GB1394122A - Metal tiles - Google Patents

Abstract

1394122 Metal tile TYNESIDE PRINTERS Ltd 10 May 1973 [15 Feb 1972 6 May 1972] 7050/72 and 21224/72 Heading B6G A metal tile comprises as shown in Figs. 2A and 2B a parallel-sided smooth-surfaced flat sheet B of metal of a uniform thickness of 0À005 inches to 0À100 inches, one major surface of the sheet having a decorative finish applied thereto by a printing method, the sheet being uniformly bevelled at its edges A to provide a skirt depending from said one major surface of the sheet in a direction away therefrom such that the other major surface of the tile is held spaced from any flat surface by not more than 0À25 inches and not less than 0À025 inches when the tile is placed with its bevelled edges in contact with said flat surface, the area of the one major surface of the tile being such that the ratio of that area to the area of the bevelled edges contiguous therewith is no more than 20 : 1. The metal is preferably aluminium and may also be sheet mild steel coated with tin, or sheet stainless steel. Each tile may be provided with a removable covering of synthetic resin films. In a method of preparing the tiles, the sheet metal is sized, printed, varnished, optionally filmcovered, stoved as necessary and then stamped out using a male and female die of appropriate dimensions. The sheet metal used may be the size of one tile, but is preferably the size of several tiles and in a final stage the sheet is cut into individual tiles. The sheets may be printed by lithographic methods in one or more colours and examples of suitable inks are given. The film-covering may be formed by applying a lacquer from rollers through which the printed and varnished sheets of metal are fed. Preferred lacquers comprise a vinyl resin such as polyvinyl chloride and a solvent. The tiles may be applied to any flat surface preferably using one or more pieces of an adhesive material. They may be applied over existing ceramic tiles and on to a wall composed of supported hardboard. The tiles may be bent round corners and cut with scissors.