Inlay system for concrete

• US 7,993,074 B1
• Filed: 12/03/2004
• Issued: 08/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: EZ Set Tile, Inc.
• Original Assignee: EZ Set Tile, Inc.
• Inventors: Driscoll, Joe
• Primary Examiner(s): A, PHI DIEU TRAN
• Application Number:
  US11/004,580
• Time in Patent Office: 2,440 Days
• Field of Search: 521/77, 521/81, 523/92, 523/91, 527/471.1, 523/15, 521/80, 404/15, 404/9, 404/19, 404/28, 404/29, 404/32, 404/33, 404/35, 404/36, 411/455, 411/456, 411/913, 411/923
• US Class Current: 404/19
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 5/00 Pavings made of prefabricated single units specially adapted for playgrounds or sports grounds E01C13/04, for footpaths, sidewalks or cycle tracks E01C15/00; making artificial stones C04B; building stones E04C; flooring E04F
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 5/001 on prefabricated supporting structures or prefabricated foundation elements except coverings made of layers of similar elements

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 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 body for extending the fastener through the panel and into the substrate matrix.

Claims

1. In combination with a walking surface;

comprising;

a tactile warning 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 tactile warning protrusions;

a plurality of loose fasteners;

a loose fastener positioned in each of said apertures which secure said panel to the walking surface;

said lower surface of said panel being completely embedded into the walking surface;

each of said fasteners having a head portion and a body portion extending downwardly therefrom;

said body portion of each of said fasteners having a diameter which is less than the diameter of said head portion thereof;

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

said lower end of said head portion of each of said fasteners having a diameter greater than the associated aperture so that said lower end of said head portion is in engagement with said upper surface of said panel;

said body portions of said fasteners extending downwardly through said apertures into the walking surface to anchor the fastener to the walking surface;

said lower ends of said head portions of said fasteners being held in engagement with the upper surface of said panel only by the anchoring of the fasteners to the walking surface;

said head portions of said fasteners having the same configuration as said tactile warning protrusions and having the same height and diameter as said tactile warning protrusions so that said head portions of said fasteners also function as tactile warning protrusions;

said upper surface of said panel being continuous and devoid of any other openings therein except for said apertures having loose fasteners therein.

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

3. The panel of claim 1 wherein said body portion of each of said fasteners has at least one laterally extending annular anchor portion which is embedded in the walking surface.