Tiles with bottom-side extensions and method for installation

• US 7,779,591 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2007
• Issued: 08/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stronggo LLC
• Original Assignee: Stronggo LLC
• Inventors: Becker, Georg R., Moore, Jeremiah A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chilcot, Jr.; Richard E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wendell; Mark R
• Application Number:
  US11/693,652
• Publication Number:
  US 20080236085A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,244 Days
• Field of Search: 523/91, 524/031, 522/933, 521/264, 523/84, 523/86, 523/87, 523/89, 521/266, 525/09, 521/36, 521/37, 522/35, 525/11, 525/13, 521/254, 521/255, 525/921, 525/915, 525/923, 521/77, 521/80, 521/81, 523/90, 404/34, 404/43, 404/45, 404/15
• US Class Current: 52/391
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 2201/04 consisting of natural stones and a binder
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 5/003 characterised by material or composition used for beds or joints; characterised by the way of laying
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 15/02 Flooring or floor layers composed of a number of similar elements of webs E04F15/16

Abstract

Apparatus and processes that include tiles having an extending member that is disposed within a concavity on the bottom side of the tile and that extends a distance therefrom. The extending member may additionally be coupled to an anchor member disposed within the concavity on the bottom side of the tile. The extending member is set within a substrate such that it is held fast, thereby improving the bonding of the tile to the substrate.

Claims

1. A detectable warning tile arrangement, comprising:

a detectable warning tile having a top side with a plurality of protuberances forming a pattern or array thereon and a bottom side;

an anchoring member attached to said tile within a concavity in the bottom side of the tile; and

an asphalt or a cementitious material, wherein said anchoring member of the detectable warning tile is embedded in said asphalt or cementitious material such that the material bonds with the bottom and sides of the tile and holds fast the anchoring member and detectable warning tile in permanent arrangement therewith, and wherein the detectable warning tile and asphalt or cementitious material are in contact along substantially the entire bottom and two side surfaces of said tile as said arrangement is viewed in cross-section.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said concavity does not perforate said top side of the tile.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said concavity extends no more than about three quarters of the thickness of said tile.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said plurality of protuberances comprise an array of one or more structures selected from the group consisting of studs, domes, and truncated domes.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said anchoring member comprises a grasping member embedded within said concavity, said grasping member being coupled with an extending member.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said grasping member comprises a nut.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said nut includes a flanged portion disposed thereon.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said extending member comprises a threaded rod.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said threaded rod further includes a nut attached thereon.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said anchoring member is recessed relative to said bottom side of the tile.

11. A detectable warning tile arrangement, comprising:

a detectable warning tile having a top side with a plurality of protuberances forming a pattern or array thereon and a bottom side, said tile including an extending member permanently embedded within a concavity in the bottom side of the tile and extending a distance from said bottom side; and

a substrate that contacts and has bonded to said bottom side and that has hardened around the extending member so as to hold fast said extending member and detectable warning tile in permanent arrangement with said substrate, wherein the detectable warning tile and the substrate are in contact along substantially the entire bottom and two side surfaces of said tile as said arrangement is viewed in cross-section.

12. The tile arrangement of claim 11, wherein said substrate comprises a cementitious or asphalt material.

13. The tile arrangement of claim 11, wherein said substrate comprises an adhesive material.

14. The tile arrangement of claim 11, wherein said concavity does not perforate said top side of the tile.

15. The tile arrangement of claim 11, wherein said plurality of protuberances comprise an array of one or more structures selected from the group consisting of studs, domes, and truncated domes.

16. The tile arrangement of claim 11, wherein said extending member is attached to a grasping member comprising a nut.

17. The tile arrangement of claim 16, wherein said nut includes a flanged portion disposed thereon.

18. The tile arrangement of claim 11, wherein said extending member comprises a threaded rod.

19. A method for installing a detectable warning tile, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a detectable warning tile having a top side and a bottom side, said detectable warning tile including an extending member attached to said tile within a concavity in the bottom side of the detectable warning tile; and

(b) setting said detectable warning tile in a wet substrate such that said wet substrate hardens around and holds fast said extending member and said bottom side of the detectable warning tile in permanent arrangement with said substrate, wherein the detectable warning tile and the substrate are in contact along substantially the entire bottom and two side surfaces of said tile as said tile and substrate are viewed in cross-section.

20. The method of claim 19, further including the step of applying an adhesive substrate on said bottom side prior to setting said tile.

21. A method for installing a detectable warning tile, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a detectable warning tile having a top side and a bottom side, said tile including a grasping member attached to said tile within a concavity in the bottom side of the detectable warning tile;

(b) coupling an extending member to said grasping member; and

(c) setting said detectable warning tile in a wet substrate such that said wet substrate hardens around and holds fast said extending member and said bottom side of the detectable warning tile in permanent arrangement with said substrate, wherein the detectable warning tile and the substrate are in contact along substantially the entire bottom and two side surfaces of said tile as said tile and substrate are viewed in cross-section.

22. The method of claim 21, further including the step of applying an adhesive substrate on said bottom side prior to setting said tile.