US2680319A - Process for making decorative tile mats - Google Patents

Description

June 8, 1954 A. DRATLER PROCESS FOR MAKING DECORATIVE TILE MATS Filed Feb. 26, 1953 INVENTOR. ALBERT DRATLER BY a I QAIJM HIS ATTORNEY Patented June 8, 1954 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE PROCESS FOR MAKING DECORATIVE TILE MATS 3 Claims.

This invention relates to a process for making decorative tile mats and constitutes an improvement in the process disclosed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 142,659, filed February 6, 1950, in the United States Patent Office.

The tile mats to which my process has specificapplication have the tiles thereon arranged in mosaic patterns, and are adapted by virtue of their flexible backings for installation on walls, ceilings, floors or architectural surfaces of like character. These mats, or panels, are conventionally installed with their marginal edges forming complementary jointing with adjacent panels to produce an over-all pattern of pleasing appear ance.

The individual tiles may be of glass, ceramics, plastics or other material suitable for the purpose herein described.

An object of the invention is to provide a process for making mosaic tile mats which will be simple and economical in practice and capable of efi'icient and ready application to the production in quantity of mats of the desired motifs in design.

Other advantages of the invention will be discernible from the detailed description of my process hereinafter set forth.

In the accompanying drawing, the isometric views illustrate successive phases in the construction of the mats according to the steps of my process, like reference numerals designating identical parts throughout the several views which are:

Fig. 1, a panel marked with score lines for cutting into a first series of strips;

Fig.' 2, the panel arranged for spacing the strips with score lines marked thereon defining a second series of rows;

Fig. 3, one of the rows of articulated tiles;

Fig. 4, the rows arranged for spacing preparatory to forming the finished panel; and

Fig. 5, a fragmentary view of the finished panel.

The tile mat is formed from a single rectangular sheet or panel P (Fig. 1), of material suitable for the individual tiles. The panel is first out along parallel score lines I into a first series of variable width strips 2, each strip being of a different width from the strip next adjacent thereto.

The panel is now arranged face downward upon a reference grid B (Fig. 2), which is established from a block having a plurality of parallel, upstanding spacer members 3 defining a corresponding plurality of channels along which the strips 2 may be located to predetermine the marginal jointing spacings 4 intermediate the strips 2.

With the strips 2 thus located (Fig. 2), an intermediate flexible backing is united to the back faces of the strips, using any suitable adhesive for this purpose known in the art.

The panel, now consisting of articulated strips 2 and the intermediate backing 5 applied thereto, is cut a second time along parallel score lines 6 running cross-wise of the strips, thus producing a second series of rows 1. The score lines 6 are equi-spaced and the rows 1 each form an alinement of articulated tiles 8, Fig. 3, held therein by the portion of intermediate backing thereto attached.

A second reference grid B is established having a series of upstanding spacer members 9, dividing the grid into a corresponding series of channels according to which the rows 1 are now located. To effect staggered relation between the side marginal edges of the tiles in one row relative to those in the next adjacent rows, the alternate rows are reversed, end-for-end with their back faces up, and are thus located according to the reference grid B.

A primary backing, preferably of flexible material, !0, is now applied over the rows 7 (Fig. 4), using any suitable adhesive known in the art.

It will be seen that the use of reference grids according to which the first series strips and the second series rows are located in the finished mat will permit the arrangement within a single mat of rows bearing tiles out of different original sheets or panels, since the grids assure uniform spacing and widths in the respective strips and rows from the original sheets. Thus, the finished mat may include tiles of variegated hues and colors to produce a mosaic Work of pleasing appearance and harmonious color blending.

The intermediate backing 5 may, if desired, be formed from a reticulated fabric or open-mesh structure, such as buckram or the like, whereby an intimate bonding of the back faces of the tiles may be elfected to the primary backing l0, as will be understood.

The invention is thus seen to provide a unique process for the production of decorative tile mats to meet the objects hereinabove set forth.

Having thus described the invention and the mode of its practice, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. The process of making a decorative tile mat which COIlSiSts of cutting a tile-forming single panel into a first series of variable-width parallel strips, spreading said series to space the strips marginally therebetween, uniting a flexible intermediate backing to the back face of the cut up panel, cutting the backed-up panel crosswise of the strips into a second series of articulated tile-bearing rows, reversing alternate rows end for end to effect staggered relation of the side marginal joints between the tiles of adjacent rows, spreading the second series to space the rows therein in parallel relation, and applying a main flexible backing to the tile assembly thus formed.

2. The process of making a decorative tile mat which comprises the steps of establishing a variable-width strip-spacing reference grid, cutting a single rectangular panel into a first series strips, locating said first series strips in a horizontal plane according to the spacings of said variable-width grid, uniting said first series by an intermediate backing of flexible fabric applied to the back face thereof, establishing an equalwidth strip-spacing reference grid, cutting the united first series cross-wise of the strips therein into a second series of articulated tilebearing rows, locating the rows according to the spacings of said equal-width reference grid with alternate rows reversed end for end to effect a staggered relation between the side marginal joints intermediate the tiles of adjacent rows, said rows being arranged in a common horizontal plane with their intermediate backing up, and uniting said rows by a flexible primary backing applied to the back faces thereof,

3. The process of making a decorative mat of variegated colored tiles which consists of the steps of establishing a variable-width strip-spacing reference grid, cutting rectangular panels of various colors into a first series of strips, locating said first series in a horizontal plane according to the spacings defined by said variable-width grid, uniting said first series by a flexible intermediate backing applied to the back face thereof, establishing an equal-width strip-spacing reference grid, cutting said first series cross-wise of the strips therein into a second series of tilebearing rows, locating rows from the first series according to spacings of said equal-width reference grid with alternate rows reversed end for end to effect a staggered relation of the side marginal joints intermediate the tiles in alternate rows in respect to the tiles in the rows next adjacent thereto, all said rows being in a common horizontal plane with their intermediate backing up, and uniting said rows by a common flexible primary backing applied to the back faces thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 702,328 Parker June 10, 1902 1,133,604 Alcan Mar. 30, 1915 1,930,740 Desagnat Oct. 17, 1933

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