GB2336609A

GB2336609A - Tile

Info

Publication number: GB2336609A
Application number: GB9908110A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gary Stuart Gibson; David Robert Daniels
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-04-23
Filing date: 1999-04-12
Publication date: 1999-10-27
Anticipated expiration: 2019-04-12
Also published as: GB2336609B; GB9808558D0; GB9908110D0

Abstract

A tile comprising a sheet of metal 10 forming a shallow dish which is filled with a material 12 bonded to the metal. The sheet 10 may be electroplated or coated by a powder coating technique and the tile may also be decorated. The edges 11 may be shaped to contact those of adjacent tiles or, alternatively, clips or other devices may be placed between tiles in order to ensure electrical continuity.

Description

2336609 TILE This invention concerns a tile particularly, though by no

means exclusively, a wall tile.

Traditionally wall tiles are of a ceramic material, but there is growing interest in tiles of metal such as of stainless steel for use in Kitchens and Hospitals but also for enhanced decorative possibilities.

Hitherto metal tiles have comprised appropriately shaped sheets which are bonded directly to the surface to be covered. Necessarily, if only on the grounds of cost, such tiles are quite thin making it difficult to mix them with conventional tiles which are, of course, relatively thick.

The present invention is based on an appreciation of the possibility of providing a metal tile which overcomes the problem aforesaid.

According to the present invention, there is provided a tile comprising a sheet of metal whose edges are turned downwardly to form a shallow dish which is filled with a material bonded to the metal and bondable to a surface to be covered by use of a suitable adhesive.

The metal sheet may be square, rectangular or hexagonal for example.

The metal may be stainless steel, copper, brass or aluminium for example.

The metal may be electro-plated with gold or silver for example.

The metal may be coated as by a powder coating technique for example.

The filling material may be plaster, cement, ceramics (for example a conventional tile) or plastics for example.

The edges of the tiles may be shaped to contact those of ad acent tiles to Ii ensure electrical continuity between all of the tiles of a tiled area.

There may be clips between adjacent tiles to ensure electrical continuity between all of the tiles of a tiled area.

There may be devices for insertion between adjacent tiles after laying to ensure electrical continuity between all of the tiles of a tiled area.

The spaces between adjacent tiles after laying may be filled with an electrically conducting grouting material to ensure electrical continuity between all of the tiles of a tiled area.

The invention will be fimlher apparent from the following description which concerns, by way of example only, a number of tiles embodying same and with reference to the accompanying drawing, of which:

Figure 1 shows a plan view of a first tile; Figure 2 shows a cross-section through the tile on the line 11-11 of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a cross-section through a second form of tile laid adjacent a similar tile; Figure 4 shows an edge of a third form of tile; Figure 5 shows a perspective view of a clip to form a bridge between adjacent tiles; and Figure 6 shows a perspective view of a device for insertion between adjacent tiles after laying.

Referring firstly to Figures 1 and 2, it will be seen that the tile comprises a square sheet 10 of stainless steel whose edges 11 are turned downwardly to form a shallow dish-like structure having a depth comparable with that of a conventional ceramic tile.

The dish is filled with a material 12 which bonds to the metal and which is also bondable with a surface to be tiled using a suitable adhesive. In this example, the filling is comprised by a rigid polyurethane foam.

The tiles can be laid in conventional manner, the spaces between them being filled with a grout.

In the modified tile of Figure 3, the turned-down edges are outwardly angled. In this way, the edges act to space the tiles correctly when laying and ensure contact between adjacent tiles to give electrical continuity.

In the tile of Figure 4, nibs 20 are formed on the downtumed edges again to space the tiles correctly when laying and give contact between adjacent tiles.

Clips 30, as shown in figure 5, may be placed on the surface to be tiled to receive the downtumed edges of adjacent tiles to give electrical continuity between adjacent tiles. The clips 30 may have barb formations 31 designed to score the metal edges.

Devices 40, as shown in Figure 6, again provided with barbs 41, may be forced between adjacent tiles after laying to give electrical continuity between adjacent tiles.

Electrical continuity may also be assured by use of an electrically conducting grout material.

The issue of electrical continuity is of importance in any installation where it is necessary or desirable to earth bond the tiled surface.

It will be appreciated that it is not intended to limit the invention to the above example only, many variations, such as might readily occur to one skilled in the art, being possible, without departing from the scope thereof.

Thus, for example, the tiles might be decorated by way of screen printing, engraving, embossing or other technique.

Again, for example, the filling to the tiles may be comprised by conventional ceramic tiles.

Claims

1. A tile comprising a sheet of metal whose edges are turned downwardly to form a shallow dish which is filled with a material bonded to the metal and bondable to a surface to be covered by the tile by use of a suitable adhesive.

2.

A tile according to claim 1 wherein the metal sheet is rectangular.

A tile according to claim 2 wherein the metal sheet is square.

4 A tile according to claim 1 wherein the metal sheet is hexagonal.

5.

A tile according to any preceding claim wherein the metal is stainless steel.

6.

A tile according to any one of claims 1-4 wherein the metal is copper.

A tile according to any one of claims 1-4 wherein the metal is brass.

8.

A tile according to any one of claims 1-4 wherein the metal is aluminium.

9.

A tile according to any preceding claims wherein the metal is electroplated.

10. A tile according to claim 9 wherein the metal is plated with gold.

A tile according to claim 9 wherein the metal is plated with silver.

12. A tile according to any one of claims 1-8 wherein the metal is coated by a powder-coating technique.

13.

A tile according to any preceding claim which is decorated.

14. A tile according to claim 13 wherein the decoration is by way of screen- printing.

15. A tile according to claim 13 wherein the decoration is by way of engraving.

16, A tile according to claim 13 wherein the decoration is by way of embossing.

17.

A tile according to any preceding claim wherein the filling material is plaster.

18.

A tile according to any one of claims 1- 16 wherein the filling material is cement.

19. A tile according to any one of claims 1- 16 wherein the filling material is of ceramic material.

20. A tile according to claim 19 wherein the ceramic material is comprised by a conventional ceramic tile.

21. A tile according to any one of claims 1-16 wherein the filling material is plastics.

22.

A tile according to claim 21 wherein the plastics is a rigid polyurethane foam material.

23. A tile according to any preceding claim wherein the edges of the tiles are shaped to contact those of adjacent tiles to ensure electrical continuity between all of the tiles of a tiled area.

24. A tile according to claim 23 wherein the edges of the tiles incorporate nibs to ensure said contact and correct spacing of the tiles when laid.

25. An area tiled with tiles according to any one of claims 1-22 wherein clips are provided between adjacent tiles to ensure electrical continuity and proper spacing.

26. An area tiled with tiles according to any one of claims 1-22 wherein devices are inserted between adjacent tiles after laying to give electrical continuity.