Abstract:
A tile comprised of eight weaved strips formed from curved plywood is disclosed. The tile is nailed to the surface through exposed flaps. The exposed flaps are then covered by subsequent tiles, thus creating exotic wood weave look that has no seams.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to a tile useful for finishing and decorating walls and ceilings. More specifically, the tile formed from strips of curved plywood according to this invention creates exotic wood weave look that has no seams.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Conventionally, in order give a wall or a ceiling exotic weave look that has no seams, long strips of bamboo strips, leather or other pliable material are weaved together to cover the desired area. This requires custom installation and can be quite expensive. Alternatively, ceramic and other tiles replicating weaved look can be used. However, use of tiles creates seams, which is undesirable. What is needed is a tile that can replicate the exotic weave look that has no seams and that can be purchased in desired quantities and easily installed.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     This invention satisfies this need. The tile formed from strips of curved plywood according to this invention creates exotic wood weave look that has no seams. The tile comprises eight strips, each having a top surface and a bottom surface, as well as a concealed flap, a first raised portion, a middle portion, a second raised portion, and an exposed flap.  
         [0004]     The eight strips are weaved in a way that the top surface of the concealed flap of the first strip is positioned adjacent to the bottom surface of the second raised portion of the fifth strip; the top surface of the concealed flap of the second strip is positioned adjacent to the bottom surface of the first raised portion of the eighth strip; the top surface of the concealed flap of the third strip is positioned adjacent to the bottom surface of the first raised portion of the fifth strip; the top surface of the concealed flap of the fourth strip is positioned adjacent to the bottom surface of the second raised portion of the eight strip; the top surface of the concealed flap of the fifth strip is positioned adjacent to the bottom surface of the second raised portion of the fourth strip; the top surface of the concealed flap of the sixth strip is positioned adjacent to the bottom surface of the first raised portion of the first strip; the top surface of the concealed flap of the seventh strip is positioned adjacent to the bottom surface of the first raised portion of the fourth strip; the top surface of the concealed flap of the eighth strip is positioned adjacent to the bottom surface of the second raised portion of the first strip.  
         [0005]     Installation of the tile according to this invention is easy. The exposed flaps of one tile are nailed to the surface. The exposed flaps of the next tile are slidably inserted into the first and second raised portions on the strip on the first tile, thus covering the nails and creating a seamless continuous appearance. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURES  
       [0006]      FIG. 1  shows an isometric view of the tile according to this invention;  
         [0007]      FIG. 2  shows an isometric view of the strip from which the tile according to this invention is comprised;  
         [0008]      FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4  show top views of the tiles according to this invention being installed.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0009]     This invention will be better understood with the reference to the drawing figures  FIG. 1  through  FIG. 4 . The same numerals refer to the same elements in all figures.  
         [0010]     Viewing  FIG. 1 , there is shown a tile comprising a first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth strips, indicated, respectively, by numerals  10 ,  20 ,  30 ,  40 ,  50 ,  60 ,  70  and  80 .  
         [0011]     Viewing now  FIG. 2 , First Strip  10  is formed from curved plywood and comprises a top surface and a bottom surface. Numeral  10   a  indicates a concealed flap. Numeral  10   b  indicates a first raised portion. Numeral  10   c  indicates a middle portion. Numeral  10   d  indicates a second raised portion. Numeral  10   e  indicates an exposed flap.  
         [0012]     Concealed Flap  10   a  is disposed adjacent to First Raised Portion  10   b . Exposed Flap  10   e  is disposed adjacent to Second Raised Portion  10   d . Middle Portion  10   c  is disposed between First Raised Portion  10   b  and Second Raised Portion  10   d.    
         [0013]     Concealed Flap  10   a , Middle Portion  10   c  and Exposed Flap  10   e  are positioned in substantially the same plane. First Raised Portion  10   b  is positioned in substantially the same plane as Second Raised Portion  10   d.    
         [0014]     For the sake of simplicity, Second Strip  20  through Eight Strip  80  are not shown. However, similarly to First Strip  10 , each of the Second Strip  20  through Eight Strip  80  are also formed from curved plywood and comprise a top surface and a bottom surface. Each of the Second Strip  20  through Eight Strip  80  also comprise a concealed flap, a first raised portion, a middle portion, a second raised portion and an exposed flap. For example, Fifth Strip  50  comprises Concealed Flap  50   a , First Raised Portion  50   b , Middle Portion  50   c , Second Raised Portion  50   d  and Exposed Flap  50   e , etc.  
         [0015]     Further, in  FIG. 1  through  FIG. 4 , First Strip  10  through Eight Strip  80  are shown as having substantially identical size. It is not critical that First Strip  10  through Eight Strip  80  be of a substantially identical size, they can slightly differ in size.  
         [0016]     Viewing again  FIG. 1 , the top surface of Concealed Flap  10   a  is positioned adjacent to the bottom surface of Second Raised Portion  50   d.    
         [0017]     The top surface of Concealed Flap  20   a  is positioned adjacent to the bottom surface of First Raised Portion  80   b.    
         [0018]     The top surface of Concealed Flap  30   a  is positioned adjacent to the bottom surface of First Raised Portion  50   b.    
         [0019]     The top surface of Concealed Flap  40   a  is positioned adjacent to the bottom surface of Second Raised Portion  80   d.    
         [0020]     The top surface of Concealed Flap  50   a  is positioned adjacent to the bottom surface of Second Raised Portion  40   d.    
         [0021]     The top surface of Concealed Flap  60   a  is positioned adjacent to the bottom surface of First Raised Portion  10   b.    
         [0022]     The top surface of Concealed Flap  10   a  is positioned adjacent to the bottom surface of First Raised Portion  40   b.    
         [0023]     The top surface of Concealed Flap  80   a  is positioned adjacent to the bottom surface of Second Raised Portion  10   d.    
         [0024]     Viewing now, simultaneously,  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , numeral  90  indicates a nail. The exposed flaps of one tile (shown on the right side of  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 ) are nailed to the surface with Nails  90 . The exposed flaps of the next tile (shown on the left side of  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 ) are slidably inserted into the first and second raised portions on the strip on the first tile, thus covering the nails and creating a seamless continuous appearance shown in  FIG. 4 . The subsequent tiles are installed in the same fashion.  
         [0025]     While the present invention has been described and defined by reference to the preferred embodiment of the invention, such reference does not imply a limitation on the invention, and no such limitation is to be inferred. The invention is capable of considerable modification, alteration, and equivalents in form and function, as will occur to those ordinarily skilled and knowledgeable in the pertinent arts. The depicted and described preferred embodiment of the invention is exemplary only, and is not exhaustive of the scope of the invention. Consequently, the invention is intended to be limited only by the spirit and scope of the appended claims, giving full cognizance to equivalents in all respects.