FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a tile and an associated tiling system.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

The installation of tiles, especially floor tiles, requires installation skill and materials that are out of reach of many, if not most, consumers. This makes DIY tile installations the exception rather than the norm.

Current tile installation processes require strict room measurement and careful working within a grid to avoid visible errors once the tiling grid reaches the walls of a room. Even then, it is easy for a novice to make mistakes, which can sometimes be costly. In worst case scenarios, a novice or DIY tile installer, after having made some mistakes, may have to call in a professional installer which will likely remove some, if not all, of the DIY installed tiles and commence the installation afresh.

Errors in the installation process cannot be reversed with ease given the use of standard industry tiling adhesives and standard grid-based installation steps. The tiling adhesives are strong, and tiles cannot easily be removed without damaging them once they have been glued to a surface. The use of the standard grid-based installation pattern means that an error, such as an alignment error, is perpetuated through the grid unless the error is reversed further with tiles installed later on, which then creates two errors.

These problems are even greater when tiles need to be installed in areas or in rooms which have non-parallel and non-perpendicular walls.

A further problem for novice and DIY tile installers, and even some skilled installers, is to visualise what the installed tile pattern will look like, especially when a number of tile shapes, colours and tile patterns are used. Obviously, if all the tiles have the same colour or pattern, then visualisation is not really an issue. This is also not really a problem if a simple alternating pattern is used, for example black and white tiles. It becomes much more difficult when multiple tile patterns are used and especially so when the area to be covered cannot be covered by a simple grid. OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a tile and tiling system which at least partly overcomes the abovementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with this invention there is provided a tile having a right trapezoid shape including - two non-parallel legs comprising a short leg and a long leg, and two parallel bases comprising a short base and long base; with the two parallel bases each extending at a right angle from the short leg, and the long leg connecting the ends of the two parallel bases distal from the short leg, with the long leg being orientated at an offset angle between but not including 0° and 45° relative to the long base.

There is further provided for the tile preferably to have an offset angle of 30°.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided for the tile, in an embodiment where two of tiles of exactly the same shape can be reconstituted to form a square tile, to have a combined length of the short base and long base that is the same as the length of the short leg, and for the long leg to have a centre point which coincides with a point that is located at a distance that is 50% of the length of the short leg at a right angle from the centre point of the short leg.

According to a still further aspect of the invention there is provided for the tile, in an embodiment where two of tiles of exactly the same shape can be reconstituted to form a rectangular tile of which its long sides are twice the length of its short sides, to have a combined length of the short base and long base that is twice the length of the short leg, and for the long leg to have a centre point which coincides with a point that is located at a distance that is the same length of the short leg at a right angle from the centre point of the short leg.

There is further provided for a tiling system which includes a set of tiles comprising a plurality of tiles as defined above each configured with a predetermined offset angle, alternatively a plurality of tiles as defined above comprising a range of offset angles in predetermined increments, preferably in increments of 1° with 44 tiles in the set.

There is still further provided for the tiles to comprise floor, wall or ceiling tiles.

These and other features of the invention are described in more detail below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment of the invention is described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a square tile;

Figure 2 shows the tile of Figure 1 with a median line marked through its centre point;

Figure 3 shows the tile of Figure 1 cut along the marked median line of Figure 2;

Figure 4 shows a standard grid installation using tiles cut as per Figure 3;

Figure 5 shows an optional grid installation using tiles cut as per Figure 3;

Figure 6 shows a random, non-grid installation using tiles cut as per Figure 3;

Figure 7 shows a first example of a non-grid installation using tiles cut as per Figure 3, using two tile colours;

Figure 8 shows a second example of a non-grid installation using tiles cut as per Figure 3, using the same two tile colours shown in Figure 7; and

Figure 9 shows a third example of an installation using tiles cut as per Figure 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Conventional tiles have symmetrical shapes that can only repeat in a grid fashion.

The tile according to the invention has an irregular shape that that allows installation of such tiles in a random yet integrated fashion, outside of a traditional grid. By not requiring an installation that is limited to a grid pattern, the tile creates opportunities for much greater freedom in installation. Conveniently, the tiles of the invention can also be installed to form a grid pattern, if required.

The tile of the invention has a right trapezoid shape, which means it has four sides and four corners. It includes two adjacent 90° corners. The tile includes two non-parallel legs comprising a short leg and a long leg, and two parallel bases comprising a short base and long base. The two parallel bases each extend at a right angle from the short leg, and the long leg connects the ends of the two parallel bases distal from the short leg.

The side of the tile between the 90° corners is the short leg, and from each 90° corner a base extends, including the short base and the long base. The two bases are parallel to each other since each extend at 90° from the short leg.

The fourth side of the tile, which is the angled side, is the long leg. This connects the ends of the short base and the long base. The long leg is arranged at an angle relative to the short leg.

More specifically with reference to the drawings, Figure 1 shows a square tile (1) with equal length sides (X), and centre point (2). In this embodiment, such square tiles (1) are used to create tiles (3) according to the invention.

As shown in Figure 2 a median line (4) is marked through the centre point (2) on the square tile (1). The median line (4) is offset at a predetermined offset angle Y (5), which is between 0° and 45°. In this embodiment offset angles (5) are used in increments of 1°, which means the offset angle is selected from 1° to 44° (5).

As shown in Figure 3 the square tile (1) is cut along the median line (4) to form two tiles (3) according to the invention, which have the same shape. Each of these tiles has a short leg (6), a long leg (7), a short base (8), and a long base (9).

In this embodiment the combined length of the short base (8) and the long base (9) is the same as the short leg (6). The length of the long leg (7) depends on the offset angle (5).

This configuration is achieved by taking a square tile (1), defining its centre (2) and dividing the square tile along a median line (4) between two sides through the centre (2) of the square tile (1). The median line (3) is offset at an angle (5) to the two opposing sides through which it does not cut. The offset angle (5) can be anywhere between, but not including, 0° and 45°. If the angle is exactly 0° then it is no angle, and the square tile is just halved into two smaller rectangular shapes. If the angle is exactly 45° the cut would extend from corner to corner of the square tile, resulting in two triangular shapes, each with equal bases. The range of offset angles (5) that is selected to be anywhere between, but not including, O' and 45° is essential, since it allows for replication and flexibility in layout.

Irrespective the offset angle (5), the long leg (7) has a centre point which coincides with a point that is located at a distance that is 50% of the length of the short leg at a right angle from the centre point of the short leg. Put differently, the centre of the long leg is the centre (2) of the square tile (1), shown in Figures 1 and 2, from which the two tiles (3) of the invention, shown in Figure 3, were cut.

As shown in Figure 4 these tiles (3) can be reconstituted by placing them together to form a square tile (10) again, which allows them to be used in a conventional grid pattern (11), if required. As shown in Figure 5 the tiles (3) can also be used in an optional alternating grid pattern (12) installation, if required.

The real distinction from prior art installations is with the non-grid installations (13), as shown in Figure 6. By mixing and matching tiles (3) that have been cut at an offset angle in the range of 1° to 44°, and in this embodiment specifically at 30°, it is possible to create a completely unique and custom layout pattern. The tiles are still trimmed at the edges (14) of the area. The embodiment shown in Figure 6 still uses tiles that have been cut at the same offset 30° angle.

As shown in Figures 7 to 9, various combinations of colours may be used. In Figures 7 to 9 only two colours (15, 16) are used which have all been cut all at the same offset 30° angle.

Figures 7 to 9 also shows the digital layout tool that allows a customer to define an area that is to be tiled. In this embodiment the area is still shown with width and length, which means the area will be square or rectangular. It is envisaged that the system will also be configured to allow custom area dimensions, which are neither square nor rectangular, to be uploaded.

In the embodiments shown in Figures 7 to 9, a width of 5 meters and length of 4 meters have been selected. In each instance ten colours are available to choose from. The user is also provided with an option to select a weighting between the elected colours. In the embodiments shown the weighting is even, meaning substantially equal use is made of each tile colour.

The embodiments shown in Figures 7 and 8 have the same colours (15, 16) selected, but by making use of the randomise option (17) of the system the patterns (18, 19) of these two examples are visually completely different and unique. In Figure 9 two different colours (20, 21) are used, and option to apply a gradient pattern (22) is selected, which applies a gradient pattern for installation (23). This means that one colour, in this instance the dark colour (19), is used predominantly on the left side of the pattern, whilst the other colour, the light colour (20), is used predominantly on the right side of the pattern. In the centre of the pattern tiles of both colours are evenly used.

In this preferred embodiment a set of these tiles is created, with long legs having the same offset angle, ranging between 0° and 45°, and in this embodiment specifically 30° relative to the long base (9).

The tiles in the set may be produced in any number of colours, patterns and/or materials. This creates a range of possible combinations of shapes, colours, patterns, and materials into which the tiles may be installed.

The materials of the tiles will be manufactured are envisaged to include broadloom, carpeting, luxury vinyl, and any other suitable material.

Tiles from the set may be combined in various unique configurations to cover an area with irregular/ non-parallel walls in a unique pattern or shapes and colours. The tiles can be reconstituted back into the square shape, but it can also be constituted into any other shape. The tiles in this embodiment are all identical in shape and can be laid either within a square to form a grid as shown in Figures 4 and 5, or can 'break out' of the square, where the long side of a tile (24) is laid adjacent to a short side of another, as shown in Figure 6.

Then the pattern 'kicks out' of the grid at, in this embodiment, a 30° angle. The visual effect, which is reinforced by the mixing of colours and pile direction, leads to a random pattern in which any grid is practically impossible or difficult to discern. As the installation approaches a wall, the tiles will need to be trimmed but any deviation from 'true' is practically impossible to see based on the lack of any recognisable grid.

The tile system includes a digital layout tool, of which user interface pages are shown in Figures 7 to 9, which allows a customer to upload the dimensions of an area to be tiled and design a layout comprising any combination of colour, pattern and material. Once finalised the exact selection of tiles can be delivered along with a layout plan matching those tiles to enable the customer to simply place the tiles according to the layout plan. This provides a visual confirmation that the design is correct. Any changes can be made by simply swapping out tiles. Once the design is settled, the tiles are secured into position.

The tile may be made with a broadloom material with a semi-rigid backing. In the case of a carpet tile, it is supplied with a removable low-tack adhesive strip that allows for the shape to be put down on the floor and the adhesive strip attaches the respective shapes to each other. The weight of the tiles keeps them solid on the floor, but at the same time they can easily be pulled up and replaced with other colours at another time. This enables the look and feel of the floor to be changed at any time. Furthermore, it is easy to replace any damaged tiles by simply peeling it up and put a new one down again.

This ability to easily replace tiles makes it possible to kick the tiles out at any point in time and fit various arrangements that start to create an entirely different pattern which can be kept going by way of the layouts, patterns, use of different colours and so forth.

It will be appreciated that the embodiment described above is given by way of example only and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. It is possible to alter aspects of the embodiment without departing from the essence of the invention.

The tile does not necessarily have to be created by first making a square tile and then cutting it. In practical terms, it is however expected that the tiles will be created by manufacturing a square tile and dividing it through its centre point at the desired angle between, but not including, 0° and 45°. The division can be done by a guillotine, laser cutter or the like. Once divided out, there are two pieces which can be reconstituted back into the square shape, but it can also be constituted into any other shape, especially when done in combination with tiles divided at different angles.

Although the embodiment described above is in respect of floor tiles, it is possible to apply the invention to tiles for any surface, for example walls or ceilings, and any other surface that may be tiled.

It is also possible to use as starting point a tile that is not square but for example rectangular. Such a tile, once divided with a median line across it centre point at an offset angle between, but not including, 0° and 45°, and a system using such tiles will have the same features as that of the embodiment described above.

The choice of tiles to form part of the set of tiles need not be limited to only one offset angle, which is 30° in the embodiment described above. The offset angle can be different, anywhere between, but not including, 0° and 45°, or a set of tiles with different cut angles may be included in the set. The use of such different offset angles in one tile set creates a vast number of permutations in terms of size and colour that allows a tiling system, especially the tiling system shown in Figures 7 to 9, to produce a custom visual pattern. This could, for example, be used to create a tiling pattern in which a non-linear walkway in which sharp direction changes are avoided is defined using tiles of the invention.