Floor Tile with Improved Connection System

Abstract

A floor tile for use in a flooring system, comprises a floor tile body and a female connecting member associated with a lateral edge of the floor tile body. The female connecting member has a curved profile, which may include an m-shaped profile, and is configured to mate with an adjacent floor tile. A male connecting member is associated with an opposite lateral edge of the tile body, the male connecting member having a shape corresponding to a curved profile of a female connecting member of an adjacent tile to thereby mate with the adjacent floor tile. A draft angle of the female connecting member and the male connecting member may be substantially parallel.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A floor tile for use in a flooring system, comprising:
 a floor tile body;   a female connecting member associated with a lateral edge of the floor tile body, the female connecting member being configured to mate with an adjacent floor tile and having a continuously curved profile; and   a male connecting member associated with an opposite lateral edge of the floor tile body, the male connecting member having a continuously curved profile corresponding to the female connecting member of an adjacent tile to thereby allow secure lateral mating of the floor tile with the adjacent floor tile.   
     
     
         2 . The floor tile of  claim 1 , wherein the female connecting member includes an m-shaped profile. 
     
     
         3 . The floor tile of  claim 1 , wherein a draft angle of the female connecting member and male connecting member are substantially parallel. 
     
     
         4 . The floor tile of  claim 1 , wherein the female connecting member and the male connecting member are configured to at least partially flex when mated to form a connection with a female connecting member or a male connecting member of an adjacent tile. 
     
     
         5 . The floor tile of  claim 1 , wherein the female connecting member is formed integrally with the floor tile body. 
     
     
         6 . The floor tile of  claim 1 , wherein the male connecting member is substantially encompassed on all sides by a female connecting member of an adjacent tile when the male connecting member is mated with the adjacent tile. 
     
     
         7 . The floor tile of  claim 1 , wherein the male connecting member extends in a downward direction from the floor tile body. 
     
     
         8 . The floor tile of  claim 1 , wherein the male connecting member includes a channel formed therein having clearance between a tab and the continuously curved profile. 
     
     
         9 . A floor tile system for use in a flooring installation, comprising:
 at least two floor tiles, each comprising a tile body;   a female connecting member associated with a lateral edge of the tile body, the female connecting member comprising a curved profile;   a male connecting member associated with an opposite lateral edge of the tile body; and   wherein the male connecting member is configured to mate with the female connecting member.   
     
     
         10 . The floor tile system of  claim 9 , wherein the curved profile of the female connecting member comprises an m-shaped profile. 
     
     
         11 . The floor tile system of  claim 9 , wherein a draft angle of the female connecting member and male connecting member are substantially parallel. 
     
     
         12 . The floor tile system of  claim 9 , wherein the male connecting member comprises a protrusion comprising a curved profile, and the male connecting member further comprises a clip. 
     
     
         13 . The floor tile system of  claim 12 , wherein the clip is at least as wide as the curved profile. 
     
     
         14 . The floor tile system of  claim 12 , wherein a sidewall of the clip and a sidewall of the protrusion are configured to contact a sidewall of the female connecting member. 
     
     
         15 . The floor tile system of  claim 14 , wherein a distance between a top portion of the sidewalls is substantially the same as a distance between a bottom portion of the sidewalls. 
     
     
         16 . A method of floor tile engagement, comprising:
 providing at least two floor tiles, each of the at least two floor tiles comprising a tile body, the tile body comprising:
 a female connecting member associated with a lateral edge of the tile body, the female connecting member comprising a curved profile; and 
 a male connecting member associated with an opposite lateral edge of the tile body; and 
   engaging the female connecting member of a first of the at least two floor tiles with a male connecting member of a second of the at least two floor tiles.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising providing a third floor tile and engaging the female connecting member of the third floor tile with the male connecting member of the first tile, and engaging the male connecting member of the third floor tile with the female connecting member of the second tile. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the female connecting member comprises an m-shaped profile. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the female connecting member and male connecting member each comprise a sidewall, and wherein a draft angle of each of the sidewalls is parallel. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the female connecting member and male connecting member each comprise a sidewall, and wherein a distance between a top portion of each sidewall is substantially the same as a distance between a bottom portion of each sidewall.