US3217453A - Facing structure and article - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 16, 1965 R. s. MEDOW FACING STRUCTURE AND ARTICLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 31. 1962 FIG. 1

INVENTOR. ROBERT S. MEDOW Nov. 16, 1965 R. s. MEDOW FACING STRUCTURE AND ARTICLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 31, 1962 INVENTOR. ROBERT s. MEDOW Whaflk United States Patent 3,217,453 FACING STRUCTURE AND ARTICLE Robert S. Medow, Wilmette, lll., assignor to Leonard I. Vogel, Lincolnwood, Ill. Filed May 31, 1962, Ser. No. l98,99 3 Claims. (Cl. 52-314) This invention relates generally to building facings and more particularly, relates to an improved molded or cast tile member for use in forming ornamental and protective wall coverings for buildings having novel means along edges thereof which enable a pair of like tiles to be matingly engaged one with the other and secured on a wall with attendant advantages heretofore unattainable.

Tile members of the character with which the invention is concerned have been molded or cast from synthetic resin materials and provided with exterior surface contours and textures simulating natural facing materials, such as, lannon stone, for instance. Such tiles are installed, in situ, usually by means of suitable mechanical fasteners, such as, nails, staples or the like passed through portions of the tile into the wall. To further simulate natural stone facings, mortar or grout has been applied overlying the lines of juncture between adjacent tiles and over narrow strip portions on the face of the tile where the tile member is formed as a large tile having demarcated portions simulating a plurality of stones, as distinguished from a tile member formed as a single stone. The mortar or grout applied to cover the juncture between matingly engaged tiles is required also to seal the joint so as to prevent moisture from seeping beneath the tiles to undermine and stain the same. Heretofore, installation of such tiles required great skill and was timeconsuming in order to secure each tile on the wall properly positioned relative to its neighbor and because of the need for grouting and mortaring. Consequently, labor costs contributed to a substantial portion of the cost of the building facing. In addition, the mortar or grout applied was not sufiiciently permanent so that repair work Was quite common especially with outdoor installations even after relatively short periods of exposure to the elements.

Attempts have been made to simplify the tile installation by resorting to the familiar tongue and groove type of connection along mating edges of adjacent tiles but such attempts have been less than satisfactory. One reason for this has been the resulting relatively high cost of manufacture of such molded or cast members. Another reason has been the relatively fragile character of previous tongue formations such that they were readily broken or cracked when fasteners were inserted therethrough. Also, previous tongue and groove type of connections resulted in the tongue not being readily accessible for attaching the tile and the connections generally of this type did not afford a good seal against seepage also because the tiles did not lay fiat against the wall properly. In any event, such previous structures did not eliminate the need for grouting and mortaring of joints along mating edges of adjacent tiles and thereby, a substantial portion of the cost of installation was not avoided.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the invention to provide a tile member of the character described for building facings which will substantially eliminate all of the disadvantages herein enumerated, as well as others.

A major object of the invention is to provide a molded or cast tile member of the character described having novel channel or groove formations along the top and bottom edges thereof for cooperatively engaging adjacent edges of like tiles of the resulting facing structure.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a tile member of the character described which does not 3,Zl7,453 Patented Nov. 16, 1965 require use of grout or mortar after the tiles are assembled on a wall.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tile of the character described having means formed during molding or casting of the tiles which provide grout or mortar simulating lines after the tiles are installed on a wall so that the need for using grout or mortar after installation of the tile is completely eliminated.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tile member of the character described in which at least the upper edge of the tile member has an extension for securing the tile on the wall by means of a fastener passed therethrough into the wall and which extension and fastener are covered upon interlocking engagement of the respective channel formations of adjacent tiles of the facing structure.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tile member of the character described in which the channel formations along at least the top and bottom edges thereof are offset one relative to the other considering the plane of the wall upon which the tiles are installed, said offset relationship enabling the interlocking engagement of adjacent tiles to form a flat facing structure on the wall.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel facing structure by means of the use of said tile members which includes a novel anchor member employed along bottom edges of the wall for positioning and locating the tiles during formation of the facing structure.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a molded tile member of the character described having novel means along opposite lateral edges thereof for matingly engaging a pair of adjacent tiles of the facing structure, said means including a sealing flange along one edge of a tile adapted to frictionally engage against. the underside of an adjacent tile in the facing structure to effect sealing of the resulting juncture therebetween.

Additional objects of the invention are concerned with provision of a tile member of the character described which can be molded or cast economically from synthetic resinous materials; which is suitable for high speed, mass-production with significant savings in labor and material costs; which can be installed more economically and efliciently than heretofore encountered in such facing structures; and which is durable and strong.

The foregoing and other advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description thereof ensues. The invention has been describedin detail in the specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, it being contemplated that minor variations in the size, arrangement, construction and proportions thereof may occur to the skilled artisan without circumventing the scope or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

In the drawings wherein the same reference characters are employed to identify the same or equivalent parts throughout the several figures:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a facing structure in the process of erection using tile members embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view taken vertically through a facing structure to show a pair of adjacent tiles interlocked along top and bottom edges thereof respectively in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of one of said tiles.

FIG. 4 is a rear perspective View of a corner tile and a part of a fiat tile of the facing structure of FIG. 1 poised for mating engagement along lateral edges thereof.

FIG. 5 is a rear plan view of a corner tile of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, in FIG. 1, the reference character 20 identifies generally a building facing in the process of being erected using tiles embodying the invention. The individual tiles or panels from which the facing structure 20 is constructed are designated generally by the reference character 22 and 24 respectively. Tiles 22 are rectangular, planar members and tiles 24 are right angle members for use at the corners of the facing structure. Except for the configuration of the respective tiles 22 and 24, they are substantially similar in construction. As seen in FIG. 1, tiles 22 and 24 are installed on a wall 26 which may be either an exterior or interior wall of a building.

The tiles are molded or cast members, preferably from synthetic resinous materials, such as, unsaturated polyesters, styrene and supplemental ingredients and impregnated with glass fibers for strength and rigidity. The tiles are very weather-resistant and can be molded to desired sizes, shapes and exterior configurations. It is contemplated that other suitable materials, such as, aluminum, will be feasible.

The tile 22 is a shallow, dish-shaped member or shell of substantially rectangular configuration. As seen in FIG. 2, the transverse wall 28 has an exterior surface 30 of irregular contour and texture simulating natural stone, for instance, which is formed during molding. As seen in FIG. 3, the surface 3% may be demarcated by strategically located narrow strip portions 32 which are flat and recessed or spaced below the surface 30 so that surface 30 appears to be made up of a number of individual stones or the like fitted and mortared together in a manner similar to a natural stone building facing. As seen in FIG. 1, the corner tile 24 is formed with a similar demarcated external surface 30. It may be understood however, that the tiles 22 and 24 may be molded with an exterior surface simulating other natural facing materials or without the depressed strip formations 32.

Upstanding from the rear surface and along marginal edges of the wall 28 are walls 34, 36, 38 and 40 connected end to end to provide a box-like formation closed at one end thereof by the transverse wall 28. Considering the normal position of the tile 22 vertically installed on wall 26, wall 34 may be considered the upper or top wall; wall 36 will be the bottom wall; and walls 38 and 40 will be the opposite side or lateral walls. For expediency of description, the walls 34, 36, 38 and 40 will be referred to herein in accordance with the foregoing designations.

T op wall 34 has a channel or groove 42 coextensive with the length thereof and opening outwardly, the channel 42 being defined between the flanges 44 and 45 which are perpendicular to said wall 34. The flange 46 is substantially longer than the flange 44 so that in crosssection, the wall 34 has a substantially J-shaped appearance seen in FIG. 2. The inside surface 47 of flange 44 is canted so that the root of the channel 42 is narrower than the opening thereinto. The flange 46 has a portion 48 protruding upwardly beyond the upper edge of flange 44 through which. fastening means, such as nail 50, can be driven for anchoring the tile on a wall. The flange 46 may be considered to be a nailing flange along the upper end of the tile, the flange 46 having a flat surface so as to conform to the planar surface of wall 26 as shown at 49.

The bottom wall 36 has a channel or groove 52 coextensive with the length thereof and likewise opening outwardly. The channel 52 is defined between the spaced apart flanges 54 and 56 which are substantially equal in length. :Flange 54 may be considered an overhang of surface 30 carrying portions of transverse wall 28 contiguous the bottom wall 36 thereof. The surface of flange 55 also is flat to conform to a surface of flange 46 as shown at '7 and the inner surface 58 of said flange 56 is canted so that the root of channel 52 is narrower than the opening thereinto. The channels or grooves 42 and 52 are substantially identical in depth. The cross-sectional configuration of groove 52 is substantially the same as the cross-section of flange 44 and the cross-section of groove 42 is substantially the same as the cross-section of flange 56. The longitudinal axis of groove 42 is parallel to and offset from the longitudinal axis of groove 52. Flange 56 is parallel to and offset relative to flange 46 a distance corresponding to the thickness of flange 46. As seen in FIG. 2, the groove or channel 42 lies in the same plane as flange 56 and groove 52 lies in the same plane as flange 44. Thus it may be saidthat the flanges 46 and 56 lay in adjacent parallel planes and, likewise, that the longitudinal axes of grooves or channels 42 and 52 occupy adjacent planes.

The outer surface of the flange 44 has a band or ribbon 59 of mortar simulating material applied to the surface thereof to simulate a mortar joint. The band or ribbon 59 may be imprinted after the tile is formed or may be accomplished during the molding procedure by forming the floor of the mold with upstanding flat strip portions and applying colored moldable material on the crowns of said portions which will set with formation of the body of the tile in said mold. In any event, the band or ribbon 59 comprises a flat strip portion which serves to simulate a mortar joint, as will be explained subsequently herein. The band 59 is wider than a strip portion 32 which also can be imprinted or formed during molding of the tile 22, in the same manner as band 59. The said strip portions 32 may also be considered as planar portions of the transverse wall 28 which delineate the pattern carrying portions (those which carry the surface 30 thereon).

As seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, the lateral wall 38 of tile 22 is fiat along the outer surface. thereof and the transverse wall 28 has a small overhang portion 60 'thereat. The opposite wall 40 has a protruding sealing flange 62 which will be more fully described in connection with the corner tile 24. As noted in FIG. 3, the band 59 meets with a similar band 64 along the right-hand side of the tile 22.

Referring to FIG. 4, the corner tile 24 is comprised of panels 70 and 72 joined at right angles one relative to the other, panel 70 being shorter than panel 72. The tile 24 is an integral, molded member which is substantially identical to the tile 22 with the exception of its right-angle shape. Referring to FIG. 1, at the corner junction of flanges 44 along the upper end of the tile 24 is provided a small clearance notch 74 intended toaccommodate any small build-up of material shown at 76 in FIG. 4 which may occur during molding of the tile 24 when two corner tiles are matingly engaged in the facing structure 20. Further seen in FIG. 4 is the side wall 38 which is flat along its exterior face and the overhang portion 60. The opposite side wall 40 has the sealing flange 62 protruding outwardly therefrom. Also shown in FIG. 4 is a portion of a tile 22 having the sealing tongue 62 poised to be engaged with the panel 72.

The unique edge configuration of the tiles 22 and 24 enables the facing 20 to be erected rapidly and efiiciently. Prior to commencing attachment of the tiles on wall 26, an anchoring member 80 (FIG. 2) preferably is secured along the base of the wall 26, properly leveled. Preferably, the anchor member 80 is formed of arust-resistant metal, such as aluminum or the like having a general I- shaped cross-section similar to the top end of a tile 22 or 24. Thus, member 80 has a channel 82 defined between arms 84 and 86, thereof, arm 86 being longer and adapted to be nailed or otherwise secured to the wall. The inside surface of the arm 84 is slanted inwardly in the manner of flange 44. The anchor member 80 can be attached either singly or in multiple lengths to extend along the entire wall to be covered.

With anchor member 80 so secured initially, the facing structure 20 can be erected preferably commencing at a corner and working outwardly from the corner of a wall.

p the wall.

Of course, the wall to be covered will determine the most efficient procedure to follow. For purposes of illustration, the installation will be described commencing with a corner tile 24. As seen in FIG. 1, the corner tile is a secured in place. Using the illustration of FIG. 2, the flange 56 will be received in the channel 82 of the anchor member with flange 54 engaged against the exterior of arm 84. The nailing flange 46 can be nailed to the wall 26 along the length of the flange since it is exposed at this point. Slanted surface 58 of flange 56 is wedged against the slanted surface of arm of the anchor member band 64. The band 64 will be exposed along a narrow strip portion thereof giving the appearance of a mortar joint.

After the bottom row is formed, a second row can be started. Using the illustration of FIG. 2, the upper tile 22 is installed by engaging channel 52 of the upper tile with flange 44 of the lower tile and nailing flange 46 of the upper tile to the wall. Because of the offset relationship between flanges and channels along top and bottom ends of the tile members the tiles will lay flat on Also, the nailing flange 46 always is exposed for securement to the wall. After an upper tile is engaged with a lower tile, the nailing flange is covered so as not to be exposed to seepage damage or wearing.

-Referring to FIG. 2, note that the upper tile of the .pair illustrated has its flange 54 overlying the band 59 a small amount so that a narrow strip portion is exposed which appears to be a mortar line. Where two adjacent tiles of a horizontal row are engaged, overhang 60 engages upon a narrow portion of band 64 and tongue 62 will engage against portion 78 along side wall 38, as shown in- FIG. 4. Wall 38 on one tile will abut wall 40 of its neighbor in the row.

As is obvious from the drawings, the width dimensions of flanges 44 and 54 are chosen so that when flange or overhange 54 laps the band 59, the planar portion re- 'maining exposed has a width dimension substantially equal to that of strips 32. This is similar in effect to the 'relationship of overhang 60 and band 64.

It is also contemplated that the sealing flange 62 may 'be eliminated, with the side portions of adjacent tiles arranged in a butt joint and the overhanging side portion of one transverse wall being overlapped upon the opp-osite end of the next adjacent tile. The recessed formation of said side portion may simply comprise the said .-overhang portion.

The upper and lower channel ends of the tiles may be J molded directly or the tiles formed merely with suitable top and bottom walls 34 and 36 and the channels 42 and 52 cut therein using a suitable power tool. It will be noted that no grouting or mortaring is required after the tiles to be installed in vertically and horizontally oriented rows with a plurality of similar tiles to form an interlocked facing construction, said facing tile comprising a hollow shell like member having a transverse wall, said transverse wall having substantially parallel top and bottom edges and a pair of opposite side edges, a pair of rearwardly extending top and bottom walls integral with said transverse wall at the said top and bottom edges and exsaid transverse wall including pattern carrying portions and planar portions of predetermined width delineating said pattern carrying portions, said planar portions carrying a mortar simulating outer surface, said transverse wall having a top marginal flange coplanar with said transverse Wall and extending normal to said top wall and outward therefrom a predetermined distance, said transverse Wall having a portion of the pattern carrying portions thereof coextensive with the said bottom wall and defining an overhang extending normal to said bottom wall and extending outward therefrom a predetermined distance, said top wall having a nailing flange member extending normal to said top wall and outward therefrom a distance greater than the extent of said top marginal flange outward from said top wall, said bottom wall having a bottom marginal flange extending normal to said bottom wall at its free edge and extending outward therefrom a predetermined distance, the top and bottom marginal flanges, the nailing flange and the overhang each respectively having inner and outer surfaces, the inner surface of the top marginal flange, the top surface of the top wall and the inner surface of the nailing flange defining a first channel, and the inner surface of the overhang, the bottom wall and the inner surface of the bottom marginal flange defining a second channel, the outer surface of the tile having an additional planar mortar simulating portion coextensive with said top marginal flange and having a width measured perpendicular from the terminal edge of said top marginal flange greater than said predetermined width of said planar portions delineating said pattern carrying portions, the outer surface of the 1 top marginal flange, the planar portions of the transverse wall having the mortar simulating outer surface and the inner surface of the overhang defined by a first plane, the inner surface of the nailing flange and the outer surface of the bottom marginal flange defined by a second plane and the outer surface of the nailing flange defined by a third plane, the first, second and third planes being substantially parallel one relative the other, the second and third planes being spaced one from the other a distance equal to the thickness of the nailing flange, the inner surfaces of the top and bottom marginal flanges respectively being defined by a pair of substantially parallel planes inclined relative the aforementioned first, second and third parallel planes, the said predetermined distance at which the bottom marginal flange extends outwardly from the bottom wall being no greater than the predetermined'distance at which the top marginal flange extends outwardly from said top wall, the predetermined distance that said overhang extends outwardly from said bottom wall being equal to the difference between the width of said additional planar mortar simulating portion equal to those planar portions delineating said pattern carrying portions of the transverse wall, albeit said bottom marginal flange being engageable within the first channel of the next adjacent tile and the top marginal flange of the next adjacent tile being engageable within the said second channel whereby to form an interlock arrangement between said tiles in installed condition thereof to define automatically upon engagement, uniform planar portions between pattern carrying portions of the transverse walls of said adjacent tiles.

2. A facing tile of rectangular configuration adapted to be installed in vertically and horizontally oriented rows with a plurality of similar tiles to form an interlocked facing construction, said facing tile comprising a hollow shell like member having a transverse wall, said transverse wall having substantially parallel top and bottom edges and a pair of opposite side edges, a pair of rearwardly extending top and bottom walls integral with said transverse wall at the said top and bottom edges and extending substantially normal to said transverse wall, said top and bottom walls respectively each having a free edge, said transverse wall including pattern carryingportions and planar portions of predetermined width delineating said pattern carrying portions, said planar portions carrying a mortar simulating outer surface, said transverse wall having a top marginal flange coplanar with said transverse wall and extending normal to said top wall and outward therefrom a predetermined distance, said transverse wall having a portion of the pattern carrying portions thereof coextensive with the said bottom wall and defining an overhang extending normal to said bottom wall and extending outward therefrom a predetermined distance, said top wall having a nailing flange -member extending normalto-said top wall and outward therefrom a distance greater than the extent of said top marginal flange outward from-said top wall, said bottom wall having a bottom marginal flange extending normal to said bottom wall at its free edge and extending outward therefrom a predetermined distance, the top and bottom marginal flanges, the nailing flange and the overhang each respectively having inner and outer surfaces, the inner surface of the top marginal flange, the top surface of the top wall and the inner surface of the nailing flange defining a first channel, and the inner surface of the overhang, the bottom wall and the inner surface of the bottom marginal flange defining a second channel, the outer surface of the tile having an additional planar mortar simulating portion coextensive with said top marginal flange and having a'width measured perpendicular from the terminal edge of said top marginal flange greater than said predetermined width of said planar portions delineating said pattern carrying portions, the outer surface of the top marginal flange, the planar portions of the transverse wall having the mortar simulating outer'surface and the inner surface of the overhang defined by a first plane, the inner surface of the nailing flange and the outer surface of the bottom marginal flange defined by a second plane and the outer surface of the nailing flange defined by a third plane, the first, second and third planes being substantially parallel one relative the other, the second and third planesbeing spaced one from the other a distance equal to the thickness of the nailing flange, the inner surfaces of the top and bottom marginal flanges respectively being defined by a pair of convergent planes inclined relative the afore- 'mentioned first, second and third parallel planes, the said predetermined distance at which the bottom marginal flange extends outwardly from the bottom wall being no greater than the predetermined distance at which the top marginal flange extends outwardly from said top wall, the predetermined distance that said overhangextends outwardly from said bottom wall being equal to the difference between the width of said additional planar mortar simulating portion and said predetermined width of the planar portions which delineate said pattern carrying portions, the said predetermined distance at'whereby in installed condition of the'tiles, the overhang extends over the outer surface of the topmarginal flange of the next adjacent tile to define a strip having a width substantially equal to those planar portions delineating said pattern carrying portions of the transverse Wall, albeit said bottom marginal flange being engageable within the first channel of the next adjacent tile and the top marginal flange of the next adjacent tile being engageable within the said second channel whereby to form an interlock arrangement between said tiles in installed condition thereof to define automatically upon engagement, uniform planar portions between pattern carrying portions of the transverse walls of said adjacent tiles.

3. A facing tile of rectangular configurationiadapted to be installed in vertically and horizontally oriented rows with a plurality of similar tiles to form an interlocked facing construction, said facing tile comprising a edge, said transverse wall including pattern carrying portions and planar portions of predetermined width delineating said pattern carrying portions, said planar portions carrying a mortar simulating outer surface, said transverse wall having a top marginal flange coplanar with said transverse wall and extending normal to said top wall and outward therefrom a predetermined distance, said transverse wall having a portion of the pattern carrying portions thereof coextensive with the said bottom wall and defining an overhang extending normal to said bottom wall and extending outward therefrom a predetermined distance, said top wall having a nailing flange member extending normal to said top wall and outward therefrom a distance greater than the extent of said top marginal flange outward from said top wall, said bottom wall having a bot-torn marginal flange extending normal to said bottom wall at its free edge andrextendingoutward therefrom a predetermined distance, the top and bottom marginal flanges, the nailing flange and the overhang each respectively having innervand outer surfaces, the inner surface of the top marginal flange, the top surface of the top wall and the inner surface ofthe nailing flange defining a first channel, and the inner surface of the overhang, the bottom wall and the inner surface of the bottom marginal flange defining a second channel, the outer surface of thetile having an additional planar mortar simulating portion coextensive with said top marginal flange and having a width measured perpendicular from the terminal edge of said top marginal flange greater than said predetermined width of said planar portions delineating said pattern carrying mortar simulating outer surface andrthe innersurface of the overhang defined by a first plane, the inner surface of the nailing flangeand the outer surface of the bottom marginal flange defined by a secondplane and the outer surface 'of the nailing flange defined by a third plane, the first, second and third planes being substantially parallel one relative the other, the second and third planes being spaced one from the other a distance equal to the thickness of the'nailing flange, the inner surfaces of the top and bottom marginal flanges'respectively being defined by a pair of substantially parallel planes, the said predetermined distance at which the bottom marginal flange extends outwardly from the bottom wall being no greater than the predetermined distance at which the top marginal'flange extends outwardly from said top wall, the predetermined distance that said overhang extends outwardly from said bottom wall being equal totthe difference between the width of said additional planar mortar simulating portion and said predetermined width of the planar portions which delineate said pattern carrying portions, whereby in installed condition of the tiles, the overhang extends over the outer surface of the top marginal flange of the next adjacent tile to define a strip having a width substantially equal to those planar portions delineating said pattern carrying portions of the transverse wall, albeit said bottom marginal flange being engageable within the first channel of the next adjacent tile and the top marginal flange of the next adjacent tile being engageable within the said second channel where by to form an interlock arrangement between said tiles in installed condition thereof to define automatically upon engagement uniform planar portionsbetween pattern carrying portions of the transverse walls of said adjacent tiles.

(References on following page) Refereiices Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Clippenger 52-539 Spahmer 52539 X Bailey 52278 X Heh 52592 X Gruner 52-539 X Mitte 52592 Maul 52589 X Ronzone 52539 X Roe 52-309 FOREIGN PATENTS 9/1952 Canada. 4/ 1959' Canada. 2/ 1958 Great Britain.

8/ 1935 Switzerland.

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

WILLIAM I. MUSHAKE, JACOB L. NACKENOFF,

Examiners.

Claims (1)

1. 3. A FACING TILE OF RECTANGULAR CONFIGURATION ADAPTED TO BE INSTALLED IN VERTICALLY AND HORIZONTALLY ORIENTED ROWS WITH A PLURALITY OF SIMILAR TILES TO FORM AN INTERLOCKED FACING CONSTRUCTION, SAID FACING TILE COMPRISING A HOLLOW SHELL LIKE MEMBER HAVING A TRANSVERSE WALL, SAID TRANSVERSE WALL HAVING SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TOP AND BOTTOM EDGES AND A PAIR OF OPPOSITE SIDE EDGES, A PAIR OF REARWARDLY EXTENDING TOP AND BOTTOM WALLS INTEGRAL WITH SAID TRANSVERSE WALL AT THE SAID TOP AND BOTTOM EDGES AND EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY NORMAL TO SAID TRANSVERSE WALL, SAID TOP AND BOTTOM WALLS RESPECTIVELY EACH HAVING A FREE EDGE, SAID TRANSVERSE WALL INCLUDING PATTERN CARRYING PORTIONS AND PLANAR PORTIONS OF PREDETERMINED WIDTH DELINEATING SAID PATTERN CARRYING PORTIONS, SAID PLANAR PORTIONS CARRYING A MORTAR SIMULATING OUTER SURFACE, SAID TRANSVERSE WALL HAVING A TOP MARGINAL FLANGE COPLANAR WITH SAID TRANSVERSE WALL AND EXTENDING NORMAL TO SAID TOP WALL AND OUTWARD THEREFROM A PREDETERMINED DISTANCE, SAID TRANSVERSE WALL HAVING A PORTION OF THE PATTERN CARRYING PORTIONS THEREOF COEXTENSIVE WITH THE SAID BOTTOM WALL AND DEFINING AN OVERHANG EXTENDING NORMAL TO SAID BOTTOM WALL AND EXTENDING OUTWARD THEREFROM A PREDETERMINED DISTANCE, SAID TOP WALL HAVING A NAILING FLANGE MEMBER EXTENDING NORMAL TO SAID TOP WALL AND OUTWARD THEREFROM A DISTANCE GREATER THAN THE EXTEND OF SAID TOP MARGINAL FLANGE OUTWARD FROM SAID TOP WALL, SAID BOTTOM WALL HAVING A BOTTOM MARGINAL FLANGE EXTENDING NORMAL TO SAID BOTTOM WALL AT ITS FREE EDGE AND EXTENDING OUTWARD THEREFROM A PREDETERMINED DISTANCE, THE TOP AND BOTTOM MARGINAL FLANGES, THE NAILING FLANGE AND THE OVERHANG EACH RESPECTIVELY HAVING INNER AND OUTER SURFACES, THE INNER SURFACE OF THE TOP MARGINAL FLANGE, THE TOP SURFACE OF THE TOP WALL AND THE INNER SURFACE OF THE NAILING FLANGE DEFINING A FIRST CHANNEL, AND THE INNER SURFACE OF THE OVERHAND, THE BOTTOM WALL AND THE INNER SURFACE OF THE BOTTOM MARGINAL FLANGE DEFINING A SECOND CHANNEL, THE OUTER SURFACE OF THE TILE HAVING AN ADDITIONAL PLANAR MORTAR SIMULATING PORTION COEXTENSIVE WITH SAID TOP MARGINAL FLANGE AND HAVING A WIDTH MEASURED PERPENDICULAR FROM THE TERMINAL EDGE OF SAID TOP MARGINAL FLANGE GREATER THAN SAID PREDETERMINED WIDTH OF SAID PLANAR PORTIONS DELINEATING SAID PATTERN CARRYING PORTIONS, THE OUTER SURFACE OF THE TOP MARGINAL FLANGE, THE PLANAR PORTIONS OF THE TRANSVERSE WALL HAVING THE MORTAR SIMULATING OUTER SURFACE AND THE INNER SURFACE OF THE OVERHANG DEFINED BY A FIRST PLANE, THE INNER SURFACE OF THE NAILING FLANGE AND THE OUTER SURFACE OF THE BOTTOM MARGINAL FLANGE DEFINED BY A SECOND PLANE AND THE OUTER SURFACE OF THE NAILING FLANGE DEFINED BY A THIRD PLANE, A FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD PLANES BEING SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL ONE RELATIVE THE OTHER, THE SECOND AND THIRD PLANES BEING SPACED ONE FROM THE OTHER A DISTANCE EQUAL TO THE THICKNESS OF THE NAILING FLANGES, THE INNER SURFACES OF THE TOP AND BOTTOM MARGINAL FLANGES RESPECTIVELY BEING DEFINED BY A PAIR OF SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL PLANES, THE SAID PREDETERMINED DISTANCE AT WHICH THE BOTTOM MARGINAL FLANGE EXTENDS OUTWARDLY FROM THE BOTTOM WALL BEING NO GREATER THAN THE PREDETERMINED DISTANCE AT WHICH THE TOP MARGINAL FLANGE EXTENDS OUTWARDLY FROM SAID TOP WALL, THE PREDETERMINED DISTANCE THAT SAID OVERHAND EXTENDS OUTWARDLY FROM SAID BOTTOM WALL BEING EQUAL TO THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE WIDTH OF SAID ADDITIONAL PLANAR MORTAR SIMULATING PORTION AND SAID PREDETERMINED WIDTH OF THE PLANAR PORTIONS WHICH DELINEATE SAID PATTERN CARRYING PORTIONS, WHEREBY IN INSTALLED CONDITION OF THE TILES, THE OVERHANG EXTENDS OVER THE OUTER SURFACE OF THE TOP MARGINAL FLANGE OF THE NEXT ADJACENT TILE TO DEFINE A STRIP HAVING A WIDTH SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO THOSE PLANAR PORTIONS DELINEATING SAID PATTERN CARRYING PORTIONS OF THE TRANSVERSE WALL, ALBEIT SAID BOTTOM MARGINAL FLANGE BEING ENGAGEABLE WITHIN THE FIRST CHANNEL OF THE NEXT ADJACENT TILE AND THE TOP MARGINAL FLANGE OF THE NEXT ADJACENT TILE BEING ENGAGEABLE WITHIN THE SAID SECOND CHANNEL WHEREBY TO FORM AN INTERLOCK ARRANGEMENT BETWEEN SAID TILES IN INSTALLED CONDITION THEREOF TO DEFINE AUTOMATICALLY UPON ENGAGEMENT UNIFORM PLANAR PORTIONS BETWEEN PATTERN CARRYING PORTIONS OF THE TRANSVERSE WALLS OF SAID ADJACENT TILES.

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