Replaceable wet-set tactile warning surface unit and method of installation and replacement

Abstract

A replaceable, wet-set tactile warning surface unit having a body defining an upper surface and a lower surface, the body defining a series of raised projections on its upper surface, and defining a plurality of spaced through-holes from the top to the bottom surface, in which the raised projections are spaced from one another and the through-holes are located between projections. An anchor member such as a threaded insert is coupled to the bottom surface of the unit member directly below each of the through-holes by fasteners such as bolts that pass through the through-holes.

1 . A method of installing a replaceable, wet-set tactile warning surface unit having a body formed as a unitary resinous composite, said body having an upper surface, a lower surface, a series of raised projections on its upper surface, and a plurality of spaced through-holes passing through the body, the method comprising: providing an equal plurality of fasteners through the through-holes; providing one or more anchor members affixed to the plurality of fasteners, such that the anchor members are coupled to the body; and placing the unit with the coupled anchor members into fresh concrete and applying force to the unit to embed the unit in the fresh concrete such that the upper surface is approximately flush with the top surface of the concrete surrounding the unit and air under the unit escapes from underneath the unit to the outside as the unit is pushed down into the fresh concrete. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the anchor members have a first portion extending radially outward to a greater extent than a second portion located between the first portion and the lower surface to help embed the anchors in the fresh concrete as it sets. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the number of spaced through holes equals the number of anchor members. 
     
     
         4 . A method of replacing a first replaceable tactile warning surface unit that has been damaged or deteriorated with a second replaceable unit having an essentially identical body to that of the first replaceable unit, the body of the first replaceable unit being formed as a unitary resinous composite, said body having an upper surface, a lower surface, a series of raised projections on its upper surface, and a plurality of spaced through-holes passing through the body, the first replaceable unit comprising a flange extending from the lower surface of the body and into fresh concrete and the first replaceable unit further comprising one or more anchor members embedded in the concrete and coupled to the body by fasteners passing through the through-holes, the method comprising: removing the fasteners from the first replaceable unit; prying the body of the first replaceable unit from the concrete so as to reveal a location in the concrete into which the flange extended and to leave the anchor members embedded in the concrete; placing the essentially identical body of the second replaceable unit on the concrete such that the through-holes of the second replaceable unit are aligned with the embedded anchor members and the flange of the second replaceable unit extends into the revealed location into which the flange of the first replaceable unit extended; and affixing the essentially identical body of the second replaceable unit to the concrete by passing fasteners through the through-holes and into the anchor members. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the number of spaced through holes equals the number of anchor members.