Tile For Coating And Decorating Surfaces

Abstract

A tile for coating and decorating surfaces includes a slab which is of rigid material of light weight capable of adopting any polygonal shape having an even number preferrably four sides. Ribs extend peripherally around the slab perpendicular to the rear surface thereof. Two adjacent sides of the slab each have a pair of identical projections extending therefrom. The projections are centrally perforated. The two other adjacent sides of the slab each have a pair of female recesses for coupling with the lugs of adjacent slabs to form the coating. The rear surface is provided with reinforcement ribs, which form an air insulating chamber. A plate of insulating material is located on the edges of the ribs. The top surface of the slab is bevelled and is coated with a colored sheet and a thin coating made of transparent and waterproof material which protects the top surface.

Description

The present invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of tiles for decorating and coating purposes in buildings.

An object of the invention is to provide a tile constituted by three essential parts:

A flat and rigid body or slab made of plastic or similar material, having preferentially a square shape. Two adjacent sides of this body each have a pair of fins in form of square sectioned elements which protrude to the exterior of the edges of the slab. These fins present hollow coupling projections, perpendicular to the obverse of the slab. On the other two adjacent sides of the slabe there are pairs of crevices for the fins of adjacent slabs and having recesses for their projections.

On the obverse of the slab, there is attached a decorated or colored sheet protected by another transparent waterproof and very thin sheet; and

On the reverse, there exists a plate made of insulating material, whose shape coincides with the inside area of the slab. Such plate has on its edges notches or fittings for the projections of the fins, which at the same time serve to fix the plate to the slab.

The characteristics of the improved arrangement of the slabs claimed will now be defined with reference to the attached drawings which only correspond to one embodiment. It should be understood that the accompanying drawings are presented as a way of example of one embodiment, since the shape, dimensions and materials with which the different parts are manufactured, will in each case be those that are deemed pertinent for the specific use dealt with. The slabs for decorating and coating purposes which are manufactured according to the general inventive idea expounded, and any possible modifications, will not be more than variants likewise comprised and protected by the present invention, within the scope of the claims.

FIG. 1 shows a rear view of a slab, partially sectioned to show its inner portion.

FIG. 1A is a side view of the slab.

FIGS. 2 and 3 respectively show sections indicated at section lines A-B and C-D of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a plan view from the upper part of a slab on a smaller scale.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an enlarged detail of a corner of the slab.

FIG. 6 is a partial longitudinal view in section showing how assembly is effected between two adjacent slabs.

In the drawings the slab 7, FIGS. 1 and 4, has on two adjacent of its sides, joining fins 1 which in turn have tubular projections 2 with holes 8 therethrough, FIGS. 1 and 3. On the other two adjacent sides there are joining cut-out portions or crevices 3 having recesses 5 therein for receiving the tubular projections 2.

In FIG. 1 is shown a plate 4 of polyurethane foam or similar material which fits over the rear side of slab 7 in contact with ribs 6 thereon. On the obverse side of slab 7 the decoration can for example be consituted by the chromo, design or picture, etc. 10, protected by the coating 9 of polyester, the shape of the slabs being bevel-edged as indicated at 11.

In FIG. 6 the coupling between each fin 1 and the corresponding crevice 3 is shown, the details of which have already been outlined in FIGS. 2 and 3.

This description corresponds to the general arrangement of the slab, which can be manufactured according to the following description. There exist various embodiments, but the principle ones are the following:

The insulating element 4 which constitutes the reverse of the slab, may be made of cork, polyurethane foam, expanded polystyrene, or any other product, such as melted glass wool;

The fins 1 of the slabs and the projections 2, for as well as the corresponding crevices 3 and recesses 5, can be of any arrangement to guarantee the adequate joining of a plurality of slabs placed on a surface;

The principle element, that is the slab 7, has on its obverse, exteriorly, a contacting adhesive, protected by an outer sheet which could have millimetric indications in order to cut off pieces.

The slabs 7, when deemed necessary, may have spaces due to ribs 6 for the passage of aerials, cables, etc.

The projections 2 with openings 8, serve to hold the slabs, nailing same to wood, walls etc. should an adhesive for its fixing not be desired.

The outer part of the slab may have any arrangement which serves to reflect light or produce any of the known effects, which increase the attractiveness of the decoration.

It should be noted that, besides the general characteristics expounded of the body of the slab, the ribs, normally having a quadrangular shape, are arranged with regards the slab in such a way that they have common diagonals and leave hollow openings with the insulating plate. This arrangement has the additional advantage of conferring both insulating and reinforcing properties.

Claims

I claim:

1. A tile for covering and decorating surfaces, said tile comprising:

a rectangular slab formed of a light weight rigid material and having four edges, two adjacent of said edges each having a pair of fins extending outwardly therefrom, each of said fins having a tubular projection extending from the upper surface thereof, each of said projections having a longitudinal opening therethrough, the other two adjacent of said edges each having a pair of crevices extending inwardly therefrom, each of said crevices having a cylindrical recess extending upwardly therefrom, said slab on the rear surface thereof having a plurality of spaced reinforcing ribs; and

a plate of insulating material attached to said ribs on said rear surface of said slab, thereby providing recesses between said slab and said plate for the passage of electrical installations.

2. A tile as claimed in claim 1, wherein said edges of said slab, from the front surface thereof, are bevelled, and further comprising a decorating sheet of attached to said front surface, and a thin coating of transparent material covering said decorating sheet.