AU2011100580A4 - Ground Surface Indicator - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract A luminescent porcelain stud 2 for a ground surface indicator. The head 4 has a top 5 surface 8, a base 10, a sloping portion 12, and an annular rim 13. A plurality of oval shaped dimples 14 project up from the top surface. The base 10 has a plurality of valleys 20 which increase the surface area of the base to which an adhesive 22 can bond to, and when in use, the adhesive 22 anchors and holds the stud 2 to a ground surface 24. Fn L+

Description

1 AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT "Ground Surface Indicator" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: 2 GROUND SURFACE INDICATOR Field of the Invention 5 The invention relates to ground surface indicators. Background of the Invention 10 Ground surface indicators can be found on walkways to alert visually impaired pedestrians of a nearby hazard or location. They are often located near pedestrian crossings, the edge of train platforms, the top and bottom of stairways / ramps / escalators, bus and tram stops, and passenger wharves. 15 A ground surface indicator may be in the form of one or more rows of tactile tiles. Each tactile tile comprises a square shaped tile with an array of truncated cones, in accordance with the Australian standard, which project above the upper surface of the tile. 20 Some disadvantages of using tactile tiles include: " the uncomplimentary appearance of the tactile tiles with the surrounding ground surface, " the necessity to dig a whole section of ground which corresponds to the shape of the tiles in order to lay the tile flat with the upper surface of the tile level 25 with the surrounding ground surface, * wearing and breakage of the tiles, * the difficulty associated with replacing worn and broken tiles. It is an object of the present invention to provide a new product for ground surface 30 indicators.

3 Disclosure of the Invention In one form, the invention provides a stud for a ground surface indicator comprising, - a head comprising a base and a raised portion which projects up from the 5 base, and - ground engaging means for facilitating fixing of the ground surface indicator to the ground, wherein the ground surface indicator is made substantially of a high density ceramic. 10 The raised portion may comprise a circular top surface and a sloping portion which surrounds the circular top surface and extends down and out from the circular top surface toward the base. The raised portion may comprise an annular rim which extends between the sloping 15 portion and the base. In an alternative embodiment the raised portion comprises a dome. In another form, the invention provides a stud for a ground surface indicator 20 comprising, - a head comprising a base, a circular top surface and a sloping portion which surrounds the circular top surface and extends down and out from the circular top surface toward the base, and - ground engaging means for facilitating fixing of the ground surface indicator 25 to the ground, wherein the ground surface indicator is made substantially of a high density ceramic. The high density ceramic may be porcelain, In another form the high density ceramic may comprise primarily silica and alumina. 30 In a preferred form of the invention, the stud is anchored and held on the ground by an adhesive that bonds the base of the stud to the surface of the ground.

4 The adhesive may be single or multi part. In a preferred form of the invention, the base of the stud may have depressions or valleys included that are capable of receiving a portion of the adhesive within them 5 that increase the keying or grip of the adhesive onto the underside of the stud. In another form of the invention, the ground engaging means may comprise a stem disposed on the base of the head of the stud. The stem may extend down from the centre of the base. The stem may extend down substantially perpendicularly from the 10 base. The stem may be less than 1.5cm long and 0.5-1.5cm wide. In a particular form the stem is about 1cm long and 1cm wide In another form the ground engaging means comprises the base of the head. 15 In yet another form the ground engaging means comprises a countersunk screw disposed on the base of the head. The countersunk screw may extend down from the base. The stem may comprise one or more peripheral grooves. The grooves may extend up 20 from a lower end of the stem. The grooves may extend longitudinally along the stem. There may be four grooves. The stem may have a cross-hatch appearance on cross section. The circular top surface of the head may comprise raised features for grip or drainage 25 or cleaning or aesthetics. The raised features may comprise raised dimples. The dimples may be elongated. The dimples may be generally oval shaped. The dimples may be generally parallel, or arrayed in concentric circles. The dimples may be oriented in the same general 30 lengthwise direction. The dimples may be arranged in a series of generally parallel rows. The dimples may be generally arranged lengthwise end to end in the rows. Spaces between the dimples may form channels which traverse the top surface of the head from edge to edge. The arrangement of channels may allow draining of liquids 5 from the top surface of the head. This may facilitate cleaning or drying of the top surface of the head. The top surface of the head may comprise grip means. The grip means may comprise 5 the high density ceramic and/or the dimples. The stud may be luminescent. In a particular form the head is luminescent. The stud may be manufactured in any colour to meet client specifications. In a 10 particular form the head is yellow. In another aspect the invention provides a method of installing a stud as described herein comprising, - piercing the ground to form a stem hole, 15 - depositing an adhesive substance in the stem hole, and - inserting the stem of the stud into the stem hole. In one form, piercing comprises drilling. A drilling machine with multiple heads may be used to drill multiple stem holes concurrently. Drilling may be desirable for 20 surfaces with hard substances such as set concrete. In another form, piercing comprises stamping. A stamp with multiple pins may be used to stamp multiple stem holes concurrently. Stamping may be desirable for surfaces with displaceable substances such as wet concrete. 25 The adhesive substance may be glue or resin. The advantages of the present invention of the prior art are numerous. Firstly the studs can be easily retrofitted to an existing surface with aq minimum of preparation. 30 Damaged or missing studs can be easily replaced individually. When the stemless version of the invention is used, no drilling is required, and no excavation of an existing surface is required to retrofit ground surface indicator tiles. Also because the 6 tiles are made of porcelain, they are UV stable, colourfast, wear resitiant and have natural slip resistance. Brief Description of the Drawings 5 Embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a top surface plan view of a stud in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a front elevation view of an alternative embodiment of the stud of 10 Figure 1 that includes a stem; and Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the alternative embodiment of the stud of Figure 1. Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the preferred embodiment of the stud showing a series of valleys that are capable of receiving a portion of the 15 adhesive to increase the keying of the adhesive to the stud. Figure 5 is a side view of the stud in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, adhered to the ground. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments 20 The various elements identified by numerals in the drawings are listed in the following number list. Number List 25 2 Stud 4 Head 6 Stem 8 Top surface 30 10 Bottom surface 12 Sloping portion 13 Annular rim 14 Dimples 7 16 Channels 18 Grooves 20 Valleys 22 Adhesive 5 24 Ground surface Referring to the drawings there is shown a luminescent porcelain stud, generally designated 2, for a ground surface indicator. The stud comprises a head 4 and a sloping portion 12 which slopes from the circumference of the circular top surface 8 10 down and out to an annular rim 13. The annular rim 13 extends between the sloping portion and the circular bottom surface 10. A plurality of spaced elongated dimples 14 project up from the top surface 8, aiding grip underfoot. The dimples are oriented generally in the same direction, Channels 16 are formed on the top surface in the spaces between the dimples and extend from edge to edge of the top surface. This 15 arrangement facilitates draining of liquid from the top surface through the channels for cleaning and drying of the top surface 8 of the head 4. Turning to Figure 4, preferably the underside of the stud contains a series of valleys 20 that increase the surface area that the adhesive makes contact with in order to 20 improve the bond between the stud and the adhesive. Figure 5 shows the stud in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention adhered to a ground surface 24 by way of adhesive 22 25 Turning to Figure 2 which shows an alternative embodiment where the stud comprises a head 4 and a sloping portion 12 which slopes from the circumference of the circular top surface 8 down and out to an annular rim 13, and a stem 6. The head 4 has a circular top surface 8, a circular bottom surface 10 which is of larger 30 diameter than the circular top surface 8, and a sloping portion 12 which slopes from the circumference of the circular top surface 8 down and out to an annular rim 13. The annular rim 13 extends between the sloping portion and the circular bottom surface 10. A plurality of spaced elongated dimples 14 project up from the top 8 surface 8, aiding grip underfoot. The dimples are oriented generally in the same direction. Channels 16 are formed on the top surface in the spaces between the dimples and extend from edge to edge of the top surface. This arrangement facilitates draining of liquid from the top surface through the channels for cleaning and drying 5 of the top surface 8 of the head 4. The stem 6 extends down from the centre of the circular bottom surface 10 of the head. The stem has a series of four grooves 18 which are spaced around the circumference of the stem and extend longitudinally along the stem from top surface 10 to bottom. This arrangement gives the stem 6 a cross hatch appearance when viewed from beneath, Each groove provides a longitudinal area for glue to adhere to along the length of the stem. Studs may be installed in preparing a ground surface indicator as follows: 15 0 Use a drilling machine with a series of heads to drill a series of stem holes into the ground; * Deposit glue into each of the stem holes; and * Insert stems 6 of studs 2 into respective stem holes - in doing this the glue is displaced up along the length of the stem in recesses formed between the 20 grooves and the stem hole wall. Although the porcelain stud is somewhat brittle in itself, once installed in the ground it is very strong and durable and the porcelain material also imparts a degree of grip underfoot. 25 Whilst the above description includes the preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that many variations, alterations, modifications and/or additions may be introduced into the constructions and arrangements of parts previously described without departing from the essential features or the spirit or ambit of the 30 invention.

9 It will be also understood that where the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", are used in this specification, unless the context requires otherwise such use is intended to imply the inclusion of a stated feature or features but is not to be taken as excluding the presence of other feature or features. 5 The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgment or any form of suggestion that such prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia.

Claims (5)

1. A stud for a ground surface indicator comprising, 5 - a head comprising a base, a circular top surface and a sloping portion which surrounds the circular top surface and extends down and out from the circular top surface toward the base, and - ground engaging means for facilitating fixing of the ground surface indicator to the ground, 10 wherein the ground surface indicator is made substantially of a high density ceramic.

2. The ground surface indicator according to claim 1 wherein the ground engaging means is an adhesive that anchors and holds the underside of the stud to the ground surface. 15

3. The ground surface indicator according to claim 1 wherein the ground engaging means comprise a stem which extends down from the centre of the base of the head, the stem being 0.5-1.5cm long and 0.5-1.5cm wide. 20

4. The ground surface indicator according to claim 3 wherein the stem comprises one or more peripheral grooves extending up from a lower end of the stem.

5. The ground surface indicator according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the top surface comprises a plurality of generally parallel raised 25 elongated dimples. Dated this 19th day of May 2011 30 Riviera Organisation Pty Ltd by their patent attorneys Morcom Pernat