U.S. patent application number 15/738342 was filed with the patent office on 2018-06-28 for chiral flexible rectangular floor covering element.
The applicant listed for this patent is TARKETT GDL. Invention is credited to Jonas BLADH, Andre CRESSON, Mathias LEWARK, Jean-Yves SIMON.
Application Number | 20180179763 15/738342 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 53514075 |
Filed Date | 2018-06-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180179763 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SIMON; Jean-Yves ; et
al. |
June 28, 2018 |
CHIRAL FLEXIBLE RECTANGULAR FLOOR COVERING ELEMENT
Abstract
A flexible, preferably polymer-based, rectangular floor covering
element of double-angling type has six sides: a decorative top face
and a bottom face, as well as four edges. The first long edge has a
first connection profile with a recess at the bottom face and a
tongue overhanging the recess. The second long edge opposite the
first long edge has a second connection profile with a protrusion
at the bottom face and a groove for receiving the tongue of the
first profile. The first short edge is equipped with the first
profile and the second short edge is equipped with the second
profile. When looking at the floor covering element from above the
top face, the edges of the floor covering element are arranged in
the following order in the clockwise direction: 1) the first long
edge, 2) the first short edge, 3) the second long edge and 4) the
second short edge.
Inventors: |
SIMON; Jean-Yves; (Wiltz,
LU) ; BLADH; Jonas; (Wiltz, LU) ; CRESSON;
Andre; (Wiltz, LU) ; LEWARK; Mathias; (Wiltz,
LU) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
TARKETT GDL |
Lentzweiler |
|
LU |
|
|
Family ID: |
53514075 |
Appl. No.: |
15/738342 |
Filed: |
June 30, 2016 |
PCT Filed: |
June 30, 2016 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2016/065330 |
371 Date: |
December 20, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04F 2201/023 20130101;
E04F 2201/0123 20130101; E04F 2201/043 20130101; E04F 2201/0161
20130101; E04F 15/02038 20130101; E04F 15/105 20130101; E04F
2201/042 20130101 |
International
Class: |
E04F 15/02 20060101
E04F015/02; E04F 15/10 20060101 E04F015/10 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 6, 2015 |
EP |
15175455.3 |
Claims
1. A flexible rectangular floor covering element with a decorative
top face and a bottom face for contacting an underfloor, the floor
covering element being of double-angling type and having a first
long edge with a first connection profile, the first connection
profile having a recess at said bottom face and a tongue
overhanging said recess, a second long edge with a second
connection profile that is complementary to the first connection
profile, the second connection profile having a protrusion at said
bottom face and a groove for receiving the tongue of the first
profile, a first short edge with said first connection profile; and
a second short edge with said second connection profile; wherein,
when looking at the floor covering element from above the top face,
the edges are arranged in the following order in the clockwise
direction: 1) the first long edge, 2) the first short edge, 3) the
second long edge and 4) the second short edge.
2. The floor covering element as claimed in claim 1, the floor
covering element being a synthetic floor covering element.
3. The floor covering element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
decorative top face comprises a decorative pattern representing a
wood flooring, a bamboo flooring, a stone flooring, a ceramic
flooring or a cork flooring.
4. The floor covering element as claimed in claim 1, the floor
covering element being a vinyl tile or plank, a solid vinyl tile or
a luxury vinyl tile.
5. The floor covering element as claimed in claim 1, having a
height comprised in the range from 3 to 7 mm.
6. The floor covering element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
first and second connection profiles are configured for
interlocking floor covering elements to be assembled by angling the
first connection profile into the second connection profile and
then bringing the floor covering elements to be assembled into
alignment.
7. The floor covering element as claimed in claim 6, wherein the
first and second connection profiles are configured in such a way
as to deform resiliently and to snap into place when the floor
covering elements to be assembled are brought into alignment.
8. A set of floor covering elements as claimed in claim 1, having
user information associated therewith indicating that the set of
floor covering elements is best suited for right-handed persons
and/or for installation from left to right.
9. A method of laying a floor covering using floor covering
elements, each floor covering element having a decorative top face
and a bottom face for contacting an underfloor, each floor covering
element being of double-angling type and having a first long edge
with a first connection profile, the first connection profile
having a recess at said bottom face and a tongue overhanging said
recess, a second long edge with a second connection profile that is
complementary to the first connection profile, the second
connection profile having a protrusion at said bottom face and a
groove for receiving the tongue of the first profile, a first short
edge with said first connection profile; and a second short edge
with said second connection profile; wherein, when looking at the
floor covering element from above the top face, the edges are
arranged in the following order in the clockwise direction: 1) the
first long edge, 2) the first short edge, 3) the second long edge
and 4) the second short edge; the method comprising laying the
floor covering elements row by row, each row being laid from left
to right and each new row being laid in front of the rows already
laid, wherein each element to be laid having a left-hand neighbour
and a rear row already in place is first angled with its second
short edge into the first short edge of the left-hand neighbour and
then angled with its first long edge into the second long edge of
the element or elements of the rear row.
10. A set of floor covering elements, each floor covering element
being a mirror image of but otherwise identical with the floor
covering element of claim 1, the set of floor covering elements
having user information associated therewith indicating that the
set of floor covering elements is best suited for left-handed
persons and/or for installation from right to left.
11. The set of floor covering elements as claimed in claim 10,
wherein each floor element has a decorative top face and a bottom
face for contacting an underfloor and comprises: a first long edge
with a first connection profile, the first connection profile
having a recess at said bottom face and a tongue overhanging said
recess, a second long edge with a second connection profile that is
complementary to the first connection profile, the second
connection profile having a protrusion at said bottom face and a
groove for receiving the tongue of the first profile, a first short
edge with said first connection profile; and a second short edge
with said second connection profile; wherein on each floor covering
element, when looking at the floor element from above the top face,
the edges are arranged in the following order in the clockwise
direction: 1) the first long edge, 2) the second short edge, 3) the
second long edge and 4) the first short edge.
12. A method of laying a floor covering using floor covering
elements of a set, wherein each floor element has a decorative top
face and a bottom face for contacting an underfloor and comprises:
a first long edge with a first connection profile, the first
connection profile having a recess at said bottom face and a tongue
overhanging said recess, a second long edge with a second
connection profile that is complementary to the first connection
profile, the second connection profile having a protrusion at said
bottom face and a groove for receiving the tongue of the first
profile, a first short edge with said first connection profile; and
a second short edge with said second connection profile; wherein on
each floor covering element, when looking at the floor element from
above the top face, the edges are arranged in the following order
in the clockwise direction: 1) the first long edge, 2) the second
short edge, 3) the second long edge and 4) the first short edge;
said method comprising laying the floor covering elements row by
row, each row being laid from right to left and each new row being
laid in front of the rows already laid, wherein each element to be
laid having a right-hand neighbour and a rear row already in place
is first angled with its second short edge into the first short
edge of the right-hand neighbour and then angled with its first
long edge into the second long edge of the element or elements of
the rear row.
13. The floor covering element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
floor covering element is a plank or a tile.
14. The floor covering element of claim 4, wherein the floor
covering element is a vinyl composition tile.
15. The set of floor covering elements of claim 8, wherein said set
of floor covering elements is contained in a package, said package
comprising said user information in the form of a textual or
pictorial notice.
16. The set of floor covering elements of claim 8, wherein said set
of floor covering elements is contained in a package, the package
comprising on an outside or interior thereof an Internet link in
textual form or in the form of a machine-readable code pointing to
an Internet site on which said user information is available as a
text, pictures, a sound file or stream, a video file or stream, or
any combination thereof.
17. The set of floor covering elements of claim 8, wherein said set
of floor covering elements is contained in a package, said package
comprising said user information in the form of a textual or
pictorial notice.
18. The set of floor covering elements of claim 8, wherein said set
of floor covering elements is contained in a package, the package
comprising on an outside or interior thereof an Internet link in
textual form or in the form of a machine-readable code pointing to
an Internet site on which said user information is available as a
text, pictures, a sound file or stream, a video file or stream, or
any combination thereof.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention generally relates to a flexible (i.e.
bendable) rectangular floor covering element (e.g. a plank or a
tile) with connection profiles arranged on its four edges.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Floor covering elements with conjugate connection profiles
are known in the art. Such profiles have first been used on wood
floor elements. One of their simplest embodiments comprises a
tongue profile (or male profile) and a groove profile (or female
profile). Each floor covering element has one long edge with a
tongue profile and the opposite long edge with a groove profile.
There are layouts, wherein the each floor covering element further
has one short edge with a tongue profile and the other short edge
with a groove profile. Laying such a wood floor is typically done
in the following way. A first row of floor covering elements is
installed beginning on the left and adding new floor covering
elements on the right of the elements already in place. To connect
the new element, the parquet recliner puts it in place and then
taps on its right edge with a hammer to obtain a firm engagement of
the profiles on the short edges. The next rows are laid as the
first row except that the parquet recliner also taps the floor
covering element on the long edge next to him in order to obtain a
firm engagement also on the long edges. As hammering on the tongue
profiles was more likely to lead to damage, the floor covering
elements were arranged in the following way: when looking at the
top face of the floor covering element and holding it such that the
long edge with the tongue profile is in the 12-o'clock position
(the long edge with the groove profile is thus in the 6 o'clock
position), then the short edge with the groove profile is in the
3-o'clock position (on a conventional clock, not a Bolivian clock,
for instance) and the short edge with the tongue profile is in the
9-o'clock position (on the conventional clock). That order of the
edges is comfortable for the majority of people who are
right-handed and thus prefer to hold the hammer in the right hand.
To the knowledge of the inventors that order has never been put
into question and was taken over on any later developed floor
covering element with connection profiles.
[0003] More recently, tongue-and-groove connection profiles were
developed that provide better protection against separation. With
so-called angling-type connectors, the tongue profile is angled
into the groove profile whereupon the floor covering element with
the tongue is hinged down. During this movement, the connection
profiles deform resiliently and then snap into place. The tongue
profile is thus locked in the groove profile such that a separation
thereof requires a higher amount of force or a specific relative
movement of the profiles. When the profiles are made of relatively
hard material, such as, e.g. wood, a click can be heard when the
connection profiles are securely connected. When angling-type
connectors are provided on the four edges of each floor covering
element, the new element to be laid is first angled into the
element on the left already in place. Then, the new element is
declined towards the rear and angled into the row behind. The
latter step requires that the element(s) on the left follow the
movement of the new element. They are thus also raised at their
front and hinged down. Installing such floor covering elements
requires some coordination, which is however easily acquired
through some practice.
[0004] Nevertheless, in order to facilitate the installation of
floor coverings especially to do-it-yourselfers (DIYers), so-called
angling and drop-down floor covering elements have been developed.
On such floor covering elements, the long edges are equipped with a
tongue and a groove profile respectively. The new element to be
laid is angled into the elements already in place behind it. On the
left short edge, each element comprises a connection profile with
an overhang that is the counterpart of the connection profile on
the right short edge, which has a protrusion at the bottom side.
The connection profiles on the short edges are configured in such a
way that they can be assembled by simply dropping down the new
element to be installed from the angled position into the final
horizontal position. Some configurations even have a latch on the
right-hand connection profile, which prevents the separation of the
floor covering elements on the short edges. Notwithstanding that,
compared to the double-angling-type floor covering elements
mentioned above, the angling-and-drop-down floor covering elements
have the disadvantage of a weaker connection on the short edges,
which may also lead to worse durability under strain (assessable
using e.g. the castor chair test according to European norm EN
425).
[0005] For flexible polymer-based floor covering elements the
double-angling configuration is thus preferred.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
[0006] A first aspect of the invention relates to a flexible,
preferably polymer-based, rectangular floor covering element, such
as e.g. a plank or a tile, in particular for the installation of a
floating floor. The floor covering element has six sides: a
decorative top face and a bottom face for contacting the
underfloor, as well as four lateral faces herein referred to as the
edges of the floor covering element. The first long edge has a
first connection profile with a recess at the bottom face and a
tongue overhanging the recess. The second long edge opposite the
first long edge has a second connection profile that is
complementary (conjugate) to the first connection profile and that
has a protrusion at the bottom face and a groove for receiving the
tongue of the first connection profile. The first short edge is
equipped with the first connection profile and the second short
edge is equipped with the second connection profile. When looking
at the floor covering element from above the top face (i.e. when
looking at the top face in the direction opposite the outwardly
pointing normal vector of the top face), the edges of the floor
covering element are arranged in the following order in the
clockwise direction: 1) the first long edge (with the first
connection profile), 2) the first short edge (with the first
connection profile), 3) the second long edge (with the second
connection profile) and 4) the second short edge (with the second
connection profile).
[0007] It was surprisingly discovered by the inventors that the
specified arrangement of the edges greatly facilitates the
installation of flexible rectangular floor covering elements of the
double-angling type. Indeed, with flexible floor covering elements
having the mirrored arrangement the edges, the installation of a
new floor covering element on the right of an already installed
floor covering element frequently led to a partial loosening of the
row being installed from the row behind. That risk could be
considerably reduced with floor covering elements according to the
first aspect of the invention, which had originally been produced
by error. When investigating the reasons for the unexpected
increase in terms of laying comfort, it was found that the
protrusion on the bottom side of the second short edge provided
better support for the floor covering element on the left of the
element being installed, whereby the second angling step became
much easier.
[0008] As used herein, the term "flexible" designates a floor
covering element that can be bent to a radius of curvature of 50
cm, preferably to a radius of curvature of 25 cm, or even to a
smaller radius of curvature, without visible deterioration. It will
be understood, however, that a floor covering element according to
the first aspect of the invention is not totally soft (such as a
carpet with a foam backing) but has a firmness or rigidity that
makes the floor covering element suitable for the secure
installation of a floating floor covering by interconnecting the
floor covering elements by means of the connection profiles.
[0009] The terms "long" and "short" are used herein to distinguish
between the longer and the shorter edges of the floor covering
element; they do not imply any particular lengths in absolute
figures.
[0010] Preferably, the first connection profile on the first long
edge is identical to the first connection profile on the first
short edge and the second connection profile on the second long
edge is identical to the second connection profile on the second
short edge. Alternatively, the first connection profile on the
first long edge differs from the first connection profile on the
first short edge and the second connection profile on the second
long edge differs from the second connection profile on the second
short edge. In this case, both first connection profiles are of the
same type (first type) and comprise each a recess at the bottom
face and a tongue overhanging the recess, the shapes and/or the
dimensions thereof being different in the detail, however.
Similarly, both second connection profiles are of the same type
(second type) and comprise each a protrusion at the bottom face and
a groove, the shapes and/or the dimensions thereof being chosen
such as to be able to mate with the respective first connection
profile.
[0011] The floor covering element according to the first aspect of
the invention is preferably a synthetic (polymer-based) floor
covering element, more preferably a vinyl tile, such as, e.g. a
vinyl composition tile, a solid vinyl tile or a luxury vinyl tile.
A polymer-based floor covering element may be PVC-based or
PVC-free.
[0012] Preferably, the decorative top face comprises a decorative
pattern representing a wood flooring, a bamboo flooring, a stone
flooring, a ceramic flooring or a cork flooring. Any other
decorative pattern, e.g. a photograph, a drawing or an abstract
design, could of course also be used on the top face.
[0013] According to a preferred embodiment, the height of the floor
covering element is comprised in the range from 3 to 7 mm,
preferably in the range from 3 to 5 mm.
[0014] The first and second connection profiles are preferably
configured for interlocking floor covering elements to be assembled
by angling the first connection profile into the second connection
profile and then bringing the floor covering elements to be
assembled into alignment. The first and second connection profiles
are preferably configured in such a way as to deform resiliently
and to snap into place when the floor covering elements to be
assembled are brought into alignment.
[0015] A second aspect of the invention relates to a set of floor
covering elements (hereinafter: the first set of floor covering
elements) according to the first aspect of the invention, having
user information associated therewith indicating that the set of
floor covering elements is best suited for right-handed persons
and/or for installation from left to right. The user information
could be provided as a textual or pictorial notice on or in the
packaging of the set of floor covering elements. Alternatively or
additionally, the packaging could comprise (on its outside or in
its interior) an Internet link (in textual form or in the form of a
machine-readable code, such as, e.g., a QR-code or another type of
matrix barcode with or without colour coding) pointing to an
Internet site on which the user information is available as a text,
pictures (including photos and/or pictograms), a sound file or
stream, a video file or stream, or any combination thereof.
[0016] A third aspect of the invention relates to a method of
laying a floor covering using floor covering elements according to
the first aspect of the invention. The method comprises laying the
floor covering elements row by row, each row being laid from left
to right and each new row being laid in front of the rows already
laid, wherein each element to be laid that has both a left-hand
neighbour and a rear row already in place is first angled with its
second short edge into the first short edge of the left-hand
neighbour and then angled with its first long edge into the second
long edge of the element or elements of the rear row.
[0017] A fourth aspect of the invention relates to a set of floor
covering elements (hereinafter: the second set of floor covering
elements), wherein each floor covering element is a mirror image of
but otherwise identical with the floor covering element according
to the first aspect of the invention. The second set of floor
covering elements has user information associated therewith
indicating that the set of floor covering elements is best suited
for left-handed persons and/or for installation from right to left.
The association of the user information with the second set of
floor covering elements can be achieved in the same way as the
association of the user information with the first set of floor
covering elements. When the first sets of floor covering elements
are sold in the same place as second sets of floor covering
elements (e.g. in a DIY-store), the association with the user
information could also be made with different colours or otherwise
different configurations of the packagings referring to the
corresponding user information on display in the store.
[0018] In a second set of floor covering elements, each floor
element has a decorative top face and a bottom face for contacting
an underfloor and comprises: a first long edge with the first
connection profile, a second long edge with the second connection
profile, a first short edge with the first connection profile; and
a second short edge with the second connection profile. When
looking at the floor element from above the top face, the edges are
arranged in the following order in the clockwise direction: 1) the
first long edge, 2) the second short edge, 3) the second long edge
and 4) the first short edge.
[0019] A fifth aspect of the invention relates to a method of
laying a floor covering using floor covering elements of a second
set of floor covering elements. The method comprises laying the
floor covering elements row by row, each row being laid from right
to left and each new row being laid in front of the rows already
laid, wherein each element to be laid that has a right-hand
neighbour and a rear row already in place is first angled with its
second short edge into the first short edge of the right-hand
neighbour and then angled with its first long edge into the second
long edge of the element or elements of the rear row.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] By way of example, preferred, non-limiting embodiments of
the invention will now be described in detail with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0021] FIG. 1: is a top view of a floor covering made with flooring
tiles in accordance with the first aspect of the invention;
[0022] FIG. 2: is a transversal cross-sectional view of first and
second connection profiles;
[0023] FIG. 3: is a transversal cross-sectional view illustrating
how the second short edge of a flooring tile to be installed is
connected with the right short edge of a flooring tile on the left
already in place;
[0024] FIG. 4: is a schematic perspective view of a packaging of
flooring tiles best suited for installation from left to right;
[0025] FIG. 5: is a schematic perspective view of a packaging of
flooring tiles best suited for installation from right to left.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0026] FIG. 1 is a schematic top view of a part of a floor covering
10 made with flexible flooring tiles 12 in accordance with the
first aspect of the invention. The flooring tiles 12 are of the
double-angling type. Each flooring tile 12 has six sides: a
decorative top face 14, a bottom face 16 (see FIG. 2) for
contacting the underfloor 22 (see FIG. 2), two long edges 18a, 18b
and two short edges 20a, 20b. The long edges comprise a first long
edge 18a equipped with a first connection profile and a second long
edge 18b opposite the first long edge 18a and equipped with a
second connection profile that is complementary (conjugate) to the
first connection profile. The short edges comprise a first short
edge 20a equipped with the first connection profile and a second
short edge equipped with the second connection profile.
[0027] FIG. 2. Shows the first and second connection profiles in
cross section. The first connection profile, hereinafter referred
to as the male profile M, has a recess 24 at the bottom face 16 of
the flooring tile and a tongue 26 overhanging the recess 24. The
second connection profile, hereinafter referred to as the female
profile F, has a protrusion 28 at the bottom face 16 of the
flooring tile and a groove 30 for receiving the tongue 26 of the
male profile M. The shapes of the connecting profiles are conjugate
to each other meaning that they can be brought into engagement. It
should be noted, however, that the contour lines of the male and
female profiles in cross section need not be completely identical.
In the illustrated example, the male and female profiles can be
brought into interlocking engagement. When the tongue 26 of the
male profile M is inserted into the groove 30 of the female profile
F, a small temporary deformation one or both of the profiles is
necessary for the tongue 26 to reach its final position in the
groove 30. When the tongue has been completely inserted, there is
no or almost no residual deformation. However, the abutments 32 and
34 on the tongue 26 and the protrusion 28, respectively, secure the
tongue 26 against slipping out of the groove 30 without application
of significant force or carrying out the reverse movement.
[0028] When looking at the floor covering element from above the
top face (as in FIG. 1), the order of the edges in the clockwise
direction is: 1) the first long edge 18a (with the male profile--at
the 12-o'clock position in FIG. 1), 2) the first short edge 20a
(with the male profile--at the 3-o'clock position in FIG. 1), 3)
the second long edge 18b (with the female profile--at the 6-o'clock
position in FIGS. 1) and 4) the second short edge (with the female
profile--at the 9-o'clock position in FIG. 1). The advantage of
that arrangement of the connection profiles can be experienced when
laying the floor covering. A floor is typically laid by first
laying the rearmost row of flooring times from the left to the
right and then installing the next row. Except for the first row
and the leftmost tile in each row, a new flooring tile is always
added in front and to the right of the tiles already in place.
[0029] The male and female connectors shown in FIG. 2 are so-called
angling-type connectors: when a new flooring tile is installed, the
user holds it in the orientation described above and shown in FIG.
1. The user then angles the edge on the left of the new flooring
tile under the overhanging tongue of the flooring tile on the left
already in place (see FIG. 3). When the tongue has thereby entered
the groove, the new flooring tile is hinged down. During this
movement, the connection profiles deform resiliently and then snap
into place. Depending on the stiffness of the polymer material of
the flooring tile (and thus the connection profiles) a clicking
noise may or may not be heard by the user. The male and female
profiles are now interlocked with each other such that their
separation would require a high amount of force (potentially
leading to damage on the flooring tiles) or the reverse movement of
the profiles. The next step is the connection of the new flooring
tile with the tile or the tiles in the row behind. The user
typically holds the new flooring tile with both hands. The left
hand supports the new tile at the corner of the second long edge
18b and the second short edge 20b while the right hand supports it
at the corner of the second long edge 18b and the first short edge
20a. The new tile and the tile to its left are already connected
with each other. The user now raises the second long edge 18b of
the new tile, giving the new tile a decline towards the row behind.
The tile to the left has to follow that decline because of its
engagement with the new tile. At this point, a conventional
flexible double-angling flooring tile would be likely to disengage
from the row behind and the user would have to be quite careful to
avoid that. With flooring tiles according to the first aspect of
the invention, the risk of the already installed tiles to the left
disengaging from the row behind is significantly reduced. Keeping
the tile to be installed inclined, the user pushes it with the male
profile of the first long edge 18a into the female profile of the
second long edge of the tile(s) behind it. When the connection
profiles are in contact, the user lowers the second long edge 18b
of the new tile on the underfloor. By that rotational motion of the
new tile, the male and female profiles become interconnected along
the long edge.
[0030] FIG. 4 shows an example of a packaging 36a of a set of
flooring tiles according to the first aspect of the invention. The
packaging 36a comprises several indications that the flooring tiles
are most suitable for installation by right-handed persons, in
particular a matrix barcode 38a, a pictogram representing a right
hand 40a and a textual notice 42a.
[0031] FIG. 5 shows an example of a packaging 36b of a set of
flooring tiles according to the fourth aspect of the invention. The
packaging 36b comprises several indications that the flooring tiles
are most suitable for installation by left-handed persons, in
particular a matrix barcode 38b, a pictogram representing a left
hand 40b and a textual notice 42b. It will be appreciated that
flooring tiles of a set according to the fourth aspect of the
invention are mirrored versions of flooring tiles according to the
first aspect of the invention. In fact, either the short or the
long edges of the tiles are permuted. Installation of the mirrored
tiles is carried out in exactly the same way as that of the tiles
of FIG. 1, except that left and right are inverted.
[0032] It will be understood that flooring tiles according to the
first aspect of the invention are most suitable for installation
from left to right, while mirrored flooring tiles are most suitable
for installation from right to left, irrespectively of the
handedness of the person installing them.
[0033] While specific embodiments have been described herein in
detail, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various
modifications and alternatives to those details could be developed
in light of the overall teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly,
the particular arrangements disclosed are meant to be illustrative
only and not limiting as to the scope of the invention, which is to
be given the full breadth of the appended claims and any and all
equivalents thereof.
* * * * *