Improvements in Tiles for Floors and other Surfaces.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Oct., 1894-4ccepted. 24th Nov., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Tiles for Floors and other Surfaces.
I FRANK FURNESS of 711 Locust Street in the City and County of Philadelphia
in the State of Pennsylvania United States of America Architect do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to .be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:—
My invention has for its object to provide improved tiles for floors and other
surfaces whereby cracking or opening at the joints between the tiles by tension or
compression strains is prevented.
My invention is especially applicable to the tiling of floors and decks of vessels
and more particularly to the floors of ocean steam-ships but it will be understood
that it is also applicable in other places without departing from my invention.
I will describe my invention with reference to the accompanying drawings of
which
Figure 1 represents in plan a portion of a floor illustrating forms of tiles made
according to my invention in which one tile interlocks directly with another.
Figure 2 is a view showing my improved tile interlocked indirectly through the
medium of key tiles.
Figure 3 is a perspective view of one of the tiles detached.
Figures 4, 5 and 6 are views illustrating different forms of my improved tile.
Referring to Figures 1 and 3 A represents the tiles made according to my
invention of yielding material, preferably rubber, of such a density that it will not
yield under ordinary circumstances, but will yield sufficiently when great strain is
placed upon it, or when under pressure.
The tile shewn in these figures is quadrangular in shape and at each side are
cavities a with receding sides forming at each corner undercut arrow head or
triangular projections b. Interlocking with these tiles A as shewn in Figure 1, are
tiles D having undercut or dovetail projections d at each side which lock into the
correspondingly formed cavities a in the tiles A so that when the tiles are placed
in position on the floor and properly cemented, the whole of the tiles of the floor
are interlocked one into another so that any expansion or contraction that takes
place will be taken by the entire floor as the tiles are prevented from parting on
the division lines.
In Figure 2 I have shewn the tiles A. locked together by key blocks B which are
so shaped that they will fit into the recesses of the tiles A as shewn, thus locking
the several tiles together.
In Figure 4 I have shewn a tile A having rounded cavities to which are adapted
correspondingly shaped projections on adjoining tiles or key blocks.
In Figure 5.I have shewn a tile having cavities with square corners and in
Figure 6 I have shewn triangular tiles locked together with key blocks.
It will be understood that any form of lock may be used to unite the tiles, but
I have shewn a dovetailed lock as the preferred form.
By the use of tiles constructed according to my invention a floor can be laid
or a wall or ceiling tiled which will yield under teusion or contraction without the
joints between the tiles opening or separating, all the tiles being securely locked
together.
The great advantage of using tiles of rubber in place of the ordinary strip
rubber is that ornamental designs can be worked out upon the floor by the use of
different colored tiles and the floor can be repaired in the event of one or more
of the tiles being destroyed or injured.

page_text: For some purposes the tiles may be laid in combination with unyielding tiles,
either of pottery or other material, so that while the yielding tiles will expand and
contract with the strains, the joints between the tiles will remain closed but for a
floor I prefer to employ yielding tiles entirely.
- Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. As a new article of manufacture, a tile made of yielding material and having
one or more tongues or projections adapted to lock with an adjoining tile or
adjoining tiles substantially as and for the purpose herein before described.
2. A tiled floor or wall composed of or faced with tiles made of yielding material
either alone or in combination with tiles made of unyielding material the said tiles
having interlocking tongues and recesses and being removeable, substantially as
herein before described.
Dated this 23rd day of October 1894.
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
Agents.