Road structure – process – or apparatus – Pavement – Modules or blocks
Patent
1995-03-31
1997-04-15
Mai, Lanna
Road structure, process, or apparatus
Pavement
Modules or blocks
404 41, 523112, 52314, E01C 500
Patent
active
056202784
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention relates to tiles.
In this specification the term "tiles" refers to non-fired or fired clay or cementitious bricks, blocks, slabs or tiles, ceramic or other glazed tiles, parquet tiles, wooden tiles, vinyl tiles, linoleum tiles, cork tiles, quarry tiles and any similar constructional elements whether for interior or exterior use as wall tiles, ceiling tiles, floor tiles, tiles for roadways, footways, entrance drives, or the like, paving tiles, cladding, building generally or similar use.
Several different types of tiles are available however, they are often limited as regards resistance to breakage and/or interlocking and especially as regards the scope for laying a range of different aesthetically pleasing patterns.
The object of the invention is to provide an improved tile which will overcome at least some of these problems.
According to the invention there is provided a tile etc. as per new claim 1. Preferably the second side edge is opposite and generally parallel to the first side edge.
In one particularly preferred embodiment of the invention the side edges are of curvilinear shape, the curvilinear shape of the second, third and forth side edges being substantially the same and conforming with the curvilinear shape of part of the first side edge.
Most preferably the curvilinear shape is generally arcuate and the radius of the arc of the second, third and fourth side edges is substantially equal and also equal to the radius of the first side edge. Preferably the second, third and fourth side edges are of generally concave shape and the first side edge is of generally convex shape.
In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention all the side edges are curved, each side edge being a portion of a circle, and the radii of curvature of all of the side edges are equal.
In one embodiment of the invention the first and third and first and fourth side edges respectively subtend of an angle of approximately 60.degree..
In one embodiment of the invention the tile has embossed or imprinted thereon a pattern. The pattern may for example comprise curvilinear shapes extending from the midpoint of the second side edge, to points of substantially 1/3 and 2/3 the length of the first side edge. Preferably the radius of the curvilinear pattern is the same as the radius of the second, third and fourth side edges.
In another embodiment of the invention the first side edge comprises a number of portions which extend at angles to one another. Preferably the angle subtended between adjacent first side edge portions is 120.degree..
In a preferred embodiment arrangement there are three first side edge portions of equal length and each having the same length as the length of the second, third and fourth side edges.
In a further embodiment of the invention the tile comprises a number of sub tiles joined together. The sub tiles may be joined by means of a mesh. Preferably frangible links are provided between at least some of the sub tiles.
The invention also provides a composite tile comprising tile according to the invention with another similar tile or tiles or part(s) thereof.
The invention further provides filler and/or starter tile pieces for fitting between a tile or tiles according to the invention and a boundary, a filler and/or starter tile piece at least partly conforming to portion of a tile according to the invention.
According to another aspect, the invention provides a tiling assembly comprising a plurality of tiles according to the invention.
According to a further aspect, the invention provides a tiling system such as a pavement, floor, wall, wall cladding or the like formed from a plurality of tiles according to the invention.
The invention also provides a laid tiling system such as a pavement, floor, wall, wall cladding or the like formed from a plurality of tiles according to the invention laid in side-by-side relation.
The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description thereof given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1
REFERENCES:
patent: 613333 (1898-11-01), Thomas
patent: 1474779 (1923-11-01), Kammer
patent: 4544305 (1985-10-01), Hair
patent: 4620998 (1986-11-01), Lalvani
patent: 4973192 (1990-11-01), Hair
patent: 5163777 (1992-11-01), Krueger et al.
patent: 5238721 (1993-08-01), Nakazawa
Mai Lanna
Shapes & Solutions Limited
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