GB2147726A - Tactile escape route indicating system - Google Patents

Abstract

A tactile escape route indicating system comprises a strip which can be applied to walls and non-escape doors. The strip comprises a base portion 1 and substantially parallel projections 2 extending therefrom at an acute angle to the length of the strip. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Tactile escape route indicating system This invention relates to a tactile escape route indicating system.

For the purpose of indicating an escape route from the interior of a building in the event of a fire or other emergency it is usual to apply visual signs on walls and doors, such as arrows and notices.

However such visual signs can be obscured by smoke or by the lack of light in the event of power failure at night.

An object of the invention is to provide an alternative or supplementary system for indicating an escape route by means of touch.

According to the invention there is provided a tactile escape route indicating system comprising a strip which can be applied to walls and non-escape doors and providing a first tactile stimulus when rubbed in one direction and a second different tactile stimulus when rubbed in the opposite direction.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a sectional view of a part of a first strip; and Figure 2 is a sectional view of a part of a second strip.

The first strip shown in Figure 1 is applied horizontally along walls and across non-escape doors at heights of about one metre and above five centimetres above the floor. The first strip is composed of a base portion 1 and, extending therefrom at angles of 30 , spines 2 or circular or elliptical crosssection with free end surfaces 3 in an echelon arrangement and staggered from one row to the next so as to resemble the scales of reptiles. The spines 2 are resilient and close enough together so that if the surfaces 3 are rubbed by hand to the left in Figure 1 they provide a first tactile stimulus which is relatively rough and if rubbed to the right in Figure 1 a second tactile stimulus which is relatively smooth but far enough apart to remain cool to the touch.The strip is so orientated on the walls and the non-escape doors that the more positive rough feel is met by the hand when a person is moving away from an escape door. The strip may be made in either of two ways as follows: a) An electrostatic floccing process whereby chopped Nylon 6:6 fibres or similar are laid unidirectionally and at an inclination to the normal onto a flame retardant glue itself on a finely woven glass fibre backing.

b) A weaving process similar to that used in the production of the hooked component of "Velcro" (R.T.M.) except that the projections are straight.

The second strip shown in Figure 2 may be applied horizontally across escape doors again at heights of about one metre and about five centimetres above the floor. The second strip may be made of glass fibre-reinforced plastics and is composed of a base portion 4 and domed projections 5 staggered from one row to the next. The projections 5 provide a third tactile stimulus which is bumpy and can be readily differentiated from the rough and smooth feels of the first strip.

The upper strips are at a height convenient to be felt by the hand while walking and the lower strips are at a height to be felt by the hand when crawling in smoke-filled conditions.

The strips may be about eight centimetres wide and are made of synthetic material resistant to everyday abrasions, common solvents, oils, acids and alkalis. The material should not deform within a temperature range from -20 C to 130"C and should not give off toxic fumes under combustion.

The base portions of the strips may have a self adhesive backing or be compatible with common solvent-based adhesives. It is envisaged to market the strips in rolls from which appropriate lengths may be cut.

1. A tactile escape route indicating system comprising a first strip which can be applied to walls and non-escape doors and providing a first tactile stimulus when rubbed in one direction and a second different tactile stimulus when rubbed in the opposite direction.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the first and second tactile stimuli are provided by free ends of substantially parallel projections extending at an acute angle to the length of the strip.

3. A system according to claim 1 or 2, also comprising a second strip which can be applied to escape doors and providing third tactile stimulus different from the first and second stimuli.

4. A system according to claim 3, wherein the third tactile stimulus is bumpy.

5. A tactile escape route indicating system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (5)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Tactile escape route indicating system This invention relates to a tactile escape route indicating system. For the purpose of indicating an escape route from the interior of a building in the event of a fire or other emergency it is usual to apply visual signs on walls and doors, such as arrows and notices. However such visual signs can be obscured by smoke or by the lack of light in the event of power failure at night. An object of the invention is to provide an alternative or supplementary system for indicating an escape route by means of touch. According to the invention there is provided a tactile escape route indicating system comprising a strip which can be applied to walls and non-escape doors and providing a first tactile stimulus when rubbed in one direction and a second different tactile stimulus when rubbed in the opposite direction. An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a sectional view of a part of a first strip; and Figure 2 is a sectional view of a part of a second strip. The first strip shown in Figure 1 is applied horizontally along walls and across non-escape doors at heights of about one metre and above five centimetres above the floor. The first strip is composed of a base portion 1 and, extending therefrom at angles of 30 , spines 2 or circular or elliptical crosssection with free end surfaces 3 in an echelon arrangement and staggered from one row to the next so as to resemble the scales of reptiles. The spines 2 are resilient and close enough together so that if the surfaces 3 are rubbed by hand to the left in Figure 1 they provide a first tactile stimulus which is relatively rough and if rubbed to the right in Figure 1 a second tactile stimulus which is relatively smooth but far enough apart to remain cool to the touch.The strip is so orientated on the walls and the non-escape doors that the more positive rough feel is met by the hand when a person is moving away from an escape door. The strip may be made in either of two ways as follows: a) An electrostatic floccing process whereby chopped Nylon 6:6 fibres or similar are laid unidirectionally and at an inclination to the normal onto a flame retardant glue itself on a finely woven glass fibre backing. b) A weaving process similar to that used in the production of the hooked component of "Velcro" (R.T.M.) except that the projections are straight. The second strip shown in Figure 2 may be applied horizontally across escape doors again at heights of about one metre and about five centimetres above the floor. The second strip may be made of glass fibre-reinforced plastics and is composed of a base portion 4 and domed projections 5 staggered from one row to the next. The projections 5 provide a third tactile stimulus which is bumpy and can be readily differentiated from the rough and smooth feels of the first strip. The upper strips are at a height convenient to be felt by the hand while walking and the lower strips are at a height to be felt by the hand when crawling in smoke-filled conditions. The strips may be about eight centimetres wide and are made of synthetic material resistant to everyday abrasions, common solvents, oils, acids and alkalis. The material should not deform within a temperature range from -20 C to 130"C and should not give off toxic fumes under combustion. The base portions of the strips may have a self adhesive backing or be compatible with common solvent-based adhesives. It is envisaged to market the strips in rolls from which appropriate lengths may be cut. CLAIMS

1. A tactile escape route indicating system comprising a first strip which can be applied to walls and non-escape doors and providing a first tactile stimulus when rubbed in one direction and a second different tactile stimulus when rubbed in the opposite direction.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the first and second tactile stimuli are provided by free ends of substantially parallel projections extending at an acute angle to the length of the strip.

3. A system according to claim 1 or 2, also comprising a second strip which can be applied to escape doors and providing third tactile stimulus different from the first and second stimuli.

4. A system according to claim 3, wherein the third tactile stimulus is bumpy.

5. A tactile escape route indicating system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.