Patterned tiles and floor coverings comprising same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016237693-A1
Application number	US-201615136168-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 22, 2016
Priority date	Mar 13, 2013
Publication date	Aug 18, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A tile having a contrast pattern intermixed with a portion of a background pattern. The contrast pattern is positioned proximate a selected corner of the tile and has a contrast color different than the colors of the background pattern. Within a surface covering, the rotational position of the tile can be varied to thereby achieve a desired visual appearance with respect to the contrast patterns of adjacent tiles.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A tile having first and second end edges and first and second side edges, the distance between the first and second end edges of the tile corresponding to a length of the tile, the distance between the first and second side edges of the tile corresponding to a width of the tile, the first and second end edges being joined to the first and second side edges at four spaced corners, the tile comprising:
a first portion having a background pattern comprising at least one color; a second portion having a contrast pattern intermixed with a portion of the background pattern, the contrast pattern comprising at least one color different than the at least one color of the background pattern; and a diagonal boundary line extending across the width of the tile from a first position on the first side edge of the tile to a second position on the second side edge of the tile, the boundary line substantially dividing the first portion of the tile from the second portion of the tile, wherein the first position on the first side edge is spaced from the first end edge by a first distance, wherein the second position on the second side edge is spaced from the second end edge by a second distance, and wherein the first distance is substantially equal to the second distance, wherein the contrast pattern is configured to emphasize the location of a selected corner of the tile.

2 . The tile of claim 1 , wherein the first portion comprises a boundary zone, the boundary zone corresponding to the portion of the first portion positioned within a predetermined distance of the boundary line, wherein a portion of the contrast pattern extends from the second portion into the boundary zone of the first portion.

3 . The tile of claim 2 , wherein the tile is square.

4 . The tile of claim 3 , wherein the ratio between the length of the tile and the predetermined distance ranges from about 2:1 to about 20:1.

5 . The tile of claim 3 , wherein the ratio between the length of the tile and the predetermined distance is about 3:1.

6 . The tile of claim 3 , wherein the ratio between the width of the tile and the predetermined distance ranges from about 2:1 to about 20:1.

7 . The tile of claim 3 , wherein the ratio between the width of the tile and the predetermined distance is about 3:1.

8 . The tile of claim 3 , wherein ratio between the length of the tile and the first distance and the ratio between the length of the tile and the second distance both range from about 1.2:1 to about 10:1.

9 . The tile of claim 3 , wherein ratio between the width of the tile and the first distance and the ratio between the width of the tile and the second distance both range from about 1.2:1 to about 10:1.

10 . The tile of claim 1 , wherein the area of the first portion of the tile is substantially equal to the area of the second portion of the tile.

11 . The tile of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the contrast pattern extends to the first side edge, the second side edge, and the first end edge.

12 . The tile of claim 1 , wherein the carpet tile is substantially rectangular.

13 . The tile of claim 1 , wherein the tile is a vinyl tile.

14 . The tile of claim 1 , wherein the tile is a carpet tile.

15 . The tile of claim 14 , wherein the contrast pattern is formed from a plurality of yarn tufts, and wherein at least some of the yarn tufts of the at least one contrast color have a height greater than at least some of the yarn tufts of the at least one color of the background pattern proximate the yarn tufts of the at least one contrast color.

16 . The tile of claim 1 , wherein the contrast pattern has a speckled appearance.

17 . The tile of claim 1 , wherein the contrast pattern is randomized.

18 . A tile system, comprising:
a plurality of tiles, each tile having first and second end edges and first and second side edges, the distance between the first and second end edges of the tile corresponding to a length of the tile, the distance between the first and second side edges of the tile corresponding to a width of the tile, the first and second end edges being joined to the first and second side edges at four spaced corners, each tile comprising:
a first portion having a background pattern comprising at least one color;
a second portion having a contrast pattern intermixed with a portion of the background pattern, the contrast pattern comprising at least one color different than the at least one color of the background pattern; and
a diagonal boundary line extending across the width of the tile from a first position on the first side edge of the tile to a second position on the second side edge of the tile, the boundary line substantially dividing the first portion of the tile from the second portion of the tile, wherein the first position on the first side edge is spaced from the first end edge by a first distance, wherein the second position on the second side edge is spaced from the second end edge by a second distance, and wherein the first distance is substantially equal to the second distance,
wherein the contrast pattern is configured to emphasize the location of a selected corner of the tile, wherein the plurality of tiles are configured for selective positioning relative to one another such that the contrast pattern of each tile has a desired visual appearance relative to the contrast patterns of adjacent tiles, and wherein the plurality of tiles are configured to cooperatively define a surface covering.

19 . A method for forming a surface covering, the method comprising:
providing a plurality of tiles, each tile having first and second end edges and first and second side edges, the distance between the first and second end edges of the tile corresponding to a length of the tile, the distance between the first and second side edges of the tile corresponding to a width of the tile, the first and second end edges being joined to the first and second side edges at four spaced corners, each tile comprising:
a first portion having a background pattern comprising at least one color;
a second portion having a contrast pattern intermixed with a portion of the background pattern, the contrast pattern comprising at least one color different than the at least one color of the background pattern; and
a diagonal boundary line extending across the width of the tile from a first position on the first side edge of the tile to a second position on the second side edge of the tile, the boundary line substantially dividing the first portion of the tile from the second portion of the tile, wherein the first position on the first side edge is spaced from the first end edge by a first distance, wherein the second position on the second side edge is spaced from the second end edge by a second distance, and wherein the first distance is substantially equal to the second distance, and
wherein the contrast pattern is configured to emphasize the location of a selected corner of the tile; and
selectively positioning the plurality of tiles relative to one another thereon a hard surface such that the contrast pattern of each tile has a desired visual appearance relative to the contrast pattern of adjacent tiles, wherein the plurality of tiles cooperate to define the surface covering.

Assignees

• Columbia Insurance Co

Inventors

• Rainey Pamela Managan

Classifications

• A47G27/0275

  Surface patterning of carpet modules, e.g. of carpet tiles · CPC title

• E04F15/02 Primary

  Flooring or floor layers composed of a number of similar elements (of webs E04F15/16) · CPC title

• E04B9/04

  comprising slabs, {panels,} sheets or the like · CPC title

• D06N7/0028 Primary

  characterised by colour effects, e.g. craquelé, reducing gloss (terrazzo by sintering D06N7/0057) · CPC title

• E04F13/0871

  having an ornamental or specially shaped visible surface (E04F13/0867 takes precedence) · CPC title