US2715289A

US2715289A - Decorative tile surfaces and methods of fabricating the same

Info

Publication number: US2715289A
Application number: US210899A
Authority: US
Inventors: Kenneth M Gale
Original assignee: Mosaic Tile Co
Current assignee: Mosaic Tile Co
Priority date: 1951-02-14
Filing date: 1951-02-14
Publication date: 1955-08-16
Anticipated expiration: 1972-08-16

Description

3 Sheets-Sheet l KENNETH M. GHLE Aug. 16, 1955 K. M. GALE DECORATIVE TILE SURFACES AND METHODS OF FABRICATING THE SAME BY j F/TTORNEY Aug. 16, 1955 K, GALE 2,715,289

DECORATIVE TILE SURFACES AND METHODS OF FABRICATING THE SAME Filed Feb. 14, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 F J. 524 /7 /6 6g /7 /6 /7 /7 /6 6 m /6 M w /7 M M5 7 /6s /6 /7 INVENTOR. KEN/v5 TH M GHLE f7 TTORNEY Aug. 16, 1955 K M, ALE 2,715,289

DECORATIVE TILE SURFACES AND METHODS OF' FABRICATING THE SAME Filed Feb. 14, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Q INVENTOR.

KENNETH M. GF/LE HTTORNEY This invention relates to improve-roe tile surfaces or" the type known as and methods of fabricating the same.

Tile surfaces, such as floors and walls, of

mosaics type heretofore manufactured and laid have conventionally been composed of a series of tile panels which comprise sections of a floor or Wall and are or su i f. oration and dimensions. Eac of such sec nal panels is in itseli composed of a mu -city of tile units to other units of a different co orc. to produce th 'glanned design to posi ed or lace these panels in a given order relatively to each other, and one of the edges of each of tile panels :3 here ofore been identified as the top or leading edge on the foundation or backing sheets thereof edge that dges e this on dation or backing sheet and to apply the A on the floor with the top or leading d; in a given order or direction for the floor the speci Darrel. Thus, in each such tile floor or we embo d in the tile cor 'entiorlally predeternn ed and the ider' each of the panels in a pos which were similarly identified was nee s3 said, comprise the design-producing lements, might pro duce a single sp cific embodied design on the floor or Wal Cne of the objects of this invention is to utilize panels in the production of a tile floor wall of ar des' each of which panels comnrises an i dependent design element capable of uncontrolled and non-sequential integration other similar elements var positions in the floor or Wall.

Another object of this invention. 35 to necessity of identi ying the top or leadin; panel.

Another object of this invention is to provide an arrangement in each of the panels of the desi r elements which will enable the production of a floor pattern having a general artistic de gn Wi of modification, Without loss of the varying the relative positioning of the tile panels.

Another object or" this invention is the utilization of panels capable of being laid on the floor at random with any one of its edges as the top or leading edge, thus greatly increasing the speed with which the panels may be set by a tile setter.

Another object or" this invention is to develop a cornplcte floor design of the tile units which will comprise a elov/i or meandering floor pattern, and when as: on the floor this pattern will provide a pleasobject of this invention is to utilize in a tile floor the type specified a tile units each of the corners which 1 points around varying modifications 0f lowing, meanderin and unnrcdictable pattern hove 5 heel be develope l Wi tout any contrel Whats-sewof the di ection in which the tile panels :QEIlil'ilCZliOll of a top or leading setter is not only not required e or a tile panel to determine e ge thereof, but, on the contrary, d to set or insert the tile pane action which may occur and Wl to develop a controlled or predetermined pat- 10 ice sheets 1 such direction as to satisfy e urge of his own.

other objects in view, to invention com- P931 of members and arrangement of red as to co-act and cooperat with each e performance of the functions and the accomof the results h in contemplated, and coinone of its adapta. us the spe ies or preferred istrated in the ace mpanying igs, in Which: lan of a floor composed of a series tile panels embodying square tile units i or pattern illustrated by setth varying edges at the top;

eW in perspective of one of the identical the panels emplo producing the floor illustrated in colored tile units so arranged in re uction of the free-fiowing or n .i Fig. l and a series of modiv'ew in plan showin another floor formed e nanel sh :Vll in 5, some of Which spective of a square tile panel units arranged to comprise patadapt d to produce as one modification door shown in Fig. 4;

plan of still another form of floor of oblong tile panels having square arise pattern elements adapted on the des illustrated; and W in perspective of an oblong tile panel .Ile its comprising design elements for the production of the floor shown in Fig. 6 as one design modification capable of being formed with said oblong pane.

Referring no to these drawings, Which illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention, Fig. 1 illustrates a decorative tile floor of the type conventionally known as ceramic mosaics and comprises twelve identical square panels which I have numbered 1 to 12 inclusive and which, as shown in assembled condition, embody one embodiment or modification of my irregular free-flowing and meandering pattern capable of being formed or produced by the positioning of said identical square panels at random or varying positions relatively to each other. Each of the twelve panels shown in Fig. 1 comprises a tile panel P shown in perspective in Fig. 2, and is composed of a paper-backing sheet 13 of square configuration on which is mounted a multiplicity of square tile units 14 slightly spaced from each other and arranged in a series of squares positioned in horizontal and vertical alignment with each other, and, in accordance with my invention, each panel comprises a position-interchangeable design element having its design-forming tile units 14 so arranged as to enable the panels to be capable of independent or random positioning in relation to other panels to produce a novel floor or wall. My novel panels P by uncontrolled and non-sequential integration in a series of positions relatively to other identical panels will thus produce, when assembled on a floor or wall, one modification or embodiment of a general artistic tile design or pattern for a floor or wall. In each of such panels, the series of the tile-units 14 composing the same comprise background tile-units 14 and design-forming tile-units 14 and said

units

14 and 14 are arranged in the panel to produce therein a positioninterchangeable design. This is accomplished by so positioning the said design-forming and background tile units relatively to each other and to the edges of a panel as to produce a novel panel design capable, as aforesaid, of being assembled at random in a floor or wall to produce one member of a series of modifications or embodiments of a general uncontrolled, irregular, free-flowing or meandering pattern such as shown in Fig. l and which is adapted to be developed by the setting or positioning of the panels in the floor in a varying sequence and without regard to retaining one edge of the panel always in the same direction which would be necessary to procure a controlled design.

In accordance with the preferred form of my invention, the design-forming tile-units 14 are distinctively colored to distinguish them from the background tile-units 14 and the ,corners of the panel and the tile-units positioned at such corners always comprise tile-units 14 and these corner tile-units are utilized as pivotal or centrally-disposed design-forming members around which my unpredictable, uncontrolled and free-flowing and meandering pattern is developed when no effort is made to restrain the modification of design through control of the direction of the edges of the individual tile panels. Thus, in the tile panel illustrated in Fig. 2 the corner tile-unit 14 and a series of additional design-forming tile-units 14 are positioned at each of the corners of the panel and an arrangement of tile-units in the panel is formed in which design-forming units 14 extend from each of such pivotal corners in a general diagonal direction through background tile-units 14 toward the center of the panel. It will be observed that when such panels are assembled as shown in Fig. 1 varying edges may be used as the forward or top edge and the panels may be laid or set without regard to any controlling of the design by the conventional laying of the panels in a controlled given direction and four of the pivotal designforming tile-units 14 will provide a center around which the general design is developed and from which additional design-forming units radiate in a general diagonal direction. A floor or wall design such as shown in Fig. 1 may thus be produced that comprises one modification of a general free-flowing and uncontrolled pattern, and it will be noted that the floor pattern or design shown in Fig. 1 has an artistic appeal because of the avoidance of the staid sameness and regularized positioning of lines inherent in assembled tile heretofore laid.

In Fig. 3 I have shown the reverse side or backingsheet of the tile panel illustrated in Fig. 2, and it will be observed that such reverse side is devoid of any identification in regard to one edge being the top of the tile panel. In the embodiment shown, I have on the contrary placed on each edge a diiferent number of a series of symbols that will not interfere with a random application or setting of the panels in a floor or wall, but will, if desired, permit a continuous changing of position of the edges of the panels relatively to each other to enable a setter to procure a series of varying modifications of the general design in floors or walls.

In Figs. 4 and 5 I have shown one modification 15 of another general uncontrolled design of a tile floor or wall formed of panels 16 composed of background units 16 and. pivotal tile units 17, the latter of which provide a square center formed of four corner design-forming tile-units with diagonally-disposed design units radiating diagonally therefrom through the background tile-units. In this embodiment, a tile panel 16 is formed which is similar in square configuration to the panel shown in Fig. 2. One uncontrolled assembly of such panel units will produce the design modification illustrated in Fig. 4. In Fig. 4 five of the panels are arranged in detached relationship to the balance of the floor pattern in order more clearly to show that each of the pivotal corner tile-units is represented in the diagonal design pattern and that when the tile panels are assembled, four of these corner tile-units form an integral central portion of the floor design.

In all other respects the tile-units and panels formed thereby are similar to those shown and described in relation to Figs. 1 and 2.

In Figs. 6 and 7 I have shown another modification -18 of still another general uncontrolled design of tile fioor or wall which is similarly formed of panels 19, each composed of square background and design-forming tileunits 20 and 21 similar to the tile-units of the panels shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4 and 5. i In this embodiment, however, the tile panel 19 is oblong in configuration, but the dimension of the long edges of the oblong tile panel is preferably twice the dimension of the width or relatively short edges of such panel to enable complete interchangeability of such panels in a floor or wall. The design-forming tile-units of Figs. 6 and 7 also include a pivotal corner unit 21 and when the panels are assembled in a floor or wall four of these pivotal corner units provide an aggregate square center formed of such'pivotal design-forming tile-units and additional design-forming units radiate diagonally from this aggregated center through the background tile-units in a manner similar to that shown in Figs. l, 2, 4 and 5.

In this embodiment, I have shown in Fig. 6 one uncontrolled assembly or modification of the general design embodied in such panel units. This assembly, as shown, embodies six position-interchangeable panels 19 of the type shown in Fig. 7 disposed in lengthwise positions but it will be understood that because of the dimensional characteristics of these panels some of them might, if desired, be placed crosswise'or transversely while others might be positioned vertically.

In other respects this embodiment is similar to the embodiments hereinabove described.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A decorative tile surface of the type known as ceramic mosaics comprising a series of assembled rec tangular panel members, each panel member being formed of a backing sheet having mounted thereon a multiplicity of tile units composed of background tile units and designforming tile units positioned and connected together relatively to each other to form said rectangular panel member, each of said rectangular panel members having at each of its corners a design-forming tile unit provided with a rectangular corner registering with and conforming to the angularity of the panel corner, said corner designforming tile units having additional design-forming members extending from said design-forming tile units at the corner of the panel through background tile units toward the middle of the panel, said corner tile units forming, when a series of said panels are positioned in such assembled tile surface, a series of parts of a center of design in one decorative tile surface of an uncontrolled pattern formed of said design-forming units within said background units in such tile surface, said decorative tile surface comprising one member of a plurality of decorative tile surfaces adapted to be formed by said series of panel units.

2. In a method of fabricating decorative tile surfaces of the type known as ceramic mosaics, the steps of forming a tile panel by mounting and arranging on a backing member of rectangular configuration a multiplicity of tile units embodying background units and design-forming units to form an integral part of a complyete design of a ceramic mosaic, positioning at least one of said tile-forming units at each corner of each panel to provide in each panel a design-forming corner tile unit adapted upon assembly of a series of panels in a tile surface to produce with other corner tile-forming units a design center composed of the abutting design-forming corner u'le units of said series of tiles and around which design center vary ing modifications of a free-flowing, unpredictable, meandering pattern may be developed irrespective of the direction in which the tile panels are positioned relatively to each other, and setting a series of such tile panels in a random sequence in a finished tile surface to develop therein an uncontrolled, meandering pattern.

3. In a method of fabricating decorative tile surfaces of the type known as ceramic mosaics, the steps of forming a tile panel by mounting and arranging on a backing member of rectangular configuration a multiplicity of tile units, each having an identical rectangular shape and embodying background units and design-forming units to form an integral part of the complete design of a ceramic mosaic, positioning at least one of said rectangular tile-forming units at each corner of each panel to provide in each panel a design-forming corner tile unit adapted upon assembly of a series of panels in a tile surface to produce with other corner tile-forming units a design center composed of the abutting design-forming corner tile units of said series of tiles and around which design center varying modifications of a free-flowing, unpredictable, meandering pattern may be developed irrespective of the direction in which the tile panels are positioned relatively to each other, and setting a series of such tile panels in a random sequence in a finished tile surface to develop therein said uncontrolled, meandering pattern.

4. In a method of fabricating decorative tile surfaces of the type known as ceramic mosaics, the steps of forming a tile panel by mounting and arranging on a backing member of rectangular configuration a multiplicity of tile units, each having an identical rectangular shape and embodying background units and design-forming units to form an integral part of the complete design of a ceramic mosaic, positioning, in a design formation extending in a meandering pattern from each of the corners of said panel through the background tile units toward the center of the panel, at least one of said rectangular tile-forming units at each corner of each panel to provide on each panel a design-forming corner tile unit adapted upon assembly of a series of panels in a tile surface to produce with other corner tile-forming units a design center composed of the abutting design-forming corner tile units of said series of tiles and around which design center varying modifications of a free-flowing, unpredictable, meandering pattern may be developed irrespective of the direction in which the tile panels are positioned relatively to each other, and setting a series of such panels in a random sequence in a finished tile surface to develop therein said uncontrolled, meandering pattern.

5. In a method of fabricating decorative tile surfaces of the type known as ceramic mosaics, the steps of forming a tile panel of oblong configuration having its long edges double the length of its short edges by mounting and arranging on a backing member of such rectangular configuration a multiplicity of tile units each having an identical rectangular shape and embodying background units and design-forming units to form an integral part of the complete design of a ceramic mosaic, positioning, in a design formation extending in a meandering pattern from each of the corners of said panel through the background tile units toward the center of the panel, at least one of said rectangular tile-forming units at each corner of each panel to provide on each panel a design-forming corner tile unit adapted, upon assembly of a series of panels in a tile surface, to produce with other corner tile-forming units a design center composed of the abutting design-forming corner tile units of said series of tiles and around which design center varying modifications of a free-flowing, unpredictable, meandering pattern may be developed irrespective of the direction in which the tile panels are positioned relatively to each other, and setting such tile panels in a random sequence in a finished tile surface to develop therein said uncontrolled, meandering pattern.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 702,328 Parker June 10, 1902 1,133,604 Alcan Mar. 30, 1915 1,857,856 Medina May 10, 1932 FOREIGN PATENTS 288,853 Italy Sept. 25, 1931