FLOORING TILE COLLECTIONS AND METHODS OF MAKING AND INSTALLING SAME

Abstract

Embodiments are directed to collections of flooring tiles, such as carpet tiles, that can include (1) a first group of tiles that has a first uniform appearance, visual field, and/or pattern across the entire tile, (2) a second group of tiles that has a second uniform appearance, visual field and/or pattern across the entire tile, and (3) a third group of tiles that are divided into three portions: a first portion that bears the first visual field, a second portion that bears the second visual field, and a third portion generally interposed between the first portion and the second portion and that has an appearance different from both the first and the second visual field. Tiles from the collections can be installed to create a desired appearance on a floor.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention relate generally to collections of flooring tiles that can be installed on a floor so as to create borders, edges and other designs on the floor, as well as methods of designing, manufacturing and installing such tiles.

BACKGROUND

Discernible patterns on a floor are sometimes desired for functional purposes in addition to purely aesthetical purposes. For example, discernible floor patterns can define walking paths to direct people to particular parts of a room or building, including to emergency exits. Relatively large squares, rectangles, circles and other shapes smaller than an entire room can establish intended locations on the floor of tables, chairs or other furniture or equipment or a gathering place, such as a reading group location on a classroom floor.

SUMMARY

The terms “invention,” “the invention,” “this invention” and “the present invention” used in this patent are intended to refer broadly to all of the subject matter of this patent and the patent claims below. Statements containing these terms should be understood not to limit the subject matter described herein or to limit the meaning or scope of the patent claims below. Embodiments of the invention covered by this patent are defined by the claims below, not this summary. This summary is a high-level overview of various aspects of the invention and introduces some of the concepts that are further described in the Detailed Description section below. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used in isolation to determine the scope of the claimed subject matter. The subject matter should be understood by reference to appropriate portions of the entire specification of this patent, any or all drawings and each claim.

Embodiments are directed to collections of flooring tiles, such as carpet tiles, that can include (1) a first group of tiles that has a first uniform appearance, visual field, and/or pattern across the entire tile, (2) a second group of tiles that has a second uniform appearance, visual field and/or pattern across the entire tile, and (3) a third group of tiles that are divided into three portions: a first portion that bears the first visual field, a second portion that bears the second visual field, and a third portion generally interposed between the first portion and the second portion and that has an appearance different from both the first and the second visual field. Tiles from the collections can be installed to create a desired appearance on a floor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure will be readily understood by the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate like structural elements. The patent or application file contains at least one drawing executed in color. Copies of this patent or patent application publication with color drawing(s) will be provided by the Office upon request and payment of the necessary fee.

FIG. 1A illustrates a tile collection in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 1B illustrates a tile collection in accordance with another embodiment.

FIG. 2A illustrates three tiles from the tile collection of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2B illustrates three tiles from the tile collection of FIG. 1B.

FIG. 3A illustrates a uniform tile from the tile collection of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 3B illustrates a uniform tile from the tile collection of FIG. 1B.

FIG. 4A illustrates a transition tile from the tile collection of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 4B illustrates a transition tile from the tile collection of FIG. 1B.

FIGS. 5A-5C illustrate embodiments of web designs or patterns that can be used to produce tiles in the tile collection of FIG. 1A.

FIGS. 6A-6C illustrate embodiments of web designs or patterns that can be used to produce tiles in the tile collection of FIG. 1B.

FIG. 7A illustrates embodiments of tile installations formed with tiles in the tile collection of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 7B illustrates embodiments of tile installations formed with tiles in the tile collection of FIG. 1B.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The subject matter of embodiments of the present invention is described here with specificity to meet statutory requirements, but this description is not necessarily intended to limit the scope of the claims. The claimed subject matter may be embodied in other ways, may include different elements or steps, and may be used in conjunction with other existing or future technologies. This description should not be interpreted as implying any particular order or arrangement among or between various steps or elements except when the order of individual steps or arrangement of elements is explicitly described.

Embodiments of the invention relate to collections of flooring tiles that may be assembled on a floor to create a desired appearance on a floor. While embodiments of the flooring tiles are described as carpet tiles, they need not be. Rather, other types of flooring tiles may be used (e.g., rubber tiles, vinyl tiles, wood tiles, composite tiles, etc.).

Embodiments of the invention relate to collections of carpet tiles that can be installed on a floor so as to create borders, edges and other designs on the floor. By way of example, the collections can include transition carpet tiles having first portions of their tile faces that look similar to some tiles in the collection but having second portions of their tile faces that look similar to other tiles in the collection. Borders, edges, and other designs can be created by strategically positioning the different tiles abutting and in specific locations on the floor relative to each other.

More specifically, embodiments of the collections of carpet tiles can include (1) a first group of tiles that has a first uniform appearance, visual field, and/or pattern across the entire tile, (2) a second group of tiles that has a second uniform appearance, visual field and/or pattern across the entire tile, and (3) a third group of tiles (called transition tiles) that are divided into three portions: a first portion that bears the first visual field, a second portion that bears the second visual field, and a third portion generally interposed between the first portion and the second portion and that has an appearance different from both the first and the second visual field. In some embodiments, the third portion creates a non-linear separation between the first and second portions of the transition tiles.

FIG. 1A illustrates an embodiment of carpet tile offerings in a first carpet tile collection 10, and FIG. 1B illustrates an embodiment of carpet tile offerings in a second carpet tile collection 20. While twenty tiles (20) are illustrated as offered in each carpet tile collection 10, 20, more or fewer different tile offerings may be provided.

In some (but not necessarily all) embodiments, all of the tiles within a carpet tile collection 10, 20 have the same base or background color. In this way, a common color exists on all tiles within a collection. In the illustrated embodiments, the background color B is a light tan/gray color in each tile collection 10, 20.

Each tile collection 10, 20 includes at least one uniform tile and at least one transition tile. In the illustrated tile collections 10, 20, the uniform and transition tiles are created with differing placement of accent colors on the tile faces. The first and second tile collections 10, 20 are illustrated as including tiles having at least one of nine accent colors—Cobalt (C1), Caribbean (C2), Teal (C3), and Moss (C4) in the 1^st column of each illustrated tile collection 10, 20; Pearl (C5), Coral (C6), Clementine (C7), and Maize (C8) in the 5^th column of each illustrated tile collection 10, 20, and Dark Gray (C9) in the 3^rd column of each illustrated tile collection 10, 20. However, more or fewer accent colors and different accent colors than those shown could be provided. Moreover, in the illustrated embodiments the accent colors are provided on the tiles such that the background color B is still visible to some degree on each of the tile faces. This may not be the case in all embodiments.

The uniform tiles in a tile collection 10, 20 are referred to as “uniform” because they each have a uniform visual field, appearance, or pattern that extends across the entirety of their tile faces. In the first and second tile collections 10, 20, the uniform tiles appear in the 1^st, 3^rd and 5^th columns of each illustrated tile collection 10, 20 and are labeled as 12a-12l (first tile collection 10) and 22a-22l (second tile collection 20). Each uniform tile in the illustrated tile collections 10, 20 bears the background color as well as an accent color across the entirety of each uniform tile face. While in the illustrated embodiments, each uniform tile is shown as bearing only the background color and one accent color, more than one accent color may be provided on the uniform tiles.

The uniform tiles within a tile collection need not and likely will not be identical to each other with respect to pattern and/or color. Indeed, even the uniform tiles bearing the same accent color(s) will not typically be strictly identical, as can be seen when comparing uniform tiles 12i-12l and uniform tiles 22i-22l. However, in the illustrated embodiments, the overall appearance of the uniform tiles within a collection (and particularly uniform tiles bearing the same accent color(s)) will be generally consistent so as to give the same overall impression or appearance.

In contrast to the uniform tiles, the “transition” tiles do not bear a uniform visual field or pattern that extends across the entirety of their tile faces. Rather, in the illustrated embodiments, at least one portion of a transition tile face bears a pattern formed by an accent color and at least one portion does not bear that accent color. In some embodiments, a first portion and a second portion of a transition tile face each bears a pattern formed by at least one accent color (which can be the same or different accent color) and are separated by a third portion that is primarily the background color. However, the third portion need not be formed of only the background portion. Rather, the third portion may be formed with any appearance that appears different than the appearance of the first and second portions. The transition tiles within tile collections 10, 20 can be selected from the tiles in the 2^nd and 4^th columns of each illustrated tile collection 10, 20 and are labeled as 14a-h (first tile collection 10) and 24a-24h (second tile collection 20).

Note that the difference in appearance between the uniform tiles within each of the illustrated tile collections 10, 20 generally is in the color(s) appearing on the tiles. The pattern on the uniform tiles within these tile collection 10, 20 is generally consistent. However, the difference in appearance between uniform tiles within a collection could be based on other visual differences, such as in different patterns provided on the tiles. For example, a first uniform tile within a collection could have a striped pattern, a second uniform tile within that same collection could have a checked pattern, and the first and second portions of a third transition tile within that collection could bear the striped and checked pattern, respectively. Moreover, some or all of the uniform tiles may bear no pattern. Rather, they may simply be solid-colored tiles formed of a single color. In some embodiments, it may be important that the second visual field on the second portion appears different in some way than the first visual field on the first portion and that the third portion of the transition tile appears different than both the first and second portions. In other embodiments, the first and second portions may have the same appearance and be different than the third portion.

In the first and second tile collections 10, 20 as illustrated, the third (generally central) portion of each transition tile is created by a solid or uniform color—in this case, the light tan/gray background color B. However, the third portion of the transition tiles could be formed with other or multiple colors or bear one or more patterns or other appearances, provided the third portion appears different than the first and second portions of the transition tile.

In use, desired first uniform tiles and desired second uniform tiles are selected from one of the tile collections 10, 20, and the transition tiles from that same collection are selected to match the selected first and second uniform tiles such that the first and second portions on the transition tiles “match” the appearance of the selected first and second uniform tiles. This can be seen in FIGS. 2A and 2B. FIG. 2A illustrates three tiles (uniform tiles 12d, 12l and transition tile 14d) selected from the first tile collection 10, and FIG. 2B illustrates three tiles (uniform tiles 22d, 22l and transition tile 24d) selected from the second tile collection 20. The first uniform tiles 12l, 22l are predominantly dark gray C9 (with some background color visible), the second uniform tiles 12h, 22h are predominantly moss C4 (with some background color visible), and each transition tile 14d, 24d has a first portion 32 that bears the dark gray C9 of its respective first uniform tile 12l, 22l and a second portion 34 that bears the moss C4 of its respective second uniform tile 12d, 22d. The first and second portions 32, 34 are separated by a third portion 36 having the background color B (which is present in the visual fields on the uniform tiles as well as the first and second portions 32, 34 of the transition tiles).

While they might not (and typically will not) be exactly identical, all of the first uniform tiles in an installation will generally have the same overall appearance (or visual field) to each other, and all of the second uniform tiles in an installation will generally have the same overall appearance (or visual field) to each other.

While not a requirement, the visual fields or patterns on at least some of the first and second uniform tiles in the illustrated embodiments (as well as their respective portions on the transition tiles) can include linear (i.e., straight line) elements or segments. In some embodiments, the visual fields include one or more linear elements that extend parallel to each other and/or are oriented at an angle (e.g., perpendicular, oblique, etc.) relative to other linear elements on a tile. For example, FIG. 3A illustrates uniform tile 12b from the first tile collection 10 having four tile edges 16a-16d and bearing a pattern that includes a first group of linear elements 18a that extend substantially parallel to each other and that intersect at obliquely angled linear element 18b a second group of linear elements 18c that extend substantially parallel to each other but substantially perpendicular to the first group of linear elements 18a. In this way, each of the first group of linear elements 18a and the second group of linear elements 18c are oriented parallel to one set of opposing tile edges and perpendicular to the other set of opposing tile edges. For example, the first group of linear elements 18a extends parallel to tile edges 16b and 16and perpendicular to tile edges 16a and 16c, whereas the second group of linear elements 18c extends parallel to tile edges 16a and 16c and perpendicular to tile edges 16b and 16d. In contrast, linear element 18b extends at an oblique angle relative to all four tile edges 16a-16d.

FIG. 3B illustrates uniform tile 22b from the second tile collection 10 having four tile edges 26a-26and a pattern that includes linear element 28a that extends substantially perpendicular to linear element 28b. Both linear elements 28a, 28b extend parallel to one set of opposing tile edges and perpendicular to the other set of opposing tile edges. For example, linear element 28a extends parallel to tile edges 26a and 26c and perpendicular to tile edges 26b and 26d, whereas linear element 28b extends parallel to tile edges 26b and 26and perpendicular to tile edges 26a and 26c.

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate embodiments of transition tiles from each tile collection 10, 20. FIG. 4A illustrates transition tile 14e from the first tile collection 10, and FIG. 4B illustrates transition tile 24b from the second tile collection 20. Each transition tile has four edges 30a-30d, with edges 30a and 30c opposing each other and edges 30b and 30d opposing each other. A portion of the visual field or appearance of the first uniform tiles (the first portion 32 of the transition tile) is typically provided on a first side of the transition tile and a portion of the visual field or appearance of the second uniform tiles (the second portion 34 of the transition tile) is typically provided on an opposing second side of the transition tile, whereby the first portion 32 and the second portion 34 are separated from each other by a third portion 36. The first portion 32 extends along at least a portion of the length of tile edge 30a (but not along opposing tile edge 30c), and the second portion 34 extends along at least a portion of the length of tile edge 30c (but not along opposing tile edge 30a). Note that the first and second portions 32, 34 may each extend entirely along the length of their respective tile edge (30a or 30c) or may be interrupted by the third portion 36 of the transition tile, as discussed below. Moreover, the first and second portions 32, 34 will typically also extend along a portion of (but not the entire) length of opposing edges 30b, 30d of the transition tiles, but that may not always be the case with every transition tile in a collection.

In some embodiments, the third portion 36 of the transition tiles is predominantly formed with the background color B. In some embodiments, the third portion 36 is non-linear and has a width that is inconsistent along its height. In some embodiments, the boundary between one or both of the first and second portions 32, 34 and the third portion 36 of the transition tiles is clearly defined or delineated such that the third portion 36 of a transition tile is separated from the adjacent first and second portions 32, 34 of the transition tile. This can be seen in the transition tile shown in FIG. 4A. In other embodiments, the boundary between one or both of the first and second portions 32, 34 and the third portion 36 of the transition tiles does not appear as well-defined or “crisp” such that portions of the first and/or second portions 32, 34 of the transition tile appear to comingle with the third portion 36 at one or more points along the boundary of the third portion, as seen in FIG. 4B.

However, in both of these embodiments, a distinct separation between the first and second portions 32, 34 on the transition tiles exists by virtue of the third portion 36 such that the first portion 32 does not touch or commingle with the second portion 34. While the illustrated embodiments only include one portion (third portion 36) interposed between the first and second portions 32, 34 on the transition tiles, multiple separation portions or bands could be provided between the first and second portions 32. 34.

While the third portions 36 of the transition tiles in the illustrated embodiments overall are non-linear from the top to the bottom of the tile (i.e., they do not possess a consistent width), in some embodiments the boundaries between the first and/or second portions 32, 34 and the third portion 36 of the transition tiles are defined at least in part by linear segments, which can extend parallel and/or at an angle (e.g., perpendicular, oblique, etc.) relative to other linear segments of the boundaries defining the third portion 36 on a transition tile. FIG. 4A illustrates transition tile 14e having its third portion 36 defined in part by (i) linear segments (e.g., 40a-40c) that are parallel and/or perpendicular to each other as well as to tile edges 30a-30d and (ii) by linear segments (e.g., 40d and 40e) that are obliquely oriented relative to the tile edges 30a-30d and linear segments 40a-40c. The third portions 36 of transition tiles from tile collection 10 are generally defined by boundary lines formed exclusively (or almost exclusively) of adjacent linear segments oriented at angles relative to each other. In this way, the third portions 36 on such tiles appear as bands of irregular geometric shapes.

FIG. 4B illustrates transition tile 24b having its third portion 36 defined by boundaries formed only partially with linear segments (e.g., 40a-40c) that are parallel and/or perpendicular to each other as well as to tile edges 30a-30d. However, the boundaries defining the third portion 36 of transition tile 24b also include more amorphous regions, an example of which is denoted by reference numeral 38 where a clear division is absent between the first portion 32 and the third portion 36.

In some embodiments, the third portions 36 of the transition tiles generally extend along the entire height of the transition tile, from the top edge (e.g., edge 30b) to the bottom edge (e.g., edge 30d). At least some of the third portion 36 will be located centrally on the transition tile a distance from the opposing side edges of the tile (e.g., edges 30a, 30c). In some embodiments, the entirety of the third portion 36 of a transition tile is distanced from the opposing side edges of the transition tile. However, in other embodiments, the third portion may extend to and/or along a portion of one or more opposing side edges. For example, in FIG. 4A the third portion 36 extends to and along a portion of edge 30a.

In some embodiments, the geometries/shapes of the third portions 36 of the transition tiles are different such that at least some of the transitions tiles within a collection look different. This can be seen with the transitions tiles illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B.

The flooring tiles disclosed herein may be manufactured in different ways. Carpet tiles or modules are typically square or rectangular and are installed abutting each other to provide a carpeted room or portion of a room, corridor or other floor space. Carpet tiles are typically manufactured by manufacturing a carpet tile “web,” often about six feet or two meters wide. Although other techniques are also used, carpet tile webs are usually “tufted.” In tufted carpet tile, loops or “tufts” of carpet yarn are inserted in a suitable sheet of backing material as the backing is advanced through a tufting machine. The desired pattern of the web (and thus of the resulting tiles cut from it) may be imparted during the tufting process. One suitable tufting machine, system, and process for doing so is described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,141,505 to Hall et al. (“Hall”) and US RE48,544, the entirety of both of which is incorporated herein by reference. Secondary backing materials are then applied to the underside of the tufted carpet tile web, and the backed web is then cut into carpet tiles of suitable size and shape. Many such tiles are either eighteen inches or one- half meter square, but again, may be cut into any size or shape.

In other embodiments, the desired pattern is imparted after tufting. By way only of example, a “blank” web (i.e., devoid of pattern) may be produced and cut into tiles. Each tile may then be printed with the desired pattern.

The tiles of tile collections 10, 20 may be formed by tufting and/or printing. For example, a carpet web may be tufted so as to bear the background color B of the tiles and then the accent color(s) may be added in the desired pattern to the tiles cut from the web via printing. Alternatively, the carpet web may be tufted with any suitable colored yarn and both the background color B and the accent color(s) may be subsequently printed on the tiles. In embodiments with smooth surface flooring tiles (e.g., rubber, vinyl, composite, wood, etc.), the patterns can be printed or otherwise applied (e.g., via films) to the tiles or the substrate from which the tiles are cut.

In some embodiments, both the background and accent colors are imparted during the tufting process such that the carpet web bears the desired visual field or pattern. While the uniform and transition tiles disclosed herein may all be cut from the same carpet web, in other embodiments each of the uniform tiles and the transition tiles are cut from their own dedicated web. By way only of example:

• • 1. a first carpet web may be formed that bears only the visual field of the desired first uniform tiles such that only the first uniform tiles are cut from the first web;
  • 2. a second carpet web may be formed that bears only the visual field of the desired second uniform tiles such that only the second uniform tiles are cut from the second web; and
  • 3. a third carpet web may be formed that bears the visual fields of both the first uniform tiles and the second uniform tiles such that only the transition tiles are cut from the third web and each resulting transition tile bears a portion of the visual field of the first uniform tiles along its first portion and a portion of the visual field of the second uniform tiles along its second portion that is separated from the first portion by a third portion.

FIGS. 5A-5C respectively illustrate example web patterns 50-52 that may be used to create the uniform tiles and transition tiles from tile collection 10, and FIGS. 6A-6C respectively illustrate example web patterns 60-62 that may be used to form the uniform tiles and transition tiles from tile collection 20. In some embodiments, carpet webs are produced using colored yarn so as to bear the web patterns shown in FIGS. 5A-5C and FIGS. 6A-6C. The tufted webs would then be cut to produce tiles. Web patterns 50-52 and 60-62 can be used for various sizes of webs and tiles, but may typically be used for a web typically approximately two meters wide, so that four tiles 50 centimeters square can be cut from across a tile web made from these patterns. The pattern repeat along the length of the web can be less than or more than two meters so that successive lateral cross-web cuts forming tiles from the web will fall at different places along the web, thereby producing tiles that contain different portions of the pattern along the web (e.g., tiles that are not identical). Representative longitudinal cut lines 70 and lateral cut lines 72 have been provided on the web patterns 50-52 and 60-62 for illustrative purposes. Cuts lines 54, 56 could be provided in other locations along the length and width of the web.

Web patterns 50, 51 are the same or similar to each other and may be formed with yarns of different colors such that division of the webs formed with these patterns results in the first and second uniform tiles of tile collection 10. Similarly, web patterns 60, 61 are the same or similar to each other and may be formed with yarns of different colors such that division of the webs formed with these patterns results in the first and second uniform tiles of tile collection 20. While the visual fields on web patterns 50, 51, 60, and 61 can vary across the width and length of the web, the overall appearance is of a consistent visual field across the web. Each tile cut from a tufted carpet web bearing one of the web patterns 50, 51, 60, and 61 will bear only a portion of pattern across the entirety of its tile face. Consequently, tiles cut from a carpet web may not be absolutely identical to other tiles cut from the carpet web; however, they will appear homogenous.

The web pattern 52 of FIG. 5C includes regions that extend longitudinally down the web. First longitudinal regions 54 bear portions of the web pattern 50 of FIG. 5A, second longitudinal regions 56 bear portions of the web pattern 51 of FIG. 5B, and third longitudinal regions 58 contain the background color B. When cut into tiles, a portion of the first longitudinal region 54, the second longitudinal region 56, and the third longitudinal region 58 will be present on the tiles so as to create transition tiles of the first tile collection 10 with first portions, second portions, and third portions.

Similarly, the web pattern 62 of FIG. 6C includes regions that extend longitudinally down the web. First longitudinal regions 64 bear portions of the web pattern 60 of FIG. 6A, second longitudinal regions 66 bear portions 61 of the web pattern of FIG. 6B, and third longitudinal regions 68 contain the background color B. When cut into tiles, a portion of the first longitudinal region 64, the second longitudinal region 66, and the third longitudinal region 68 will be present on the tiles so as to create transition tiles of the second tile collection 20 with first portions, second portions, and third portions.

FIG. 7A depicts the appearance of example carpet tile installations formed with tiles from the first tile collection 10, and FIG. 7B depicts the appearance of example carpet tile installations formed with tiles from the second tile collection 20. Tiles from tile collections 10, 20 can be used in some embodiments to define separate regions on a floor with great flexibility.

In some installation embodiments, transition tiles 100 are interposed on the floor between a grouping of the first uniform tiles 102 and a grouping of the second uniform tiles 104 such that the first portion of at least some of the transition tiles 100 abuts first uniform tiles 102 and such that the second portion of at least some of the transition tiles 100 abuts second uniform tiles 104. In some installations, at least some of the transition tiles 100 are positioned abutting each other in the installation so that the first portions, second portions, and third portions of adjacent transition tiles are adjacent between abutting transition tiles. This can be seen in the installations of FIGS. 7A and 7B, whereby a plurality of first uniform tiles 102 are positioned adjacent and abutting on a floor, a plurality of second uniform tiles 104 are positioned adjacent and abutting on a floor, and transition tiles 100 are positioned between the plurality of first uniform tiles 102 and second uniform tiles 104 such that the first portions of the transition tiles (i.e., the portion matching the appearance on the first uniform tiles 102) are adjacent first uniform tiles and the second portions of the transition tiles (i.e., the portion matching the appearance on the second uniform tiles 104) are adjacent second uniform tiles. When so positioned, the third portions of adjacent transition tiles generally (but may not exactly) align such that the third (central) portions of the transition tiles collectively create borders or edges in the installation.

In the illustrated installations, the third portions of the transition tiles create borders or edges on a floor so as to effectively partition an open space using tiles from tile collections 10, 20. Moreover, the irregular appearance/shape of the third portions of the transitions tiles obviates the ability and need to precisely align adjacent first, second, and third portions on transition tiles.

The different types of tiles in an installation (the uniform tiles and transition tiles) can be, but will generally not be, identical to other of that same type of tile. For example, all of the first uniform tiles 102 in the illustrated installations will generally not be identical to each other, all of the second uniform tiles 104 in the illustrated installations will generally not be identical to each other, and all of the transition tiles 100 in the illustrated installations will generally not be identical to each other. However, their overall appearance is sufficiently similar (if not identical) such that they create a homogenous appearance when positioned next to each other on the floor.

In some embodiments, the tiles may be installed in any positional or rotational orientation relative to each other in an installation without the tiles appearing to be out of place. Tiles have a rotational orientation and nap direction established during their manufacture (e.g., at the time they are cut from a carpet web). In some embodiments, the tiles can be installed such that the rotational orientations of abutting tiles are not aligned—i.e., they do not need to be installed facing in the same direction they faced when cut from the web such that their nap directions align. This obviates the need to orient the tiles relative to each other with respect to nap direction, thus permitting the tiles to be installed randomly or in any chosen rotation or pattern without any tiles looking out of place (relative to nap) in the installation.

Moreover, in some embodiments the seams between the installed tiles are not visible in the installation (at least to a casual observer) such that the modular nature of the floorcovering is not apparent. The incorporation in the patterns on the tiles of linear elements (e.g., 18a, 18b, 28a, 28b) oriented parallel and perpendicular to tile edges create “false seams” that mimic the appearance of the seams created between adjacent tiles. These linear elements look similar enough to actual tile seams such that actual seams that are visible simply look like part of the pattern, with the result that a viewer's attention is not drawn to the actual seams in a manner that makes it apparent that the installation is an assembly of modules rather than a more continuous carpet. In this way, the linear elements help to disguise the actual seams in an installation.

While tile collections 10, 20 have been illustrated and described as including transition tiles having a first portion 32, a second portion 34, and a third portion 36, in some embodiments the transition tiles may have only two portions (e.g., first portion 32 and second portion 34). These portions could be, but do not have to be, separated by the boundaries illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B. Each of the two portions would correspond to the appearance of one of the two types of uniform tiles selected for an installation and could be installed as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B. In such installations, the central background region (the third portion 36) would be absent from the installation.

Moreover, while the first portion 32 and second portion 34 of the transition tiles have been illustrated as appearing different (e.g. bearing a different accent color), they could be the same. In such an embodiment, only one type of uniform tile would be selected and the first and second portions of the transition tile would bear the appearance of the selected uniform tile. In such embodiments, the transition tiles (i.e., the third portion on such tiles) could be used to form borders and define areas on the floor, but the flooring around those borders and edges would appear the same (as opposed to the installations in FIGS. 7A and 7B where uniform tiles of different colors are positioned adjacent the transition tiles).

Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. The invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, and certain shown exemplary embodiments thereof are shown in the drawings and have been described above in detail. Variations of those preferred embodiments, within the spirit of the present invention, may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, it should be understood that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form or forms disclosed, but on the contrary, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above- described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, used specific nomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the described embodiments. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the specific details are not required in order to practice the described embodiments. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments are presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the described embodiments to the precise forms disclosed. It will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings.

Claims

1. A collection of carpet tiles, each tile comprising a tile face and a first edge having a length, a second edge having a length, a third edge having a length, and a fourth edge having a length, wherein the first and third edges of each tile oppose each other and the second and fourth edges of each tile oppose each other, wherein the collection of carpet tiles comprises: a. first carpet tiles, wherein a portion of a first visual field extends across the entirety of the tile face of each first carpet tile;b. second carpet tiles, where a portion of a second visual field different from the first visual field extends across the entirety of the tile face of each second carpet tile; andc. third carpet tiles, wherein the tile face of each third carpet tile comprises: i. a first portion that comprises a portion of the first visual field, wherein the first portion of the tile face of the third carpet tile extends along at least a portion of the length of the first edge of the third carpet tile but does not extend along a portion of the length of the third edge of the third carpet tile;ii. a second portion that comprises a portion of the second visual field, wherein the second portion of the tile face of the third carpet tile extends along at least a portion of the length of the third edge of the third carpet tile but does not extend along a portion of the length of the first edge of the third carpet tile; andiii. a third portion interposed between the first portion and the second portion, wherein at least part of the third portion is devoid of the first visual field and the second visual field and wherein a first boundary is formed between the first portion and the third portion and a second boundary is formed between the second portion and the third portion, wherein at least one of the first boundary or the second boundary is at least partially defined by consecutive linear segments, wherein each of the consecutive linear segments is oriented at an angle relative to an adjacent linear segment.

2. The collection of carpet tiles of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first visual field or the second visual field comprises a background color.

3. The collection of carpet tiles of claim 2, wherein the part of the third portion that is devoid of the first visual field and the second visual field comprises only the background color.

4. The collection of carpet tiles of claim 1, wherein the first portion and the second portion of the tile face of each third carpet tile extends along a portion of the length of the second and fourth edges of the third carpet tile.

5. The collection of carpet tiles of claim 1, wherein: the first portion of the tile face of at least some of the third carpet tiles extends along the entire length of the first edge of the at least some third carpet tiles; orthe second portion of the tile face of at least some of the third carpet tiles extends along the entire length of the third edge of the at least some third carpet tiles.

6. The collection of carpet tiles of claim 1, wherein at least one of the linear segments extends parallel to the first and third tile edges.

7. The collection of carpet tiles of claim 1, wherein at least one of the linear segments extends perpendicular to the first and third tile edges.

8. The collection of carpet tiles of claim 1, wherein at least one of the linear segments extends at an oblique angle relative to the first and third tile edges.

9. The collection of carpet tiles of claim 1, wherein at least some of the adjacent linear segments are oriented perpendicular to each other and other of the adjacent linear segments are oriented at an oblique angle relative to each other.

10. The collection of carpet tiles of claim 1, wherein the first visual field comprises a color that is different from a color of the second visual field.

11. An installation of the collection of carpet tiles of claim 1, positioned on the floor adjacent and abutting each other, the installation comprising a plurality of the first carpet tiles, the second carpet tiles, and the third carpet tiles positioned on a floor adjacent and abutting such that: at least some of the first carpet tiles abut either the first, second, or fourth edge of an adjacent third carpet tile;at least some of the second carpet tiles abut either the second, third, or fourth edge of an adjacent third carpet tile; andthe second or fourth edge of at least some of the third carpet tiles abut either the second or fourth edge of an adjacent third carpet tile such that the first portions of the abutting third carpet tiles are adjacent, the second portions of the abutting third carpet tiles are adjacent, and the third portions of the abutting third carpet tiles are adjacent.

12. The installation of claim 11, wherein the at least some of the first carpet tiles abut the first edge of the adjacent third carpet tile and the at least some of the second carpet tiles but the third edge of the adjacent third carpet tile.

13. The installation of claim 11, wherein the at least some of the first carpet tiles abut at least one other first carpet tile.

14. The installation of claim 11, wherein other of the first carpet tiles abut only other first carpet tiles.

15. The installation of claim 11, wherein the at least some of the second carpet tiles abut at least one other second carpet tile.

16. The installation of claim 11, wherein other of the second carpet tiles abut only other second carpet tiles.

17. The installation of claim 11, wherein each of the plurality of first carpet tiles, second carpet tiles, and third carpet tiles comprises a rotational orientation established during tile manufacture and wherein the rotational orientations of at least some of the abutting carpet tiles in the installation are not aligned.

18. The installation of claim 11, wherein no first carpet tile is adjacent a second carpet tile in the installation.

19. A method of making the collection of carpet tiles of claim 1, the method comprising: tufting a plurality of carpet webs such that each of the plurality of carpet webs bears at least one of the first visual field or the second visual field; andcutting the plurality of first carpet tiles, second carpet tiles, and third carpet tiles from the plurality of carpet webs.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the plurality of carpet webs comprises: a first carpet web bearing only the first visual field across the entirety of the first carpet web, wherein the first carpet tiles are cut from the first carpet web;a second carpet web bearing only the second visual field across the entirety of the second carpet web, wherein the second carpet tiles are cut from the second carpet web; anda third carpet web bearing a portion of the first visual field and a portion of the second visual field, wherein the third carpet tiles are cut from the third carpet web.