Efficiently installable and durable embedment tile for producing tactilely-detectable surfaces
Disclosed is an embedment tile for producing a tactilely detectable surface in a moldable material and method for using same. The tile comprises a tile member substantially planar in form, having a pattern of upwardly extending projections on its upper surface forming a tactilely detectable pattern and two or more cross beams on the lower surface of the tile member, the cross beams having hollow chambers defined by a sidewall, end openings and optional apertures to allow for the release of air and moldable material from the exterior into the hollow chambers of the cross beams as the tile is embedded in the material, thus easing and speeding installation of the tile in the moldable material. The embedment tile may further consist of support members that function to support and further interlock the embedment tile to the moldable material once set.
1. A method for producing a tactilely detectable surface in a moldable material, comprising the steps of:
a) providing an embedment tile comprising:
i) a tile member substantially planar in form, having an upper surface and a lower surface, the upper surface having a plurality of projections extending upward therefrom;
ii) a plurality of moldable material cross beams anchors joined to the lower surface of the tile member, each moldable material cross beam anchor having a pair of side walls, each having a lower edge portion joined to the lower edge portion of the other side wall to define a substantially enclosed chamber, and the side walls have a plurality of moldable material openings into the chamber; and
iii) a plurality of support members, each support member being attached to the lower surface of the tile member and projecting downward a distance therefrom, the distance defining a depth greater than that of the moldable material cross beam anchors;
b) placing the moldable material embedment tile into the moldable material;
c) allowing moldable material to flow through the cross beam moldable material openings and into the moldable material cross beam anchor chambers;
d) positioning the upper surface of the tile member relative to a surface of the surrounding moldable material so that the projections are exposed; and
e) allowing the moldable material to cure in the chamber and the moldable material openings to form a substantially continuous cured material between the chamber and cured material surrounding the moldable material cross beam anchor.
2. A method for producing a tactilely detectable surface in concrete, comprising:
a) providing an embedment tile comprising:
i) a tile member substantially planar in form, having an upper surface and a lower surface, the upper surface having a plurality of projections extending upward there from in a tactilely detectable pattern;
ii) a plurality of moldable material cross beam anchors projecting downward a distance from the lower surface of the tile member, each moldable material cross beam anchor having an end that defines a moldable material opening, and each side wall includes a lower edge portion joined to the lower edge portion of the other side wall to define a substantially enclosed chamber, and the side walls have a plurality of moldable material openings into the chamber; and
iii) two or more support members, each support member being attached to the lower surface of the tile member and projecting downward a distance therefrom, the distance defining a depth greater than that of the moldable material cross beam anchors and defining a channel and air release openings;
b) setting the embedment tile into moldable material to match a predetermined grade requirements;
c) placing moldable material under and around the embedment tile; and
d) allowing moldable material to flow into and harden in the chamber and the moldable material openings to form a substantially continuous hardened material between the chamber and hardened material outside the moldable material cross beam anchor.