JP7612206B2 - Tactile blocks for visually impaired people - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to technology for guiding blocks for visually impaired people, and more specifically, to sheet-like guiding blocks for visually impaired people that are laid on road surfaces to guide the position and direction of walking of visually impaired people.

The configuration of guiding blocks for visually impaired persons, which are used to guide or warn visually impaired persons and assist them in walking, is conventionally known. Specifically, they are composed of a main body that is rectangular in plan view with dot-like or linear protrusions arranged in a row on the surface, and are laid on roads, floors, etc. for use. Proposed guiding blocks for visually impaired persons include those with a main body formed into a block shape using concrete, ceramic, etc., and those with a main body formed into a sheet shape using rubber, synthetic resin, etc.

This type of guiding block for visually impaired persons is mainly installed on road surfaces outdoors, so it is required to have the same level of walkability and safety as general sidewalk pavement. In particular, guiding blocks for visually impaired persons must have anti-slip properties to prevent general pedestrians such as visually impaired persons and elderly people, as well as cyclists, from falling over, especially in wet conditions such as during rain or when water is being sprinkled, and to enable them to walk and ride safely.

As an example of a conventional block for guiding visually impaired persons, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, a block for guiding visually impaired persons (Braille tile) made of synthetic resin with an uneven pattern formed on the surface of the main body by sandblasting has been proposed. With this configuration, it is true that the uneven pattern formed directly on the surface of the main body can increase the slip resistance (BPN value), and it can be expected to have a certain degree of slip resistance.

However, the block for guiding visually impaired persons disclosed in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1 is formed using a molding die (master model) in which blast particles are sprayed at high speed onto the cavity surface of the die to create an uneven shape. This means that the shape of the uneven pattern is non-uniform and the desired protruding shape is not achieved depending on the material and size of the blast particles. In addition, the height of the uneven pattern on the main body surface (reference surface) is small and extremely minute, meaning that the block cannot stably exhibit anti-slip performance that allows pedestrians to walk and run safely in wet conditions.

Patent Publication No. 2020-33832

The present invention aims to solve the above-mentioned problems with guiding blocks for visually impaired people by providing guiding blocks for visually impaired people that can stably exhibit anti-slip performance that allows pedestrians to walk and run safely even in wet conditions.

The problem that the present invention aims to solve is as described above, and the means for solving this problem will be explained next.

That is, in claim 1, a sheet-like block for guiding visually impaired persons that is laid on the road surface to guide the visually impaired persons in the walking position and direction comprises a sheet-like main body that is rectangular in plan view and has dot-like or linear protrusions arranged in a row on its upper surface, a plurality of hemispherical micro-protrusions protruding from the surface of the main body, and a matte surface that is formed on the surface of the main body and the micro-protrusions and has a plurality of convex patterns that are smaller than the micro-protrusions.

In claim 2, the height of the minute protrusions from the reference plane of the main body is greater than the height of the convex pattern of the matte surface, and is 0.2 to 0.7 mm.

In claim 3, the microprotrusions are arranged in a grid pattern in a plan view.

In claim 4, the matte surface has a height of 0.01 to 0.3 mm from the top end of the recesses of the convex pattern.

In claim 5, the matte surface is formed so that the upper end position of the recess is constant.

The effect of the present invention is to provide a stable anti-slip performance that allows pedestrians to walk and run safely even in wet conditions.

1 is a plan view showing an overall configuration of a visually impaired guiding block according to one embodiment of the present invention; 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 1. 4 is an enlarged plan view showing the small protrusions and matte surface formed on the surface of the main body. FIG. FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the small protrusions and the matte surface. FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of FIG. 4 . 1 is an enlarged photograph of the small protrusions and matte surface formed on the surface of the main body. FIG. 13 is a plan view showing the overall configuration of another embodiment of a guiding block for visually impaired people.

Next, we will explain the form for implementing the invention.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the visually impaired guiding block 1 of this embodiment is constructed as a sheet-like member that is laid on the road surface to guide the visually impaired in their walking position and direction, and specifically, it is composed of a sheet-like main body 2 that is rectangular in plan view (in this embodiment, a square in plan view of 300 mm x 300 mm), a number of small protrusions 3 protruding from the surface of the main body 2, and a matte surface 4 formed on the surfaces of the main body 2 and the small protrusions 3.

The main body 2 is configured as a guide block in accordance with JIS T 9251 (regulations concerning the shape, dimensions and arrangement of protrusions on blocks for guiding visually impaired persons, etc.), and is composed of a sheet-like member 20 formed in a rectangular shape in a plan view, and a number of linear protrusions 21, 21... arranged side by side on the upper surface of the sheet-like member 20. In the main body 2 of this embodiment, the protrusions 21 are formed in the shape of a long plate (rod) with a half-dome shape in cross section, and multiple protrusions (four pieces) are arranged side by side at equal intervals from each other.

As shown in Figures 3 to 6, the micro-protrusions 3 are hemispherical protrusions formed on the surface of the main body 2 (sheet-like member 20 and protrusions 21), and multiple micro-protrusions 3, 3... are arranged with a predetermined distance D (see Figure 3). The micro-protrusions 3 are shaped as part of a sphere, and do not necessarily have half the volume of a sphere, but may be formed to include part of a sphere. The micro-protrusions 3 in this embodiment are shaped so that the outer peripheral surface is circular in plan view, and the diameter increases as it extends vertically downward.

The microprotrusions 3 are arranged over the entire surface of the main body 2 in a lattice pattern in plan view with adjacent microprotrusions 3 spaced a predetermined distance D apart. In this embodiment, as an example, the microprotrusions 3 are arranged in a hexagonal lattice pattern in plan view. The arrangement of the microprotrusions 3 is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, any of a diagonal lattice pattern, a square lattice pattern, a rectangular lattice pattern, and a parallelepiped lattice pattern.

The size of the micro-protrusions 3 is such that the planar width R (see Figure 3) is 0.5 to 2.0 mm, and the height H1 (see Figure 5) from the reference plane L of the surface of the main body 2 is constant at 0.2 to 0.7 mm, preferably 0.3 to 0.6 mm. The height H1 of the micro-protrusions 3 is the vertical length from the reference plane L (horizontal plane) of the main body 2 to the top of the micro-protrusions 3. If the micro-protrusions 3 are too small, they will not be able to provide stable anti-slip performance, while if they are too large, the aesthetic appearance (design) of the visually impaired guiding block 1 will be poor, and dust will easily accumulate and dirt will adhere, making them difficult to maintain.

The microprotrusions 3 are arranged so that the distance D between the closest microprotrusions 3 is 0.5 to 3.0 mm, and in the case of microprotrusions 3 that satisfy the above-mentioned size specifications, it is preferable to arrange 10 to 40 microprotrusions per unit area (1 ^cm2 ) on the surface of the main body 2. If the number of microprotrusions 3 per unit area is small, stable anti-slip performance cannot be achieved, and if there are too many microprotrusions, dust will easily accumulate and dirt will easily adhere, making maintenance difficult.

As shown in Figures 3 to 6, the matte surface 4 is formed on the surface of the main body 2 (sheet-like member 20 and protrusions 21) and the micro-protrusions 3, and is configured to have a plurality of matte convex patterns 40, 40... that are even smaller than the micro-protrusions 3 described above. The convex patterns 40 are a collection of fine convex protrusions that have no directionality, and recesses 41 are formed between the convex patterns 40. As described below, the matte surface 4 of this embodiment is formed in a constant position at the top of the recesses 41 (reference plane L of the main body 2 in this embodiment) by using a molding die in which a predetermined recess shape corresponding to the matte surface 4 is formed in the cavity surface by an etching method during the manufacturing process of the block 1 for guiding visually impaired persons.

The matte finish 4 is formed over the entire surface of the main body 2 and the micro-projections 3, continuously on not only the main body 2 but also the surface of the micro-projections 3 protruding from the surface of the main body 2. In other words, the surface of the visually impaired guiding block 1 of this embodiment is covered with the matte finish 4, and multiple raised patterns 40, 40... are formed along the horizontal surface of the main body 2 (sheet-like member 20 and projections 21) and the surface of the micro-projections 3.

The size of the raised pattern 40 is formed so that the amount of protrusion from the surface of the main body 2 and the micro-projections 3 is equal to or less than the amount of protrusion of the micro-projections 3 from the surface of the main body 2, and the height H2 (see FIG. 6) from the top end position of the recess 41 (in this embodiment, the reference plane L of the main body 2) is at least smaller than the height H1 of the micro-projections 3 (H1>H2), preferably 0.01 to 0.3 mm, and more preferably 0.02 to 0.2 mm. The height H2 of the raised pattern 40 is the vertical length from the top end position of the recess 41 to the top of the raised pattern 40. If the raised pattern 40 is too small, the anti-slip properties of the micro-projections 3 cannot be improved, while if it is too large, dust will easily accumulate and dirt will easily adhere, resulting in poor maintainability.

The micro-projections 3 and matte surface 4 can be processed by known methods, and typical processing methods include sandblasting using blast particles and etching using a solvent. In the visually impaired person guiding block 1 of this embodiment, the main body 2, micro-projections 3, and matte surface 4 are integrally formed, so the etching method is preferably used, and it is possible to simultaneously process the micro-projections 3 and matte surface 4 as an uneven pattern caused by etching on a wide area or curved surface of the main body 2 and micro-projections 3.

The material for the visually impaired guiding block 1 is made of at least one or more materials selected from the group consisting of rubber, thermoplastic elastomer, and thermoplastic resin as the main raw material, and the main body 2, minute protrusions 3, and matte surface 4 are integrally molded by injection molding or the like.

Examples of rubber that can be used include diene rubbers such as natural rubber (NR), styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR), and chloroprene rubber (CR); olefin rubbers such as ethylene-propylene rubber (EPM), ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM), ethylene-butene rubber (EBM), chlorosulfonated polyethylene rubber (CSM), and acrylic rubber (ACM, ANM); epichlorohydrin rubber (ECO); silicone rubber (Q); fluororubber; and urethane rubber. These rubbers may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

Examples of thermoplastic elastomers that can be used include styrene-based elastomers (TPS), olefin-based elastomers (TPO), polyvinyl chloride-based elastomers (TPVC), polyester-based elastomers (TPEE), urethane-based elastomers (TPU), polyamide-based elastomers (TPA, TPAE), etc. These thermoplastic elastomers may be used alone or in combination of two or more kinds.

Examples of thermoplastic resins include polymethyl methacrylate resin (PMMA), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer resin (ABS), polyvinyl chloride resin (PVC), ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer resin (EVA), polystyrene resin (PS), polyethylene resin (PE), polypropylene resin (PP), polycarbonate resin (PC), polyamide resin (PA), etc. These thermoplastic resins may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

Among the main raw materials mentioned above, particularly preferred ones include styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM), styrene-based elastomer (TPS), urethane-based elastomer (TPU), olefin-based elastomer (TPO), polymethyl methacrylate resin (PMMA), and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer resin (ABS).

In addition to the main raw materials mentioned above, various additives such as lubricants, carbon black, silica, titanium dioxide, various pigments, clay, zinc oxide, stearic acid, accelerators, vulcanizing agents, sulfur, stabilizers, deterioration inhibitors, processing aids, tackifiers, plasticizers, waxes, vulcanization accelerators, extender oils, etc. can be added as appropriate.

As a manufacturing method for the visually impaired guiding block 1, a known method such as injection molding can be used as long as it is a method capable of forming the micro-projections 3 and matte surface 4 on the surface of the main body 2. For example, a mold designed to mold the main body 2 of a predetermined shape and dimensions is used to create a molding mold in which a predetermined concave shape corresponding to the micro-projections 3 and matte surface 4 is formed on the cavity surface by etching or other processing, and after applying a release agent or coating to the cavity surface as appropriate, the material of the main body 2 that has been blended to satisfy the physical properties required for a sheet-like guiding block is suitably injected into the molding mold, whereby a visually impaired guiding block 1 in which the main body 2, micro-projections 3, and matte surface 4 are integrally molded can be easily obtained.

As an example, to manufacture a block for guiding visually impaired persons 1 having the micro-projections 3 and matte surface 4 with the dimensions (size and arrangement) shown in Table 1, a molding die was used in which a predetermined concave shape corresponding to the micro-projections 3 and matte surface 4 was formed in advance on the cavity surface of the die by etching, and a rubber composition containing EPDM as the main raw material and various other additives in a predetermined ratio was injection molded under conditions of an injection temperature of 60 to 90°C, a die temperature of 150 to 180°C, an injection time of 5 to 40 seconds, and a vulcanization time of 180 to 360 seconds, which successfully produced a block for guiding visually impaired persons 1 with the surface shape shown in Figure 6.

To confirm the anti-slip performance of the visually impaired guiding blocks 1 obtained above, the slip resistance value (BPN value) in a wet state was measured using a rubber slider of 6.35 mm x 25.4 mm x 31.75 mm with a British portable skid resistance tester in accordance with ASTM E 303. The slip resistance value was 64 BPN, confirming that the visually impaired guiding blocks 1 of this embodiment have excellent slip resistance.

As described above, the visually impaired guiding block 1 of this embodiment is a sheet-like visually impaired guiding block 1 that is laid on the road surface to guide the visually impaired in the walking position and direction. It comprises a sheet-like main body 2 that is square in plan view and has linear protrusions 21 arranged side by side on its upper surface, a plurality of hemispherical micro-protrusions 3, 3... protruding from the surface of the main body 2, and a matte surface 4 that is formed on the surface of the main body 2 and the micro-protrusions 3 and has a plurality of convex patterns 40, 40... that are even smaller than the micro-protrusions 3. This allows the block 1 to stably exhibit anti-slip performance that allows pedestrians to walk and run safely even in wet conditions.

In other words, the visually impaired guiding block 1 of this embodiment is provided with a number of hemispherical micro-projections 3, 3... protruding from the surface of the main body 2, and a matte finish 4 with a number of convex patterns 40, 40... formed on the surface of the main body 2 and the micro-projections 3 that are even smaller than the micro-projections 3. Therefore, the micro-projections 3 increase the slip resistance (BPN value) of the surface of the main body 2, achieving anti-slip performance in wet conditions, while the matte finish 4 formed on the surface of the main body 2 and the micro-projections 3 improves the anti-slip performance of the micro-projections 3, thereby preventing general pedestrians such as visually impaired people and the elderly, as well as riding bicycles, from easily falling over, and providing a stable anti-slip performance that allows safe walking and riding.

In particular, the visually impaired guiding block 1 of this embodiment has a height H1 from the reference plane L of the main body 2 that is greater than the height H2 of the raised pattern 40 on the matte surface 4, being 0.2 to 0.7 mm, so that it exhibits stable anti-slip performance, has excellent aesthetic appearance (design), and can reduce dust accumulation and dirt adhesion.

In addition, the matte surface 4 of this embodiment has a height H2 of 0.01 to 0.3 mm from the top end of the recesses 41 of the convex pattern 40, which effectively improves slip resistance and reduces dust accumulation and dirt adhesion.

In addition, the matte surface 4 of this embodiment has a fixed upper end position of the recess 41, which effectively reduces dust accumulation and dirt adhesion, preventing deterioration of maintainability.

The configuration of the visually impaired guiding block 1 is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the purpose of the present invention.

In other words, in the above-mentioned embodiment of the block 1 for guiding visually impaired persons, the micro-protrusions 3 are formed over the entire surface of the main body 2, but the arrangement of the micro-protrusions 3 is not limited to this, and may be formed, for example, only on a portion of the sheet-like member 20 and protrusions 21 of the main body 2. The same is true for the configuration of the matte surface 4, which may be formed only on a portion of the surface of the main body 2 and the micro-protrusions 3.

In addition, in the above-mentioned embodiment of the block 1 for guiding visually impaired persons, the micro-protrusions 3 are configured so that the outer peripheral surface is circular in plan view and the diameter increases as it extends vertically downward. However, the shape of the micro-protrusions 3 is not limited to this, and may be, for example, a hemispherical protrusion that includes a portion of a sphere, and the outer peripheral surface is circular in plan view, with the diameter decreasing or remaining the same as it extends vertically downward from the middle.

In addition, the visually impaired guiding block 1 of the above-mentioned embodiment is configured as a guiding block with a plurality of linear protrusions 21, 21... provided on the main body 2, but the shape of the visually impaired guiding block 1 is not limited to this as long as it is configured in accordance with JIS T 9251 (regulations regarding the shape, dimensions and arrangement of protrusions on visually impaired guiding blocks, etc.), and for example, as in another embodiment of the visually impaired guiding block 1 shown in Figure 7, it may be configured as a warning block with a plurality of cylindrical dot-like protrusions 21, 21... with a roughly trapezoidal cross-section provided on the main body 2.

In addition, in the above-mentioned embodiment of the visually impaired guiding block 1, the main body 2 is configured to be a square shape of 300 mm x 300 mm in plan view, but the main body 2 (sheet-like member 20) may be configured to be a rectangle in plan view of 300 mm x 600 mm, for example.

Reference Signs List 1 Guiding block for visually impaired people 2 Main body 3 Micro-projections 4 Mat-finished surface 20 Sheet-like member 21 Projections 40 Convex pattern 41 Concave portions

Claims (5)

A sheet-like guide block for visually impaired people that is laid on the road surface to guide the visually impaired people in the walking position and direction.
A sheet-like main body having a rectangular shape in a plan view and having dot-like or linear protrusions arranged side by side on an upper surface thereof;
A plurality of hemispherical small protrusions protruding from the surface of the main body;
a matte surface having a plurality of convex patterns smaller than the microprotrusions formed on the surfaces of the main body and the microprotrusions;
A guiding block for visually impaired persons, comprising: The visually impaired guiding block according to claim 1, wherein the height of the minute protrusions from the reference surface of the main body is greater than the height of the convex pattern on the matte surface, and is 0.2 to 0.7 mm. The visually impaired guiding block according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which the micro-projections are arranged in a grid pattern in a plan view. The visually impaired guiding block according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the matte surface has a height of 0.01 to 0.3 mm from the top end position of the recesses of the raised pattern. The visually impaired guiding block according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the matte surface is formed so that the upper end positions of the recesses are uniform.

Images