EP2619369B1

EP2619369B1 - Tiles or paving pieces

Info

Publication number: EP2619369B1
Application number: EP11738268.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Keith Little
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-07-16
Filing date: 2011-07-15
Publication date: 2016-10-12
Anticipated expiration: 2031-07-15
Also published as: GB201012016D0; EP2619369A1; GB2495057A; WO2012007768A1; GB201301135D0

Description

The invention relates to tiles and paving pieces and to methods of tiling and paving therewith.
It is often preferred that tiling or paving patterns in public or private spaces are often required to be relatively complex or varied in pattern so as to produce an aesthetic appeal. DE 20 2007 004153 discloses a trapeziform tile for paving. However, aesthetics aside, such patterns are often difficult to assemble accurately as they may require tiling or paving pieces of many different shapes in order to provide the desired pattern complexity. The resulting multitude of pieces can be expensive to manufacture, and the assembled pattern costly to maintain (e.g. replacement of breakages) as individual tiling or paving pieces may be costly to manufacture on an ad-hoc basis as replacements.
The present invention aims to provide an improved tiling or paving apparatus which, desirably, may address these problems.
At its most general, the invention is to provide a tiling or paving apparatus comprising tiling or paving pieces having preferably as few as two or three different simple shapes from which a multitude of different tiling or paving patterns may be composed by abutting pieces along their edges. The shapes most preferably comprise straight edges (e.g. edges, or sides, of tiles or paving slabs) of as few as two or three different edge lengths to make each piece a simple polygon. This not only simplifies manufacture, e.g. by rendering the pieces easy to produce, but also simplifies assembly of a tiling or paving pattern. The apparatus may comprise pieces dimensioned and configured to be assembled in a core composition which may be repeated in a pattern of many such core compositions abutting in a variety of configurations and orientations to provide a corresponding variety of different tiling or paving patterns.
According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a tiling or paving apparatus as recited in the appended claims.
Thus, a core composition may comprise a first plurality of trapeziform pieces and the polygonal tiling or paving arrangement. The relative edge dimensions permit an interfitting of multiple such core compositions in a multitude of patterns. The polygonal tiling or paving arrangement may itself be adapted to present a composition of sub-pieces pieced together (or adapted to be so pieced together) to define the polygonal shape, or may be a single such polygonally-shaped piece. It may define a polygonal shape of more than four sides/edges, such as an eight-sided polygon (octagon) or a twelve sided polygon (dodecagon).
The convergence angle may have a value of substantially 180/n degrees where n is an integer. For example, preferably, the integer n = 7 (seven) or 9 (nine).
The polygonal tiling or paving arrangement may be adapted to present a convex edge portion comprising a second two or more such successive edges each of length substantially equal to the length of the longer of the two parallel edges of a trapeziform tiling or paving piece.
The first successive edges may comprise all those edges defining the polygonal shape of the polygonal arrangement which have a length substantially equal to the length of the shorter of the two parallel edges of a trapeziform piece.
The second successive edges may comprise all those edges defining the polygonal shape of the polygonal arrangement which have a length substantially equal to the length of the longer of the two parallel edges of a trapeziform piece.
The polygonal tiling or paving part may be adapted to present the first plurality of successive edges in a relative orientation permitting the length of the shorter of the two parallel edges of a corresponding plurality of trapeziform tiling or paving pieces to be positioned in register therealong and with opposing edges of adjacent such pieces in register when so positioned.
Preferably, any two successive edges defining the polygonal shape of the polygonal tiling or paving arrangement which collectively define a corner, may converge at an angle of convergence within the polygonal arrangement which is other than acute at that corner.
The number of successive edges in the first successive edges may be equal to n-2, where n = integer.
Preferably, some or each edge described above may be a substantially straight edge.
Some or each edge described above, or the side surface of the piece defining the edge, may be punctuated by one or more spacer or locator portions which project therefrom. This may apply to one, some or each paving/tiling piece and/or to edges (or associated side surfaces) defined by the polygonal tiling or paving arrangement described above, or defined by component pieces thereof as appropriate. For example, some or each projecting portion may be shaped as a nib, lug, embossment or the like. These projecting portions are preferably relatively small with each occupying significantly less than half of the length of the edge, or associated side surface, from which it projects, preferably less than about a quarter of that length, or more preferably less than about an eighth or a tenth of that length.
A said edge or associated side surface (e.g. each edge) of a (e.g. each) tiling or paving piece and/or a (e.g. each) paving arrangement described above, or a (e.g. each) component piece thereof if comprised of component pieces, may comprise three (e.g. no more than three) such separate projections (e.g. separated) along the edge. They may be of mutually matching shape and dimensions. The separation (if separated) between the three projections along the edge or associated side surface they share may define a first pair of neighbouring projections which collectively define, together with the/any edge section, or side surface section, separating them (if so separated), a recess shaped and dimensioned to reciprocate the shaping of one or either of the pair of projections, such that a separate projection so shaped may be snugly and intimately received within the recess e.g. in abutment therewith. The separation along the shared edge, or associated side surface, between a second pair of neighbouring projections (e.g. comprising one projection from the first pair) may exceed the (if any) separation between the projections of the first pair. The first pair are preferably located adjacent to one terminal end of the shared edge/surface, while a projection of the second pair is preferably located adjacent to the other terminal end of that edge or associated side surface (e.g. in relative isolation). When only three such projections are employed, this results in a first pair of projections closely spaced (or un-spaced, e.g. immediately successive along the edge) and adjacent to one end of an edge, with a third isolated projection adjacent to the other end of the same edge. Accordingly, the isolated projection may be received in the recess defined between a first pair of projections formed on an edge, or associated side surface, of another tiling or paving piece etc, while concurrently the isolated projection formed at the other end of the same edge of other tiling or paving piece may be received within the recess formed by the first pair of projections in the tiling or paving piece at hand. This interlocking or fitting greatly assists in positioning the edges of adjacent tiling or paving pieces etc when tiling or paving is being laid, and inhibits movement of neighbouring pieces (e.g. by sliding along edges or associated side surfaces). The spacing between a first pair of projections, and a third isolated projection on the same edge or associated side surface, means that the opposing sides/edges of two aligned tiling/paving pieces are spaced by a gap where no projection is present, which provides a drainage gap for draining water when the pieces are paving pieces. The nib-free gap may be filled with sand or the like in the paved product.
Preferably, consecutive said edges, or side surfaces of a piece associated with a given edge, of a (e.g. each) tiling or paving piece and/or a (e.g. each) paving arrangement described above, or a (e.g. each) component piece thereof if comprised of component pieces, may meet at, and define, a corner of the piece. One edge or associated side surface defining the corner may possess a pair of separate (e.g. separated) said projections substantially immediately following the corner. The other edge or associated side surface defining the corner may possess a said projection adjacent to (e.g. in isolation) the corner, being spaced therefrom along the edge or associated side surface by distance matching the width of, or adapted to receive the body or, a said projection. The pair of separate (e.g. separated) projections immediately following the corner may collectively define, together with any edge section, or section of the associated side surface, separating them (if separated), a recess shaped and dimensioned to reciprocate the shaping of one or either of the pair of projections, such that a separate projection so shaped may be snugly and intimately received within the recess e.g. in abutment therewith. Thus, the pair of separate projections on one tiling/paving piece etc, may receive between them the isolated projection of another neighbouring tiling/paving piece etc, and vice versa, when two such pieces are brought together when laying the tiling/paving. Preferably a plurality of the corners, e.g. each corner, defined by the edges/side surfaces of a (e.g. each) tiling or paving piece, and/or the polygonal arrangement (and/or the component pieces thereof, if formed of component pieces) may comprise such a collection of three projections as described above. On any one edge or associated side surface, the pair of projections is preferably at one end of the edge (following the associated corner), and the isolated third projection is located adjacent the other end of that edge (preceding the next corner). Accordingly, an ordered array of projections may be provided along the entire circumscribing edge, or associated side surface, of a piece in a given direction around the piece, with a single isolated said projection located between any two successive said pairs of projections. Preferably, this ordering applies to each piece in the apparatus. The result is that the correct alignment and interlocking of projections between pieces will be permitted only when the appropriate face of the piece is presented to the user (e.g. uppermost in use). Flipping one piece over may present to a user the same geometric shape (polygon), but will result in the array of edge projections of that piece being no longer able to align with other correctly-oriented pieces. This is a simple and immediate indication to a user that/when a piece is not correctly oriented (e.g. face-up), indicating that it should be re-oriented. Rotating any piece through 180 degrees (without flipping-over) desirably does not produce this miss-alignment however.
The projections may be straight-sided, and are preferably tapered to narrow as they project from an edge or associated side surface. Preferably they are flat-ended (e.g. as in a frustum or the like). These shapes have been found to assist in achieving inter-connection between pieces and securely locating them. They are also easier to manufacture than other more curved of complex shapes.
Preferably, a piece/component of the apparatus preferably presents a peripheral/side surface generally transverse to (and bounding) the faces of the piece, which circumscribes the piece and defines the edges of the piece. An aforesaid projection may be elongate in a direction transverse to the thickness of the piece upon which it is formed. Preferably the elongation extends transversely to the length of the edge from which it extends. For example, parallel to the dimension defining the thickness of a piece. Preferably, the projection so extends not fully to the face of the piece intended to be uppermost in use. For example, the length of the projection may terminate without reaching the periphery of the uppermost face. Preferably a portion of the peripheral surface separates the terminus of the elongate projection uppermost in use, and the periphery of the face of the piece uppermost in use. This means that the projection in question will not extend up to ground-level when the tiling/paving is in place but will be recessed below that level. This recessing ensures that the projections which separate the peripheries of the visible faces of aligned, neighbouring tiling/paving pieces, in use, may be covered or hidden with sand, grout or other filler which may be placed within the gaps between pieces.
These aspects of shape and dimension of paving pieces etc. may be achieved by casting such pieces in an appropriately shaped mould or die.
The tiling or paving apparatus may include a plurality of polygonal tiling or paving arrangements and a plurality of trapeziform tiling or paving pieces sufficient to provide n-2 tiling or paving pieces for each polygonal tiling or paving arrangement (n = integer).
The polygonal tiling or paving arrangement may comprise a plurality of component pieces shaped to be mutually positioned together to piece-together the polygonal arrangement.
The apparatus may include one or more further paving pieces having a polygonal shape defined by six edges of which three said edges are each substantially equal in length to the length of the shorter of said two parallel edges of a trapeziform piece and three said edges of length substantially equal either to the length of the longer of said two parallel edges or to twice the length of the shorter of said two parallel edges.
The/a further tiling or paving piece may be arranged to present a convex edge comprising a plurality of successive edges of the six edges.
The/a further tiling or paving piece may be arranged to present a convex edge comprising a first plurality of successive edges of the six edges each of length substantially equal to the length of the shorter of the two parallel edges of a trapeziform piece.
The/a further tiling or paving piece may be arranged to present a convex edge comprising a second plurality of successive edges of the six edges each of length substantially equal to the length of the longer of the two parallel edges of a trapeziform piece or to twice the length of the shorter of said two parallel edges..
The first plurality of successive edges may comprise all those edges of the further piece which have a length substantially equal to the length of the shorter of further two parallel edges of a trapeziform piece.
The second plurality of successive edges may comprise all those edges of the further piece which have a length substantially equal to the length of the longer of the two parallel edges of a trapeziform piece or to twice the length of the shorter of said two parallel edges.
The tiling or paving apparatus may be composed of a plurality of tiling or paving pieces dimensioned to fit in register together along selected edges such to define a polygonal composition, in which each side of the polygonal composition has the same length - being the length of the longer of the two parallel edges of a trapeziform paving tiling or paving piece.
The tiling or paving apparatus is preferably arranged such that, when so assembled into the polygonal composition, each edge of the polygonal paving arrangement which contributes a side to the polygonal composition is parallel to an edge of a trapeziform tiling or paving piece which contributes a side to the polygonal composition.
The invention in a further aspect may comprise tiling or paving comprising tiling or paving apparatus as described above.
The trapeziform tiling or paving pieces and/or the polygonal arrangement and/or further tiling or paving piece may be formed from an extruded material, or cut, cast or pressed from clay or cement, stone, wood, glass, ceramic, vinyl, plastic or the like.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of tiling or paving with a tiling or paving apparatus as recited in the appended claims. Reference will now be made to several examples of how invention the invention may be realized, by way of the following non-limiting embodiments with reference to the drawings of which:

Figure 1 illustrates a tiling or paving apparatus presenting a composition pieced together from seven generally flat pieces each presenting one of two geometrical shapes;
Figure 2 illustrates an arc array of a successive five of the pieces of common shape from the apparatus of Figure 1;
Figure 3 illustrates a tiling or paving apparatus comprising 6 generally flat pieces each presenting one of two geometrical shapes;
Figure 4 illustrates a tiling or paving piece having one of the two geometrical shapes from which the apparatus of Figure 1 is composed, and illustrating spaced nibs arrayed along the edge of the piece for abutment against the nibs of any other tiling or paving piece;
Figure 5 illustrates two tiling or paving pieces having a common one of the two geometrical shapes from which the apparatus of Figure 1 is composed, and illustrating spaced nibs arrayed along the edge of each piece abutted against the nibs of the other tiling or paving piece;
Figure 6 illustrates a tiling or paving composition comprising a repeating pattern of a plurality of the tiling or paving apparatus of Figure 1 with edges in register and abutted in a first orientation;
Figure 7 illustrates a tiling or paving composition comprising a repeating pattern of a plurality of the tiling or paving apparatus of Figure 1 with edges in register and abutted in a second orientation;
Figure 8 illustrates a tiling or paving composition comprising a repeating pattern of a plurality of the tiling or paving apparatus of Figure 1 with edges in register and abutted in a third orientation;
Figures 9A illustrates a tiling or paving composition comprising a repeating pattern of a plurality of the pieces of the tiling or paving apparatus of Figure 1 with edges in register and abutted, and including a further tiling or paving piece presenting a third geometrical shape. Figure 9B shows a six-sided slab forming a part of the composition;
Figure 10 illustrates a tiling or paving composition comprising a repeating pattern of 5 of the pieces of the tiling or paving apparatus of Figure 1 with edges in register and abutted;
Figure 11 illustrates an arc array of a successive seven of the pieces of common shape from the apparatus of Figure 13;
Figure 12 illustrates the use of two further pieces of a quadrilateral shape in combination with an additional three of the seven pieces comprising the arc of figure 11;
Figure 13 illustrates a tiling or paving apparatus presenting a composition pieced together from 16 generally flat pieces each presenting one of three geometrical shapes;
Figure 14 illustrates a composition of six flat equilaterally triangular tiling or paving pieces collectively forming a hexagon shape dimensioned to replace the hexagonal composition of 4 trapeziform pieces of Figure 13 as an alternative thereto, thereby to raise the total number of pieces to 18;
Figure 15 illustrates a tiling or paving composition comprising a repeating pattern of a plurality of the tiling or paving apparatus of Figure 13 with edges in register and abutted in a first orientation;
Figure 16, 17, 18 and 19 illustrate additional orientations of a tiling or paving pieces comprising the composition of Figure 13, with extra edging pieces defining a polygonal boundary edge to the compositions;
Figure 20 illustrates a tiling or paving composition comprising a repeating pattern of a plurality of the tiling or paving apparatus of Figure 13 with edges in register and abutted in a further orientation;
Figure 21 illustrates a tiling or paving composition comprising a repeating pattern of a plurality of the tiling or paving apparatus of Figure 13 with edges in register and abutted in a yet further orientation;
Figure 22 illustrates a tiling or paving composition comprising a repeating pattern of a plurality of the tiling or paving apparatus of Figure 13 with edges in register and abutted in yet another orientation;
Figure 23 illustrates a tiling or paving composition comprising a repeating pattern of a plurality of the tiling or paving apparatus of Figure 13 with edges in register and abutted in an additional orientation;
Figure 24, 25 and 26 illustrate a tiling or paving composition comprising a repeating pattern of a plurality of the tiling or paving apparatus of Figure 13 with edges in register and abutted in a further additional orientations;
Figure 27 illustrates a tiling or paving composition comprising a repeating pattern of a plurality of the tiling or paving apparatus of Figure 13 and 14 with edges in register and abutted in an extra orientation;
Figure 28 illustrates three paving pieces the edges of which present projections defining locating/spacing nibs;
Figure 29 illustrates a paving assembly comprising paving pieces limited to the three paving pieces shown in Figure 28;
Figure 30 illustrates a paving assembly comprising three shapes of paving piece as illustrated in Figure 28, with alternative locating/spacing nibs.

In the drawings, like items are assigned like reference symbols. In the following, the elements illustrated in the drawings shall be referred to as paving pieces or slabs, but it is to be understood that this reference is intended to include a reference to tiling pieces or tiles as the invention is equally applicable to tiling and paving pieces.
Figure 1 illustrates a paving apparatus presenting a paving composition (1) pieced together from seven generally flat paving slabs each presenting one of two geometrical shapes. The first of the two geometrical shapes is that of the trapezium. The paving composition comprises five trapeziform paving slabs (2) each having a substantially trapeziform shape defined by two parallel edges (3, 5) of unequal length separated by two converging edges (4) of substantially equal length. The length of each of the two converging edges (4) of a trapeziform paving slab is substantially equal to the length of the longer (3) of the two parallel edges (3, 5) of the slab.
The converging edges of the trapeziform paving slab converge at a convergence angle (θ) of 25.7 degrees (i.e. 180/7 degrees, thereabouts, or as close as is practicably possible) common to each of the five trapeziform paving slabs, as shown in Figure 2. As a result, with the length of the longer of the two parallel edges (3) of a trapeziform paving slab being 100 arbitrary units in length, and the shorter of the two parallel edges has a length of 55.5 of the arbitrary units (e.g. millimetres, centimetres, inches or multiples or fractions thereof etc).
The paving composition (1) also includes a generally flat polygonal paving arrangement (6) comprising two generally hexagonal component paving slabs (6A, 6B) abutted in register along the lengths of their respective longest edges (7A, 7B) to collectively define an octagonally-shaped composition defined by the remaining slab edges (8, 9, 9A, 9B, 10A, 10B) not so abutted. The hexagonal component paving slabs are the same shape, dimensions and size. Each one of the two hexagonal slabs is positioned in reverse/mirror orientation to the other such that corresponding longest edge of each mutually oppose and abut along their lengths. A hexagonal slab is an irregular convex hexagon with two parallel edges of unequal length separated by a longest edge perpendicular to them both. One parallel edge length is twice the length of the other and half the length of the longer of the two parallel edges of a trapeziform slab. The other three edges of the hexagon comprise two successive edges equal in length to the shorter of the two parallel edged of a trapeziform slab extending from the shorter of the two parallel edges of the hexagon, and an edge extending from the longer of the two parallel edges of the hexagon and being equal in length to the longer of the two parallel edges of a trapeziform slab. One hexagonal slab (6A) is the mirror image of the other hexagonal slab (6B) when the two are abutted in register along their respective longest edges as illustrated. The two slabs may be identically reversible on either slab side (i.e. by flipping along the longest edge) or may be mirror images only on one slab side.
The octagonal shape of the polygonal paving arrangement (6) comprises eight edges having one of two lengths. A successive five edges (8, and 10A and 10B collectively) of the octagonal shape each have a length equal to the length of the shorter of the two parallel edges of a trapeziform paving slab (2). The other three edges (9, and 9A and 9B collectively) are arranged in succession and each has a length equal to the longer of the two parallel edges of a trapeziform paving slab. The short edge of each one of the five trapeziform paving slabs is abutted in register along the length of a respective one of the five successive shorter edges of the octagonal shape presented by the polygonal paving arrangement.
The result is a paving apparatus (1) composed of seven slabs dimensioned to fit in register together along selected edges such to define a ten-sided polygon via the outermost boundary edge of the composition, in which each side of the ten-sided polygon has the same length - being the length of the longer of the two parallel edges of a trapeziform paving slab. This uniformity of the edge lengths of the composition enables a multitude of such compositions to be arranged in register along one or more respective such edges permitting a large number of different patterns to be built as a paving system using only two slab shapes.
Figure 3 illustrates an alternative paving apparatus having the same shape and structure as the apparatus of figures 1 and 2 except for the use of a single-slab polygonal paving arrangement defining the aforementioned octagonal shape as one slab (6) rather than double-slab polygonal paving arrangement comprising two hexagonal (half-octagonal) slabs (6A, 6B) as discussed above with reference to Figure 1. The benefit of using two hexagonal (half-octagonal) paving slabs comes from their reduced weight and easier handling characteristics when the slabs are larger. However, if slab weight is not a problem, then the single-slab arrangement may be preferred.
The paving apparatus is arranged such that, when assembled into the ten-sided composition (1), each edge (9, 9A, plus 9B) of the polygonal paving arrangement which contributes a side to the polygonal composition, is parallel to an edge (3) of a trapeziform tiling or paving piece which contributes a side to the ten-sided composition (1).
Figure 3 illustrates how the ten-sided paving composition comprises three pairs of oppositely-presented parallel sides. Each one of the middle, and two terminal edges (9, 9A plus 9B) of the polygonal paving arrangement (6, or 6A and 6B collectively) is parallel to a respective one of the middle and two terminal outermost edges of the arcing array of five successive trapeziform paving slabs. Relative to a common reference axis ("x"), parallel such sides subtend the same angle (ϕ). In this example, the common angle is one of: 51.4 degrees (i.e. 360/7 degrees), zero degrees, and 128.6 degrees (i.e. [180 - 360/7] degrees).
Figures 4 shows a hexagonal paving slab (6A) from the polygonal paving arrangement, which comprises a pair of such slabs (6A, 7B), and Figure 5 shows a two trapeziform paving slabs (2). These slabs each comprise straight slab edges punctuated by two or more regularly spaced nibs (11). Each nib is a relatively small, short raised slab edge portion, generally parallel to the greater edge it punctuates. Each nib is positioned and dimensioned to present an abutment edge against and along the length of which the edge of a nib of another paving slab may abut in register as shown in the example of Figure 5. The abutted nibs of adjacent paving slabs enable a regular and controlled separation between opposed slab edges into which paving sand may be placed to enable better drainage of rain water if required, such as when the paving slabs are employed for external paving.
Referring to figures 28, 29 and 30, there is shown an alternative nib arrangement in the paving pieces.
Figure 28 illustrates three pieces (2, 26, 17A, 17B) of a paving apparatus shown in Figure 29. Each piece comprises an array of locator/spacer nibs (50, 51, 52). Each such nib is defined by a projecting portion formed as an embossment or the like at the sides of the piece defining the edges of the piece. These projecting portions are relatively small with each occupying less than about an eighth or a tenth of the length of the straight edge on which it resides.
Each straight edge of a piece (2, 26, 17A, 17B) comprises only three such separate nibs separated along the side surface of the piece associated with an edge. They are of mutually matching shape and dimensions. The separation between any three nibs along the side surface associated with the edge they share defines a first pair of neighbouring projections (50, 57) which collectively define, together with the side surface associated with the edge section separating them, a recess shaped and dimensioned to reciprocate the shaping of one of the pair of projections. A separate projection so shaped may be snugly and intimately received within the recess e.g. in abutment therewith.
Consecutive edges of each paving piece (2, 26, 17A, 17B) meet at, and define, a corner of the piece. One side surface associated with an edge defining the corner possesses a pair of separate (separated) substantially immediately following the corner. The other the side surface associated with another edge defining the corner possesses a nib (52) adjacent to (in isolation) the corner, being spaced therefrom along the edge by distance matching the width of, or adapted to receive the body or, another such nib. The pair of separate (separated) nibs immediately following the corner collectively define, together with a side surface section associated with the edge section separating them, a recess shaped and dimensioned to reciprocate the shaping of one of the pair of nibs (50, 51) such that a separate nib (52') so shaped may be snugly and intimately received within the recess e.g. in abutment therewith. Thus, the pair of separate nibs (50', 51') on one tiling/paving piece etc, may receive between them the isolated nib (52) of another neighbouring tiling/paving piece etc, and vice versa, when two such pieces are brought together when laying the tiling/paving.
Each corner, defined by the side surfaces associated with the edges of each paving piece, comprises such a collection of three nibs as described above. On any one edge, the pair of nibs (50, 51) is at one end of the side surface associated with the edge (following the associated corner), and the isolated third nib (52) is located adjacent the other end of the side surface associated with that edge (preceding the next corner). Accordingly, an ordered array of projections is provided along the side surface associated with the entire edge (all edges) of a piece in a given direction around the piece, with a single isolated nub located between any two successive said pairs of nibs.
This ordering applies to each piece in the apparatus. The result is that the correct alignment and interlocking of projections between pieces will be permitted only when the appropriate face of the piece is presented to the user (e.g. uppermost in use). Flipping over a piece will present to a user the same geometric shape (polygon), but will result in the array of nibs of that piece being no longer able to align with other correctly-oriented pieces. This is a simple and immediate indication to a user that/when a piece is not correctly oriented (e.g. face-up), indicating that it should be re-oriented. In Figures 28 to 30, the surface of each piece intended to be uppermost in use is patterned with an array of hexagons to illustrate/represent surface texture.
The nibs are straight-edged, and are tapered to narrow as they project from an edge. They are flat-ended (e.g. as in a frustum or the like). These shapes have been found to assist in achieving inter-connection between pieces and securely locating them. They are also easier to manufacture than other more curved of complex shapes.
Each piece/component of the apparatus presents a peripheral/side surface generally transverse to (and bounding) the faces of the piece, which circumscribes the piece and defines the edges of the piece. An aforesaid nib is elongate in a direction transverse to the thickness of the piece upon which it is formed. The elongation extends transversely to the length of the edge from which it extends, parallel to the dimension defining the thickness of the piece. The projection so extends not fully to the face of the piece intended to be uppermost in use.
For example, the length of the projection terminates without reaching the periphery of the uppermost face. A portion of the peripheral surface separates the terminus of the elongate nib uppermost in use, and the periphery of the face of the piece uppermost in use. This means that the nib in question will not extend up to ground-level when the tiling/paving is in place but will be recessed below that level. This recessing ensures that the projections which separate the peripheries of the visible faces of aligned, neighbouring paving pieces, in use, may be covered or hidden with sand, grout or other filler which may be placed within the gaps between pieces.
Figure 30 illustrates an alternative embodiment in which all nibs (60, 61, 62) are evenly spaced along a given common edge. They are also of greater width along the side surface associated with an edge and occupy more of that surface. The spacing between nibs defines a recess shaped to substantially reciprocally match, and to snugly receive, the shape of a nib of an opposing edge/side of an aligned neighbouring piece.
It is to be noted that the paving pieces 17A and 17B in any one of Figures 12, 13, 27, 29 or 30 are substantially the same shape and are not "handed".
It is to be noted that the paving pieces 20A and 20C of Figure 13 are substantially the same shape (with or without nibs) and are not "handed".
It is also to be noted that the paving pieces 20B and 20D of Figure 13 are substantially the same shape (with or without nibs) and are not "handed".
Figure 6 illustrates a paving pattern produced by the repeated and regular positioning of successive ten-sided paving compositions as illustrated in Figure 1. An edge of the middle trapeziform paving slab (2) of one ten-sided composition is abutted against a parallel edge of the polygonal arrangement (6A, 6B) of an adjacent ten-sided such paving composition. This pattern of abutment is repeated to form a first linear array of "top-to-bottom" abutted ten-sided compositions. A second such linear array extends in a direction reverse to that of the first linear array. A trapeziform paving slab of each ten-sided composition of the first array abuts a trapeziform paving slab of a ten-sided composition of the second array, along one of the two converging edges of each such abutting trapeziform slabs. This inter-meshing relationship between linear arrays may be repeated as desired. Gaps (13) formed between such inter-meshed arrays match the shape of two trapeziform paving slabs with short edges abutted, and so may be filled-in accordingly if desired.
Figure 7 illustrates another paving pattern produced by the repeated and regular positioning of successive ten-sided paving compositions as illustrated in Figure 1. A convex edge portion of a ten-sided composition is defined by the adjacent, successive edges of the penultimate and ultimate trapeziform paving slabs (2) of the successive five trapeziform slabs of the ten-sided composition. The two edges defining this edge portion are abutted against adjacent and successive edges of a trapeziform slab and polygonal arrangement (6) of a neighbouring ten-sided paving composition. This pattern of abutment is repeated to form a first linear array of "side-to-side" abutted ten-sided compositions. A second such linear array extends in a direction reverse to that of the first linear array. Each slab of a ten-sided composition on one side of the first array abuts a slab of a ten-sided composition on the adjacent side of the second array. This inter-meshing relationship between linear arrays may be repeated as desired.
Figure 8 illustrates another paving pattern produced by the repeated and regular positioning of successive ten-sided paving compositions as illustrated in Figure 1. An edge of the middle trapeziform paving slab (2) of one ten-sided composition is abutted against a parallel edge of the polygonal arrangement (6A, 6B) of an adjacent ten-sided such paving composition. This pattern of abutment is repeated to form a first linear array of "top-to-bottom" abutted ten-sided compositions. A second such linear array extends in the same direction as the first linear array, but staggered relative to the first array. A convex edge portion of a ten-sided composition is defined by the adjacent, successive edges of the penultimate and ultimate trapeziform paving slabs (2) of the arc of five successive trapeziform slabs of the ten-sided composition. The two slab edges defining this edge portion are abutted against adjacent and successive edges of a trapeziform slab and polygonal arrangement (6) of a neighbouring ten-sided paving composition. Each slab of a ten-sided composition on one side of the first array abuts an edge of a slab of a ten-sided composition on the adjacent side of the second array. This inter-meshing relationship between linear arrays may be repeated as desired.
Figures 9 and 10 each illustrate a respective further paving pattern produced using a paving apparatus employing a paving composition comprising three trapeziform paving pieces in conjunction with a polygonal paving arrangement.
In the example of Figure 10, the paving pattern is produced by the repeated use of a modified ten-sided paving composition, identified in Figure 10, comprising an arc of only three trapeziform paving pieces (2) in combination with the polygonal paving arrangement (6A and 6B together). An edge of the middle trapeziform paving slab (2) of one modified ten-sided composition is abutted against a parallel edge of the polygonal arrangement (6A, 6B) of an adjacent ten-sided such paving composition. This pattern of abutment is repeated to form a first linear array of "top-to-bottom" abutted ten-sided compositions. A second such linear array extends in a direction reverse to that of the first linear array. A trapeziform paving slab of each modified ten-sided composition of the first array abuts a trapeziform paving slab of a modified ten-sided composition of the second array, along the longer parallel trapeziform edges. Along one of the two converging edges of each such abutting trapeziform slab or either array, a long edge of a polygonal paving arrangement of the other array is abutted. A short edge of a polygonal paving arrangement in any one array abuts a short edge of a reversely oriented polygonal paving arrangement in the other array. This inter-meshing relationship between linear arrays may be repeated as desired.
In the example of Figure 9A, the paving pattern includes a plurality of further paving pieces (14 - see Figure 9B) each having a polygonal shape defined by six edges of which three edges are each substantially equal in length (55.5 arbitrary units) to the length of the shorter of the two converging edges of a trapeziform paving piece. The other three edges are each substantially equal in length either to the length of the longer of the two parallel edges (100 arbitrary units) of a trapeziform piece, or to twice the length of the shorter trapeziform parallel edge (2x55.5 = 111 arbitrary units). The further paving piece is arranged to present a convex boundary edge comprising six successive edge parts. A first part of the convex boundary edge comprises three successive edge parts each of length substantially equal to the length of the shorter of the two parallel edges of a trapeziform piece, and second part the convex boundary edge comprises three successive edge parts two being of length substantially equal to the length of the longer of the two parallel edges of a trapeziform piece, separated by a length equal to twice the length of the shorter edge of a trapeziform piece. A seven-sided paving pattern is produced centred upon a 14-sided (e.g. tetrakaidecagonal) aperture (15). This all with the use of only three different paving slab shapes.
Figure 13 illustrates a paving apparatus presenting a paving composition (21) pieced together from sixteen generally flat paving slabs each presenting one of three geometrical shapes. The first of the three geometrical shapes is that of the trapezium. The paving composition comprises an arc of seven trapeziform paving slabs (16) each having a substantially trapeziform shape defined by two parallel edges (20, 22) of unequal length separated by two converging edges (21) of substantially equal length. The length of each of the two converging edges (21) of a trapeziform paving slab is substantially equal to the length of the longer (20) of the two parallel edges (20, 22) of the slab.
The converging edges of the trapeziform paving slab converge at a convergence angle of 20 degrees (i.e. 180/9 degrees, thereabouts, or as close as is practicably possible) common to each of the five trapeziform paving slabs, as shown in Figure 11. As a result, with the length of the longer of the two parallel edges (20) of a trapeziform paving slab being 100 arbitrary units in length, and the shorter of the two parallel edges has a length of 65.27 of the arbitrary units (e.g. millimetres, centimetres, or inches or fractions or multiples thereof etc).
The paving composition (21) also includes a generally flat polygonal paving arrangement (100) comprising either nine component paving slabs (16A, 16B, 16C, 17A, 17B, 20A - two-fold, 20B - two-fold) as shown in Figure 13, or eleven component paving slabs (16A, 16B, 16C, 17A, 17B, 26 - six-fold as a hexagon 30 as shown in Figure 14). The component paving slabs of the polygonal paving arrangement (100) are abutted in register along the lengths of two or more of their respective edges to collectively define a twelve-sided composition defined by the remaining component slab edges not so abutted.
The component paving slabs comprise a further three of the aforementioned trapeziform paving slabs (16A, 16B, 16C), two quadrilateral paving slabs (17A, 17B) of a first quadrilateral shape each located between a respective two of the three trapeziform slabs, and four quadrilateral paving slabs (20A, 20B, 20C, 20D) of a second quadrilateral shape pieced together collectively to define a hexagonal shape. Figure 12 shows the configuration of the two first quadrilateral paving slabs with the further three trapeziform paving slabs when abutted to the arc of seven successive trapeziform paving slabs of Figure 11 within the concavity (6C) defined thereby. The two first quadrilateral paving slabs with the further three trapeziform paving slabs collectively define a concavity (6D) to be filled by a hexagonal composition of paving slabs as illustrated in Figure 13 or 14.
Each one of the two first quadrilateral slabs is positioned in reverse/mirror orientation to the other. Each one of the four quadrilateral slabs of the second quadrilateral shape is positioned in reverse/mirror orientation to either of the two other such slabs it abuts.
The first quadrilateral shape comprises two successive short edges having a length equal to the shorter of the two parallel edges of a trapeziform paving piece, and two successive long edges having a length equal to the longer of the two parallel edges of a trapeziform paving piece. Each long edge of a first quadrilateral paving piece (17A, 17B) abuts a long edge of an adjacent trapeziform paving piece (16A, 16B, 16C) of the polygonal paving arrangement (100) such that corresponding longest edges of each mutually oppose and abut along their lengths. Each of the two short edges of the two first quadrilateral paving pieces, and each short edge of the three trapeziform paving piece (16A, 16B, 16C) of the polygonal paving arrangement (100) abut a short edge of a respective one of the seven trapeziform pieces (16) of the arc illustrated in figure 11. Each long edge of the two parallel edges of the three trapeziform paving pieces of the polygonal paving arrangement (100) abuts a respective one of three successive edges of the hexagon defined either by the four quadrilateral paving pieces of the second quadrilateral shape illustrated in Figure 13, or by the six equilateral triangle paving pieces (26) of Figure 14.
The second quadrilateral paving pieces each comprise two parallel edges consisting of a longer parallel edge (24) of a length equal to the longest edge (20) of a trapeziform paving piece (16), and a shorter parallel edge (22) half that length. The two parallel edges are separated by two converging edges the longer of which (23) has a length equal to the longest edge (20) of a trapeziform paving piece (16), and the shorter of which is perpendicular to each of the two parallel edges of the second quadrilateral piece. As a result, the four quadrilateral paving pieces of the second quadrilateral shape are able to abut at the right-angled corner each defines such that only the shorter of the parallel edges and the longer of the converging edges thereof define the hexagonal shape of six equal sides/edges. Any one of the shorter of the two parallel edges of a second quadrilateral paving piece is successive to another such shorter parallel edge such that the two such shorter edges define collectively an edge equal in length to any other edge of the hexagon the contribute to defining. The longer converging edge may have a length of 100 arbitrary units, such that the length of the shorter converging length is 86.6 arbitrary units in length such that it subtends an internal angle of 60 degrees with the longer of the two parallel edges, which is 100 arbitrary units in length. The shorter parallel edge is 50 arbitrary units long and the width of the hexagon between vertices is 200 arbitrary units.
Figure 14 shows an alternative composition (30) of six equilateral triangular paving slabs (26) having a side (27, 28, 29) of length equal to the length of the longer of the two parallel sides of a trapeziform paving piece (16) - being 100 arbitrary units in length. This may replace the hexagonal arrangement (20A, 20B, 20C, 20D) illustrated in Figure 13.
Using either hexagonal composition, a twelve-sided polygonal arrangement (100) presents a successive seven edges (18) each have a length equal to the length of the shorter of the two parallel edges of a trapeziform paving slab (16), and another five successive edges (180) each having a length equal to the longer of the two parallel edges of a trapeziform paving slab. The short edge of each one of the seven trapeziform paving slabs (16) defining the arc of Figure 11, is abutted in register along the length of a respective one of the seven successive shorter edges presented by the twelve-sided polygonal paving arrangement (100).
The result is a paving apparatus (21) composed of sixteen or eighteen slabs dimensioned to fit in register together along selected edges such as to define a fourteen-sided polygon via the outermost boundary edge of the composition, in which each side of the fourteen-sided polygon has the same length - being the length of the longer of the two parallel edges of a trapeziform paving slab. This uniformity of the edge lengths of the composition enables a multitude of such compositions to be arranged in register along one or more respective such edges permitting a large number of different patterns to be built as a paving system using only three slab shapes. The 12-sided polygonal arrangement (100) may be formed from a single slab and so only two slab shapes would then be required.
The paving apparatus is arranged such that, when assembled into the fourteen-sided composition (21), each edge of the polygonal paving arrangement (16B to 20D) which contributes a side to the polygonal composition, is parallel to an edge (20) of a trapeziform paving piece (16) which contributes a side to the fourteen-sided composition (21).
Figure 15 illustrates a tiling or paving composition comprising a repeating pattern of a plurality of the paving apparatus (21) of Figure 13 with edges in register and abutted in a first configuration.
Figures 16, 17, 18 and 19 illustrate additional configurations (31, 32 and 33) of paving pieces comprising the composition of Figure 13, or elements therefrom, with extra edging pieces defining a trapeziform (31), hexagonal (32, 34) or triangular (33) boundary edge to the compositions.
Figure 20 illustrates a tiling or paving composition comprising a repeating pattern of a plurality of the paving apparatus of Figure 13 with edges in register and abutted in a further configuration (35).
Figures 21, 22, 23 and 24 illustrate paving compositions comprising a repeating pattern of a plurality of the paving apparatus of Figure 13 with edges in register and abutted in a two yet further configurations (36, 37, 38 and 39). The composition (39) of Figure 24 results in an octakaidecagonal aperture (40) for placing an article such as a tree, or immoveable street furniture.
Figures 25 and 26 illustrate paving compositions (41, 44) comprising a repeating pattern of a plurality of the tiling or paving apparatus of Figure 13 with edges in register and abutted in a further additional configuration enabling the illustration of inter-linked rings or other signs by virtue of distinctive colouration of selected paving pieces of the composition. Additional edging paving pieces (42, 43) enable a straight hexagonal boundary to be formed in the composition.
Figure 27 illustrates a paving composition comprising a repeating pattern of a plurality of the tiling or paving apparatus of Figure 13 when used with equilateral paving pieces (26) employed hexagonal component of Figure 14, with edges in register and abutted in an extra configuration resulting in a star shape (45).
Any of the paving pieces may be formed from an extruded, cast, cut or pressed material. The simplicity of the shape of each slab, and the small number of different slab shapes required, lends the invention to efficient and cost-effective manufacture by extrusion of suitable paving slab material, such as a clay or cement mixture, or may be cut, cast or pressed from clay or cement, stone, wood, glass, ceramic, vinyl, plastic or the like.
The above embodiments are provided for illustration and are not intended to be limiting such that modifications or variations thereof, such as would be readily apparent to the skilled person, are encompassed within the scope of the invention as defined by the claim.

Claims

Tiling or paving apparatus (1) comprising:
a plurality of trapeziform tiling or paving pieces (2; 16) each having a substantially trapeziform shape defined by two parallel edges (3, 5) of unequal length separated by two converging edges (4) of substantially equal length which converge at a convergence angle common to each trapeziform tiling or paving piece, and;

a polygonal tiling or paving arrangement (6) adapted to present a generally polygonal shape defined by a plurality of edges (8, 9, 9A, 9B, 10A, 10B; 18, 180) wherein:
the length of each said edge of the polygonal arrangement is substantially equal to the length of a said parallel edge and the length of each of said two converging edges is substantially equal to the length of the longer of said two parallel edges,

in which the polygonal tiling or paving arrangement (6) is adapted to present a convex edge comprising a first two or more successive edges (8; 18) of said plurality of edges defining said polygonal shape each of length substantially equal to the length of the shorter of said two parallel edges (5).
Tiling or paving apparatus (1) according to claim 1 in which the polygonal tiling or paving arrangement (6) is adapted to present said convex edge comprising a second two or more successive edges (8; 18) each of length substantially equal to the length of the longer of said two parallel edges (3).
Tiling or paving apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 in which any two said edges (8; 18) of said polygonal tiling or paving arrangement (6) defining a corner converge at an angle of convergence in the said polygonal tiling or paving arrangement which is other than acute at that corner.
Tiling or paving apparatus (1) according to any preceding claim in which the convergence angle has a value of substantially 180/n degrees where n is an integer, wherein optionally n = 7 (seven) or 9 (nine).
Tiling or paving apparatus (1) according to claim 4, in which the number of edges (8; 18) in said first two or more of successive edges (8; 18) is equal to n-2, where n is an integer.
Tiling or paving apparatus (1) according to any preceding claim in which each said edge (3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 9A, 10A, 10B; 18, 180) is a substantially straight edge.
Tiling or paving apparatus (1) according to any preceding claim in which a side surface of a said piece (2; 16) or of said polygonal arrangement (6) defining a said edge (3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 9A, 10A, 10B; 18, 180) is punctuated by one or more locator portions which project therefrom.
Tiling or paving apparatus (1) according to claim 4 and any other preceding claim including a plurality of said polygonal tiling or paving arrangements (6) and a plurality of trapeziform tiling or paving pieces (2: 16) sufficient to provide n-2 trapeziform tiling or paving pieces for each polygonal tiling or paving part, where n is an integer.
Tiling or paving apparatus (1) according to any preceding claim in which the polygonal tiling of paving arrangement (6) comprises a plurality of tiling or paving component pieces (6; 6A, 6B; 16A, 16B, 16C, 17A, 17B) shaped to be mutually positioned together to piece-together the polygonal tiling or paving arrangement.
Tiling or paving apparatus (1) according to any preceding claim including one or more further tiling or paving pieces (14) having a polygonal shape defined by six edges of which three of said six edges are each substantially equal in length to the length of the shorter of said two parallel edges (5) and each of three of said six edges is substantially equal in length to either the length of the longer of said two parallel edges (3) or twice the length of the shorter of said two parallel edges.
Tiling or paving apparatus (1) according to claim 10 in which a said further tiling or paving piece (14) is arranged to present a convex edge portion comprising a plurality of successive edges of the six edges.
Tiling or paving apparatus (1) according to any of claims 10 to 11 in which a said further tiling or paving piece (14) is arranged to present a convex edge comprising a first plurality of successive edges of the six edges each of length substantially equal to the length of the shorter of said two parallel edges (3).
Tiling or paving apparatus (1) according to any preceding claim in which the trapeziform tiling or paving pieces (2: 16) and/or the polygonal tiling or paving arrangement (6), and/or the further tiling or paving piece (14), and/or any other tiling or paving piece thereof are formed from an extruded material or cut, cast or pressed from a material.
Tiling or paving comprising tiling or paving apparatus (1) according to any preceding claim.
A method of tiling or paving comprising: providing tiling or paving apparatus (1) according to any of claims 1 to 13, the method including: abutting a longer said edge (4) of each one of the plurality of trapeziform tiling or paving pieces (2: 16) to a longer said edge of another of the plurality of trapeziform tiling or paving pieces, and; abutting the shorter of said two parallel edges (5) of each one of the plurality of trapeziform tiling or paving pieces to an edge of the polygonal arrangement (6) substantially equal in length thereto, in register therewith.