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US 2006/0039752 A1Published application
Detectable warning-dots demarkation for pedestrian safety
OwnerChristopher Hyamsinventor
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OwnerChristopher Hyamsinventor
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A novel small quasi-hemispherical truncated-dome modular-dot like device, which can be readily affixed to pavement in a Federally-mandated pattern via a special hole/matrix-stencil;—the resulting demarkations thereby serving to alert the Legally-blind (as well as Guide-dogs, persons in wheelchairs, and otherwise pre-occupied non-handicapped individuals) their pedestrian-pathway is entering into a potentially dangerous transition area typically crossed by a motor-vehicle pathway. The individual so called DW-DOTS™ are resilient circular low-profile devices having an annular-ramp configuration, and thus standing out only sufficiently above a foot-surface as to enable foot-tactile detection, yet not pose the potential tripping hazzard known to embedded-mats. This novel safety-button offers a desired permanent contrasting-color, plus has a definition and rugged permanency not known to poured-dot installations. The disclosure sets forth various generic-variant structural embodiments, as well as the preferred method of attachment to a walkway-pavement surface.
A modular detectable-warning truncated-dome device for cautioning pedestrians traversing a walkway proximal a danger-zone;
The invention device according to claim-1, wherein said safety-button can be made of either injection-molded high-impact polymer-resin or CNC-machined from extruded aluminum.
The invention device according to claim-1, wherein said safety-button's said domed top-side is semi-hemispherically shaped with a central apex portion thereto which is planar and parallel to said bottom-side.
The invention device according to claim-1, wherein said safety-button's said domed top-side is semi-conically shaped with a central apex portion thereto which is planar and parallel to said bottom-side.
The invention device according to claim-1, wherein said safety-button's said domed top-side is a semi-hemispherical regular-polyhedron shape with a central apex portion thereto which is planar and parallel to said bottom-side.
The invention device according to claim-1, wherein said safety-button's said domed top-side is a quasi pyramid shape with a central apex portion thereto which is planar and parallel to said bottom-side.
The invention device according to claim-1, wherein said safety-button's said top-side central apex portion includes an integrally formed raised or embossed X-shape serving to provide improved pedestrian anti-slip foot traction when stepped upon.
The invention device according to claim-1, wherein said safety-button's said domed top-side includes an annular-groove into which is bonded a conventional retro-reflective ring member;
The invention device according to claim-1, wherein said safety-button's said bottom-side is provided with a coarse texture as to thereby promote greater bonding strength with said substrate bonding-agent relative to the walkway-pavement.
The invention device according to claim-1, wherein said safety-button's said bottom-side features a plurality of circumferential channels and including a bisecting radial-spue means thereto exiting through the lower perimeter, the combination thereby serving to promote greater adhesion of said substrate bonding-agent.
The invention device according to claim-1, wherein the perimeter of said safety-button's said bottom-side is provided with an annular-boss which inside ledge portion is formed with an angled-undercut defining an annular-declivity into which said bonding-agent migrates prior to curing, thereby achieving a positive-mechanical retention of the safety-button relative to the adjoining walkway-pavement.
The invention device according to claim-1, wherein said safety-button's said bottom-side is provided with a concavity into which said bonding-agent substrate can flow during installation, and thereby promote greater bonding strength with said substrate relative to the walkway-pavement.
The invention device according to claim-12, wherein said cavity formed into said safety-button includes an uppermost venting-port through which excess pre-mixed said bonding-agent medium can spew, thereby also eliminating any entrapped-air.
The invention device according to claim-1, wherein said safety-button's said bottom-side is provided with a triad of elevating-teats equidistantly arranged proximal the perimeter thereof, thus serving to establish a predetermined interface-clearance above the pavement in which said bonding-agent can fill-in and thereby achieve a more uniform installation upon the walkway-pavement.
The invention device according to claim-1, wherein said safety-button bottom-side bonding surface is characterized as a downwardly projecting subterranean-boss portion for insertion intimately into a retention-hole prepared into said walkway-pavement, and including means of retention therein.
The invention device according to claim-15, wherein said downwardly projecting subterranean-boss portion is made substantially smaller than said safety-button breadth, whereby said bottom-side portion annular to said subterranean-boss provides a radial-extension effectively serving as an insertion-limit abutment interfacing upon said walkway-pavement surface.
The invention device according to claim-16, wherein said subterranean-boss portion is formed with a tapering body larger in diameter at its lower most terminus, thereby creating a captive positive-retention condition relative to said bonding-agent.
A foot-tactile detectable-warning safety-button array serving particularly for alerting the visually-impaired traversing pedestrian walkways located proximal an intersecting vehicular-pathway;
The invention device according to claim-18, wherein said safety-button's said bottom-side is provided with a coarse texture as to thereby promote greater bonding strength with said substrate bonding-agent relative to the walkway-pavement.
The invention device according to claim-18, wherein said safety-button's said bottom-side is features a plurality of circumferential channels serving to promote greater bonding strength of said substrate bonding-agent relative to the walkway-pavement.
The invention device according to claim-18, wherein said geometrically spaced apart safety-buttons constitute a field-array whereto is included a perimeter portion of contrasting-color safety-button pieces.
The invention device according to claim-18, wherein said safety-button bottom-side bonding surface is characterized as a downwardly projecting subterranean-boss portion for insertion intimately into a retention-hole prepared into said walkway-pavement surface, and including means of retention therein.
The invention device according to claim-18, wherein said circular downward subterranean-boss portion is further characterized as a male-protrusion formed substantially smaller than said safety-button breadth, whereby said safety-button bottom-side is in effect an annular radial-extension portion from said male-protrusion portion, thereby serving as an insertion limit-abutment relative to said walkway-pavement surface.
The invention device according to claim-18, wherein the existing walkway-pavement surface supporting said safety-button warning-field is finished with application of a conventional traffic durable paint which can be of either a matching-color or a contrasting-color relative to said safety-buttons.
A quick and easy method of geometrically installing a foot-tactile detectable-warning safety-button plurality upon an existing walkway-pavement area;
The invention method according to claim-25, wherein the existing walkway-pavement surface supporting said safety-button warning-field is also finished with a conventional traffic durable paint which can be of either a matching-color or a contrasting-color relative to said safety-buttons.
A quick and easy method of installing a foot-tactile detectable-warning safety-button into a wet-cement walkway-pavement area;
The invention method according to claim-27, wherein said safety-button subterranean-boss is press friction-fitted into said retention-hole only after the wet-cement has sufficiently hardened.
The invention method according to claim-27, wherein said safety-button subterranean-boss is slip-fitted down into said retention-hole after a measured amount of liquid bonding-agent has been inserted, whereupon said bonding-agent hardens to create a permanent bond.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.