Modular floor covering units with built-in lighting
First Claim
1. An apparatus for guiding the occupants of a structure in a path of travel along the floor within the structure, comprising a plurality of abuttingly arranged modular floor covering units covering the floor, said modular units having a fibrous face, some of said modular floor covering units being illuminable and arranged in a predetermined pattern resting upon and extending along the floor, each of said illuminable floor covering units having at least one relatively small opening therein spaced inwardly from the sides of said unit and open to the upper surface of the unit, a relatively small light transmissive housing positioned in each of said openings so as to be inset therein and completely surrounded by said fibrous face, light-emitting means positioned within each of said housings, and power means electrically connected to said light-emitting means of said illuminable modular floor covering units so that when said light-emitting means are energized by said power means a visually discernable pathway is defined in the floor by the cooperation of said illuminable modular floor covering units which can then be followed by the occupants of the structure to a predetermined location in the structure.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for guiding the occupants of a structure along a path of travel within the structure is provided. The apparatus is comprised of modular floor covering units which are abuttingly arranged to cover the floor of the structure, with some of the units being signal units having a light-transmissive housing positioned in an opening therein, and having light-emitting means positioned in the housing. Power means are provided to energize the light-emitting means, and thereby provide a visually discernable pathway on the floor. The floor covering units preferably comprise carpet tiles, the light-transmissive housings are preferably formed of molded plastic and the light-emitting means are preferably light-emitting diodes.
103 Citations
34 Claims
- 1. An apparatus for guiding the occupants of a structure in a path of travel along the floor within the structure, comprising a plurality of abuttingly arranged modular floor covering units covering the floor, said modular units having a fibrous face, some of said modular floor covering units being illuminable and arranged in a predetermined pattern resting upon and extending along the floor, each of said illuminable floor covering units having at least one relatively small opening therein spaced inwardly from the sides of said unit and open to the upper surface of the unit, a relatively small light transmissive housing positioned in each of said openings so as to be inset therein and completely surrounded by said fibrous face, light-emitting means positioned within each of said housings, and power means electrically connected to said light-emitting means of said illuminable modular floor covering units so that when said light-emitting means are energized by said power means a visually discernable pathway is defined in the floor by the cooperation of said illuminable modular floor covering units which can then be followed by the occupants of the structure to a predetermined location in the structure.
- 10. An apparatus for guiding the occupants of a structure in a path of travel along the floor within the structure, comprising a plurality of abuttingly arranged modular floor covering units covering the floor, each of said modular floor covering units comprising a carpet tile having a fibrous face, some of said modular floor covering units being illuminable and arranged in a predetermined pattern resting upon and extending along the floor, each of said illuminable floor covering units having at least one relatively small opening therein spaced inwardly from the sides of said unit and open to the fibrous face of the carpet tile, an integrally molded relatively small light transmissive plastic housing positioned in each of said openings so as to be inset therein and completely surrounded by said fibrous face, light-emitting means molded within each of said housings, and power means electrically connected to said light-emitting means of said illuminable modular floor covering units so that when said light-emitting means are energized by said power means a visually discernable pathway is defined in the fibrous faces of the carpet tiles by the cooperation of said illuminable modular floor covering units which can then be followed by the occupants of the structure to a predetermined location in the structure.
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19. In combination with a building such as a hotel having a plurality of conference rooms arranged along a hallway therein, an apparatus for guiding the attendees of the conference in a path of travel along the hallway to a designated conference room, comprising a plurality of abuttingly arranged modular floor covering units covering the floor of the hallway, each of said modular floor covering units having a fibrous face, some of said modular floor covering units being illuminable and arranged in a predetermined pattern resting upon the floor and extending along the hallway to respective ones of said conference rooms, said illuminable floor covering units being of a plurality of differing illuminable colors and so arranged that a different illuminable color designates a path of travel to each respective conference room, each of said illuminable floor covering units having at least one relatively small opening therein spaced inwardly from the sides of said unit and open to the upper surface of the unit, a relatively small light transmissive housing positioned in each of said openings so as to be inset therein and completely surrounded by said fibrous face, electrical light-emitting means positioned within each of the housings, and power means electrically connected to said light-emitting means of said illuminable modular floor covering units so that when said light-emitting means are energized by said power means visually discernable pathways are defined in the floor by the cooperation of said illuminable modular floor covering units which can then be followed by the attendees of the conference to the respective conference rooms in the building.
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20. In combination with a building such as a hotel having a plurality of guest rooms arranged along a hallway therein and wherein an emergency exit is located nearby along the hallway, an apparatus for guiding the guests in a path of travel from their rooms along said hallway to said emergency exit, comprising a plurality of abuttingly arranged modular floor covering units covering the floor of the hallway, each of said modular floor covering units having a fibrous face, some of said modular floor covering units being illuminable and arranged in a predetermined pattern resting upon the floor and extending along the hallway to said emergency exit, each of said illuminable floor covering units having at least one relatively small opening therein spaced inwardly from the side of said unit and open to the upper surface of the unit, a relatively small light transmissive housing positioned in each of said openings so as to be inset therein and completely surrounded by said fibrous face, light-emitting means positioned within each of the housings, and power means electrically connected to said light-emitting means of said illuminable modular floor covering units so that when said light-emitting means are energized by said power means a visually discernable pathway is defined in the floor by the cooperation of said illuminable modular floor covering units which can then be followed by the guests of the hotel to the nearby emergency exit.
- 21. In combination with a building such as a hotel having a plurality of guest rooms arranged along opposite sides of a hallway therein, and wherein an emergency exit is positioned nearby along the hallway, an apparatus for guiding the guests of the hotel in a path of travel along the hallway to said nearby emergency exit, comprising a plurality of abuttingly arranged modular floor covering units covering the floor of the hallway at least along opposite sides of the hallway, each of said modular floor covering units having a fibrous face, at least some of said modular floor covering units being illuminable and arranged in a predetermined pattern resting upon the floor and extending along the sides of the hallway to said nearby emergency exit, said illuminable floor covering units being arranged on each side of the hallway so as to be closely adjacent the doors of the guest rooms, each of said illuminable floor covering units have at least one relatively small opening therein spaced inwardly from the sides of said unit and open to the upper surface of the unit, a relatively small light transmissive housing positioned in each of said openings so as to be inset therein and completely surrounded by said fibrous face, electrical light-emitting means positioned within each of the housings, and power means electrically connected to said light-emitting means of said illuminable modular floor covering units so that when said light-emitting means are energized by said power means visually discernable pathways are defined along opposite sides of the hallway by the cooperation of said illuminable modular floor covering units which can then be followed by the guests of the hotel to the nearby emergency exit.
- 23. A modular floor covering unit such as a tile having an illuminable electrical lighting apparatus incorporated therein and adapted to serve as a visual directional indicator, said modular unit having a fibrous face and at least one relatively small opening therein spaced inwardly from the sides of said unit and open to the upper surface of the unit, a relatively small light transmissive housing positioned in said opening so as to be inset therein and completely surrounded by said fibrous face and electrical light-emitting means positioned within said housing.
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24. A modular floor covering unit such as a carpet tile or carpet border having an illuminable electrical lighting apparatus incorporated therein and adapted to serve when electrically energized as a visual directional indicator, said modular unit having a fibrous face and at least one relatively small opening extending therethrough and spaced inwardly from the sides of said unit and open to the upper surface of the unit, a relatively small light transmissive housing positioned in said opening so as to be inset therein and completely surrounded by said fibrous face, means securing said housing within said opening, and electrical light-emitting means positioned within said housing and wherein said housing is formed of molded plastic having a textured upper surface to diffuse light and thereby be more hidden from view and less noticeable when not illuminated.
- 32. A modular floor covering unit having an illuminable electrical lighting apparatus incorporated therein and adapted to serve when electrically energized as a visual directional indicator, said unit comprising a carpet tile having a fibrous face comprised of pile tufts and having at least one relatively small opening extending therethrough and spaced inwardly from the sides of said unit and open to the pile tuft face of the unit, a relatively small light-transmissive housing positioned in said opening so as to be inset therein and completely surrounded by said fibrous face, means securing said housing within said opening, and electrical light-emitting means positioned within said housing, and wherein said housing has beveled upper edge portions which serve to prevent heels of shoes from catching thereon.
Specification