole in the walking surface to thereby secure the tactile indicator thereto with the cap portion protruding above the walking surface to provide tactile indication for visually impaired persons who walk on the walking surface; the sleeve having an external surface that is provided with a plurality of mounds or parts of mounds thereon; wherein the method includes the step of inserting the stem and sleeve into the hole such that parts of the plurality of mounds or parts of mounds on the sleeve are abraded as a result of forcing the stem and sleeve into the hole.

23. A method of claim 22 wherein the sleeve is in accordance with the sleeve defined in any one of claims 18 to 19.