System and method for navigating a space while visually impaired

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10959904-B2
Application number	US-201715825215-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 29, 2017
Priority date	Nov 30, 2016
Publication date	Mar 30, 2021
Grant date	Mar 30, 2021

Abstract

Systems for and methods of readily locating an eyewash station in a lab while visually impaired are provided.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system for locating an eyewash station in a laboratory having a lab bench, the system comprising:
a tactile guide strip including a plurality of raised portions arranged along a length of the tactile guide strip; and
a drip ridge extending the length of the tactile guide strip adjacent to the raised portions;
wherein the tactile guide strip is operable for mounting to a lower surface of the lab bench with the drip ridge being closer to an outer edge of the lab bench than the raised portions; and
wherein the tactile guide strip provides a first tactile sensation upon movement of a hand along the raised portions of the tactile guide strip in a first direction and a second tactile sensation upon movement of the hand along the raised portions of the tactile guide strip in a second direction opposite the first direction.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the raised portions form a textured surface.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the textured surface can be felt through lab gloves.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the tactile guide strip defines a path from a first location in the laboratory to a second location in the laboratory; and
wherein the second location is closer to the eyewash station than the first location.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the first location is more than 1 foot away from the eyewash station.

6. The system of claim 4 , wherein the second location is within 6 inches of the eyewash station.

7. The system of claim 4 , wherein the second location is within 1 inch of the eyewash station.

8. The system of claim 4 , wherein the second location overlaps with the eyewash station.

9. The system of claim 4 , wherein a gap between a first tactile guide strip on the lower surface of the lab bench and a second tactile guide strip on the lower surface of the lab bench represents the second location.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein an activation means is situated in the gap, and
wherein manipulation of the activation means triggers an alarm.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the activation means is a button.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the alarm includes at least one of a visible alarm and an audible alarm.

13. The system of claim 4 , further comprising a tactile guide arrow situated along the path,
wherein the tactile guide arrow indicates a direction of travel across an open space that must be traversed before the path resumes.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the open space is a distance of at least 1 foot.

15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the tactile guide arrow includes a protective hood; and
wherein the protective hood is closer to the lower surface of the lab bench than the tactile guide arrow when the tactile guide arrow is mounted to the lower surface of the lab bench; and
wherein the protective hood is closer to an outer edge of the lab bench than the tactile guide arrow when the tactile guide arrow is mounted to the lower surface of the lab bench.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the protective hood projects beyond the outer edge of the lab bench when the tactile guide arrow is mounted to the lower surface of the lab bench.

17. The system of claim 13 , wherein the tactile guide arrow can be positioned through 360 degrees when the tactile guide arrow is mounted to the lower surface of the lab bench.

18. The system of claim 1 , wherein adjacent raised portions abut one another.

19. The system of claim 1 , wherein adjacent raised portions overlap.

20. The system of claim 1 , wherein the drip ridge projects beyond the outer edge of the lab bench when the tactile guide strip is mounted to the lower surface of the lab bench.

Assignees

• Owens Corning Intellectual Capital Llc

Inventors

• Buckwaiter Daniel James

Classifications

• G08B7/066 Primary

  guiding along a path, e.g. evacuation path lighting strip · CPC title

• A61H3/06

  Walking aids for blind persons (replacing direct visual perception by another kind of perception A61F9/08) · CPC title

• A61H2201/0173

  Means for preventing injuries · CPC title

• A61H2003/063

  with tactile perception · CPC title

• A61H35/02

  for the eyes · CPC title