2/3RDS WIDTH FLAT INTERLOCKING TILES

Abstract

A system for tiling roofs employs rows of full-width tiles extending across a surface, each row of tiles interspersed with ⅔ or other unconventional width tiles in an irregular, pseudo-random pattern that allows for proper drainage and also has a distinctive appearance.

Description

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/006,729, filed Jan. 29, 2008, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a system for tiling roofs and other surfaces such that the resulting pattern allows for proper drainage and also has a distinctive appearance. In particular, the present invention relates to an improved system for tiling which utilizes tiles having a ⅔ or other unconventional fractional width interspersed in the rows of tiles, so that a more random and interesting look is achieved compared to conventional tiling systems.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

A conventional system for tiling roofs is illustrated in FIG. 1. Tiles are attached to the roof in a series of rows 3 such that the desired portion of the roof to be protected, typically the entire roof, is covered by tiles. For systems employing shingle-type tiles, the tiles within a particular row substantially overlap the tiles of the next lower row. For systems employing flat interlocking-type tiles, the tiles within a particular row slightly overlap and interlock with the tiles of the next lower row. Preferably, ceramic tiles are employed. In either case, the majority of each row 3 is made up of full-width tiles 1, each having a same predetermined width in the row direction 6.

The interfaces between adjacent tiles within a row make up border lines 4 which provide for drainage of the roof. Preferably, the tiles are arranged such that none of the border lines 4 of adjacent rows line up. This ensures that a central portion of each tile 1 is adjacent a border line 4 in the next lower row 3, allowing for proper drainage of rainwater.

In order to easily provide such a desired arrangement, these systems also preferably employ tiles with overall dimensions generally the same as those of the full-width tiles 1, except that their width in the row direction 6 is one-half that of the predetermined width of the full-width tiles 1. Such tiles are hereinafter referred to as half-width tiles 2, and every other row starts with a half-width tile 2 instead of a full-width tile 1. This results in a regular, half-staggered pattern wherein, for each full-width tile 1, there is a border line 4 in the next lower row that lines up at the mid-point in the row direction 6 of the full-width tile 1.

Such a regular, half-staggered pattern of tiles allows for proper drainage. However, an irregular, pseudo-random pattern of tiles can be more interesting and aesthetically pleasing than a regular pattern, and accordingly a need exists for a system for tiling that provides an irregular, pseudo-random pattern of tiles while also allowing for proper drainage of rainwater.

SUMMARY

A tiling system comprises a plurality of rows of tiles extending in a row direction across a surface, wherein at least one of the plurality of rows of tiles comprises a plurality of full-width tiles having a same predetermined width in the row direction and at least one partial-width tile, wherein each of the at least one partial-width tile has a fractional width in the row direction that is less than the predetermined width and is greater or less than one-half the predetermined width.

A method of tiling a surface with a plurality of rows of tiles extending in a row direction across the surface comprises positioning a plurality of full-width tiles having a same predetermined width in the row direction within each of the plurality of rows, and positioning at least one partial-width tile within one or more of the plurality of rows, wherein each of the at least one partial-width tile has a fractional width in the row direction that is less than the predetermined width and is greater or less than one-half the predetermined width.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a tile configuration according to the conventional art.

FIG. 2 is a tile configuration according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The tiling system according to an embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 2. As in conventional tiling systems, tiles are attached to the roof in a series of rows 3 such that the desired portion of the roof to be protected, typically the entire roof, is covered by tiles. For systems employing shingle-type tiles, the tiles within a particular row substantially overlap the tiles of the next lower row. For systems employing flat interlocking-type tiles, the tiles within a particular row slightly overlap and interlock with the tiles of the next lower row. Preferably, ceramic tiles are employed. In either case, the majority of tiles in each row 3 are full-width tiles 1 having a same predetermined width in the row direction 6.

The tiling system according to an embodiment of the present invention also employs tiles with overall dimensions generally the same as those of the full-width tiles 1, except that their width in the row direction 6 is two-thirds (⅔) that of the predetermined width of the full-width tiles 1. Such tiles are hereinafter referred to as ⅔-width tiles 5.

As in the conventional systems discussed above, every other row preferably starts with a half-width tile 2 having a width in the row direction 6 that is one-half that of the predetermined width of the full-width tiles 1, instead of a full-width tile 1. Additionally, the ⅔-width tiles 5 are interspersed within the rows 3 in an irregular pattern. Optionally, half-width tiles 2 are also interspersed within the rows 3 in an irregular pattern. As in the conventional systems discussed above, the interfaces between adjacent tiles within a row make up border lines 4. To allow for proper drainage of rainwater, the ⅔ width tiles 5 and half-width tiles 2 are positioned in the rows 3 such that a central portion of each tile 1 is adjacent a border line 4 in the next lower row. It has been found that it is generally not necessary in allowing for proper drainage to position a border line 4 below a central portion of each half-width tile 2 and ⅔-width tile 5.

In the system according to the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, the border lines 4 below each full-width tile 1 are either positioned at the mid-point in the row direction 6 of the full-width tile 1, or are positioned ⅓ or ⅙ of the predetermined width from an end of the full-width tile 1 in the row direction 6. It has been found that a border line 4 allows for proper drainage of rainwater in any of the above-discussed positions below a full-width tile 1. Also, unlike in the conventional art, a plurality of border lines 4 can be positioned below a single full-width tile 1 (see the multiple-drained full-width tile 7 illustrated in FIG. 2). Furthermore, unlike in the conventional art, it is no longer necessary to ensure that no border lines 4 of adjacent rows line up (see the lined-up border lines 8 of FIG. 2). Accordingly, the utilization of ⅔-width tiles in the illustrated embodiment of the present invention results in an irregular, pseudo-random pattern of tiles that can be more interesting than a regular pattern.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to tiling of roofs with either shingle-type tiles or flat interlocking-type tiles, the present invention is not limited thereto, but can be utilized with any type of tile and with any type of tiled surface, including (but not limited to) floors, walls, counters, or outdoor walkways.

Furthermore, although present invention has been described as a system which utilizes half-width tiles and ⅔-width tiles, the present invention is not limited thereto. Other tiling systems utilizing interspersed tiles having a variety of unconventional, fractional widths to create an irregular, pseudo-random pattern while also allowing for proper drainage can be practiced without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A tiling system comprising a plurality of rows of tiles extending in a row direction across a surface, wherein at least one of the plurality of rows of tiles comprises:

a plurality of full-width tiles having a same predetermined width in the row direction; and

at least one partial-width tile, wherein each of the at least one partial-width tile has a fractional width in the row direction that is less than the predetermined width and is greater or less than one-half the predetermined width.

2. The tiling system of claim 1, wherein the fractional width is greater than one-half the predetermined width.

3. The tiling system of claim 2, wherein the fractional width is two-thirds the predetermined width.

4. The tiling system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of rows further comprises at least one half-width tile having a width in the row direction that is one-half the predetermined width.

5. The tiling system of claim 1, wherein the surface is a roof.

6. The tiling system of claim 1, wherein the tiles are ceramic.

7. A method of tiling a surface with a plurality of rows of tiles extending in a row direction across the surface, wherein the method comprises:

positioning a plurality of full-width tiles having a same predetermined width in the row direction within each of the plurality of rows; and

positioning at least one partial-width tile within one or more of the plurality of rows, wherein each of the at least one partial-width tile has a fractional width in the row direction that is less than the predetermined width and is greater or less than one-half the predetermined width.

8. The method of tiling of claim 7, wherein the fractional width is greater than one-half the predetermined width.

9. The method of tiling of claim 8, wherein the fractional width is two-thirds the predetermined width.

10. The method of tiling of claim 7, further comprising the step of positioning at least one half-width tile having a width in the row direction that is one-half the predetermined width within at least one of the plurality of rows.

11. The method of tiling of claim 7, wherein the surface is a roof.

12. The method of tiling of claim 7, wherein the tiles are ceramic.