Tactile surface for pedestrian walkway

Abstract

An apparatus for a tactile surface in a pedestrian walkway aiding navigation of the walkway by visually impaired persons. The apparatus includes a tactile tile segment with a base and a pair of parallel, raised ribs. In one embodiment, the tile segment is a resilient material. Between the parallel ribs is a flat area or guideway configured to receive a tip of a cane for guiding a cane user in a direction parallel to the ribs. The tile segments are configured to butt together at their distal ends to form an extended surface. In one embodiment, a clamping strip is positioned with a portion over a longitudinal edge of the tile segment to prevent the lifting of the edge of the strip from vehicular traffic. The clamping strip is configured to attach to a roadway and is made of a durable, rigid material.

1 . A system providing a tactile surface aiding navigation along a pedestrian walkway, the tactile surface positioned to one side of the walkway, said system comprising: 
 a plurality of tactile tiles positioned end-to-end, each one of said plurality of tactile tiles including 
 a base having a top surface, said base having a first distal end and a second distal end, said base having a pair of elongated edges, said pair of elongated edges being substantially parallel and on opposite sides of said base; and  
 a pair of ribs integrally formed in said base and extending from said top surface, each one of said pair of ribs having a partial cylindrical shape, said pair of ribs being substantially parallel to said pair of elongated edges, each one of said pair of ribs and an adjacent one of said elongated edges defining an outboard top surface, said pair of ribs defining a guideway configured to receive a tip of cane, said pair of ribs being dimensioned to avoid being a tripping hazard;  
   at least one connection joining said first distal end of one of said plurality of tactile tiles with said second distal end of another one of said plurality of tactile tiles such that said guideway of said one of said plurality of tactile tiles is continuous with said guideway of said another one of said plurality of tactile tiles.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further including a clamping strip with an outboard end and an opposite clamping end, said outboard and clamping ends substantially parallel to said pair of ribs, said outboard end configured to engage a surface of a roadway, said outboard end being tapered from an outboard edge toward said clamping end, said clamping end having a first surface configured to contact a portion of one of said outboard top surface of said base of at least one of said plurality of tactile tiles.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said clamping strip is configured to be secured to said surface of said roadway with an adhesive.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said clamping strip includes a plurality of though-openings configured to receive a fastener that secures said clamping strip to said surface of said roadway.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein one of said at least one connection is a mitered joint wherein said guideway of said one of said plurality of tactile tiles joins with said guideway of said another one of said plurality of tactile tiles at an angle.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said top surface of at least one of said plurality of tactile tiles is substantially flush with a surface of the pedestrian walkway.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said base of each of said plurality of tactile tiles is configured to be adhesively attached to a surface of the pedestrian walkway.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein one of said at least one connection is a joint with a gap between said pair of ribs of said one of said plurality of tactile tiles and said pair of ribs of said another one of said plurality of tactile tiles.  
   
   
       9 . An apparatus providing a tactile surface aiding navigation along a pedestrian walkway, said apparatus comprising: 
 a base having a top surface, said base having a first distal end and a second distal end, said base having a pair of elongated edges, said pair of elongated edges being substantially parallel and on opposite sides of said base; and    a pair of ribs integrally formed in said base and extending from said top surface, said pair of ribs being substantially parallel to said pair of elongated edges, each of said pair of ribs and an adjacent one of said elongated edges defining an outboard top surface, said pair of ribs defining a guideway configured to receive a tip of cane, said pair of ribs being dimensioned to avoid being a tripping hazard.    
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  further including a clamping strip with an outboard end and an opposite clamping end, said outboard and clamping ends substantially parallel to said pair of ribs, said outboard end configured to engage a surface of a roadway, said outboard end being tapered from an outboard edge toward said clamping end, said clamping end having a first surface configured to contact a portion of one of said outboard top surface of said base.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein said clamping strip is configured to be secured to said surface of said roadway with an adhesive.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein said clamping strip includes a plurality of though-openings configured to receive a fastener that secures said clamping strip to said surface of said roadway.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 9  further including at least one gap defined by a break in at least one of said pair of ribs, said at least one gap bounded by a pair of rounded ends of said one of said at least one of said pair of ribs.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein said first distal end of said base is configured to connect to a second distal end of another base wherein said guideway is continuous with a guideway defined by another pair of ribs formed in said another base.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein said top surface of said base is substantially flush with a surface of the pedestrian walkway.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein said base is configured to be adhesively attached to a surface of the pedestrian walkway.  
   
   
       17 . An apparatus providing a tactile surface aiding navigation along a pedestrian walkway, said apparatus comprising: 
 a first rib having a partial cylindrical shape along a longitudinal axis; and    a second rib having a partial cylindrical shape along a longitudinal axis, said first rib being substantially parallel to said second rib, said first and second ribs extending from a substrate, said first and second ribs defining a guideway between said first and second ribs, said first and second ribs having a height and a separation dimensioned to avoid being a tripping hazard.    
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 17  further including a base forming said substrate, said base having a first distal end and a second distal end, said base having a pair of elongated edges, said pair of elongated edges being substantially parallel and on opposite sides of said base, said pair of elongated edges being substantially parallel to said first and second ribs.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 17  further including at least one gap defined by a break in said first rib, said at least one gap bounded by a pair of rounded ends of said first rib.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 17  further including at least one pair of gaps defined by a break in said first rib and a break in said second rib, said pair of gaps bounded by a pair of rounded ends of said first rib and a pair of rounded ends of said second rib.