Floor tile

Abstract

The invention relates to a floor tile, such as a ceramic floor tile, for use in a sanitary space such as a shower space, which floor tile comprises: - a first plate-like body part with a uniform thickness and a first upper surface with a first edge; - a second body part with a second upper surface lying adjacently of the first edge of the first upper surface; - a discharge channel extending at least through one of the body parts of the floor tile and lying adjacently of the first edge of the first upper surface; wherein the first upper surface and second upper surface form a mutual angle greater than 0° and smaller than 90°.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a floor tile, such as a ceramic floor tile, for use in a sanitary space such as a shower space. Such a floor tile is known from JP 2004115793.

[0002] The use of floor tiles, such as ceramic tiles and gres porcellanato tiles for covering shower spaces, is widely known. Several tiles, optionally cut to size, are usually used to cover the surface of the shower space and provide a slope toward an outlet drain or shower drain.

[0003] When using tiles, which are relatively large relative to the dimensions of the drain, it is difficult to cut the tiles and have them connect to the drain neatly.

[0004] EP 2343000 describes a curved tile in which is arranged a slope directed toward an opening in the tile, in which an outlet drain or shower drain can be arranged. The drawback of the curved tile described in EP 2343000 is that the tile has a set slope. The sub-floor will hereby have to be accurately formed in order to ensure that the tile can be placed correctly.

[0005] With the known tile it is further not possible to still adjust the slope at the time of placing, because the slope is integrated in the tile.

[0006] It is now an object of the invention to provide a floor tile with which the above stated drawbacks are reduced or even obviated.

[0007] This object is achieved according to the invention with a floor tile according to claim 1.

[0008] In the floor tile according to the invention the first plate-like body part in fact corresponds with a usual flat floor tile. The second body part lies against the first body part and lies at an angle to the first body part. Water flowing downward along the first upper surface when the first body part is placed at an incline will accumulate at the bend with the second body part. Since a discharge channel is provided according to the invention at this transition between the first and second body part, the water falling onto the floor tile can be collected in effective manner.

[0009] Because the second upper surface of the second body part lies at an angle to the first upper surface, water is thus collected at the bend between the two body parts. The degree of incline of the first upper surface is insignificant here, and can thus be varied within practical limits. The second upper surface which lies at an angle forms here a barrier for the water flowing downward along the first upper surface, so that the water is guided into the discharge channel and can be discharged in reliable manner.

[0010] The floor tile according to the invention can be embodied as ceramic tile, particularly a gres porcellanato, or be made of a plastic or a solid surface material, such as Corian.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment of the floor tile according to the invention the periphery of the floor tile, as seen in a direction perpendicularly of the first upper surface, is rectangular, preferably square. Owing to the rectangular periphery the floor tile according to the invention can easily be fitted in a tile floor of generally rectangular or square tiles.

[0012] In another embodiment of the floor tile according to the invention the first edge is curved. A curved edge can be desirable from an aesthetic viewpoint.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment of the floor tile according to the invention the second upper surface is rectangular, with two short edges and two long edges, wherein the two long edges are parallel to the first edge of the first upper surface and wherein one long edge lies adjacently of the first edge of the first upper surface.

[0014] By applying two rectangular parts, wherein they have the same width, the resulting floor tile likewise obtains a rectangular form, whereby the floor tile can be incorporated in simple manner in a floor covered with rectangular or square tiles.

[0015] In a further embodiment of the floor tile according to the invention the length of the two short edges is smaller than 10 centimetres and greater than 2 centimetres.

[0016] Since a usual slope is 1 to 2 cm per metre, it suffices to have short edges of no more than 10 centimetres when a relatively small angle between the first and second upper surface is opted for, while a length of just 2 centimetres suffices when a more acute angle is opted for.

[0017] It goes without saying that in the floor tile according to the invention the other edges of the first upper surface coincide with the peripheral edge of the floor tile.

[0018] In yet another embodiment of the floor tile according to the invention the first body part has a first lower surface parallel to the first upper surface and the second body part has a second lower surface which lies in line with the first lower surface, so that the floor tile has a flat lower surface.

[0019] During production of floor tiles formed clay is carried over conveyor belts through a kiln in order to fire the clay. A flat underside of the floor tile is desired here, since the clay may otherwise slump. In the floor tile according to the invention the first body part is plate-like and thereby already has a partially flat underside. Depending on the dimensions used, the upright second body part can lie clear of the ground surface during production. When the second body part has only a limited length relative to the thickness of the material, no deformation worthy of mention will occur.

[0020] When deformation during the firing process must be precluded, the provision can be made according to the invention that the lower surface of the second body part lies in line with the lower surface of the first body part, so that a wholly flat underside of the floor tile is obtained.

[0021] A pattern of protrusions of uniform height can optionally also be provided on this wholly flat underside. Such a pattern is known in the usual floor tiles and provides for, among other things, less friction on the conveyor belts.

[0022] In yet another preferred embodiment of the floor tile according to the invention the opening of the discharge channel, which opening is arranged at least in the first or second upper surface, is elongate and extends parallel to the first edge of the first upper surface.

[0023] Because the bend between the first upper surface and the second upper surface is the lowest point of the floor tile when it is placed on a ground surface, the water will accumulate around this bend.

[0024] By now arranging an elongate opening of the discharge channel adjacently of and parallel to this bend, i.e. the first edge of the first upper surface, a large amount of water can be discharged quickly, while the discharge opening has only a small width and thereby has little effect on the overall appearance of the floor tile.

[0025] These and other features of the invention are further elucidated with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a floor tile according to the invention. Figure 2A and 2B show the floor tile of figure 1 in cross-section and with two different slopes. Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the floor tile according to the invention. Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a third embodiment of the floor tile according to the invention.

[0026] Figure 1 shows a floor tile 1 with a first plate-like body part 2. This first body part 2 has a rectangular upper surface 3 with a first edge 4 and three other edges 5. Floor tile 1 further has a second body part 6 which lies adjacently of the first edge 4 of first upper surface 3.

[0027] Upper surface 7 of second body part 6 has two short edges 8, 9 and two long edges 10, 11. Long edge 10 lies adjacently of the first edge 4 of first upper surface 3.

[0028] Upper surface 7 forms an angle greater than 0° and smaller than 90° with first upper surface 3. It is generally noted that the angle between two surfaces is defined by the angle between the normal vectors of the surfaces.

[0029] A discharge channel 12 with an elongate opening is further arranged in first body part 2 adjacently of first edge 4.

[0030] In figure 2A floor tile 1 is arranged on a sub-floor 13 so that first upper surface 3 has a slope forming an angle α1 with the horizontally arranged, surrounding tile floor 14. The height difference is here h1.

[0031] The wall tiles 15 are arranged starting at the longitudinal edge 11 of second body part 6.

[0032] In figure 2B floor tile 1 is arranged on sub-floor 13. The slope of first upper surface 3 is here reduced so that an angle α2 is formed with the surrounding tile floor 14, wherein α2 < α1. As a result, the height difference is h2 < h1 and longitudinal edge 11 protrudes above the level of surrounding tile floor 14. Since the wall tiles 15 are arranged on this longitudinal edge 11, this protruding longitudinal edge 11 is not very noticeable.

[0033] Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment 20 of the floor tile according to the invention. Floor tile 20 has a first plate-like body part 21 with a first upper surface 22 and a first lower surface 23 which is parallel thereto and whereby body part 21 has a uniform thickness.

[0034] Floor tile 20 further has a second body part 24 having a second upper surface 25 which forms an angle greater than 0° and smaller than 90° with the first upper surface 22. Second body part 24 further has a lower surface 26 which lies in line with the lower surface 23 of first body part 21 and whereby floor tile 20 has a wholly flat underside.

[0035] A discharge channel 28 is further provided in floor tile 20 at the bend 27 between first upper surface 22 and second upper surface 25.

[0036] Figure 4 shows a third embodiment of a floor tile 30 according to the invention. Floor tile 30 has a first plate-like body part 31 with a first curved edge 32 of a first upper surface. Floor tile 30 further has a second body part 33 with a second upper surface lying at an angle to the first upper surface.

[0037] Provided adjacently of the first curved edge 32 is a discharge channel 34. Floor tile 30 further has a flat lower surface 35 which runs beneath both the first body part 31 and the second body part 33.

Claims

1. Floor tile (1; 20; 30), such as a ceramic floor tile, for use in a sanitary space such as a shower space, which floor tile comprises: - a first plate-like body part (2; 21; 31) with a uniform thickness and a first upper surface (3; 22) with at least a first edge (4; 32); - a second body part (6; 24; 33) with a second upper surface (7; 25) lying adjacently of the first edge (4; 32) of the first upper surface (3; 22); wherein the first upper surface (3; 22) and second upper surface (7; 25) form a mutual angle greater than 0° and smaller than 90° - a discharge channel (12; 28; 34) extending at least through one of the body parts (2, 6; 21, 24; 31, 33) of the floor tile (1; 20; 30) and lying adjacently of the first edge (4) of the first upper surface (3; 22).

2. Floor tile (1; 20) according to claim 1, wherein the first upper surface (3; 22) is flat.

3. Floor tile (1; 20) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first upper surface (3; 22) is rectangular, preferably square, and in addition to the first edge (4) has three other edges (5), and wherein the second upper surface (7; 25) is flat.

4. Floor tile (1; 20) according to claim 3, wherein the second upper surface (7; 25) is rectangular, with two short edges (8, 9) and two long edges (10, 11), wherein the two long edges (10, 11) are parallel to the first edge (4) of the first upper surface (3; 22) and wherein one long edge (10) lies adjacently of the first edge (4) of the first upper surface (3; 22).

5. Floor tile (1; 20) according to claim 4, wherein the length of the two short edges (8, 9) is smaller than 10 centimetres and greater than 2 centimetres.

6. Floor tile (1; 20; 30) according to any of the foregoing claims, wherein the periphery of the floor tile (1; 20; 30), as seen in a direction perpendicularly of the first upper surface (3; 22), is rectangular, preferably square.

7. Floor tile (1; 20; 30) according to any one of the foregoing claims, wherein the other edges (5) of the first upper surface (3; 22) coincide with the peripheral edge of the floor tile (1; 20).

8. Floor tile (20; 30) according to any one of the foregoing claims, wherein the first body part (21; 31) has a first lower surface (23; 35) parallel to the first upper surface (22) and wherein the second body part (24; 33) has a second lower surface (26; 35) which lies in line with the first lower surface (23; 35), so that the floor tile (20; 30) has a flat lower surface.

9. Floor tile (1; 20; 30) according to any one of the foregoing claims, wherein the opening of the discharge channel (12; 28; 34), which opening is arranged at least in the first (3; 22) or second (7; 25) upper surface, is elongate and extends parallel to the first edge (4; 32) of the first upper surface (3; 22).

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