Efficiently installable and durable embedment tile for producing tactilely-detectable surfaces

• US 20060174567A1
• Filed: 03/09/2006
• Published: 08/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MetaDome, LLC
• Original Assignee: MetaDome, LLC
• Inventors: Sippola, Duane F.
• Granted Patent: US 7,845,122 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 52/386
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 3/066 Installations on the floor, e.g. special surfaces, to guide blind persons
• 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: E01C 5/22 made of units composed of a mixture of materials covered by two or more of groups E01C5/008 , E01C5/02 - E01C5/20 except embedded reinforcing materials
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 15/02 Flooring or floor layers composed of a number of similar elements of webs E04F15/16
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 15/02172 Floor elements with an anti-skid main surface, other than with grooves

Abstract

Disclosed is an embedment tile for producing a tactilely detectable surface in a moldable material and method for using same. The tile comprises a tile member substantially planar in form, having a pattern of upwardly extending projections on its upper surface forming a tactilely detectable pattern and two or more cross beams on the lower surface of the tile member, the cross beams having hollow chambers defined by a sidewall, end openings and optional apertures to allow for the release of air and moldable material from the exterior into the hollow chambers of the cross beams as the tile is embedded in the material, thus easing and speeding installation of the tile in the moldable material. The embedment tile may further consist of support members that function to support and further interlock the embedment tile to the moldable material once set.

Claims

1. An embedment tile for producing a tactilely detectable surface in a moldable material, comprising:

a) a tile member substantially planar in form, having an upper surface and a lower surface and two or more sides defining side edges, the upper surface having a plurality of projections extending upward there from in a tactilely detectable pattern; and

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b) two or more cross beams projecting downward a distance from the lower surface of the tile member, each cross beam comprising a hollow chamber and a sidewall, the sidewall having two sides defining side edges and two ends defining a length of the cross beam there between, the sidewall being shaped so as to define the hollow chamber interior to and running the length of each cross beam and so as to define an opening at each end, the hollow chamber of each cross beam being in communication with an exterior via the openings;

whereby an embedment tile is provided with cross beams having hollow chambers that allow air and moldable material located under the tile member to move into the hollow chambers of the cross beams via the openings during embedment of the tile so as to ease and speed installation and to secure embedment of the tile into the moldable material.

2. The embedment tile of claim 1, further comprising air release means for enhancing communication between the hollow chamber of one or more of the cross beams and the exterior so as to further enable air and moldable material to move into the hollow chamber from the exterior via said air release means during installation of the tile.

3. The embedment tile of claim 1, further comprising air release means for enhancing communication between the hollow chamber of one or more of the cross beams and the exterior so as to further enable air and moldable material to move into the hollow chamber from the exterior via said air release means during installation of the tile, said air release means comprising one or more apertures located in the sidewall of the one or more cross beams.

4. The embedment tile of claim 1, further comprising air release means for enhancing communication between the hollow chamber of one or more of the cross beams and the exterior so as to further enable air and moldable material to move into the hollow chamber from the exterior via said air release means during installation of the tile, said air release means comprising a gap formed where one side edge of the sidewall of each of said one or more cross beams approaches but does not attach to the lower surface of the tile member, the space between said side edge and the lower surface of the tile member defining the gap, the opposing edge of the sidewall connecting the cross beam to the lower surface of the tile member.

5. The embedment tile of claim 1, wherein the tile member is made of stainless steel.

6. The embedment tile of claim 1, wherein the projections on the upper surface of the tile member comprise a surface rising from a perimeter to a central top portion, the surface having a plurality of reinforcement ridges thereon, each reinforcement ridge extending from the perimeter toward the central top portion of the projection so as to reinforce the projection against damage from objects impacting its surface.

7. The embedment tile of claim 1, further comprising two or more support members, each support member being attached to the lower surface of the tile member and projecting downward a distance there from, the distance defining a depth greater than that of the two or more cross beams and comprising a sidewall having two opposing ends which define a length there between, the sidewall being shaped so as to define a hollow chamber extending the length and an opening at each end, the chamber being in communication with the exterior via the openings, whereby the concrete is displaced around and into the openings of the support members as the embedment tile is embedded therein.

8. The embedment tile of claim 7, wherein the depth of the two or more support members is sufficient to support the tile member at a surface height of the concrete during installation of the embedment tile therein.

9. An embedment tile for producing a tactilely detectable surface in a moldable material, comprising:

a) tile member substantially planar in form, having an upper surface and a lower surface and two or more sides defining side edges, the upper surface having a plurality of projections extending upward there from in a tactilely detectable pattern;

b) two or more cross beams projecting downward a distance from the lower surface of the tile member, each cross beam comprising a hollow chamber and a sidewall, the sidewall having two sides defining side edges and two ends defining a length of the cross beam there between, the sidewall being shaped so as to define the hollow chamber interior to and running the length of each cross beam and so as to define an opening at each end, the hollow chamber of each cross beam being in communication with an exterior via the openings; and

,

c) air release means for enhancing communication between the hollow chamber of one or more of the cross beams and the exterior so as to further enable air and moldable material to move into the hollow chamber from the exterior via said air release means during installation of the tile;

whereby an embedment tile is provided with cross beams having hollow chambers that allow air and moldable material located under the tile member to move into the hollow chambers of the cross beams via the openings and air release means during embedment of the tile so as to ease and speed installation and to secure embedment of the tile into the moldable material.

10. The embedment tile of claim 9, wherein said air release means comprises one or more apertures located in the sidewall of the one or more cross beams.

11. The embedment tile of claim 9, wherein said air release means comprises a gap formed where one side edge of the sidewall of each of said one or more cross beams approaches but does not attach to the lower surface of the tile member, the space between said side edge and the lower surface of the tile member defining the gap, the opposing edge of the sidewall connecting the cross beam to the lower surface of the tile member.

12. The embedment tile of claim 9, wherein the tile member is made of stainless steel.

13. The embedment tile of claim 9, wherein the projections on the upper surface of the tile member comprise a surface rising from a perimeter to a central top portion, the surface having a plurality of reinforcement ridges thereon, each reinforcement ridge extending from the perimeter toward the central top portion of the projection so as to reinforce the projection against damage from objects impacting its surface.

14. The embedment tile of claim 9, further comprising two or more support members, each support member being attached to the lower surface of the tile member and projecting downward a distance there from, the distance defining a depth greater than that of the two or more cross beams and comprising a sidewall having two opposing ends which define a length there between, the sidewall being shaped so as to define a hollow chamber extending the length and an opening at each end, the chamber being in communication with the exterior via the openings, whereby the concrete is displaced around and into the openings of the support members as the embedment tile is embedded therein.

15. The embedment tile of claim 14, wherein the depth of the two or more support members is sufficient to support the tile member at a surface height of the concrete during installation of the embedment tile therein.

16. Method for producing a tactilely detectable surface in concrete, comprising:

a) providing an embedment tile comprising;

i) a tile member substantially planar in form, having an upper surface and a lower surface and two or more sides defining side edges, the upper surface having a plurality of projections extending upward there from in a tactilely detectable pattern;

ii) two or more cross beams projecting downward a distance from the lower surface of the tile member, each cross beam comprising a hollow chamber and a sidewall, the sidewall having two sides defining side edges and two ends defining a length of the cross beam there between, the sidewall being shaped so as to define the hollow chamber interior to and running the length of each cross beam and so as to define an opening at each end, the hollow chamber of each cross beam being in communication with an exterior via the openings; and

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iii) air release means for enhancing communication between the hollow chamber of one or more of the cross beams and the exterior so as to further enable air and moldable material to move into the hollow chamber from the exterior via said air release means during installation of the tile;

b) lowering the embedment tile into the moldable material; and

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c) positioning the upper surface of the tile member relative to a surface of the surrounding material as desired and so that the upper surface'"'"'s tactilely-detectable pattern of projections is exposed.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the embedment tile, further comprises two or more support members, each support member being attached to the lower surface of the tile member and projecting downward a distance there from, the distance defining a depth greater than that of the two or more cross beams and comprising a sidewall having two opposing ends which define a length there between, the sidewall being shaped so as to define a hollow channel extending the length and an opening at each end, the channel being in communication with the exterior via the openings, whereby the concrete is displaced around and into the openings of the support members as the embedment tile is lowered into the concrete.

18. Method for producing a tactilely detectable surface in concrete, comprising:

a) providing an embedment tile comprising;

i) a tile member substantially planar in form, having an upper surface and a lower surface and two or more sides defining side edges, the upper surface having a plurality of projections extending upward there from in a tactilely detectable pattern;

ii) two or more cross beams projecting downward a distance from the lower surface of the tile member, each cross beam comprising a hollow chamber and a sidewall, the sidewall having two sides defining side edges and two ends defining a length of the cross beam there between, the sidewall being shaped so as to define the hollow chamber interior to and running the length of each cross beam and so as to define an opening at each end, the hollow chamber of each cross beam being in communication with an exterior via the openings; and

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iii) air release means for enhancing communication between the hollow chamber of one or more of the cross beams and the exterior so as to further enable air and moldable material to move into the hollow chamber from the exterior via said air release means during installation of the tile;

b) securing the embedment tile in place;

c) adjusting the embedment tile to meet slope or grade requirements; and

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d) pouring the moldable material onto the sub-base and under and around the embedment tile.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising two or more support members, each support member being attached to the lower surface of the tile member and projecting downward a distance there from, the distance defining a depth greater than that of the two or more cross beams and comprising a sidewall having two opposing ends which define a length there between, the sidewall being shaped so as to define a hollow channel extending the length and an opening at each end, the channel being in communication with the exterior via the openings.