Detectable warnings

Abstract

A detectable warning tile which aims to solve the problem of buckling and cracking associated with different thermal expansion properties of the tile and the substrate in which it is installed. Said tile is provided with underside flanges on only some of the outermost vertical surface of the tile. The tile need not be a quadrilateral, the tile may have more or fewer than fours edges.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A detectable warning tile comprising:
 a body having a first edge, a second edge, and a third edge;   a first flange integral with and depending from the body, the flange aligned with the first edge; and   no integral flange aligned with the second and third edges.   
     
     
         2 . The tile of  claim 1  wherein the body further comprises a fourth edge opposed to the second edge. 
     
     
         3 . The tile of  claim 2  further comprising a second flange integral with and depending from the body, the second flange aligned with the fourth edge. 
     
     
         4 . The tile of either of  claim 2  or  3  wherein the first and fourth edges are opposed to one another and the second and third edges are opposed to one another. 
     
     
         5 . The tile of claim of either of  claim 2  or  3  wherein the first and second edges are opposed to one another and the third and fourth edges are opposed to one another. 
     
     
         6 . The tile of any of  claims 2 - 5  wherein the body is rectangular. 
     
     
         7 . A detectable warning tile comprising:
 a body with a plurality of attachment points, a plurality of fasteners, and a plurality of anchors;   wherein the number of attachment points is equal to the number of fasteners and the number of anchors;   wherein each fastener is affixed to a single anchor and attaches that anchor to the body at a single attachment point; and   wherein each fastener is attached to the body in such a way that the body can expand or contract and move each attachment point without moving the each fastener and anchor, and without otherwise deforming the body.   
     
     
         8 . The tile of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the body defines a plurality of through-holes equal to the number of fasteners;   each fastener passes through one through-hole; and   the through-holes are sufficiently larger than the fasteners that the body can expand or contract and move each attachment point without moving the each fastener and anchor, and without otherwise deforming the body.   
     
     
         9 . The tile of  claim 8  further comprising a plurality of grommets equal to the number of fasteners, each grommet positioned within a through-hole and surrounding a fastener, each grommet being sufficiently deformable to allow the body to expand or contract and move each attachment point without moving each fastener and anchor, and without otherwise deforming the body. 
     
     
         10 . The tile of any of  claims 7 - 9  wherein each fastener is attached to the body in such a way that the body can expand or contract an amount equal to tile's expansion due to a change in temperature of 20 degrees centigrade. 
     
     
         11 . A detectable warning tile comprising:
 a body with a plurality of attachment points, a plurality of fasteners, and a plurality of anchors;   wherein the number of attachment points is equal to the number of fasteners and the number of anchors;   wherein each fastener is affixed to a single anchor and attaches that anchor to the body at a single attachment point in such a way that the body can expand or contract and move each attachment point and fastener without moving the each anchor, and without otherwise deforming the body.   
     
     
         12 . The tile of  claim 11  wherein the anchors are sufficiently deformable that the body can expand or contract an amount equal to tile's expansion due to a change in temperature of 20 degrees centigrade. 
     
     
         13 . A detectable warning tile assembly comprising:
 a body, a fastener, an anchor and an isolation tray;   wherein the isolation tray is affixed to the body by the fastener and the anchor; and   wherein the body fits within the isolation tray over predetermined range of temperatures despite thermal expansion or contraction of the body relative to the tray.   
     
     
         14 . A detectable warning tile comprising:
 a body having at least one edge and an upper surface;   a plurality of detectable warnings on the upper surface; and   an upper lip along the at least one edge;   wherein the detectable warnings rise a specified height off the upper surface, and the upper lip rises a greater height off the upper surface.   
     
     
         15 . The tile of  claim 14  wherein the upper lip is broken so as to define at least one opening in the upper lip. 
     
     
         16 . The tile of  claim 15  wherein the upper lip is widest at a point between two openings and is narrowest where the upper lip defines the two openings. 
     
     
         17 . A detectable warning tile comprising:
 a body with a plurality of attachment points and an equal plurality of fasteners; and   an anchor attached to the body by each of the plurality of fasteners;   wherein each of the fasteners attaches the anchor to the body at a different one of the plurality of attachment points.   
     
     
         18 . A detectable warning tile assembly comprising:
 an anchor, a fastener, and a body defining a through-hole;   wherein the fastener passes through the through-hole and attaches the anchor to the body; and   wherein the through-hole, fastener and anchor are sized and shaped such that, when the tile assembly is pressed into wet concrete, air can vent from below to above the body.   
     
     
         19 . The tile of  claim 18  wherein the through-hole defines at least one channel sized and shaped so that when the fastener attaches the anchor to the body, air above the tile is in fluid communication with air below the tile through the at least one channel. 
     
     
         20 . The tile of  claim 18  wherein the fastener comprises at least one rib sized and shaped to prevent a surface of the fastener from contacting the body, so that the fastener and the body define at least one channel through which air above the tile is in fluid communication with air below the tile. 
     
     
         21 . The tile of  claim 18  wherein the anchor comprises at least one boss sized and shaped to prevent a surface of the anchor from contacting the body, so that the anchor and the body define at least one channel through which air above the tile is in fluid communication with air below the tile.