Chemically sensitive warning apparatus and method

[0001] The present invention relates to a chemically sensitive warning apparatus for detecting and indicating the presence of hazardous chemicals.

[0002] Warning devices, such as safety marking tape, are widely used in facilities to alert workers to the proximity of an area wherein potentially hazardous chemicals are used or stored. Traditional safety marking tape has on one side diagonal stripes of yellow and black bars for visual indication of a possible hazard and on the other side an adhesive coating to facilitate attachment of the tape to a surface. However, an actual chemical leak or spill may go undetected, as traditional safety tape is not capable of sensing the presence of hazardous chemicals. Thus, it is desirable to have a warning apparatus that is operable to provide visual indication of a hazard area and visual indication that the area has been contaminated by a chemical leak or spill.

[0003] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a chemically sensitive warning apparatus comprises a body having first and second major surfaces and warning indicia that are visible to an individual viewing the first surface to provide visual indication of a possible danger or hazard area. Mounted to the body in this embodiment is at least one chemical indicator that is operable to change colors upon exposure to a hazardous condition. The body desirably includes an adhesive carrying mounting surface to facilitate attachment of the body to a floor or other surface for use.

[0004] According to another embodiment of the invention, a chemically sensitive warning apparatus comprises a body carrying at least one chemical indicator that is operable to change colors upon exposure to a hazardous condition. The body also carries a color indicia to facilitate interpretation of the color of the chemical indicator when the chemical indicator is exposed to a hazardous condition.

[0005] In a desirable use of the invention, an elongated marker is positioned, such as on the floor of a building, to visually identify an area as a hazard area. If desired, the marker may be secured to the floor, such as with an adhesive. In the event that there is a hazardous condition in the area, such as a chemical spill, at least a portion of the marker changes colors to visually indicate spilling of the chemical. In another use of the invention, at least a major portion of a hazard area is surrounded with a marking tape and plural portions of the marking tape change colors to visually indicate spilling of a hazardous chemical in the hazard area. In yet another use of the invention, the hazard area is completely surrounded with the marking tape and at least a portion of the marking tape changes colors to visually indicate spilling of a hazardous chemical in the hazard area.

[0006] The present invention is directed toward new and nonobvious aspects of a chemically sensitive warning apparatus both alone and in combination with one another, as well as to nonobvious and unique methods relating thereto, as set forth in the claims below.

[0013] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a chemically sensitive warning apparatus, color changing indicating assembly, or marker 10 for warning individuals of the presence of at least one chemical according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0014] The illustrated form of warning apparatus 10 desirably comprises an elongated body 12 having a longitudinal axis A (as shown in FIG. 1) and first and second major surfaces 14 and 16 (as shown in FIG. 2). The particular shape of the body 12, however, is not limited to that of the illustrated embodiment. Accordingly, the body 12 may comprise any other geometric shape, such as a square or circle or any combination or variation thereof.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 2, the body 12 in the form shown comprises a plurality of layers, at least one of which is a base layer 18 having top and bottom surfaces 20 and 22. The body 12 may also include an overlay comprising a selectively permeable, transparent layer 30 at least partially overlaying the top surface 20 of the base layer 18. The layer 30 may be secured to the base layer 18, such as by the use of an adhesive. The body 12 carries in the embodiment shown at least one chemically sensitive indicator responsive to the presence of at least one chemical and may comprise plural side by side, elongated chemical indicators or chemical sensing strips 36 mounted to the body and operable to change colors when exposed to or upon contact with a hazardous chemical.

[0016] The chemical indicators 36 may be selected to change colors upon contact with the vapors given off by a chemical spill. Alternatively, the chemical indicators 36 may be operable to change colors only upon liquid contact with the spilled chemical (e.g., immersion or saturation of the chemical indicators by the liquid) or upon exposure to either liquid or vapor.

[0017] The chemical indicators 36 are desirably positioned on the top surface 20 of the base layer 18 and held in place by the selectively permeable layer 30 that is permeable to liquid and/or gas. The selectively permeable layer 30 may have a permeable portion 38 adjacent to and overlaying the chemicals indicators 36 to permit chemical contact with the chemical indicators 36 when there is a chemical spill. In the illustrated embodiment, the selectively permeable layer 30 comprises a plastic film having a permeable portion 38 provided with a plurality of perforations 40 to allow for such chemical contact. Other gas and/or liquid permeable materials may be used instead of an apertured film. In an alternative embodiment, the chemical indicators 36 may be secured to the top surface 20 of the base layer 18, such as with an adhesive applied to the bottom surface of the chemical indictors 36, in which case the warning apparatus 10 would be constructed without a permeable layer 30.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 1, the chemical indicators in this example, desirably extend continuously along at least a majority of the length of the body 12 in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis A. In the context of this description, it is to be understood that “majority of the length” is defined as at least half of the length of the body. In other words, chemical indicators that extend continuously along at least a majority of the length of the body would extend continuously along for at least half of the length of the body. It is even more desirable to construct the warning apparatus 10 so that the chemical indicators 36 extend substantially continuously along or entirely along the entire length of the body 12. However, there is no requirement as to the exact length or even the number of chemical indicators used in the construction. Thus, the chemical indicators may extend continuously or non-continuously along a majority or less than a majority of the length of the body. Further, although the illustrated embodiment has been described as having plural, such as a pair of chemical indicators, the warning apparatus 10 may have any number of chemical indicators or even multiple pairs of chemical indicators. The chemical indicators do not have to extend in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis A. Referring to FIG. 3, for example, there is shown another embodiment wherein pairs of chemical indicators 36 extend in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A of an elongated body 12 and each pair of chemical indicators is longitudinally spaced from an adjacent pair along the length of the body 12.

[0019] In the illustrated embodiment, one of the chemical indicators 36 comprises a pH sensitive material, such as a strip of pH paper, and the other chemical indicator comprises a strip of paper treated to indicate the presence of hydrofluoric acid. This arrangement is particularly useful for detecting the presence of commonly used acids and bases. It should be appreciated, however, that chemical indicators 36 may comprise any type of chemically sensitive material suitable for detecting the presence of hazardous chemicals. Without limitation, these may include materials such as litmus paper, lead acetate paper, potassium iodide/starch paper, or paper that is responsive to the presence of certain ions or gases. Further, it is to be understood that the apparatus 10 may include indicators that are responsive to other hazardous environmental conditions besides the presence of chemicals, such as the presence of particulate contaminants or the presence of radiation. In the latter case, a permeable cover may be omitted or an impermeable cover may be used.

[0020] The body 12 in this example also has safety markings or visual warning indicia, such as diagonal stripes of alternating colors 24 and 26 disposed on the top surface 20 of the base layer 18, that are visible to an individual viewing the first surface 14 of the body (as shown in FIG. 1). Alternatively, the safety markings may be provided on the selectively permeable layer 30 rather than on the base layer 18, in which case the selectively permeable layer need not be transparent to permit an individual to see the safety markings. In either case, the safety markings function to provide a visual indication of a possible danger or hazard area. Instead of the diagonal stripes shown in the illustrated embodiment, the safety markings may comprise any other shapes and/or symbols to provide visual indication of a possible danger. Still alternatively, the safety markings may comprise words or text for warning individuals of the existence of a possible danger. Possible examples include “Warning” or “Hazard Area”. Such words or text may also describe the particular hazard or chemical that is being used in the area. Combinations of text and other visual indicia may also be used.

[0021] Also mounted to or carried by the body 12 in any suitable fashion, such as by an adhesive, in the illustrated embodiment, is at least one color reference indicia 42, in this case comprising a plurality of color samples 44a–o, to facilitate interpretation of the color of a chemical indicator 36 when the chemical indicator is exposed to a chemical. As are the chemical indicators 36, the color indicia 42 is desirably positioned on the top surface 20 of the base layer 18 and secured or otherwise held in place by the selectively permeable layer 30. If the body 12 is relatively long, it may be desirable to position a plurality of color indicia 42 along the length of the body 12 (see, e.g., FIG. 6).

[0022] As mentioned above, in the illustrated embodiment, one of the chemical indicators 36 may comprise a strip of pH paper and the other chemical indicator 36 may comprise a strip of paper treated to indicate the presence of hydrofluoric acid. Accordingly, each of color samples 44a–n may include a numerical indicia which corresponds to a numerical value on the pH scale to enable an individual to determine whether the pH paper has been exposed to an acid or a base and the strength of that acid or base (as shown in FIG. 1). In addition, color sample 44o, in this example, may have a color which matches the color that the chemical indicator for detecting hydrofluoric acid would become if exposed to hydrofluoric acid. Color sample or indicia 44o, as illustrated, may also be visually identified by the chemical symbol for hydrofluoric acid (HF, as shown in FIG. 1). Of course, the actual contents of a color indicia 42 for a particular embodiment will depend upon the type of chemical indicators used in that embodiment.

[0023] Referring again to FIG. 2, a removable, non-permeable, protective cover layer 46, desirably an adhesive tape, may overlay the top surface of the selectively permeable layer 30 to initially cover the permeable portion 38 of the selectively permeable layer 30 to prevent premature exposure or degradation of the chemical indicators 36 prior to installation. The top surface of the selectively permeable layer 30 may include a coating of a suitable release agent (not shown) to facilitate removal of the cover layer 46. The body 12 may also be provided with an adhesive carrying mounting surface, such as adhesive coating or layer 32 on the bottom surface 22 of the base layer 18, to facilitate attachment of the body to a surface. In this sense, the body 12 in one form is an elongated tape or marking tape, which may be wound around a core so as to form a roll of tape. In such a case, a release coating 34 may provided on the top surface of the cover layer 46 to facilitate detachment of the leading edge of the tape from the roll.

[0024] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, there is shown a warning apparatus 10 according to another embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, two chemical indicators 36 extend in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis A but are laterally spaced from each other and effectively separated by a portion 48 of the selectively permeable layer 30.

[0025] An exemplary method of use of the warning apparatus 10 is shown in FIG. 6. The warning apparatus 10 is positioned, such as on the floor of a building or other surface, to visually identify a hazard area 50 where hazardous chemicals are being used or stored. As shown in FIG. 6, the warning apparatus 10 is desirably positioned so as to completely surround the hazard area 50 to provide visually indication of the boundary of the hazard area. However, it is not required that the warning apparatus 10 entirely surround the hazard area 50. Thus, the warning apparatus 10 may surround at least a major portion of the hazard area 50 or less than a major portion of the hazard area 50.

[0026] If, as described above, the warning apparatus 10 comprises an elongated marking tape, it may be adhesively secured to the floor of the hazard area 50. The warning apparatus may also be secured or otherwise held to the floor by means other than an adhesive, such as with mechanical fasteners, however it is not a required that the warning apparatus be held down or secured to the floor. In the event that there is a hazardous condition in the area, such as a chemical spill, at least a portion or plural portions of the warning apparatus 10, such as a portion or portions of chemical indicator 36 in the illustrated embodiment, changes colors upon exposure to the chemical to visually indicate spilling of the chemical. Consequently, an individual will be able to quickly identify the spilled chemical by comparing the color change to the color samples provided on one of the color indicia 42 and then commence an appropriate decontamination process.

[0027] The present invention has been shown in the described embodiments for illustrative purposes only. The present invention may be subject to many modifications and changes without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. We therefore claim as our invention all such modifications as come within the spirit and scope of the following claims.