Detectable warning-dots demarkation for pedestrian safety

• US 7,249,911 B2
• Filed: 08/23/2004
• Issued: 07/31/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Christopher A. Hyams
• Original Assignee: Christopher A. Hyams
• Inventors: Hyams, Christopher A.
• Primary Examiner(s): ADDIE, RAYMOND W
• Application Number:
  US10/923,761
• Publication Number:
  US 20060039752A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,072 Days
• Field of Search: 404 12- 16, 404/19
• US Class Current: 404/15
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 19/44 Hand-actuated tools other than rollers, tampers, or vibrators, specially adapted for imparting a required finish to freshly-laid paving courses E01C19/43, E01C23/02 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 23/0993 for forming or installing surface markings or signals in the paving, e.g. grooving for striping or for producing rumble strips, forming marker-receiving recesses E01C23/0946 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 9/512 Preformed road surface markings, e.g. of sheet material; Methods of applying preformed markings

Abstract

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.

Claims

1. A modular detectable-warning truncated-dome device for cautioning pedestrians traversing a walkway proximal a danger-zone;

said device comprising;

a one-piece safety-button structure having a domed top-side in combination with a substantially planar bottom-side, measuring in breadth no less than ¾

-inch and no more than 1 and ½

-inch, while measuring in thickness no less than 3/16-inch and no more than 5/16-inch;

said bottom-side provided with a bonding surface means for permanently affixing said safety-button to an existing pavement-surface via a conventional substrate bonding-agent means, and permanently arranged in a spaced apart plurality creating a co-operative foot-tactile warning-field upon an existing walkway-pavement;

said safety-button bottom-side bonding surface means 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;

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; and

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.