Tactile identification and direction guidance system and method

• US 20030037720A1
• Filed: 08/22/2002
• Published: 02/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eugene Brown
• Original Assignee: Eugene Brown
• Inventors: Stockton, Kevin M.
• Granted Patent: US 6,964,244 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 116/205
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 3/066 Installations on the floor, e.g. special surfaces, to guide blind persons
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 116/17 Tactile

Abstract

A tactile identification and direction guidance system and method for blind and otherwise visually impaired persons provides a plurality of substantially identical, longitudinally elongated marker members for support on an underlying walkway in laterally spaced apart, substantially parallel groups having different predetermined numbers of laterally spaced marker members forming different predetermined patterns each identifying and designating a different type of obstacle encountered by the visually impaired person, the person'"'"'s proper movement required relative to the obstacle being indicated and directed by the positioning of the elongated dimension of the laterally spaced, substantially parallel extending marker members on a predetermined, line of travel orientation relative to the obstacle for proper movement of a person thereby.

Claims

1. A tactile identification and direction guidance system for a visually impaired person, comprising a plurality of substantially identical, elongated tactile marking means for forming a plurality of predetermined patterns each identifying a different type of obstacle encountered by said person and for directing the movement required of said person relative to said obstacle.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the identifying is by engaging each tactile marking means by a cane or physical touch.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein each tactile marking means is a tactile marking member capable of being supported on an underlying support.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein each tactile marking member defines a raised contour on a walking support surface.

5. The system of claim 3 wherein each of said plurality of patterns includes a different number of said tactile marking members for identifying a specific type of obstacle and the direction of movement of said person relative to said obstacle.

6. The system of claim 3 wherein each tactile marking member has an adhesive bottom side and a peripheral outwardly tapered edge.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein each of said patterns includes a plurality of elongated tactile marking members arranged in laterally spaced apart, substantially parallel position for detecting by a cane or physical touch of a visually impaired person the number of spaced apart members to identify the associated type of obstacle and the direction of the elongated members to identify the direction of movement of said person relative to said obstacle.

8. A method of providing a tactile identification and directional guidance system for a visually impaired person, comprising providing on an underlying walking support one of a plurality of groups of different numbers of substantially identical, elongated tactile marking members configured for detection by a cane or physical touch of said person, the number of spaced apart members to identify the associated type of obstacle and the direction of the elongated members to identify the direction of movement of said person relative to said obstacle.

9. The method of claim 8 including supporting on an underlying walking surface a plurality of tactile marking members arranged to identify a specific type of obstacle and the direction of movement required of a visually impaired person relative to said obstacle.

10. The method of claim 9 including utilizing a template to orient the plurality of tactile marking members for support on an underlying walking surface.

11. The method of claim 9 including forming the plurality of tactile marking members on a sheet of material in a pattern predetermined to identify the type of obstacle and the direction of movement required of a visually impaired person.