US4566235A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tile block
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1983-11-07
•
Granted: 1986-01-28
•
Expires: 2003-11-07
Abstract
Abstract A tile for covering surface areas such as floors and walls has a tile surface and beneath the tile surface a body portion having side walls extending perpendicularly from the tile surface edges so as to form a tile block and the body portion has channels formed therein so as to extend thereacross to form channels in which pipes or cables may be disposed or through which a heating medium may be conducted for heating the block and the room laid out with such tile blocks.
Inventors
- 👤 Hartmut Groll
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 21:29
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04F; E04F15/00; E04F15/18; E04F15/02; E04F15/08; F; F24; F24D; F24D3/00; F24D3/12; F24D3/14; E04F2290/00; E04F2290/02; E04F2290/023; Y; Y02; Y02B; Y02B30/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
162 words
A tile block for covering surface areas such as floors and walls, said tile block having a surface section and a lower body portion extending from the tile surface and having downwardly extending side walls so as to define said tile block, said body portion having a plurality of channels formed therein, of which channels some are closed at the tile bottom and some are open but all extend across said lower body portion and are so arranged as to be in alignment with corresponding channels of adjacent tiles when disposed on a support surface, at least two of said channels which are open at the tile bottom extending in a direction normal to one another so as to be capable of receiving pipes disposed on said supporting surface in either of the tiles major orientations to permit variations in the tiling pattern, said side walls being provided with accurately machined tongues and grooves for close interlocking engagement between adjacent tile blocks.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
162 words
A tile block for covering surface areas such as floors and walls, said tile block having a surface section and a lower body portion extending from the tile surface and having downwardly extending side walls so as to define said tile block, said body portion having a plurality of channels formed therein, of which channels some are closed at the tile bottom and some are open but all extend across said lower body portion and are so arranged as to be in alignment with corresponding channels of adjacent tiles when disposed on a support surface, at least two of said channels which are open at the tile bottom extending in a direction normal to one another so as to be capable of receiving pipes disposed on said supporting surface in either of the tiles major orientations to permit variations in the tiling pattern, said side walls being provided with accurately machined tongues and grooves for close interlocking engagement between adjacent tile blocks.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
A tile block as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lower body portion consists of plastic.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A tile block as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lower body portion consists of stoneware.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
A tile block as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lower body portion consists of a ceramic material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A tile block as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lower body portion consists of a water-based setting material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
A tile block as claimed in claim 1, wherein said side walls are provided with a layer of permanently elastic cement.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
A tile block as claimed in claim 1, wherein said tile blocks have a slightly arched (convex) top surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
A tile block as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tile and the lower body portion are unitary.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
A tile block as claimed in claim 8, wherein at least some of said open and closed channels are interconnected, that is, in communication with each other within a tile.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
A tile block as claimed in claim 8, wherein passages are formed in said tile block so as to extend through said surface section at some of said channels to permit passage of fluid therethrough.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
A tile block as claimed in claim 8, wherein said channels are of about the same height and arranged at the same distance from the tile surface.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
65 words
A tile block as claimed in claim 8, wherein said side walls have openings extending normal to the tiles side walls and so arranged that they are aligned with corresponding openings of adjacent blocks when disposed adjacent one another on a support surface and that elastic connecting means are provided adapted to be received in said openings for mounting adjacent tile blocks to one another.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
A tile block as claimed in claim 8, wherein resilient support members are provided, said support members extending across sections of adjacent tile blocks for engagingly supporting them and holding them in position relative to each other.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
133 words
A tile block floor comprising a subfloor with tile blocks mounted thereon adjacent one another, said tile blocks having top surfaces and lower body portions with passages extending through the body portions such that the passages of adjacent tiles are in alignment for conducting a heating medium therethrough, at least two of said tile passages being open at the tile bottom and said two open passages extending normal to one another, with some of said tiles being disposed, with respect to a pattern on their surface in one orientation and the others in an orientation normal thereto, said tiles being closely interlocked with adjacent tiles by engagement of tongues and grooves accurately machined into their side walls so as to transmit support forces on one tile also to the adjacent tiles interlocked therewith.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
133 words
A tile block floor comprising a subfloor with tile blocks mounted thereon adjacent one another, said tile blocks having top surfaces and lower body portions with passages extending through the body portions such that the passages of adjacent tiles are in alignment for conducting a heating medium therethrough, at least two of said tile passages being open at the tile bottom and said two open passages extending normal to one another, with some of said tiles being disposed, with respect to a pattern on their surface in one orientation and the others in an orientation normal thereto, said tiles being closely interlocked with adjacent tiles by engagement of tongues and grooves accurately machined into their side walls so as to transmit support forces on one tile also to the adjacent tiles interlocked therewith.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
A tile block floor as claimed in claim 14, wherein heating ducts are disposed on said subfloor so as to extend through said aligned open passages.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
A tile block floor as claimed in claim 15, wherein said ducts are embedded in metallic fibers within said passages so as to provide for improved heat transfer from said ducts to said tiles.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-01-27 | 1989-07-29 | 1990-01-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-01-27 | 1993-07-29 | 1994-01-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-01-27 | 1997-07-29 | 1998-01-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |