Signals and indicators – Indicators – By touch
Patent
1997-04-30
2000-06-13
Williams, Hezron
Signals and indicators
Indicators
By touch
116DIG17, G08B 600
Patent
active
060735759
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is particularly concerned with systems for safely evacuating people from a building where loss of sight or hearing occurs, for example, during a fire, explosion, earthquake, etc.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
For safety reasons all buildings require emergency exits and the location of these exits is indicated by suitable signage. In addition to this audible alarms are provided to indicate when a fire occurs.
The problem with the above arrangement is that in large buildings such as warehouses, when a fire occurs the presence of smoke can reduce visibility to such a level that exit signs are impossible to see. In such a situation a fire alarm does not indicate which direction a person should proceed in to escape the fire.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention there is provided a system for aiding emergency evacuation of people from a building, comprising a plurality of rails with each rail being associated with at least one direction indicator comprising a tactile portion which indicates the direction a person must move in to find an exit, wherein at least one rail is provided with a direction indicator for directing a person from one rail across a discontinuity to another rail or exit, whereby a person using only the sense of touch can locate an exit starting from any rail and across any discontinuity between rails.
Preferably each rail comprises a plurality of direction indicators.
Each direction indicator may be arranged to be touched by a person sliding a hand along a rail.
The direction indicator tactile portion preferably comprises an indicator member which is movable from a first position to a second position to indicate that a person moving the indicator member should proceed in the direction in which the member is movable.
Preferably the rails are wall mounted.
It is preferred that in the first position, the indicator member is substantially perpendicular to the rail.
The indicator member may be pivotable from the first to the second position.
The direction indicator preferably comprises a biasing means for urging the indicator member to the first position.
The biasing means may comprise a cam means which is arranged to return the indicator member to the first position.
The direction indicator preferably comprises an elongate member which is pivotable about its central longitudinal axis.
Preferably the indicator member is supported on the elongate member.
The elongate member may comprise a lower cam portion with a cam surface.
Preferably the cam surface is located on a lower surface of the elongate member.
The lower cam portion may be arranged to be seated on a support member.
Preferably the support member has an upper surface with a cam surface thereon.
The support member may comprise a shaft in its upper surface which is arranged to receive a lower axial portion of the elongate member.
Preferably the cam surface of the lower portion is arranged to be seated on the upper cam surface of the support member.
The lower cam surface may comprise a convex lower most portion.
Preferably the upper cam surface comprises a concave portion.
The upper cam surface and cam member may be arranged to rest on the lower cam surface with the indicator member in the first position.
Preferably the lower cam surface and the cam member is rotatable with respect to the upper cam surface.
The cam member may be arranged under the force of gravity to be urged back to a position where the indicator member is in the first position.
Preferably the cam member is substantially cylindrical in shape and is arranged to be received over a lower portion of the elongate member.
The indicator member may be arranged to be received on an upper portion of the elongate member.
The elongate member may comprise a planar member.
Preferably the rail comprises a cylindrical portion which is arranged to be held by a person so as to guide the person in a particular direction.
The indicator member preferably comprises a tactile portion which is arranged to be touched by a person
REFERENCES:
patent: 3408025 (1968-10-01), Davis
patent: 4179160 (1979-12-01), Sabo
patent: 4385586 (1983-05-01), Schriever
Williams Hezron
Worth Willie Morris
Wotherspoon Foodservice Design Pty Ltd
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