Tactile marker

Abstract

A tactile marker that is formed at least predominantly from a plastics material and which comprises a head portion that is arranged to sit, in use, on a walkway surface and a depending stem that is formed integrally with the head portion and is arranged in use to locate as a press fit within a hole in the walkway. The depending stem is formed along at least a portion of its length with a plurality of barbs, and each barb has a generally annular land and a generally conical portion formed integrally with the land. The generally conical portion has a cross-section that reduces in diameter in a direction away from the head portion.

1 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A tactile marker formed at least in part from a plastics material, the tactile marker comprising:
 a head portion being arranged to sit on a walkway surface and a depending stem being formed integrally with the head portion and being arranged to be located as a press fit within a hole in the walkway,   the depending stem comprising formed integrally and longitudinally extending splines for engaging with a surrounding wall of the hole into which the stem is pressed during use, the depending stem being formed, along at least a portion of its length, with a plurality of barbs, and each barb having:
 a generally annular land; and 
 a generally conical portion formed integrally with the land and having a cross-section that reduces in diameter in a direction away from the head portion. 
   
     
     
         16 . The tactile marker according to  15 , wherein each of the plurality of barbs and the longitudinally extending splines approximately project a same distance from an axis of the depending stem. 
     
     
         17 . The tactile marker according to  15 , wherein the splines are arranged to inhibit rotational movement of the stem portion about its longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         18 . The tactile marker according to  15 , wherein the depending stem is solid. 
     
     
         19 . The tactile marker according to  15 , wherein the head portion of the tactile marker has a generally frusto-conical shape. 
     
     
         20 . The tactile marker according to  15 , wherein the head portion of the tactile marker has an upper surface that is formed with a plurality of anti-skid projections. 
     
     
         21 . The tactile marker according to  20 , wherein the projections are in the form of one of cylindrical projections or nodules. 
     
     
         22 . The tactile marker according to  15 , wherein the tactile marker is moulded from a thermoplastic material. 
     
     
         23 . The tactile marker according to  15 , wherein the tactile marker is moulded from polyurethane. 
     
     
         24 . The tactile marker according to  15 , wherein a peripheral margin of at least some of the plurality of barbs is formed with a flat chordal region. 
     
     
         25 . The tactile marker according to  24 , wherein the chordal regions are displaced by 90° on successive, adjacent barbs. 
     
     
         26 . The tactile marker according to  15 , wherein a metal cap is provided to cover the head portion of the tactile marker. 
     
     
         27 . The tactile marker according to  26 , wherein the metal cap is formed from pressed metal. 
     
     
         28 . The tactile marker according to  26 , wherein the metal cap is formed over a major portion of its surface area with a plurality of protuberances as an alternative to the upper surface the head portion being formed with the anti-skid projections. 
     
     
         29 . The tactile marker according to  27 , wherein the metal cap is formed over a major portion of its surface area with a plurality of protuberances as an alternative to the upper surface the head portion being formed with the anti-skid projections. 
     
     
         30 . The tactile marker according to  15 , wherein the tactile marker is moulded from nylon.