[0001] This invention relates to ceramic tiles and, more particularly, to an installation
of ceramic tiling of unisex attractiveness.
[0002] As is well known and understood, ceramic tile manufacturers are forever modifying
their designs, patterns and colours in an attempt to have their product purchased
instead of a competitor's. As is also well known and understood, the process of selection
is quite daunting, as there exist many manufacturers in this business, as the once
range for the individual tiles is quite extensive (even amongst the same manufacturer),
and as all tile stores do not carry the same brands to easily allow comparisons to
be made - in design, in quality, or in price range. As a result, and as will be appreciated,
it is usually to the "woman" that the advertising is primarily directed, and it is
left to the "woman" to make the final decision, with the "man-of-the-house" typically
not caring less as to the ultimate choice made, except insofar as the final cost is
concerned. Because the "man" does not thus generally have any strong preference for
one tile versus another, and because the sheer numbers of available choices mitigate
almost entirely in falling in love with one pattern, design and colour at first seeing,
in most instances the "man" and "woman" leave the tile store first visited, without
deciding on what it is to buy. After repeating this process a second time (again,
without arriving at a decision), the "man" typically announces that he has no further
desire to go "shopping" like this, saying to the "woman", that whatever she selects
is fine with him.
[0003] It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to provide some type of ceramic
tile that would be acceptable to both sexes alike, and something upon which a decision
could be made at the time of first viewing.
[0004] It is also an object of the invention to provide such a ceramic tile which could
go with almost any décor, and which is within the present consciousness and memory
stream of the prospective purchaser, without the purchaser having to sit back, trying
to visualise how a particular pattern, design and/or colour would fit within the decorative
scheme being envisioned.
[0005] It is a further object of the invention to provide such a ceramic tile which could
be used as a floor tile or as a wall tile, and of a type which would generate almost
immediate enthusiasm to both men and women, so as to enable purchases to be made and
orders to be given without the frustration that results when having to go shopping
from store-to-store in trying to find that one tile which is appropriate for the colour
scheme, in both the eyes of the purchasing "woman" and "man" alike.
[0006] As will become clear from the following description, in an installation of ceramic
floor tiling, there is provided a combination of individual ones of ceramic tiles
which present an appearance of denim fabric of the same or differing colours, in a
repetitive pattern or as a field tile display. This will be understood to follow from
the very great public awareness of the appearance presented by denim jeans, shirts
and/or jackets, both in the United States and internationally. In fact, almost immediate
recognition follows amongst wearers of this type clothing, to the extent that they
can tell, almost immediately, which designer manufacturer of the jeans is associated
with any given article of wear, what its price range is, and how acceptable to friends
and relatives (and to just mere acquaintances), that particular design fosters. Because
of the acceptance of such look to both men and women, the appearance of such denim
fabric design for the ceramic tile of the invention is attractive.
[0007] Furthermore, in accordance with the invention, such a ceramic tile combination incorporates
the presentation of an appearance of denim fabric of such same or differing colours
as "light blue", "dark blue", "bone", "white" and "charcoal". Presenting such appearance
as a field tile display, a ceramic tile of this type proves particularly attractive
when used in a floor installation. Additionally, presenting ceramic tiling with the
appearance of "stitching" as a repetitive pattern (e.g. alongside the perimeter of
a floor installation) will be appreciated to be equally as attractive, as immediately
bringing to the mind and eye of the jeans wearer a comparable stitching which exists
on those type articles of clothing.
[0008] Although additionally attractive as part of a floor display, further ceramic tiles
according to the invention which present an appearance of a denim fabric of a repetitive
pattern resembling that of a "pocket" as one might see stitched on the jeans, shirt
or jacket of a denim article of clothing, could be used. Such a "pocket" design for
a ceramic tile presenting the appearance of denim is also attractive, according to
the invention, when incorporated as a ceramic wall tile, extending upwardly from the
floor where it joins. Intermixed with field tile displays, this presents an added
feature in a ceramic tile installation, which, according to the invention, goes even
further in using further ceramic tiles presenting the appearance of belt loops of
the same or differing colours. With the technology available, also, further individual
ceramic tiles of this nature could be incorporated as part of the wall installation,
in having the tiles present the appearance of the denim fabric, and with presentations
of "belts" traversing these loops, of differing colours, manufactures and designs,
such as with platinum, gold, silver, etc. buckles, and of leather, cowhide, pigskin,
and other simulations, of whatever style and colour is desired. With the combination
of individual tiles according to the invention, in this manner, a floor might be installed
of a field tile of selected colour in co-ordinating with the draperies and furniture
in the room, with a border pattern presenting the appearance of the jean stitching,
followed by an extending wall pattern interspersed with a pocket design, leading up
to the belt loop at the wainscoting level of the room. Where additionally desired,
individual ceramic tiles could then be selected even higher, to present the appearance
of "shirting" material, in the nature of plaids, flannels, etc., in colour co-ordination,
though perhaps of something other than denim fabric design.
[0009] With this understanding of the combination of individual ceramic tiles of the invention
presenting this denim fabric appearance, ceramic tile installations have been determined
to be far more acceptable to both sexes, particularly in reaching agreement, and in
a manner so as to make final selection that much easier. Experience has shown that
this then becomes more appealing both to the purchasing public, to the salesperson
concerned, and to the manufacturer, as well.
[0010] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example
only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0011] FIGURES 1-4 are illustrations of various individual ceramic tiles embodying the invention
as presenting an appearance of denim fabric which could be of the same or differing
colour, and of a repetitive floor and/or wail pattern of installation.
[0012] In FIGURE 1, a ceramic tile is depicted, understood as presenting an appearance of
a denim fabric, and which can be manufactured according to any appropriate, and available,
process. Such depiction will be understood to be of a field tile display, and which
can easily be included as part of a floor installation, or as a wall installation
in similar manner. Although such field tiles may be of any selected colour in accordance
with the manufacturing process, the field tiles of FIGURE 1 will be understood to
be selected of the most popular colour groups, namely, "light blue", "dark blue",
"bone", "white" and "charcoal". In FIGURE 1, the field tile display is illustrated
by the reference numeral 10.
[0013] In FIGURE 2, a second ceramic tile is shown which presents the appearance of denim
fabric providing a pattern of stitching around its periphery edges. Such stitching,
shown by the reference numeral 12 can be added through the appropriate tile manufacture
of any available fabrication and the tile represented thereby could be interspersed
in a repetitive pattern with the field tile display 10 in a selected design, inwardly
of the contours of the room being laid, or at the periphery edges thereof. As well
as with the ceramic tiles of FIGURES 3 and 4, the ceramic tiles of FIGURES 1 and 2
could each be of a size approximately 10.16 cm x 10.16 cm, 20.32 cm x 20.32 cm, or
30.48 cm x 30.48 cm (4"x4", 8"x8", or 12"x12").
[0014] In FIGURE 3, a ceramic tile presenting an appearance of a denim fabric pocket 14
is illustrated. Such a tile could be interspersed in a floor pattern along with individual
ones of the tiles of FIGURES 1 and 2 where desired, but also proves attractive as
a wall tile in extending upwardly from the floor to the wainscot of the room. Any
colour of denim could be selected, with whatever pattern the consumer opts for. One
particular attractive arrangement goes further, and as shown in FIGURE 4, could be
through the inclusion of individual ceramic tiles giving an appearance of belt loops,
perhaps with a narrower tile, although of the same width. Such belt loops are shown
in FIGURE 4 as 16, with the understanding that where desired, the ceramic tile manufacture
could go further in incorporating a design of a belt 18, shown of a particular pattern
of ornamentation 20, in a webbed configuration 22. Such denim presentation of FIGURE
4, higher off the floor but above the fabric presentation of FIGURE 3, has been found
to be particularly attractive to both men and women alike, thinking of decorating
with these individual ceramic tiles.
[0015] Where appropriate, additional ceramic tiles can be fabricated of various "shirting"
materials (not shown), to extend even further above the ceramic tile of FIGURE 4 (i.e.
further up the wall) to give an appearance of the article of clothing being worn.
Such shirting materials may be in the nature of "plaids", "flannels", or just a field
tile appearance of like, or contrasting colours, in further expanding the use of the
denim tiles as floor and/or wall decoration in presenting the overall denim appearance
with these ceramic tiles.
[0016] While there have been described what are considered to be preferred embodiments of
the present invention, it will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art
that modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
Thus, whereas five particular colours have been specified for the denim fabric appearance
of the invention, others could be employed equally as well, and with other added designs
being imparted to the field tile look of FIGURE 1, beyond the stitching and pocket
arrangements of FIGURES 2 and 3. In such context, the incorporation of various designer
logos or other differentiations, as part of the denim presentation of the invention
will also be appreciated to fall within the scope of the present invention as defined
in the claims.
1. In an installation of a ceramic floor, the combination of individual ones of ceramic
tile presenting the appearance of denim fabric of the same or differing colours, in
a repetitive pattern or as a field tile display (10).
2. The combination of claim 1, wherein individual ones of said ceramic tile present an
appearance of denim fabric of the same or differing colours of the class "light blue",
"dark blue", "bone", "white", and "charcoal".
3. The combination of claim 1 or 2, wherein individual ones of said ceramic tile are
selected of the size substantially 10.16 cm x 10.16 cm, 20.32 cm x 20.32 cm or 30.48
cm x 30.48 cm.
4. The combination in an installation of ceramic floor and wall tile, wherein individual
ones of said ceramic tile present an appearance of said denim fabric of the same or
differing colours, in a repetitive pattern or as a field tile display (10).
5. The combination of claim 4 wherein individual ones of the wall tiles thereof present
an appearance of denim fabric belt loops (16) of the same or differing colours.
6. The combination of claim 4 or 5 wherein individual ones of the wall tiles thereof
present an appearance of belts (18) of selected colour, composition and design traversing
through said belt loops.
7. The combination of claim 4, 5 or 6, wherein individual ones of the wall tiles thereof
present an appearance of shirting materials.
8. The combination of any preceding claim, wherein individual ones of said ceramic tile
present a repetitive pattern of fabric stitching (12) adjacent periphery edges of
said ceramic tile.
9. The combination of any preceding claim, wherein individual ones of said ceramic tile
present a repetitive pattern giving the appearance of stitched fabric pockets (14)
inwardly of periphery edges of said ceramic tile.