Patent ID: 6964244
Filing Date: 2005-11-15
Classification: A61H,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A tactile identification and direction guidance system for visually impaired users of walking guide canes the guidance system comprising a plurality of substantially identical, longitudinally elongated, tactile marking means for forming a plurality of different predetermined patterns of different predetermined numbers of said substantially identical, elongated tactile marking means, each said different predetermined pattern identifying and designating, by the number of said marking means forming the pattern, a corresponding predetermined, different type of obstacle encountered by said person and for identifying, by the longitudinal direction of extension of said longitudinally elongated marking means forming the pattern, the longitudinal direction of subsequent movement required of said person relative to said obstacle, for disposition of only a selected, one, single designated pattern on an underlying walking surface immediately adjacent an entry of a corresponding, designated type of obstacle for detecting by cane the particular number of said substantially identical, elongated marking means forming the particular pattern to identify the corresponding, particular type of different, designated obstacle encountered, and for identifying by cane the longitudinally elongated direction of extension of said substantially identical longitudinally elongated marking means forming the pattern for orienting the cane and its operator along said longitudinal direction of said longitudinally elongated marking means for subsequent movement required of the person relative to the entry and navigation of said obstacle in said longitudinally elongated direction of the marking means forming the selected pattern, and wherein all areas of the underlying walking surface surrounding and extending from a said one single selected pattern disposed thereon immediately adjacent the entry of a corresponding obstacle is entirely unaffected and unaltered by said guidance system.