GB2289005A

GB2289005A - Decorated ceramic tiles

Info

Publication number: GB2289005A
Application number: GB9408322A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anthony John Taylor
Original assignee: CERAMIC PRINTS Ltd
Current assignee: CERAMIC PRINTS Ltd
Priority date: 1994-04-27
Filing date: 1994-04-27
Publication date: 1995-11-08
Anticipated expiration: 2014-04-27
Also published as: AU2315095A; GB9408322D0; WO1995029070A1; GB2289005B

Abstract

Adhesive 20 is applied to a recess 11 formed in a back face 12 of a three-dimensional glazed ceramic decorative piece 10 which is applied to a front face 3 of a ceramic tile 1. A particular advantage of this is that decorative pieces such as 10 may readily be used to modify the appearance of ceramic tiles such as 1, after the tiles 1 have been fitted in place, although this may alternatively be done before the tiles are fitted. The decorative piece may provide a border (Fig 5, not shown). <IMAGE>

Description

CERAMIC TILES This invention relates to ceramic tiles.

Ceramic tiles have been popular for very many years and, typically, are used for decorating walls and floors. A ceramic tile is generally in the form of a flat, relatively thin wafer, having a substantially flat back face, and a substantially flat front face, which usually is glazed.

It is known to form relief patterns on the front face of ceramic tiles. These are, to some extent, "three-dimensional1', but generally, only to a limited degree. Surface roughness may be provided - for example, by applying special glazes to the front tile face. Undulations and other surface roughness may be provided on the front tile face, by moulding or pressing.

It is known to provide ceramic tiles with different patterns. For example, an array of tiles with a common base pattern and/or colour may have occasional tiles provided with an additional, more elaborate pattern, to provide a pleasing decorative effect. Such an additional pattern is often formed by a printing or a transfer process, which may be carried out during manufacture of the tile.

Alternatively, retail customers may purchase transfers or decals which may be applied at will to the front face of a tile, after the tile has been fixed in place.

In order to provide a more interesting appearance to an array of tiles, it has been suggested to provide decorative pieces which are substantially threedimensional (that is, significantly more than a surface texture effect).

However, the provision of such three-dimensional pieces on ceramic tiles is generally a time consuming and specialised task. The decorative pieces are formed of clay, applied to the tile before firing and glazing, and then subsequently fired and glazed with the tile. Therefore, there is generally a distinct limitation on the number of pattern, colour and design parameters that can be adopted in the production of such tiles. Also, the tiles with the integral three-dimensional decorative pieces require careful handling and shipping, since they are much more readily damaged than conventional flat tiles. Thus, they tend to be rather expensive.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention aim to provide ceramic tiles which may be improved in the foregoing respects.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of modifying a glazed ceramic tile, comprising the step of applying adhesive to a recess formed in a back face of a three-dimensional glazed ceramic decorative piece, applying the said back face to a front face of the ceramic tile, and allowing the adhesive to set, thereby to secure together the decorative piece and the ceramic tile.

Preferably, said recess has a surface which generally follows the shape of the outer surface of the decorative piece.

Preferably, said recess is surrounded by a rim which presents a substantially flat surface to engage said front face of the tile.

Preferably, said recess is surrounded by a rim which is narrow relative to the size of said back face.

One or more cross-members may be provided across or adjacent the mouth of said recess.

Said decorative piece may be secured away from the edges of the tile.

Said decorative piece may be secured at or adjacent an edge of the tile, to form a border with adjacent such decorative pieces.

The invention extends to a tile and/or decorative piece adapted for use in a method according to any of the preceding aspects of the invention.

The invention extends to a tile that has been modified by a method in accordance with any of the preceding aspects of the invention.

For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how embodiments of the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a glazed ceramic tile and a glazed decorative piece to be secured thereto; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the decorative piece and tile shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a rear perspective view of the decorative piece; Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the decorative piece secured to the ceramic tile; and Figures 5 to 8 are views corresponding to Figures 1 to 4 respectively, but showing a glazed ceramic tile and a glazed decorative border piece to be attached thereto.

In the figures, like reference numerals denote like or corresponding parts.

The ceramic tile 1 that is shown in Figures 1 to 4 may be of conventional design, comprising a substantially flat wafer of ceramics material, having a back face 2, which is normally secured to, for example, a wall or other surface, and a front face 3. The front face 3 is glazed - as may optionally be the side edges of the tile 1.

The decorative piece 10 comprises a three-dimensional representation of part of a pear. It is made of ceramics material, and its outer surface is glazed. To enhance its visual appeal, the piece 10 may also be hand-painted in a number of colours. It is formed with an internal recess 11, which opens on the back face 12 of the piece 10. The back face 12 will not be seen, in use, and therefore does not need to be glazed.

The appearance of the plain tile 1 is modified by securing thereto the decorative piece 10. To this end, adhesive 20 is placed into the recess 11, the decorative piece 10 is then placed onto the front face of the tile 1, and the adhesive 20 is allowed to set, to secure the decorative piece 10 firmly to the tile 1.

Thus, it may be appreciated that the ceramic tile 1 may readily be modified by securing thereto the decorative piece 10, by means of the adhesive 20. A wide range of decorative pieces such as 10 may be provided, and these may be selected as desired by a user, to modify the appearance of various ceramic tiles 1. A particular advantage of this is that decorative pieces such as 10 may readily be used to modify the appearance of ceramic tiles such as 1, after the tiles 1 have been fitted in place, although this may alternatively be done before the tiles are fitted. Thus, the process of modifying the ceramic tiles 1 is much cheaper than that of forming a tile with an integral decorative piece, that has to be fired and glazed with the tile. Also, shipping and storage of the illustrated tiles and decorative pieces are much simpler.

The mouth of the recess 11 that opens into the back face 12 of the decorative piece 10 is defined by a rim 13 which surrounds the opening of the recess 11.

Preferably, the rim 13 is relatively narrow. For example, it may be less than 10mm, and preferably less than 5mm. The provision of the relatively narrow rim 13 facilitates a close fit of the back face 12 of the decorative piece 10 on the front face 3 of the tile 1.

Preferably, the wall thickness of the ceramic material forming the decorative piece 10 is substantially uniform, to facilitate manufacture of the decorative piece 10 and minimise points of weakness therein. Optionally, strengthening members may be provided across the mouth of the recess 11, and two such cross-members 15 are shown in broken line in Figure 3. The cross-members 15 are preferably set back slightly into the recess 11, so that the rim 13 still maintains the principal contact with the front face of the tile 1. In addition to strengthening the decorative piece 10, the cross-members 15 serve also to assist keying of the adhesive 20.

The adhesive 20 may be a conventional wall or floor tile adhesive. Thus, decorative pieces such as 10 may readily be used to modify ceramic tiles such as 1, without the need for special and expensive adhesives.

The embodiment of the invention that is shown in Figures 5 to 8 is similar to that of Figures 1 to 4, except that, instead of the pear 10, a decorative border piece 30 is secured to a tile 1, which is similar to the tile 1 of Figures 1 to 4.

The border piece 30 is elongate, having a part-circular projection 36 at one end and a correspondingly shaped recess 37 at the other end, to receive as a close fit a projection 36 from an adjacent border piece such as 30. On its outer face, the border piece 30 is formed with a three-dimensional decorative pattern, in the form of a variety of items of fruit. The border piece 30 is of a length that enables it to be used universally with respect to conventional tile sizes - for example, it may have a length of 200mm, so as to be suitable for use in conjunction with any size of tile.

The border piece 30 is formed with a recess 31 which, as in the pear 10, generally follows the shape of the outer surface of the border piece 30, but is not of exactly the same shape. Adhesive 20 fills the recess 31, and serves to secure the border piece 30 to the tile 1, as shown in Figure 8.

A narrow rim 33 is defined around the mouth of the recess 31 and, optionally, cross-members 35 are formed across the back face 32 of the decorative border piece 30, similar to the cross-members 35.

The provision of the thin rim 33, similar to the thin rim 13 of Figures 1 to 4, allows the border piece 30 to seat closely on the front face 3 of the tile 1.

Preferably, the rim 33 (or 13) is milled, linished, sanded, or otherwise machined or processed, to make it completely flat. Alternatively, the rim 33 (or 13) could be formed to have a reasonably accurate flat face during the manufacturing process of the border piece 30 (or 10). However, there is a tendency for ceramic articles to show a degree of surface roughness as a result of the manufacturing process including baking and firing, and so the formation of an accurate flat surface without subsequent surface treatment may not always be economic and/or practical.

Although the rim 33 (or 13) is preferably parallel to the front face 3 of the tile 1, it may be angled thereto, so long as, preferably, the outer part of the rim 33 (or 13) is closest to the front face 3.

The border piece 30 may alternatively be affixed directly to a wall or other surface, and this is to be understood as within the scope of the present invention.

The shapes of the projections 36 and recesses 37 may vary in similar border pieces, from design to design. For example, they may be generally V-shaped, or any other suitable shape.

It is important to distinguish the recesses 11 and 31 of the illustrated embodiments of the invention from surface grooves, undulations, projections and the like, that are often provided on the back faces of tiles to improve keying of adhesive. In the illustrated embodiments of the invention, the recesses 11 and 31 are significantly deeper than surface grooves, undulations, projections and the like. The recesses 11 and 31 generally follow, at least approximately, the shape of the outer faces of the decorative pieces 10 and 30.

The recesses 11 and 31 define the narrow rims 13 and 33 that surround the decorative pieces 10 and 30, and allow the decorative pieces 10 and 30 to be secured closely to (and preferably touching) the front faces 3 of the tiles 1, without showing appreciable amounts of adhesive 20 between the decorative pieces 10 and 30 and the front faces 3 of the tiles 1.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise.

Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s).

The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A method of modifying a glazed ceramic tile, comprising the step of applying adhesive to a recess formed in a back face of a three-dimensional glazed ceramic decorative piece, applying the said back face to a front face of the ceramic tile, and allowing the adhesive to set, thereby to secure together the decorative piece and the ceramic tile.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said recess has a surface which generally follows the shape of the outer surface of the decorative piece.

3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said recess is surrounded by a rim which presents a substantially flat surface to engage said front face of the tile.

4. A method according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said recess is surrounded by a rim which is narrow relative to the size of said back face.

5. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein one or more cross-members is or are provided across or adjacent the mouth of said recess.

6. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said decorative piece is secured away from the edges of the tile.

7. A method according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein said decorative piece is secured at or adjacent an edge of the tile, to form a border with adjacent such decorative pieces.

8. A method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 4, and/or with reference to Figures 5 to 8, of the accompanying drawings.

9. A tile and/or decorative piece adapted for use in a method according to any of the preceding claims.

10. A tile that has been modified by a method in accordance with any of claims 1 to 8.