Inlay system for concrete

• US 20080271662A1
• Filed: 07/10/2008
• Published: 11/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dan H. Gernstein, Joe Driscoll
• Original Assignee: Dan H. Gernstein, Joe Driscoll
• Inventors: Driscoll, Joe, Gernstein, Dan H.
• Granted Patent: US 7,955,024 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 116/205
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 5/16 made of metallic units with a filling or ground plate of other material E01C5/22; for temporary pavings E01C9/083; steel gratings E01C9/10
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 411/913 Self-expanding anchor

Abstract

The present invention discloses a tactile warning panel inlay system and method. Such system is comprised of a panel formed with an exposed surface having a plurality of tactile warning protrusions and a support surface configured to contact a substrate matrix. The panel includes a plurality of apertures extending from the exposed surface to the support surface. Further, a plurality of two-piece fasteners are configured to extend individually through an aperture included in the plurality of panel apertures to secure the panel to the substrate matrix. Each fastener includes a head conformed to the shape of the tactile warning protrusion and a threaded shank for extending through the panel and which has an anchor member threadably secured thereto.

Claims

1. A tactile warning panel inlay system, comprising:

a panel having an upper surface and a lower surface;

a plurality of spaced-apart tactile warning protrusions extending upwardly from said upper surface of said panel;

a plurality of apertures formed in said panel between said protrusions;

a bolt positioned in each of said apertures;

each of said bolts having a head portion and a threaded shank portion extending downwardly therefrom;

said threaded shank portion of each of said bolts having a diameter which is less than the diameter of said head portion thereof;

each of said head portions of said bolts having an upper end and a lower end;

said lower end of said head portion of each of said bolts having a diameter greater than the associated aperture so that said lower end of said head portion rests on said upper surface of said panel;

said threaded portions of said bolts extending downwardly through said apertures;

an internally threaded anchor member, having upper and lower ends, threadably mounted on each of said threaded shank portions of said bolts below said lower surface of said panel to anchor said panel to a substrate matrix;

said head portions of said bolts having substantially the same configuration as said tactile warning protrusions so that said head portions of said bolts also function as tactile warning protrusions.

2. The tactile warning panel inlay system of claim 1 wherein said bolts are comprised of a stainless steel material.

3. The tactile warning panel inlay system of claim 1 wherein said anchor members are comprised of a zinc material.

4. The tactile warning panel inlay system of claim 1 wherein said bolts are comprised of a stainless steel material and said anchor members are comprised of a zinc material.

5. The tactile warning panel inlay system of claim 1 wherein each of said head portions of said bolts have a socket formed therein.

6. The tactile warning panel inlay system of claim 1 wherein said upper end of each of said anchor members are in engagement with said lower surface of said panel.

7. The tactile warning panel inlay system of claim 1 wherein each of said anchor members have a laterally extending flange at its lower end.

8. The tactile warning panel inlay system of claim 1 wherein each of said anchor members are generally tubular in shape and have at least one laterally extending and vertically disposed web provided therein.

9. The tactile warning panel inlay system of claim 8 wherein each of said anchor members have a laterally extending flange at its lower end.

10. The tactile warning panel of claim 1 wherein said tactile warning protrusions define truncated dome structures and wherein said head portions of said bolts define truncated dome structures.

11. The tactile warning panel of claim 1 wherein said panel is comprised of a glass fiber polymer ceramic composite concrete.

12. The tactile warning panel of claim 1 wherein said anchor member has at least one laterally extending anchor portion which is embedded in the substrate matrix.

13. The tactile warning panel of claim 1 wherein said bolts and said anchor member are comprised of a metal material.

14. The tactile warning panel of claim 1 wherein said bolts and anchor members are comprised of a non-ferrous metal material.

15. The tactile warning panel of claim 1 wherein said panel is at least partially embedded into the substrate matrix.