WO2013169216A1

WO2013169216A1 - Ceramic tile

Info

Publication number: WO2013169216A1
Application number: PCT/TH2013/000019
Authority: WO
Inventors: Thidaratana THUVADARAKUL; Anusart MEETHONG; Srichada SA-NGEAMPARP; Wiriya WATTANAYON; Kamnung JANTAWAT; Suthep RERKPREEDAPONG
Original assignee: Scg Building Materials Co., Ltd
Priority date: 2012-04-24
Filing date: 2013-04-24
Publication date: 2013-11-14
Also published as: MY168034A

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a ceramic tile in a slab shape characterized in that both sides are textured, engraved, or channeled to form a plurality of channels (10) with a depth of channel ranging from 0.1-3 millimeter wherein the plurality of channels (10) lies in a relatively unidirectional manner. The present disclosure aims to create footing that has natural-look design. The advantages of the ceramic tiles according to the present invention include ability to simultaneously show two designs, easy installation of ceramic tiles without footing and without changing conventional installation step (i.e. installation can be performed by using mortar paste without addition of any steps.)

Description

CERAMIC TILE

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to material science, particularly to ceramic tile field.

Background

Ceramic has various applications including ceramic tile as a construction material due to its aesthetic values, durability, ease of cleaning, and relatively low cost. Installation of ceramic tiles, both floor tiles and wall tiles, typically uses mortar paste to adhere or attach ceramic tiles to a structure. Ceramic tiles can be viewed as two sides: the face/top side and the back/bottom side. The face side of ceramic tiles serves as a demonstration of aesthetic values, designs, patterns, theme and colors of tiles. The back side of ceramic tiles is embossed features, which protrudes over the planar of ceramic tiles, also widely known in the ceramic technology as "footing" (shown in Figure IB). Footing functions to enhance adhesion between ceramic tiles and cement mortar due to increased surface area for adhesion from its footing embossing or protrusion depth.

Presently, there is an increasing global consumer trend on environmental awareness and preference on natural look or themes. Likewise in ceramic industry, there are various ceramic tile designs inspired by nature. Said ceramic tiles with natural design or pattern are produced by channeling or texturing the face side. However, these ceramic tiles can be channeled or textured at the face/top side only because the back/bottom side must be used as footing in order to adhere ceramic tiles with mortar paste. Typically, footing is a linear protrusion in a parallel manner to form a geometric shape. Hence, the natural design or pattern of ceramic tiles can be shown only one side at the face/top side. In a circumstance when two patterns or two designs of natural-like ceramic tiles are needed; for instance, two designs are used together to create a new theme, existing ceramic tiles cannot entirely serve consumer needs.

Accordingly, there exists a need for a ceramic tile that can simultaneously present two patterns or two designs in the same product.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention discloses a ceramic tile in a slab shape characterized in that both sides are textured, engraved, or channeled to form a plurality of channels (10) with a depth of channel ranging from 0.1-3 millimeter. The plurality of channels (10) lies in a relatively unidirectional manner. The present disclosure intends to form a footing that has a natural-like design or pattern. The advantages of the ceramic tiles according to the present disclosure include ability to simultaneously show two designs, easy installation of ceramic tiles without footing and without changing conventional installation step (i.e. installation can be performed by using mortar paste without addition of any steps.)

Brief Description of the Drawing

Figure 1A-1B represents a back or bottom side of conventional ceramic tiles (prior art)

Figure 2-4 represents a face/top side or a back/bottom side of a ceramic tile according to embodiments of the present invention Detailed Description

As shown in Figure 2-4, a ceramic tile according to the present disclosure is characterized in that both sides are textured, engraved, or channeled to form a plurality of channels or grooves (10) (hereinafter collectively referred as "channels") with a depth of channel ranging from 0.1-3 millimeter. In numerous embodiments, the plurality of channels (10) lies in a non-linear manner.

A representative ceramic tile of the present disclosure as shown in Figure 2 has a wood-like design in one side. The ceramic tile in this representative embodiment has a plurality of channels (10). The channels (10) have a depth ranging from 0.1-2.0 millimeter. The plurality of channels (10) lies in a relatively unidirectional manner. The channels (10) have a width ranging from 0.1-2.0 millimeter.

A representative ceramic tile of the present disclosure as shown in Figure 3 has a wood bark design in one side. The ceramic tile in this representative embodiment has a plurality of channels (10). The channels (10) have a depth ranging from 1.0-3.0 millimeter. The plurality of channels (10) lies in a relatively unidirectional manner. The channels (10) have a width ranging from 1.0-3.0 millimeter. A representative ceramic tile of the present disclosure as shown in

Figure 4 has an annual ring design in one side. The ceramic tile in this representative embodiment has a plurality of channels (10). The channels (10) have a depth ranging from 0.1-2.0 millimeter. The plurality of channels (10) lies in a relatively circular manner. More particularly, the plurality of channels (10) is shaped or configured to numerous circles varying in sizes laying over one another. The channels (10) have a width ranging from 0.1-2.0 millimeter. A representative example of ceramic tiles according to embodiments of the present disclosure is a ceramic tile having wood bark design at the face/top side and wood-like design at the back/bottom side. Said ceramic tile is intentionally designed to mimic a wooden board, slab, or plank that is cut or taken from trees. This enables consumers to decorate or renovate floors, walls, or any types of surfaces covering in order to simultaneously show both wooden-like and wood bark design by using only one set or one package of ceramic tiles. Installation process of the ceramic tiles according the present disclosure uses mortar paste to adhere at the channel (10) locations or sites.

Alternatively, either face or bottom side of the ceramic tiles can be any designs and can be either different or identical to the designs illustrated in Fig. 2-4 or any patterns that both sides are textured, engraved, or channeled to a plurality of channels (10) with a depth of channel ranging from 0.1-3 millimeter. The plurality of channels (10) lies in a non-linear manner.

While the present disclosure has been described in the foregoing with a particular preferred embodiment, it is apparent that other forms of embodiments would be obvious to those skilled in the art in view of the foregoing description.

Claims

1. A ceramic tile in a slab shape characterized in that both sides are textured or channeled to form a plurality of channels (10) with a depth of channel ranging from 0.1-3 millimeter

2. The ceramic tile according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of channels (10) has a depth of 0.1-2 millimeter and lie in a relatively unidirectional manner. The width of channels (10) is 0.1-2 millimeter.

3. The ceramic tile according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of channels (10) has a depth of 1-3 millimeter and lie in a relatively unidirectional manner. The width of channels (10) is 1-3 millimeter.

4. The ceramic tile according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of channels (10) has a depth of 0.1-2 millimeter and lie in a relatively circular manner, which is shaped or configured to numerous circles varying in sizes laying over one another. The channels (10) have a width ranging from 0.1-2.0 millimeter.