WO2018034606A1

WO2018034606A1 - Handrail system comprising means for tactile communication

Info

Publication number: WO2018034606A1
Application number: PCT/SE2016/050773
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hans SJÖHOLM
Original assignee: Saferoad Smekab Ab
Priority date: 2016-08-19
Filing date: 2016-08-19
Publication date: 2018-02-22

Abstract

The present invention relates to a tactile handrail system for association with a walkway. The walkway may comprise a sequence of walkway positions wherein each position may comprise walkway elevation information including at least one of: inclining slope, declining slope, inclining step, declining step or plane/plateau forming a sequence of walkway elevation information. The tactile handrail system may comprise handrail positions for immediate lateral association with a respective walkway elevation information. The tactile handrail system may comprise tactile means capable of communicating at least an oncoming change in walkway inclination in the sequence of walkway elevation information to a user located at a handrail position prior the corresponding walkway position of the change in walkway inclination. The tactile means of communication may comprise protrusions and/or cavities distributed along the tactile handrail system.

Description

Handrail system comprising means for tactile communication

The present invention relates to a tactile handrail system adapted for sightless / visually impaired individuals. In particular, the present invention relates to a tactile handrail system to be associated with a walkway. More in particular, the said tactile handrail comprises tactile means for communicating information relating to the elevation of the walkway.

Background of the invention Prior art handrails generally comprise a handrail associated with a walkway where the handrail follows the inclination of the walkway. Typically, the handrail is arranged at a distance from and in parallel with the walkway, thereby the slope of the handrail correspond to the current inclination of the walkway. Although handrail systems pose useful means for common individuals when passing through a walkway, changes in inclination may pose a problem to sightless individuals whom can only sense the current slope of the handrail. Since sightless individuals cannot receive visual information from the prior art handrail system, extra precaution needs to be taken, making the passage through such walkway a time consuming and potentially hazardous endeavor.

Summary of the invention

On this background, an object of the present invention includes the provision of a handrail system which enables fast and safe locomotion for sightless and/or visually impaired individuals.

This object is achieved by providing a tactile handrail system for association with a walkway. The walkway may comprise a sequence of walkway positions wherein each position may comprise walkway elevation information including at least one of: inclining slope, declining slope, inclining step, declining step or plane/plateau forming a sequence of walkway elevation information. The tactile handrail system may comprise handrail positions for immediate lateral association with a respective walkway elevation information. The tactile handrail system may comprise tactile means capable of communicating at least an oncoming change in walkway inclination in the sequence of walkway elevation information to a user located at a handrail position prior the corresponding walkway position of the change in walkway inclination. The tactile means of communication may comprise protrusions and/or cavities distributed along the tactile handrail system.

The invention thereby facilitate the advantage that a user or visually impaired individual may receive information relating to the characteristics of the walkway via the tactilely sensing and receiving information on the tactile handrail. In addition, the present invention has the benefit that the user may receive the said information at a position which is in advance of a change in inclination / type of elevation information such that the user is made aware of an oncoming change in the walkway. The novel features of the tactile handrail thus provides for a more confident and safer passage along the walkway.

According to aspects of the invention, a change in inclination may be a change/transition between two types of elevation information.

The tactile means of communication may according to further aspects comprise mirror images of protrusions arranged on opposing sides of said change in walkway inclination. Thus, it is achieved that the tactile handrail system may communicate to a user which may then receive the above described information regardless from which direction he approaches a change in inclination and/or between different types of elevation information. According to yet further aspects, the protrusions may be capable of communicating at least one further information relating to the sequence of walkway elevation information. According to still further aspects, the further information may include the number of positions of an oncoming type of elevation information such that a user approaching a staircase can receive information relating to the number of steps in the staircase prior reaching the staircase. According to further aspects, a change in inclination may comprise an obstacle, traffic signal, or potential hazard.

According to further aspects the protrusions comprise protruding dots. The use of protruding characteristic dots has the advantage that they may easily be distinguished by a user and rapidly interpreted. Provided that the dots each occupy a relatively small area on the surface of the tactile handrail system, the system may thus achieve a high density of the information which may require longer time to interpret. Alternatively or in combination, the system may comprise fewer dots and a lower density of information to the benefit of rapid tactile interpretation.

One who acknowledged the special needs of visually impaired was Louis Braille, born in Paris 1809 who developed a blind language which still bears his name. According to yet further aspects, the protruding dots form Braille. Thereby, the tactile handrail system may communicate relatively large amounts of complex information relating to the sequence of walkway information, providing an improved user experience and safer locomotion along the walkway. Further objects, features, advantages and properties of the tactile handrail system will become apparent from the detailed description. Brief description of the drawings

In the following detailed portion of the present description, the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 , is a diagrammatic depiction of one aspect of the tactile handrail system according to the present invention,

Fig. 2, is a diagrammatic depiction of one aspect of the tactile handrail system according to the present invention.

The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being place upon illustrating the example embodiments.

Detailed description of the invention

In the following detailed description of the tactile handrail system according to the invention will be described by the preferred embodiments.

The construction and operation of a handrail is as such well-known and should not require further explanation in the present context. Further details regarding the operation of the tactile handrail according to the present invention are provided below.

Fig. 1 and 2 shows a first exemplary embodiment of the tactile handrail system 30, which is particular suitable for walkways, staircases, sloping walkways or like. The tactile handrail system 30 may be used in association with any such staircase e.g. at railroad or underground stations, parks, airports etc. The tactile handrail system 30 may be associated with walkway 20 extending between any positions, for example between a first position A1 and a second position E3 as show in Figs. 1 and 2. The tactile handrail system 30 may extend at least along the path of the walkway 20, or only along part of the walkway 20 preferably the tactile handrail system 30 starts prior the walkway and ends after the walkway.

The walkway 20 may comprise walkway elevation information forming a sequence of walkway elevation information. For example, staircase B is constituted by walkway elevation information in the form of staircase steps B1 -B3. Thus, B1 , B2 and B3 represent the different positions in the sequence of elevation information of the staircase B. According to aspects the whole staircase B may itself be referred to as walkway elevation information. In analogy, plane plateau C may comprise elevation information in the form of positions C1 , C2, C3 which may for example correspond to physical footsteps.

The walkway illustrated in Fig. 1 is an exemplary aspect of the invention, comprising plateau A staircase/steps B, plateau C, staircase/steps D and plateau E. Thereby, the walkway is formed by a sequence of elevation information A1 - E3 wherein each elevation information is denoted by its respective position A1 - E3.

Although such visible physical information as a step or plateau is readily available for common sighted individuals, it remains substantially unavailable for visually impaired and completely unavailable for sightless individuals. A lack of availability of the inclination information to the user of a walkway may render the otherwise safe walkway 20 into a hazardous environment to the latter individuals. The walkway 20 may include but is not limited to comprise at least one of the elevation informations: inclining slope, declining slope, inclining step, inclining stair section, declining step, declining stair section or plane/plateau but may also relate to information regarding a full stop, turning point, light signal, obstacles, hazards, pick-up point, meeting points or the like. According to aspects of the present invention, the tactile handrail system 30 associated with the walkway 20 comprise tactile handrail positions AT - E3', each of which corresponding to a respective position along the walkway A1 - E3. The tactile handrail positions AT - E3' may be laterally offset the corresponding walkway positions A1 - E3. According to aspects the tactile handrail positions AT - E3' are laterally immediately above the walkway positions A1 - E3. According to aspects the physical length of the positions AT - E3' each equal the respective positions A1 - E3.

According to aspects of the present invention, the tactile handrail system 30 associated with the said walkway elevation information comprise means for tactilely communicate at least part of the said sequence of elevation information A1 - E3.

For example in Figure 1 , as a user is moving from a plateau A approaching stairs B, the user will be subjected to a change in inclination AB between plateau A and stair section B. To receive information relating to the change in inclination or stair section B, the user may arrange a hand or other tactile sensing means on the tactile handrail system 30 and by means of tactile sensing receive information relating to at least part of the sequence of elevation information. In Figure 1 , the tactile communication means may communicate to the user such elevation information prior a change in inclination AB, BC, CD, DE, in this case the change in inclination AB or stair section B. The tactile means may be arranged at different distances or different positions from the position of the change in inclination, thus proving the user with a further information relating to a physical distance to the change in inclination AB. The user may thus at position A3 sense a first tactile communication means 10a, 1 1 a e.g. at position A3' communicating that a change in inclination is approaching within distance X, e.g. 20cm. Secondly, the user may sense a second tactile communication means 10b, 1 1 b, communicating that the said change in inclination information is due within a distance Y, e.g. 10cm. Correspondingly, if the user is approaching from the opposite direction, the user may receive information relating to the same change of inclination information AB by means of the tactile communication means 12a-b and 13a-b where 12a-b and 13a-b may comprise a mirror image of 10a-b and 1 1 a-b arranged on at position B1 , B1 ' which is opposed AB.

It is provided that for example an inclining step will, when used in the opposite direction instead equal a declining step. Thus, if the user is approaching the change in inclination AB from staircase B, the tactile handrail system may provide corresponding inclination information relating to the change in inclination on the part of the tactile handrail system which is opposite the change in inclination AB.

According to embodiments, the physical slope of the tactile handrail may in itself form tactile communication means, communicating whether the change in inclination information involves upwards inclination, downwards inclination or a change to/from zero/planar inclination.

According to aspects, the protrusions 10a-1 1 b communicate if the change in inclination involves a step or slope and/or its inclination e.g. if the oncoming inclination is upwards inclined or downwards inclined. Thereby the user may in advanced, prior a change in inclination, receive such information relating to the inclination by means of the protrusions. The tactile means of communication may according aspects be adapted to communicate at least one of but not limited to: inclining step, declining step, inclining slope, declining slope, plane footsteps, plane slope, horizontal curvature of the walkway, turning point, turning walkway, road cross over or the like. The tactile communication means may be arranged on an upper side of the tactile handrail and/or on a lower side of the same such that a user may receive information relating to inclination information e.g. with the palm and/or the fingers. The tactile means of communication of the tactile handrail system may comprise protrusions being distributed between long the handrail such as to communicate information relating to the subsequent walkway elevation information in the sequence of walkway elevation information such that the tactile handrail system e.g. at or in a vicinity of change in inclination e.g. AB may communicate information relating to the oncoming change in inclination, in this case inclining step B1 / inclining staircase B. Such information may i.a. comprise information about the length of the staircase, number of steps in a staircase of number of footsteps or number of meters of a plateau. According to further aspects, a slope of the handrail at a given position may communicate the inclination of a subsequent walkway elevation information and the protrusions at the said position communicate the number of subsequent sequential positions having the same said elevation information such that a user at a position prior a position of a change in inclination in the walkway can determine the inclination and the number of footsteps or staircase steps before the arriving at the position of the change in inclination. For example, a user at position A3/A3' moving in the direction of staircase B may receive information corresponding to "inclining step" and "number of steps in stair section B / number of positions in stair section B". According to aspects, the tactile handrail system may combine different information at any position by providing one type of information e.g. on an upper side of the tactile handrail and further type of information on a lower side of the tactile handrail. For example, information relating to the distance or number of positions until an oncoming change in inclination may be communicated on one side of the tactile handrail system and information relating to the character of the oncoming inclination or length of it, may be communicated on another side. The tactile means of communication may comprise protruding dot-like shapes and/or cavities embedded in the members of the tactile handrail system. According to aspects, the said protruding dots may form Braille.

Further advantages of the tactile handrail system according to the invention include that a visually impaired or sightless individuals can safely move along the walkway either by resting a hand on the tactile handrail system or only sliding a palm and/or fingers along either of the upwards facing or downwards facing sides of the tactile handrail system, thereby sensing the protrusions of the system. The visually impaired individual can hold the hand on the handrail in line with the body and is not required to sense on forehand of the body the slope of the oncoming handrail for changes in inclination information.

Figure 2 shows an alternative embodiment of the tactile handrail system according to the invention. The walkway in Fig. 2 comprises instead sloping sections B and D. The tactile handrail system shown in Fig. 2 may otherwise comprise the corresponding features and aspects set out in relation to Figure 1 . The same reference numerals refer to the corresponding parts as in Figure 1 . Consequently, the invention provides a variety of possible designs and adaptation of a tactile handrail system and combination of aspects may yield yet further aspects. Although the teaching of this application has been described in detail for purpose of illustration, it is understood that such detail is solely for that purpose, and variations can be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the teaching of this application.

It should also be noted that there are many alternative ways of implementing the teaching of this invention.

The term "comprising" as used in the claims does not exclude other elements or steps. The term "a" or "an" as used in the claims does not exclude a plurality.

Claims

1 . A tactile handrail system (30) for association with a walkway (20); said walkway (20) comprising a sequence of walkway positions wherein each position comprises walkway elevation information (A1 - E3) including at least one of the types: inclining slope, declining slope, inclining step, declining step or plane/plateau forming a sequence of walkway elevation information (A1 - E3); said tactile handrail system (30) comprising handrail positions (A1 ' - E3') for immediate lateral association with a respective walkway elevation information (A1 - E3), c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said tactile handrail system (30) comprise tactile means of communication capable of communicating at least an oncoming change in walkway inclination in said sequence of walkway elevation information (A1 - E3) to a user located at a handrail position (A1 ' - E3') prior a corresponding walkway position (A1 - E3) of said change in walkway inclination, said tactile means of communication comprising protrusions (10a - 1 1 b) and/or cavities distributed along said tactile handrail system (30).

2. The tactile handrail system (30) according to claim 1 , wherein a change in inclination is a change/transition between two types of walkway elevation information.

3. The tactile handrail system (30) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said tactile means of communication comprise mirror images (12a - 13b) of protrusions (10a - 1 1 b) arranged on opposing sides of said change in walkway inclination (AB, BC).

4. The tactile handrail system (30) according to any claim 1 - 3, said protrusions being capable of communicating at least one further information relating to said sequence of walkway elevation information (A1 - E3).

5. The tactile handrail system (30) according to claim 4, said further information including the number of successive positions of an oncoming type of walkway elevation information such that a user approaching a staircase (B) can receive information relating to the number of steps in said staircase (B) prior reaching the staircase (B). The tactile handrail system (30) according to any preceding claim wherein a change in inclination comprise an obstacle, traffic signal, or potential hazard.

The tactile handrail system (30) according to any preceding claim, wherein said protrusions (10a - 13b) comprise protruding dots.

The tactile handrail system (30) according to any preceding claim, wherein said protrusions form Braille and/or blind language.