Street Crossing Signal Device for Blind Persons

This invention relates to a signal device for blind pedestrians to assist in the location of pedestrian crossings and to indicate to such persons when the way is clear to cross the street at such crossings.

There have been few aids developed to assist blind persons to locate pedestrian crosswalks and to indicate to such persons when the way is clear to cross streets. In some cases, pedestrian signal lights at pedestrian crossings are combined with a sound signal which can indicate to a blind person when the way is clear to cross. Such systems however do not really assist a blind person in locating precisely where the pedestrian crossing is, and, in the case of 4-way intersections, may cause some confusion as to which direction is clear for crossing.

It would be desirable to have a device which not only orients a blind person as to where a pedestrian crosswalk is located, but also can provide a non-visual and non-oral signal to that person which will indicate when the way is clear to cross a street. Such a device would be extremely useful to be included in the traffic signal systems at major intersections in urban areas or around centres for the visually handicapped. It is an object of the present invention to provide such a device.

According to the present invention a device is provided for use on a corner of an intersection of two streets for signalling to blind persons that it is safe to cross one of the streets of the intersection at a selected pedestrian crosswalk. The device comprises a pair of rigid hand rails. Each hand rail is secured to a post normally present at the corner, with the hand rail having at least a portion thereof oriented towards an associated crosswalk at the street intersection. The device further provides actuatable vibrator which is secured within a portion of each hand rail. The vibrator means, when actuated, causes its associated hand rail to vibrate. A mechanical means isolates each hand rail from the post so that vibrations of the selected hand rail are prevented from being transmitted to the post. Electronic circuit means are associated with the controls for lights at the street intersection and with the associated vibrator means, so that the vibrator means of the hand rail that has a portion oriented towards an associated crosswalk is actuated when the lights permit crossing the street at that crosswalk. A blind person, in approaching an intersection or pedestrian crosswalk where such a device has been installed, by gripping a hand rail, oriented in the direction he wishes to pass, is immediately able to orient himself as to the precise direction in which the pedestrian crosswalk is located, and, by awaiting the vibration of the hand rail, is given a tactile signal when the way is clear to cross the street.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon referring to the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an intersection in which a signal device according to the present invention has been installed;

FIG. 2 is a side view of a post and signal device according to FIG. 1 and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side section view of a portion of the post and signal device of FIG. 2.

While the invention will be described in connection with an example embodiment, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to such embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

In the following description, similar features have been given similar reference numerals.

Turning to FIG. 1 there is shown a sidewalk/street intersection in which a pair of street crossing signal devices 1 according to the present invention have been installed on traffic and pedestrian signal light post 2. The device comprises a hand rail having an upper, horizontal section secured to the post at clamp 3, this upper section being oriented in the direction of the appropriate pedestrian crossing, and which curves into a lower, vertical section the bottom of which is secured by clamp 5 to the ground or sidewalk. As can be seen in FIG. 2 the vertical section is inwardly angled towards the post as it extends downwardly from the upper section to the ground. As can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the hand rail portion of the device is mechanically isolated from post 2 and clamp 3 by means of an elastomeric plug 4. An appropriate electronically actuated vibrator 6 is fitted within the tubing of the hand rail (FIG. 3) such that, when actuated, the hand rail part of device 1 vibrates, the vibrations from which are not transmitted to post 2 in view of plug 4. Vibrator 6 is electrically connected through circuitry 7 to the circuitry operating the pedestrian crossing lights signalling pedestrians to cross or stop in the pedestrian crossing to which that particular hand rail is oriented, in such a way that when that pedestrian crossing light operates to invite pedestrians to cross in that particular direction, vibrator 6 is actuated. Similarly, when those pedestrian crossing lights are in a designation indicating that pedestrians should not cross, vibrator 6 is inactive.

It will be understood from the above description that the elastomeric plug 4 is important to ensure that, where more than one signal device 1 is attached to a post 2, vibrations from one of the hand rails are not transmitted through the post to the other hand rail.

As can be seen in FIG. 3, appropriate braille symbols 8 may be inscribed beneath the upper horizontal portion of the hand rail of device 1 to provide information to a blind person as to proper use of the device.

Where there is no signal post 2 located at an intersection or if an existing signal post is inappropriately located, signal device 1 may of course be free standing and wired in an appropriate fashion to a traffic signal light, pedestrian light or timer mechanism located at such a site.

A blind person, arriving at the intersection shown in FIG. 1, and desiring to cross in either of the two pedestrian crosswalks, simply places his hand on or about the upper, horizontal portion of signal device 1, and waits for it to commence vibrating. When vibrations commence, he may then proceed in the direction indicated by that upper horizontal portion safely across the pedestrian crosswalk.

Thus it is apparent that there has been provided in accordance with the present invention a street crossing signal device for blind persons that fully satisfies the objects, aims and advantages set forth above. While the invention has been described in conjunction with a specific embodiment thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations as fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.