CA2360601C - Directional pedestrian information aid - Google Patents

Abstract

A tactile directional pedestrian information aid which has raised or indented features (11 and 12), which are capable of imparting directional information by tactile interrogation, such as by the hand or fingers brushing over the raised features. The distinct difference in tactile qualities of the raised or indented features, e.g. shape or texture of (11 and 12), are capable by interpretation of imparting correctness of travel direction, incorrectness of travel direction, or a requirement for a change in direction of travel. This tactile directional pedestrian information aid shall be capable of attachment to, or form an integral part of a suitable supporting medium (10).

Description

. = 1 Directional Pedestrian Information Aid This invention relates to a tactile directional pedestrian information aid.

Exit signs are a well known and adopted method of directing people towards stairways and safe exit points during everyday use and in the case of an emergency such as a fire. Such signs are often illuminated to assist safe exit in low light situations.
These signs are, however, limited in their effectiveness by the essential necessity of the exiting person being able to see them.
The ability to assimilate the directional information may be impaired or negated by either the physical capabilities of the exiting person, for example partial sight or blindness, or by local conditions such as smoke, fumes, low-light or darkness.
According to the present invention there is provided a tactile directional information aid for a person, said aid comprising raised or indented distinctive features which act to determine the direction of exit by tactile interrogation when contacted by a sensory part of the body, such as a hand, according to the features' distinguishing shape or texture, said features capable of being affixed to a suitable supporting medium and wherein said raised or indented distinctive features change in shape and/or texture to indicate a change in direction, to be followed by the person.

The suitable supporting medium can be in the form of a material being adapted to fix to a wall or wall feature, or may comprise part of the wall or building feature itself and which act to determine the proper direction of exit when contacted by a sensory part of the body, such as a hand, according to the feature's distinguishing shape or texture. Suitable signs or AMENDED SHEET

2 other such instructional material shall avail the person of the interpretation of the taction.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of examples with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-.
Fig. I shows in perspective the raised features on a suitable medium;
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= ..~.._ . ~: _ : z: , Figs. 2-4 illustrate the transmission of tactile -t- .-:~ :,:.
information to the pedestrian or evacuee.
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Referring to the drawings, the tactile directional pedestrian_ information aid comprises raised or indented distinctive features 11 and 12 having a distinguishing shape or texture which are capable of being affixed to a suitable supporting medium 10 as shown in Fig. 1 which may be, for example, a strip of self-adhesive vinyl fixed to a wall at a reasonable height, or other suitable form of a material being adapted to fix to a wall or wall feature (not shown).

In order for the person to assess the correct direction in which to move towards the exit from the aid, the hand or other suitable part of the body must brush over the raised features 11 and 12. Referring to Fig. 2, if the hand moves across the features 11 in the direction as illustrated, a very distinct step is belt, indicating movement in the wrong direction, away from the exit.

Referring to Fig. 4, a distinctly different =feature 12 indicates that the person must make a turn, for example at 90 , and walk forward towards an exit or more tactile directional information aids.

AMENDED SHEET

Claims

What Is Claimed:

1. A method for a person to move and be guided along a route by touching tactile indicators affixed to a suitable supporting medium comprising the steps of:
providing a first set of raised or indented distinctively shaped or textured features;
assigning a first direction of movement to said first distinctive features according to the least resistance when said first features are tactilely interrogated;
providing a second set of raised or indented distinctively shaped or textured features, said second features being distinctive in shape or texture to said first features;

assigning a change in direction of movement to said second features different from said first direction of movement;
affixing said first features to a suitable supporting medium to mark a first route in said first direction of movement to be followed by a person;
affixing said second features to a suitable supporting medium to mark a change in direction away from said second features;
touching said first features;

moving in said first direction of movement once one of said first features is touched;

continuing movement in said first direction of movement past further said first features;
touching said second feature;

stopping movement in said first direction of movement once said second feature is touched;

moving away from said second features in said second direction of movement once said second feature is touched;
characterised in that a series of said first shaped features and a series of said second shaped features are arranged in separate distinct groups in a linear manner such that a series of the first shaped features are positioned prior to and/or following a group of said second shaped features.