Abstract: A mosaic tile member has a backing layer with a top adhesive surface for adhering at least two sets of individual tiles onto the backing layer in spaced relationship to permit grouting between the individual tiles. Each set of individual tiles has a foam base layer that is approximately 67 to 80 percent of the overall thickness of the mosaic tile. A design layer and a transparent protective wear layer cover the foam base layer. The design for one set of individual tiles can differ from the design for the other set of individual tiles. An adhesive is provided on the bottom of the backing layer to enable the mosaic tile to self-adhere to a wall, ceiling and floor surface. Individual tiles in the mosaic tile can be punched out or cut from a blank laminate of the foam base layer, the design layer and the protective wear layer.

Abstract: A wall and ceiling tile has an adhesive tape securement system for securing the tile to a wall or ceiling. The tile has a main layer formed of a plastic foam board. A front surface of the tile is provided with a design or display of a wood grain, natural stone or any other selected design. Double-sided adhesive tape strips are provided on a back surface of the tile to constitute the adhesive tape securement system. The double-sided adhesive tape strips are located alongside each of the edges of the tile. An additional adhesive strip can be provided between the two elongated opposite edges of the tile. The tile is light weight compared to known tiles of similar size, such that the adhesive tape securement system firmly secures the tile to a wall or ceiling surface.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing solar cells is disclosed. The method includes forming an insulating material in a printable suspension along the at least one side edge of a solar cell, the insulating material in a printable suspension further adapted to form a protective film which reduces cracking near at least one side edge of the solar cell and improve structural integrity against mechanical stress. The protective film has an elastic modulus of at least 3 GPa, an elongation break point of at least 13 percent and a glass transition temperature of at least 250 degrees Celsius which provides additional structural support along the side edges, increasing the overall structural integrity, providing electrical insulation along the edges and improve the flexure strength of the solar cell.

Abstract: The ceiling tile includes a rigid layer of mineral fiber material having a display surface and an opposite surface. The opposite surface of the rigid layer is covered with a facing that is formed with a metallic material that is preferably an aluminum construction. When the tile is installed in a ceiling, the display surface is the viewable surface. The facing forms a moisture resistant seal on the opposite surface of the rigid layer. The entire peripheral edge of the tile and the marginal portions of the display surface and the facing surface are covered by a plastic leak. tight tape that forms a gas tight seal and a moisture resistant seal at the peripheral edge of the ceiling tile.

Abstract: The ceiling tile, in one embodiment of the invention, is a laminate of a rigid core layer, such as gypsum, having one surface covered by a display layer of plastic sheet material. An opposite surface of the core layer is covered by a layer of light reflective material. The design layer has a design surface that is viewable when the tile is installed in a ceiling, and the light reflective layer has an exposed light reflective surface. Both the design layer and the light reflective layer form leak tight seals on the opposite surfaces of the rigid core layer. The entire peripheral edge of the tile laminate and marginal portions of the design surface and light reflective surface are covered by a plastic leak tight tape that forms a gas tight seal at the peripheral edge of the tile laminate.

Abstract: The ceiling tile, in one embodiment of the invention, is a laminate of a rigid core layer, such as gypsum, having one surface covered by a display layer of plastic sheet material. An opposite surface of the core layer is covered by a layer of light reflective material. The design layer has a design surface that is viewable when the tile is installed in a ceiling, and the light reflective layer has an exposed light reflective surface. Both the design layer and the light reflective layer form leak tight seals on the opposite surfaces of the rigid core layer. The entire peripheral edge of the tile laminate and marginal portions of the design surface and light reflective surface are covered by a plastic leak tight tape that forms a gas tight seal at the peripheral edge of the tile laminate.

Abstract: The multi-purpose tile is formed solely of randomly arranged and uniformly distributed non-woven plastic fibers. The non-woven plastic fibers are fused together without a binder and compressed while in a heated state to establish a predetermined thickness of the tile. The tile is flexible, self-supporting and non-collapsible, and can be installed as a lay-in ceiling tile on a grid for use as a suspended ceiling, or bonded directly to a ceiling, or bonded directly to a wall.

Abstract: An elongated generally rectangular ceiling plank formed of wood or plastic composition and has opposite elongated side edges with a length that is between nine and ten times the width of the opposite end edges. The ceiling plank includes complementary tongue and groove engagement portions formed at the sides and ends for side-by-side or end-to-end engagement with other similar planks. In a ceiling plank installation a ceiling plank securement clip secures the side groove portion of one plank to a ceiling. The secured plank can be joined to another plank in side-by-side or end-to-end engagement at a ceiling by interengagement with the tongue portion at the side or end of the other plank. The ceiling plank is approximately forty-eight inches long and five inches wide and can thus be easily handled and installed by one person.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing solar cells is disclosed. The method includes forming an insulating material in a printable suspension along the at least one side edge of a solar cell, the insulating material in a printable suspension further adapted to form a protective film which reduces cracking near at least one side edge of the solar cell and improve structural integrity against mechanical stress. The protective film has an elastic modulus of at least 3 GPa, an elongation break point of at least 13 percent and a glass transition temperature of at least 250 degrees Celsius which provides additional structural support along the side edges, increasing the overall structural integrity, providing electrical insulation along the edges and improve the flexure strength of the solar cell.

Abstract: An elongated generally rectangular ceiling plank formed of wood or plastic composition and has opposite elongated side edges with a length that is between nine and ten times the width of the opposite end edges. The ceiling plank includes complementary tongue and groove engagement portions formed at the sides and ends for side-by-side or end-to-end engagement with other similar planks. In a ceiling plank installation a ceiling plank securement clip secures the side groove portion of one plank to a ceiling. The secured plank can be joined to another plank in side-by-side or end-to-end engagement at a ceiling by interengagement with the tongue portion at the side or end of the other plank. The ceiling plank is approximately forty-eight inches long and five inches wide and can thus be easily handled and installed by one person.

Abstract: The floor member, in the form of a floor tile or a floor plank, that is formed of a flexible, non-rigid material, has a bottom portion formed with a plurality of moisture dispersal pathways that lead toward peripheral side edges of the bottom portion. The moisture dispersal pathways permit any moisture that develops between a floor base and the bottom portion of the floor member that is installed on the floor base to flow in the moisture dispersal pathways toward at least one of the peripheral side edges of the bottom portion, for passage beyond the one peripheral side edge of the bottom portion. Adjacent tiles of a floor tile installation have communicable moisture dispersal pathways such that moisture is not entrapped below the floor member and can migrate through the communicable pathways to an outermost peripheral side edge of the floor tile installation for dissipation of moisture into the ambient air.

Abstract: The ceiling tile, in one embodiment of the invention, is a laminate of a rigid core layer, such as gypsum, having one surface covered by a display layer of plastic sheet material. An opposite surface of the core layer is covered by a layer of light reflective material. The design layer has a design surface that is viewable when the tile is installed in a ceiling, and the light reflective layer has an exposed light reflective surface. Both the design layer and the light reflective layer form leak tight seals on the opposite surfaces of the rigid core layer. The entire peripheral edge of the tile laminate and marginal portions of the design surface and light reflective surface are covered by a plastic leak tight tape that forms a gas tight seal at the peripheral edge of the tile laminate.

Abstract: The floor member is a laminated structure of flexible compressible cork sheet material and flexible plastic sheet material in the form of a floor tile or a floor plank. The cork sheet material and plastic sheet material are offset, from each other and have respective predetermined thicknesses to enable the floor member to be bendable to facilitate assembly of a plurality of the floor members into a floor covering. The compressible cork sheet material provides sound and heat insulation and the flexible plastic sheet material is yieldable to surface irregularities of a floor base. The cork sheet material is sandwiched between two layers of clear plastic material to provide a distinct sight of the structural presence and thickness of the cork sheet at an edge of the floor member.

Abstract: The floor member, in the form a floor tile or a floor plank, that is formed of a flexible, non-rigid material, has a bottom portion formed with a plurality of moisture dispersal pathways that lead toward peripheral side edges of the bottom portion. The moisture dispersal pathways permit any moisture that develops between a floor base and the bottom portion of the floor member that is installed on the floor base to flow in the moisture dispersal pathways toward at least one of the peripheral side edges of the bottom portion, for passage beyond the one peripheral side edge of the bottom portion. Adjacent tiles of a floor tile installation have communicable moisture dispersal pathways such that moisture is not entrapped below the floor member and can migrate through the communicable pathways to an outermost peripheral side edge of the floor tile installation for dissipation of moisture into the ambient air.

Abstract: The floor member is a laminated structure in the form a floor tile or a floor plank. A bottom portion of the floor member is formed with a plurality of moisture dispersal pathways that lead toward peripheral side edges of the bottom portion. The moisture dispersal pathways permit any moisture that develops between a floor base and the bottom portion of the floor member that is installed on the floor base to flow in the moisture dispersal pathways toward at least one of the peripheral side edges of the bottom portion, for passage beyond the one peripheral side edge of the bottom portion. Adjacent tiles of a floor tile installation have communicable moisture dispersal pathways such that moisture is not entrapped below the floor member and can migrate through the communicable pathways to an outermost peripheral side edge of the floor tile installation for dissipation of moisture into the ambient air.

Abstract: The floor tile is a laminate of two layers of flexible plastic sheet material laminated together in offset relationship to define an offset marginal portion for each of the layers. Each of the offset marginal portions have oppositely facing adhesive coated surfaces. A foam layer and/or a fiberglass sheet can also be included in the laminate structure of the floor tile. The floor tile can conform to surface contours of a floor base. The bottom layer of the floor tile, whether it is plastic sheet or foam, is conformable to surface irregularities of the floor base. A one piece releasable packaging device covers the oppositely facing adhesive coated surfaces of the offset marginal portions.

Abstract: The floor member is a laminated structure in the form a floor tile or a floor plank. A bottom portion of the floor member is formed with a plurality of moisture dispersal pathways that lead toward peripheral side edges of the bottom portion. The moisture dispersal pathways permit any moisture that develops between a floor base and the bottom portion of the floor member that is installed on the floor base to flow in the moisture dispersal pathways toward at least one of the peripheral side edges of the bottom portion, for passage beyond the one peripheral side edge of the bottom portion. Adjacent tiles of a floor tile installation have communicable moisture dispersal pathways such that moisture is not entrapped below the floor member and can migrate through the communicable pathways to an outermost peripheral side edge of the floor tile installation for dissipation of moisture into the ambient air.

Abstract: The floor plank is a laminate of two layers of flexible plastic sheet material laminated together in offset relationship to define an offset marginal portion for each of the layers. Each of the offset marginal portions have oppositely facing adhesive coated surfaces. A foam layer and/or a fiberglass sheet can also be included in the laminate structure of the floor plank. The floor plank can conform to surface contours of a floor base. The bottom layer of the floor plank, whether it is plastic sheet or foam, is conformable to surface irregularities of the floor base. A one piece releasable packaging device covers the oppositely facing adhesive coated surfaces of the offset marginal portions.

Abstract: The floor plank is a laminate of two layers of flexible plastic sheet material laminated together in offset relationship to define an offset marginal portion for each of the layers. Each of the offset marginal portions have oppositely facing adhesive coated surfaces. A foam layer and/or a fiberglass sheet can also be included in the laminate structure of the floor plank. The floor plank can conform to surface contours of a floor base. The bottom layer of the floor plank, whether it is plastic sheet or foam, is conformable to surface irregularities of the floor base. A one piece releasable packaging device covers the oppositely facing adhesive coated surfaces of the offset marginal portions.