Patterned square carpet tiles

Abstract

A set of square carpet tiles having omnidirectional patterning, the set comprising at least two tiles with coordinating pattern and color, with each tile having at least two areas of visual texture ( 31, 32, 33, 34 ) applied thereto, the areas of visual texture providing the impression of at least two pile directions on each tile. The patterning and texturing may both be done by printing. Also disclosed is a method of supplying the omnidirectionally-patterned tiles.

1 . A set of patterned square carpet tiles, the set comprising at least two tiles with coordinating pattern and color characterized in that each tile has at least two areas of visual texture applied, the areas of visual texture providing the impression of at least two pile directions on each tile.  
   
   
       2 . A set of carpet tiles according to  claim 1  in which the pattern is applied to the tiles by printing and the visual texture is also applied by printing.  
   
   
       3 . A set of carpet tiles according to  claim 2  in which the pattern and the visual texture are applied in a single stage printing operation.  
   
   
       4 . A set of carpet tiles according to  claim 1  having four tiles in the set.  
   
   
       5 . A set of carpet tiles according to  claim 4  in which the tiles are designed by taking the pattern of one tile and rotating it through about 90, 180 and 270 degrees to create the four tiles and then applying texture to the patterned areas of each tile.  
   
   
       6 . A set of carpet tiles according to  claim 5  in which the tiles are made individual by the application of different texture to each tile.  
   
   
       7 . A set of carpet tiles according to  claim 6  in which the tiles are made individual by applying to each tile at least two directionally significant visual textures in two orientations.  
   
   
       8 . A method of supplying the tiles according to  claim 1  in which the tiles are packed in respective boxes of identical tiles and then laying them according to a computer generated pattern code.  
   
   
       9 . A method of supplying the tiles according to  claim 1  in which the tiles are randomly packed into boxes after production so they can be laid in the order they are removed from the box.  
   
   
       10 . A method according to  claim 9  in which the randomization includes rotating the tiles so that the pile direction is also randomized.  
   
   
       11 . A method according to  claim 9  in which the randomization includes rotating the tiles so that the pile direction is also randomized.  
   
   
       12 . A method according to  claim 11  in which the printing process is a dye injection printing process.  
   
   
       13 . A set of carpet tiles according to  claim 2  having four tiles in the set.  
   
   
       14 . A set of carpet tiles according to  claim 3  having four tiles in the set.  
   
   
       15 . A set of carpet tiles according to  claim 5  in which the tiles are made individual by applying to each tile at least two directionally significant visual textures in two orientations.  
   
   
       16 . A method of supplying the tiles according to  claim 5  in which the tiles are packed in respective boxes of identical tiles and then laying them according to a computer generated pattern code.  
   
   
       17 . A method of supplying the tiles according to  claim 5  in which the tiles are randomly packed into boxes after production so they can be laid in the order they are removed from the box.  
   
   
       18 . A method according to  claim 17  in which the randomization includes rotating the tiles so that the pile direction is also randomized.  
   
   
       19 . A method of supplying the tiles according to  claim 5  in which the tiles are manufactured by a tile printing process.  
   
   
       20 . A method according to  claim 19  in which the printing process is a dye injection printing process.