US1854512A - Floor and wall covering - Google Patents

Description

April 19, 1932. Q A. HEPPES 1,854,512

FLOOR AND WALL COVERING Filed Feb. 6, 1931 Limmen/Zh.- ZZL /o 65 Wf/M tice to Patented Apr. 19, 1932 I UNITED STATES 1. .L\.Ti;1-JT oFFicsfj OTTO A. HEPPES, 0F LA GRANGE, ILLINOIS,'ASSIGNOR TO THE tTILE TEX COMPANY, OE CHICAGO HEIGHTS, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS FLOOR AND WALL OOVERING Application mea February e, 1931. v serial No. masas.

My invention relates to ioor and wall coverings, particularly those composed of small units or tiles.

Heretofore it has been the common praclay the tile covering by applying and securing in place the small tiles individually. In such practice it is necessary that the underlying and supporting floor be relativel level and smooth; and this condition 1s obtained by applying a coat of magnesite or asphalt mastic or sheets of masomte over the under floor. Old and worn wooden and cement floors almost invariably require such preliminary treatment in order to render them sufficiently level and smooth for the laying of a covering by the individual method heretofore in vogue. This prellminary treatment is objectionably messy and dirty and adds very considerable to the expense. Furthermore the cost of laying the covermg has been relatively high, particularly if 1t 1s to be done-in vari-colored designs, because of the time and care required to pick out and il arrange the individual tiles to produce the 25 desired eects.

In my previously filed application, Serial No. 502,881, iiled December 17, 1930, I disclosed a sectional covering wherein each section consisted of a plurality of small tiles or units attached to a rigid backing which would bridge and support the tiles over depressions in the underlying floor. Such a rigid backed and inflexible sectionalized covering is particularly effective where the unevenness in 35 the underlying floor is excessive. But Where the unevenness is less, the covering of my present invention is often sufficiently effective and, from some standpoints, preferable to that set forth in my aforesaid application.

One of the objects of my present invention is to provide a sectionalized floor or wall covering which is particularly adapted for laying over slightly uneven and rough floors or walls.

Another object is to provide a readily flexble multi-unit covering section.

Another object is to provide a multi-unit f sectional floor covering which is easy to apply, either for plain or design eects, which is susceptible of inexpensive manufacture and is durable.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings where- 1n: f

Fig. 1 is a top plan of four typical covering sections, the to or` exposed surface of the upper right unit being broken away at one corner to show the exible backing;`

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1, showing the sections applied to an uneven floor; and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross section of part of two adjacent units, showing the hinge or articulate action therebetween.

In general, my improved covering section comprises a backing piece composed of a sheet of suitable flexible `waterproofed material and a series of relativel rigid face units or tiles attached to the bac 'ng piece to permit ready articulation between units. The covering is laid by applying the requisite number of these flexible multi-unit sections to the floor and anchoring them thereto in an appropriate manner, such as by cementing. j

The backing piece 5 is a sheet of flexible material such as felt, strong paper or other suitable fabric made waterproof by being impregnated by an appropriate 'waterprooing material, such as asphalt. Its size may be such as to accommodate thenumber and size of face units or tiles 6 which experience dictates to be the most convenient for manufacture, storage, transportation and application.

This backing piece has a plurality of rela-y tively rigid face units or individual tiles substantially covering one surface thereof.l These tiles may be made of a variety of materials and in various ways. For example, they may be of linoleum or ofasphalt-asbestos' mixtures. The tiles are attachedtothe backing piece only on their back surfaces leaving' the vertical crevices between tiles entirely free. The attachment may beteiected'by ank sov ing is flexible and the intcrstices or joints between each tile and all adjacent tiles are open and free, each tile is, in effect, hinged to those adjacent and the multi-unit section is readily flexible in spite of the fact that vthe tile units are individually relatively rigid. Such sections may be laid upon and cemented to quite rough or uneven floors without danger ofthe tiles being broken during application or any reasonable use. The backing reenforces and strengthens the tiles while the ability of the tiles slightly to tilt or hinge relative to each other permits them to accommodate themselves or fit the underlying unevenness or roughness.

The size ofl the individual units or tiles may be varied as desired and the number thereof affixed to a backing to form a covering section may, of course, be determined to suit the greatest number of conditions' ordinarily encountered in practice. The idea is to fabricate sections at the factory which can be easily handled and which will cover to the greatest advantage without requiring cutting on the job. The size of the individual tiles or units should'be sufficiently small to i11- sure that the sections will conform to the underfloor roughness and unevenness without subjecting the tiles to undue strain and yet large enough to prevent their construction, handling and application to the backing piece from unnecessary complication.

The tile units of a covering section may be all of the same color or they may be arranged in patterns of various colors, the latter being especially effective in laying patterned fioor coverings. Such an arrangement simplifies and cheapens the proper production of desired designs on a floor because, on the job, it is possible to handle previously prepared assemblages of properly related vari-colored units rather than to select and place the small units individually.

Having thus described the nature and an embodiment of my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is as follows:

1. A sectionalized floor covering, a section of which comprises a flexible waterproof fabric backingpiece, and a. plurality of relatively rigid tile units covering the backing plece and secured thereto only on their rear surfaces, the interstices between adjacent tile units being open and free so that the section is flexible as a whole and the backing piece serving as a permanent support for the tiles vhereby they are attached to an underlying oor.

2. A sectionalized floor and wall covering, a section of which comprises a flexible waterproof fabric backing piece adapted to lie against and be permanently attached to an underlying support, and a plurality of relatively rigid tile. units permanently adhered to the backing piece, the interstices between adjacent units being open and free to permit articulation therebetween by the bending of the backing piece whereby a section may accommodate itself to unevenness of the underlying support.

3. A sectionalized floor and wall coverin f, each section of which comprises a flexible waterproof fabric backing piece which forms a permanent means whereby the section may be attached to an underlying floor or wall, and a plurality of relatively rigid tile units permanently adhered on their back surfaces only to the backing piece leaving the interstices between adjacent units free and open to permit articulation therebetween by bending of the flexible backing piece so that a section may accommodate itself to unevenness of underlying wall or floor.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this th day of January, 1931.

OTTO A. HEPPES.

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