Carpet tiles and carpet covering material made from said carpet tiles

Abstract

A carpet tile comprising: a base layer having a top side and a bottom side; and a support layer fixedly connected to the bottom side of the base layer, preferably having pile yarns on the top side of the base layer, the support layer forming a bottom surface of the carpet tile; and an adhesive applied to the bottom surface of the carpet tile, the adhesive providing the bottom surface with sufficient adhesion to attach and remove the bottom surface from a suitable support surface to which it is attached.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to tiles, particularly carpet tiles, and further to a tile covering comprising a plurality of such tiles, particularly a carpet covering comprising a plurality of such carpet tiles. The present invention also relates to a method for producing such tiles. [Background technology]

[0002] Historically, carpet tiles have been widely used in areas subject to intensive wear and tear due to their flexibility. Recently, carpet tiles have become more fashionable, as they have come much closer to the quality of real carpet. Carpet tiles can meet any flooring requirement in both high-traffic residential and commercial locations. Carpet tiles are manufactured in a variety of sizes and styles, making them particularly advantageous for covering intricately shaped floor surfaces.

[0003] In addition to the above advantages, carpet tiles have several disadvantages when used as floor coverings. For example, carpet tiles typically have a support layer made of rubber, which can easily change dimensions over time from its original dimensions, causing the carpet tile to lose its shape. This can cause the edges of the carpet tile to twist upward, destroying not only the intended flat orientation parallel to the support surface but also the coplanar orientation with adjacent carpet tiles. This twisting phenomenon can be exacerbated by regularly cleaning the tiles with water or any other liquid agent.

[0004] Furthermore, known tiles are typically installed as floating (loose lay) floor coverings without the use of a binder, which can result in the tiles having undesirable displacement relative to the supporting surface. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] One object of the present invention is to provide an improved tile, in particular a carpet tile, to overcome at least one of the above-mentioned drawbacks. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] To achieve the above object, a first aspect of the present invention provides a tile, particularly a carpet tile, comprising a base layer having a top side and a bottom side, and at least one adhesive layer attached directly or indirectly to the bottom side of the base layer. The at least one adhesive layer constitutes the lowest layer of the tile (at least in the installed state) and / or defines at least a portion of the bottom surface of the tile (at least in the installed state). The adhesive layer provides sufficient adhesion to removably attach the tile to a suitable support surface. Preferably, pile yarns are provided on one or more portions or the entire top side of the base layer, thereby making this type of tile a carpet tile.

[0007] A significant advantage of these tiles, especially carpet tiles, is that the adhesive on the bottom allows them to be conveniently attached to a support surface in a stable and durable manner, thereby preventing unnecessary shifting of the tile after correct installation on the support surface. Furthermore, the tiles can be removed vertically from the support surface in a practical manner to correct the tile's position or to replace soiled or damaged tiles. Furthermore, these (carpet) tiles have improved dimensional stability, allowing for optimal flat installation.

[0008] In the context of the present invention, suitable support surfaces include any support surface with which the adhesive has adhesive interaction. Such support surfaces may consist of wood, plastic, concrete, etc. Suitable support surfaces are preferably non-porous and substantially flat, and comprise, for example, a floor, a wall, or a ceiling.

[0009] In the (carpet) tile according to the present invention, it is preferred that the adhesive of the adhesive layer exhibits adhesive properties at room temperature (20°C) and at least in the temperature range of 15°C to 25°C.

[0010] The adhesive properties are thus exhibited at the most common temperatures at which the (carpet) tiles are intended to be used. For wider applications, it would be advantageous if the adhesive properties were exhibited at temperatures ranging from 0°C to 50°C.

[0011] The adhesive layer may be a continuous or discontinuous layer. The adhesive layer may be formed by a plurality of interconnected and / or separate adhesive areas, such as adhesive dots or strips. It is conceivable to provide a plurality of adhesive layers, where at least two adhesive layers are provided one on top of the other (parallel) and / or located in the same plane.

[0012] Advantageously, in the (carpet) tile according to the invention, the adhesive of the adhesive layer is present on the sides and / or corners of the bottom surface of the (carpet) tile, preferably over at least 50% of the entire bottom surface of the (carpet) tile.

[0013] Thus, the adhesive of the adhesive layer prevents, among other things, the corners and sides of the tile from twisting.

[0014] In a further preferred embodiment of the tile according to the invention, the adhesive of the adhesive layer is configured to achieve a moderate adhesive strength of less than 15 MPa, preferably less than 10 MPa, to a suitable supporting surface.

[0015] With such moderate adhesive strength, carpet tiles attached to a suitable support surface have attractive peel strength, making it easy for the average user to remove the carpet tiles from the support surface to which they are attached.

[0016] Advantageously, the (carpet) tile according to the invention has adhesion at the bottom surface for a period of at least 5 years, preferably at least 10 years.

[0017] In the (carpet) tiles according to the invention it is particularly preferred that the adhesive used in the adhesive layer is a pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA), preferably a PSA of the releasable kind.

[0018] Pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSAs) are ready-to-use adhesives that have a viscous nature. Generally, PSAs are applied to flexible materials to form a film. A special feature of these adhesives is that they remain viscous without solidifying to form a solid material. PSAs therefore occupy a special position among the various adhesives that bond by physical mechanisms. To produce a pressure-sensitive adhesive system, the adhesive can be dissolved in an organic solvent (e.g., natural rubber, acrylate), present as an aqueous dispersion (e.g., acrylate dispersion), or as a solvent-free melt (pressure-sensitive melt).

[0019] The basic formulation of a PSA includes a base polymer, an adhesive resin, a plasticizer, and optionally additives to impart special properties.

[0020] When using pressure-sensitive adhesives, the actual bond comes from interactions between molecules. Typically, pressure-sensitive adhesives remain in a viscous liquid state in the final bond. Therefore, the viscosity of the PSA has a direct effect on the bond strength. In this context, there is an important distinction between releasable and permanent adhesives.

[0021] Various types of pressure-sensitive adhesives have low viscosity, resulting in low bond strength and allowing the object to be removed after use. These types of PSAs have tack and no open time limit, meaning they can be bonded to other substrates almost permanently.

[0022] In the (carpet) tile according to the invention it is further preferred that the adhesive of the adhesive layer is a warm melt pressure sensitive adhesive and / or a hot melt pressure sensitive adhesive (HMPSA), preferably of the releasable kind.

[0023] Hot melt pressure sensitive adhesives (HMPSA) are a specific type of PSA, based on thermoplastic adhesives. Similarly, HMPSAs are characterized by the fact that they do not completely harden and remain permanently tacky. This allows for a good cohesive bond to be achieved even when the adhesive is cold. The key to achieving a sufficient film between the objects being joined with HMPSA is the required contact pressure.

[0024] HMPSAs retain the properties to provide useful adhesion at room temperature and under light pressure. Preferred examples of HMPSAs are polyacrylate-based PSAs.

[0025] It is particularly preferred that in the (carpet) tiles according to the invention the adhesive comprises one or more types of thermoplastic elastomers such as styrenic block copolymers (SBC), ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), polyacrylates and / or amorphous polyolefins (APO).

[0026] These highly suitable thermoplastic elastomers can be tailored with a wide variety of tackifiers (natural and synthetic resins) to achieve the specific adhesive properties required.

[0027] In the context of the present invention, the HMPSA preferably comprises one or more types of SBC. Such HMPSA is permanently tacky at room temperature and provides good bond strength with light finger pressure.

[0028] In a preferred embodiment of the tile, in particular the (carpet) tile, according to the invention, at least one additional layer is located between the base layer and the adhesive layer. This additional layer may be a support layer fixedly connected to the bottom side of the base layer, in which case the adhesive layer, preferably a PSA layer, is provided on the bottom side of the support layer, and the adhesive layer, in particular the PSA layer, may be incorporated into the additional layer.

[0029] Here, it is preferable that the support layer includes or consists of an elastic layer, and the elastic layer preferably has a cell structure having open cells and / or closed cells.

[0030] Thus, the elasticity of the support layer allows the tile to adapt to any irregularities of the supporting surface it is placed on. Moreover, the cellular structure of the support layer can further facilitate the attachment and removal characteristics of the bottom surface of the tile.

[0031] Preferably, the additional layer, in particular the support layer, is at least partially made of nylon 6 (i.e., polycaprolactam), a semicrystalline polyamide, in particular nylon 6 fiber. More preferably, this layer is a perforated and / or open layer, and an adhesive layer may be impregnated into the additional layer during the manufacturing process, and may further bond the perforated and / or open additional layer to the base layer by means of the adhesive layer. Suitable adhesives in this case are, for example, polyacrylate-based PSAs. The perforated and / or open layer is typically formed by a woven and / or nonwoven layer.

[0032] Alternatively, the additional layer (i.e., the support layer), in particular the elastic layer, preferably comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), polyurethane (PU), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), rubber, or mixtures thereof.

[0033] Additionally, the elastic layer may contain fillers, in particular talc, chalk, wood, and / or calcium carbonate.

[0034] Typically, the thickness of the elastic layer is between 0.1 mm and 6 mm.

[0035] It is conceivable that the elastic support layer (together with the adhesive layer) defines the underside of the tile. In this case, it is advantageous to form a plurality of (surface) suction holes on at least the underside of the elastic layer, which allows the tile to be quickly attached to and removed from the support surface. Preferably, the elastic support layer is made of an anisotropic material. Preferably, at least the underside of the elastic layer has a plurality of surface suction holes formed thereon, which are open in the direction away from the base and substantially closed in the direction facing the base. Thus, these surface suction holes define independent voids. Typically, the surface suction holes collectively define a void area (void surface area), and the material between the surface suction holes on the underside of the elastic layer defines a material area (solid surface area). Preferably, the surface area ratio between the void area and the material area is at least 4, preferably at least 5, more preferably at least 6, which allows the tile to be quickly and relatively firmly attached to and easily removed from the support surface. A significant advantage of the tiles, particularly carpet tiles, according to the present invention is that the quick-release adhesive support structure allows the tiles to be quickly attached to a support surface in a stable and durable manner, while also allowing for quick and easy removal from the support surface without leaving any residue. These properties give the tiles, particularly carpet tiles, good dimensional stability and flat installation characteristics, and their flexibility allows them to be easily attached to and removed from preferably non-porous and substantially flat support surfaces, such as floors, walls, and even ceilings. The underside of the elastic layer is free of adhesives, preferably free of adhesives or other chemical adhesives. The adhesiveness of the underside of the elastic layer is achieved by the presence of small suction holes (micropores, shell-shaped voids, and / or hemispherical microvoids that have a suction effect). During installation, the tile to be installed is pressed against the support surface, which expels air through the suction holes. At this time, the elastic material located around the periphery of the suction ports and / or between the suction ports on the underside provides a substantially airtight seal between the underside of the elastic layer and the support surface.When the downward force acting on the tile to be installed is released, a vacuum (pressure below atmospheric pressure) is created within the suction port, drawing the tile toward the support surface and holding it in contact with it. Therefore, the tile is significantly less likely to twist and remains stable against the support surface. This state remains until a reverse tensile force exceeding the suction force is applied to the tile, for example, during reinstallation. Because no chemical adhesives (binders) are used, tiles according to the present invention can be efficiently manufactured using in-line manufacturing methods. The tiles according to the present invention are preferably carpet tiles, and the pile yarns may be made of several natural or synthetic fibers. While many different types of yarns are produced, typically, there are two main types of yarn: spun yarn and filament. These yarns may be made of nylon, but other suitable synthetic yarns, such as polyester, polypropylene, acrylic, or mixtures thereof, can also be employed. The carpet tiles may be rigid or flexible. It is conceivable that the base does not contain any yarns or fibers.

[0036] The elastic layer is designed to exhibit a "hard-attach, soft-release" principle, which can be easily understood as follows: when stretched in a hard direction, the material can store less elastic energy (just as a stiff spring can store less energy compared to a soft spring), resulting in a lower energy release rate that can cause random crack-like defects caused by the roughness of the support surface. On the other hand, when stretched in a soft direction, the material can store significantly more elastic energy, resulting in a significantly higher energy release rate that can cause random crack-like defects caused by the roughness of the support surface, especially if the material is highly anisotropic.

[0037] Preferably, suction holes are provided across substantially the entire lower surface of the elastic layer. This generally improves and increases the overall suction effect achieved when the tile is placed on a support surface. The suction holes may be uniform in size, e.g., stamped, punched, and / or mechanically provided into the lower surface of the elastic layer, but it is generally advantageous if the size of the suction holes varies across the entire lower surface of the elastic layer. This allows, for example, the elastic layer to be formed from an elastic foam. The elastic foam may have closed cells (voids) and / or open cells (voids). Foams typically have cells of different sizes. In one embodiment, the elastic layer is made of a foam material such as ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), a copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate, rubber, polyurethane (PU), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), (plasticized) polyvinyl chloride (PVC), or a mixture thereof. The resilient layer may optionally contain other ingredients, such as fillers such as chalk, talc, sand, fiber, wood, minerals, and / or carbon; foaming agents such as azodicarbonamide; crosslinkers such as dicumyl peroxide; blowing agents such as zinc oxide; and / or colorants. Preferably, the resilient layer of the tile of the present invention is a sponge-rubber-like material in terms of softness and flexibility, which has low-temperature toughness, stress-crack resistance, waterproofing, airtightness, and foam resilience after compression.

[0038] The support layer may include, for example, a nonwoven sheet, a woven sheet, a nonwoven polyester sheet, a polypropylene sheet, a fiberglass scrim, a tissue sheet, or a combination thereof.

[0039] It is further preferred that the (carpet) tile according to the present invention has an intermediate core layer between the base layer and the support layer. Preferably, the intermediate core layer is rigid or flexible and comprises at least one material from the group consisting of wood, particularly MDF or HDF; polymers, particularly PVC, PE, PP, or PU; minerals such as magnesium oxide and / or calcium carbonate; or mixtures thereof. The thickness of the intermediate core layer is preferably at least 3 millimeters. It is therefore also conceivable that the base layer constitutes a rigid or flexible core layer, preferably comprising at least one material from the group consisting of wood, particularly MDF or HDF; polymers, particularly PVC, PE, PP, or PU; minerals such as magnesium oxide; or mixtures thereof. It is also conceivable and preferred that at least one reinforcing layer, such as at least one glass fiber layer, be present within the core layer.

[0040] It is particularly advantageous if the (carpet) tile according to the invention is entirely flexible.

[0041] Thus, the flexibility of the (carpet) tile allows the user to easily remove the installed (carpet) tile from the support surface.

[0042] Typically, (carpet) tiles according to the invention have an overall thickness of between 5mm and 15mm.

[0043] It is further preferred that in the (carpet) tile according to the invention, the tile has two, preferably opposite, sides, each of which is provided with interconnecting contours such as tongue and groove, said contours preferably being an integral part of the material of the support layer and / or of an intermediate core layer that may be included in the (carpet) tile.

[0044] More preferably, the interconnecting features allow for the connection of two (carpet) tiles by vertical and / or tilting movement of each side. It is further contemplated and preferred that one or more of the interconnecting features are provided with an adhesive, preferably a pressure-sensitive adhesive, more preferably a hot melt pressure-sensitive adhesive, which improves the interconnection between adjacent tiles.

[0045] In a particular embodiment of the (carpet) tile according to the invention, a peelable protective film is applied to the bottom surface of the adhesive layer of the (carpet) tile.

[0046] To protect the adhesive prior to use, especially during transport and storage, the adhesive on the bottom of the (carpet) tile may be temporarily provided with a removable protective film, such as a removable backing, typically made of paper and / or plastic, which is removed before the tile is installed.

[0047] Preferably, the (carpet) tile according to the invention comprises an additional thermoplastic layer which secures the base layer to the support layer.

[0048] In the (carpet) tile according to the present invention, the base layer may alternatively comprise a decorative layer and, optionally, a transparent wear layer covering the decorative layer. This decorative layer of the tile according to the present invention may be formed at least in part by at least one tile, preferably at least in part, made of a material selected from the group consisting of sliceable natural stone, marble, concrete, limestone, granite, slate, glass, and ceramics. Alternatively, the tile according to the present invention may comprise a decorative substrate attached directly or indirectly to the top side of the base layer. The decorative substrate typically comprises a printed layer and a protective layer covering the printed layer. The printed layer may be formed by a printed thermoplastic, particularly PVC-based, film or ink layer applied (printed) to the top side of the base layer and / or to a primer applied (directly or indirectly) to the base layer. As mentioned above, the decorative substrate preferably comprises at least one decorative layer and at least one transparent wear layer covering the decorative layer. The decorative substrate may additionally include at least one backing layer located between the decorative layer and the core, preferably made of a vinyl compound. A lacquer layer or other protective layer may be applied over the wear layer, typically improving the tile's scratch resistance. A finishing layer may be applied between the decorative layer and the wear layer. The decorative layer is visible and is used to give the panel an attractive appearance. For this purpose, the decorative layer may have a design pattern, such as a wood grain design, a mineral grain design resembling the grain of natural stone such as marble or granite, or a color pattern, a color mixture, or a single color, to name a few possible designs. Customization of the appearance is also possible, often achieved by digital printing during the tile manufacturing process. The decorative substrate may be formed by a single layer.

[0049] If the tile is a carpet tile or carpet-like tile, the base layer preferably has upwardly projecting pile yarns. The pile yarns may be made of several natural or synthetic fibers. While many different types of yarns are produced, there are typically two main types of yarns: spun yarns and filament yarns. These yarns may be made of nylon, although other suitable synthetic yarns, such as polyester, polypropylene, acrylic, or mixtures thereof, can also be employed. The carpet tile may be rigid or flexible. It is also conceivable that the base does not contain any yarns or fibers. The pile yarns may be made of loop pile. However, the pile yarns may be made of cut pile, twist pile, or any other suitable pile yarn, for example, in a single-level or multi-level configuration. The loop pile may be synthetic yarn, such as nylon, polyester, polypropylene, acrylic, or mixtures thereof. In the illustrated embodiment, the loop pile is tufted in the carpet base. The carpet base preferably further includes a support sheet. The support sheet can be, for example, a nonwoven sheet, a woven sheet, a nonwoven polyester sheet, a polypropylene sheet, a glass fiber scrim, a tissue sheet, or a combination thereof. The support sheet typically acts as a support structure (retention structure) to hold the yarns. To more efficiently bond the tufts in place on the carpet base, particularly the support sheet, a precoat layer is preferably applied. The precoat layer can be, for example, a latex layer.

[0050] It is conceivable that part of the top side of the base layer is provided with pile yarns, while another part of the top side of the base layer is provided with at least one decorative substrate, preferably comprising at least one (flat / 2D) decorative layer and at least one transparent wear layer covering said decorative layer, thereby obtaining a hybrid tile that is part carpet tile and part floor tile (floor panel or floor board).

[0051] It is further preferred that the (carpet) tiles according to the invention are square, rectangular, pentagonal, hexagonal or octagonal in shape.

[0052] Preferably, the adhesive layer covers substantially the entire bottom side of the base layer. This generally improves the (peelable) bond between the adhesive layer and the support surface, and therefore between the panel and the support surface, such as a subfloor. Furthermore, the adhesive layer has a limited bond strength (or peel strength) per square centimeter on the bottom side. Consequently, the tear strength between the adhesive layer and the base layer is reduced, preventing the tile from delaminating or splitting when attempting to peel it from the support surface, such as a subfloor, making it easier to produce reliable, durable tiles. Preferably, when an adhesive layer thickness in the range of 0.5 to 1 millimeter is used, the adhesive strength of the bottom side of the adhesive layer is at least 170 g / cm. Preferably, the bottom side of the adhesive layer forms a flat, or (nearly) planar, surface. This increases the surface area of ​​contact between the adhesive layer and the support surface, such as a subfloor.

[0053] The adhesive layer may be a film or coating, but it is also conceivable that the adhesive layer may be thicker, for example, at least 0.5 millimeters, preferably at least 1 millimeter, and more preferably at least 1.5 millimeters. In this case, it is also conceivable that the adhesive layer may be several millimeters thick. A relatively thick adhesive layer may be solid or foamed. Preferably, the adhesive layer is a relatively hard or elastically compressible layer. In the latter case, the adhesive layer may also be considered an elastic layer.

[0054] As noted above, the adhesive layer typically acts as a pressure-sensitive adhesive, where the adhesive layer is preferably configured to provide adhesion based on polar or covalent forces upon application of load or pressure.

[0055] In the preferred embodiment already described above, at least the lower surface of the adhesive layer is provided with a plurality of superficial suction ports, which are open facing away from the base layer and substantially closed facing the base layer. Preferably, the superficial suction ports collectively define a gap area, and the material between the superficial suction ports on the lower surface of the adhesive layer defines a material area, with the ratio between the gap area and the material area being at least 4, preferably at least 5, more preferably at least 6, allowing for rapid attachment to and removal from a supporting surface. Here, the adhesive layer is typically configured to provide polar vacuum-based adhesion when subjected to load or pressure.

[0056] Preferably, the adhesive layer is a hydrophobic layer, which prevents the adhesive layer from absorbing water or moisture, which could affect the adhesive layer's bonding properties.

[0057] Preferably, the adhesive layer is partially cured or hardened or fully cured or hardened. Preferably, the adhesive layer is fused to the base layer. In the latter case, no additional layer or component is required to adhere the adhesive layer to the base layer.

[0058] Preferably, the adhesive layer and / or base layer contain an antimicrobial substance and / or are coated with an antimicrobial agent. The incorporated antimicrobial agent(s) inhibit the growth of bacteria, fungi, microorganisms, and other pathogens or non-pathogens and typically migrate to the tile surface over time, thereby creating a concentration gradient that inhibits the growth of microorganisms in contact with the tile surface. Preferably, the antimicrobial agent(s) is / are selected from (i) organic or organometallic antimicrobial agents, such as halogenated phenyl ethers, halogenated salicylanilides, sesquiterpene alcohols, halogenated carbanilides, bisphenols, general phenols, formaldehyde, quaternary ammonium compounds, pyridine derivatives, and hexachlorophene, and / or (ii) inorganic antimicrobial agents, such as silver, zinc, or copper, in a glass or ceramic matrix. The antimicrobial agent preferably comprises 2,4,4'-trichloro-2'-hydroxydiphenyl ether. The antimicrobial agent may be a chemical selected from the group consisting of triclosan, orthophenylphenol, diiodomethyl paratolyl sulfone, zinc pyrithione, sodium pyrithione, azoles such as propiconazole, polyhexamethylene biguanide hydrochloride, 3,4,4' trichlorocarbanilide, barium hydrate, and silver, copper, or zinc in zeolite or amorphous glass powder.

[0059] It is envisaged that the adhesive layer covers at least one side wall, preferably at least two and / or each side wall of the base layer, at least one side wall being connected to the bottom side of the base layer, and preferably has a peelable protective film attached to the adhesive layer, covering substantially the entire side of the adhesive layer facing away from the base layer, so that the adhesive layer can bond the tile to the supporting surface as well as to adjacent tiles.

[0060] Preferably, the adhesive layer comprises at least one rubber-based adhesive and / or at least one acrylate-based adhesive containing at least one (meth)acrylate compound selected from the group consisting of polyurethane acrylate, polyester acrylate, epoxy acrylate, epoxy urethane acrylate, and mixtures thereof. Natural polymers, including their derivatives, are an interesting field due to their recyclability and excellent biodegradability. For example, dimer acids are obtained by converting unsaturated fatty acids under a combination of pressure, temperature, and a catalyst. The properties of dimer acids, which are highly branched saturated hydrocarbons, allow polyester polyols to possess properties such as hydrophobicity, hydrolysis resistance, and good thermo-oxidative stability. This allows the design of unique polyurethane acrylates (PUAs) that have a relatively low glass transition temperature (Tg), flexibility, hydrolytic stability, and thermo-oxidative stability, high adhesion to both low- and high-surface-energy substrates, and excellent flowability for efficient substrate wetting. Hydrogenated castor oil (HCO) can also be used to synthesize PUAs in terms of flexibility and good flowability.

[0061] A second aspect of the present invention relates to a (carpet) tile covering material consisting of a plurality of adjacent tiles according to the first aspect of the present invention.

[0062] It is further preferred that in the (carpet) tile covering material, adjacent sides of each of the adjacent tiles are interconnected.

[0063] A third aspect of the invention relates to a method for producing tiles, in particular carpet tiles, according to the invention, said method comprising the steps of: a) providing a base layer having a top side and a bottom side, preferably having pile yarns disposed on at least a portion of the top side of the base layer; b) applying, directly or indirectly, an adhesive layer to the bottom side of the base layer, the adhesive layer being configured to provide sufficient adhesion to removably attach the tile to a suitable support surface, the adhesive layer preferably covering substantially the entire bottom side of the base layer; c) achieving a connection between the peelable protective film and the bottom surface of the adhesive layer; Includes.

[0064] The protective coating is also called a release film or release liner. Typically, the protective coating is made at least in part of a paper material and / or a polymeric material.

[0065] It may be advantageous to perform step c) before step b). This means that a laminate of the protective film and the adhesive layer is first prepared, and then the laminate is attached to the base layer. In step c), the adhesive layer is preferably initially applied to the protective film in a liquid state and then at least partially cured and / or at least partially solidified. When partially cured or solidified, the adhesive layer typically retains some tackiness, which can be used to attach the adhesive layer to the base layer, preferably by further curing and / or solidifying the adhesive layer with heat and / or ultraviolet (UV) radiation. It is also conceivable that the adhesive layer may be fully cured and solidified before being attached to the base layer. If the adhesive layer is a warm-melt or hot-melt pressure-sensitive adhesive, the adhesive layer may be heated to some degree to increase its tackiness (stickiness) and bond it to the base layer. These bonding methods, also known as fusion bonding, do not require the use of an intermediate layer and / or a separate bonding agent.

[0066] Further preferred embodiments of the present invention are presented in the following non-limiting paragraphs.

[0067] 1. Tiles, especially carpet tiles, a base layer having a top side and a bottom side; at least one adhesive layer attached directly or indirectly to the bottom side of the base layer; Pile yarns are provided on at least a portion of the top side of the base layer, the adhesive layer defines at least a portion of the bottom surface of the tile; The adhesive layer provides sufficient adhesion to removably attach the tile to a suitable supporting surface.

[0068] 2. The tile according to item 1, The adhesive layer exhibits adhesive properties at least at room temperature.

[0069] 3. A tile according to any one of the preceding paragraphs, A tile in which the adhesive of the adhesive layer is present on the sides and / or corners of the bottom surface of the tile, and preferably on at least 50% of the entire bottom surface of the tile.

[0070] 4. A tile according to any one of the preceding paragraphs, The adhesive layer provides a moderate adhesive strength of less than 15 MPa, preferably less than 10 MPa, to a suitable supporting surface.

[0071] 5. A tile according to one of the preceding paragraphs, The adhesive properties of the adhesive layer are maintained for a period of at least 5 years, preferably at least 10 years, for tiles.

[0072] 6. A tile according to one of the preceding paragraphs, The adhesive of the adhesive layer is a pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA), preferably a peelable type of PSA.

[0073] 7. A tile according to one of the preceding paragraphs, The adhesive of the adhesive layer is a hot melt pressure sensitive adhesive (HMPSA), preferably a peelable type of HMPSA, tile.

[0074] 8. A tile according to one of the preceding paragraphs, The adhesive of the adhesive layer comprises one or more types of thermoplastic elastomers, such as styrenic block copolymer (SBC), ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), polyacrylate, and / or amorphous polyolefin (APO).

[0075] 9. A tile according to one of the preceding paragraphs, The tile includes at least one support layer located between the base layer and the adhesive layer, and the support layer preferably includes or consists of an elastic layer, and the elastic layer preferably has a cellular structure having open and / or closed cells.

[0076] 10. The tile according to item 9, A tile wherein the support layer is a perforated and / or open layer, preferably a nylon-based layer, and the adhesive layer at least partially penetrates into the support layer.

[0077] 11. The tile according to item 10, The support layer is adhered to the base layer by an impregnated adhesive layer, tile.

[0078] 12. The tile according to any one of items 9 to 11, The support layer of the tile comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), polyurethane (PU), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), rubber, or a mixture thereof.

[0079] 13. A tile according to any one of items 9 to 12, A tile in which an intermediate core layer is present between the base layer and the support layer.

[0080] 14. The tile according to item 13, The intermediate core layer is rigid or flexible and comprises at least one material from the group of materials consisting of wood, in particular MDF or HDF; minerals; polymers, in particular PVC, PE, PP, or PU; minerals; or mixtures thereof.

[0081] 15. A tile according to one of the preceding paragraphs, The tile is generally flexible.

[0082] 16. A tile according to one of the preceding paragraphs, Tiles with an overall thickness between 5mm and 15mm.

[0083] 17. A tile according to one of the preceding paragraphs, The tile has two, preferably opposite, sides, each of which is provided with interconnecting contours such as tongue and groove, preferably said contours being an integral part of the material of the support layer and / or an intermediate core layer that may be included in the carpet tile.

[0084] 18. The tile according to item 17, The interconnecting profile allows for the connection of two carpet tiles by vertical and / or tilting movement of each side edge.

[0085] 19. A tile according to one of the preceding paragraphs, A carpet tile with a removable protective film attached to the adhesive on the bottom.

[0086] 20. A tile according to one of the preceding paragraphs, A tile including an additional thermoplastic layer that secures the base layer to the support layer.

[0087] 21. A tile according to one of the preceding paragraphs, The base layer is A decorative layer; optionally, a transparent wear layer covering the decorative layer; Including tiles.

[0088] 22. A tile according to one of the preceding paragraphs, A tile that is square, rectangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, or octagonal in shape.

[0089] 23. A tile according to one of the preceding paragraphs, The adhesive layer is a foam layer, tile.

[0090] 24. A tile according to one of the preceding paragraphs, The thickness of the adhesive layer is at least 0.5 mm, preferably at least 1 mm, more preferably at least 1.5 mm, tile.

[0091] 25. A tile according to one of the preceding paragraphs, The adhesive strength of the bottom side of the adhesive layer is at least 170 g / cm, tile.

[0092] 26. A tile according to one of the preceding paragraphs, The adhesive layer is configured to provide polar force based adhesion when subjected to load or pressure.

[0093] 27. A tile according to one of the preceding paragraphs, The adhesive layer is formed by a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer, tile.

[0094] 28. Tile according to one of the preceding paragraphs, The adhesive layer is a hydrophobic layer on the tile.

[0095] 29. Tile according to one of the preceding paragraphs, The adhesive layer is a resiliently compressible layer of the tile.

[0096] 30. A tile according to one of the preceding paragraphs, A plurality of superficial suction ports are formed at least on the lower surface of the adhesive layer, A tile in which the superficial suction ports are open on the side opposite the base layer and are substantially closed on the side facing the base layer.

[0097] 31. The tile according to item 30, The superficial suction ports define the void area as a whole, the material between the superficial suction holes on the underside of the adhesive layer defines a material area; A tile having a ratio between void area and material area of ​​at least 4, preferably at least 5, more preferably at least 6, which allows for rapid attachment to and removal from a supporting surface.

[0098] 32. The tile according to item 30 or 31, The adhesive layer is configured to provide polar vacuum based adhesion when subjected to load or pressure, the tile.

[0099] 33. A tile according to one of the preceding paragraphs, The adhesive layer is at least partially cured.

[0100] 34. A tile according to one of the preceding paragraphs, The adhesive layer is fused to the base layer, tile.

[0101] 35. A tile according to one of the preceding paragraphs, the adhesive layer and / or the base layer comprises an antimicrobial substance; and / or A tile wherein the adhesive layer and / or the base layer is coated with an antimicrobial agent.

[0102] 36. The tile according to item 35, Antibacterial agents include (i) organic or organometallic antimicrobial agents, such as halogenated phenyl ethers, halogenated salicylanilides, sesquiterpene alcohols, halogenated carboxanilides, bisphenolic compounds, common phenols, formaldehyde, quaternary ammonium compounds, pyridine derivatives, and hexachlorophene; and / or (ii) inorganic antimicrobial materials containing silver, zinc, or copper in a glass or ceramic matrix; is selected from The antimicrobial agent preferably comprises 2,4,4'-trichloro-2'-hydroxydiphenyl ether.

[0103] 37. Tile according to one of the preceding paragraphs, the adhesive layer covers at least one sidewall of the base layer; the sidewall is connected to a bottom side of the base layer; Preferably, the tile has a peelable protective film attached to the adhesive layer, covering substantially the entire side of the adhesive layer facing away from the base layer.

[0104] 38. Tile according to one of the preceding paragraphs, The panels are tiles, not including pile yarn.

[0105] 39. Tile according to one of the preceding paragraphs, The adhesive layer covers almost the entire bottom side of the base layer, tile.

[0106] 40. Tile according to one of the preceding paragraphs, The bottom side of the adhesive layer forms a flat surface, the tile.

[0107] 41. Tile according to one of the preceding paragraphs, The adhesive layer is at least one rubber adhesive, and / or at least one acrylate adhesive comprising at least one acrylate compound selected from the group consisting of polyurethane acrylate, polyester acrylate, epoxy acrylate, epoxy urethane acrylate, and mixtures thereof; Including tiles.

[0108] 42. A tile covering material consisting of a plurality of adjacent tiles according to any one of items 1 to 41.

[0109] 43. The tile covering material according to item 42, The adjacent edges of each adjacent tile are connected to each other, the tile covering material.

[0110] 44. A method for producing tiles, in particular carpet tiles, according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 41, a) providing a base layer having a top side and a bottom side, preferably having pile yarns disposed on at least a portion of the top side of the base layer; b) applying, directly or indirectly, an adhesive layer to the bottom side of the base layer, the adhesive layer being configured to provide sufficient adhesion to removably attach the tile to a suitable support surface, the adhesive layer preferably covering substantially the entire bottom side of the base layer; c) achieving a connection between the peelable protective film and the bottom surface of the adhesive layer; A method comprising:

[0111] 45. The method according to item 44, A method wherein step c) is performed before step b).

[0112] 46. ​​The method according to item 45, A method wherein in step c) the adhesive layer is initially applied to the protective film in a liquid state and is then at least partially cured.

[0113] 47. The method according to any one of items 44 to 46, A method wherein step b) is achieved by fusing the adhesive layer onto the base layer, preferably by heat treatment and / or UV irradiation of at least the adhesive layer.

[0114] 48. The method according to any one of items 44 to 47, A method wherein in step b) the adhesive layer is provided in an at least partially cured state.

[0115] The invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0116] [Figure 1] 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a first possible embodiment of a tile according to the invention; [Figure 2] 3 shows a cross-sectional view of a second possible embodiment of a tile according to the invention. [Figure 3] 3 shows a third possible embodiment of a tile according to the invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. 3. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0117] FIG. 1 shows a tile (101), specifically a carpet tile (101). The tile (101) includes a base layer (102) and a support layer (103) attached to the underside of the base layer (102). The base layer (102) in the illustrated embodiment is a primary carpet base (102) having upwardly projecting pile yarns (104). The illustrated pile yarns (104) are comprised of loop pile (104). However, the pile yarns (104) may be comprised of cut pile, twist pile, or any other suitable pile yarn, for example, in a single-level or multi-level configuration. The loop pile (104) may be a synthetic yarn such as nylon, polyester, polypropylene, acrylic, or a mixture thereof. In the illustrated embodiment, the loop pile (104) is tufted in the primary carpet base (102). The primary carpet base (102) includes a primary support sheet (105). The primary support sheet (105) can be, for example, a nonwoven sheet, a woven sheet, a nonwoven polyester sheet, a polypropylene sheet, a fiberglass scrim, a tissue sheet, or a combination thereof. A precoat layer (106) is applied to bond the tufts in place to the base layer (102), particularly to the primary support sheet (105). This precoat layer (106) can be, for example, a latex layer (106). This precoat layer (106) can also form part of the support layer (103). The support layer (103) includes a resilient layer (107). The resilient layer (107) defines the bottom surface of the tile (101). The resilient layer (107) includes a plurality of air bubbles (108). The air bubbles (108) are shown only diagrammatically in the drawings. The air bubbles (108) may contain air or some type of gas trapped therein.

[0118] The diameter of the air bubbles (108) is, for example, 5 μm to approximately 1 mm. The elastic layer (107) has a thickness of, for example, 0.1 mm to 6 mm. In the illustrated embodiment, the elastic layer (107) is made of a foam material and / or contains a foaming agent. The bottom surface of the elastic layer (107) has an airtight sealing effect. In addition, the bottom surface of the elastic layer (107) is provided with an adhesive layer (109), which allows the bottom surface of the tile to be attached to and detached from a suitable support surface. Optionally, the elastic layer (107) and the adhesive layer (109) may be integrally formed into a single elastic adhesive layer.

[0119] The support structure (103) further includes another inner adhesive layer (110), such as a solventless, hot melt adhesive layer (110) disposed on the precoat layer (106). A removable backing (110) may initially protect the adhesive layer (109) prior to use.

[0120] FIG. 2 shows a tile (201), specifically a carpet tile (201). The tile (201) includes an upwardly protruding base layer (202). The carpet tile (201) further includes a support layer (203) attached to the underside of the base layer (202). The support layer (203) includes a resilient layer (207). The resilient layer (207) defines the bottom surface of the tile (201). The bottom surface is provided with a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer (209), which allows the bottom surface of the tile to be attached to and removed from a suitable supporting surface. Optionally, the resilient layer (207) and the adhesive layer (209) may be integrally formed into a single resilient adhesive layer.

[0121] The elastic layer (207) is similar to the elastic layer shown in FIG. 1 and has a cellular structure containing air bubbles (208). The pile yarns (204) shown in this embodiment are made of cut pile yarns (204). The cut pile yarns (204) may comprise, for example, PVC laminated to a primary support sheet (205), nylon applied to a hot melt adhesive (206), or other suitable material. The primary support sheet (205) may also be referred to as a reinforcing layer (205). The primary carpet base (202) may further include a fibrous face wear surface secured to the primary support sheet (205), which preferably has a fibrous backing surface. The support structure (203) further includes an intermediate layer (211) positioned between the base (202) and the elastic layer (203). The intermediate layer (211) may also act as a support layer. The intermediate layer (211) is rigid or flexible and comprises at least one material from the group consisting of wood, in particular MDF or HDF; polymers, in particular PVC, PE, PP, or PU; minerals; or mixtures thereof. A removable backing (210) may initially protect the adhesive layer (209) before use.

[0122] FIG. 3 shows a tile (301), particularly a panel (301), more particularly a floor panel (301) or wall panel (301) according to the present invention. The tile (301) can be interconnected with similar tiles (301) to form a floor covering. The tile (301) includes a base (302) and a support structure (303) attached to the underside of the base (302). The support structure (303) includes a resilient layer (307). The resilient layer (307) defines the underside of the tile (301). The underside is provided with an adhesive layer (not shown in FIG. 3), as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, allowing the tile (301) to be easily attached to and removed from a supporting surface.

[0123] Furthermore, the tile (301), particularly the support structure (303), includes an intermediate core layer (312) located between the base (302) and the elastic layer (303). The intermediate layer (312) can be rigid or flexible and includes at least one material from the group consisting of wood, particularly MDF or HDF; polymers, particularly PVC, PE, PP, or PU; minerals; or mixtures thereof. The thickness of the intermediate core layer (312) is, for example, at least 3 millimeters. The base (302) may include a top structure including a decorative layer. The decorative layer may be printed on the base layer, or a protective layer may be provided on the decorative layer. The base (302) may be, for example, a primary carpet base with upwardly protruding pile yarns, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The intermediate core layer (312) includes an upper side (313) and a lower side (314). The core layer (312) is integrally connected to a first pair of opposing sides located on the long lateral sides of the tile (301), specifically the first side (315) and the complementary second side (316). Furthermore, in this exemplary embodiment, the core layer (312) is integrally connected to a second pair of opposing sides located on the short sides of the tile (301), specifically the third side (317) and the complementary fourth side (318). The advantage of the presence of the intermediate layer (312) as shown in FIG. 3 is that it allows adjacent tiles (301) to lock together. This allows adjacent tiles (301) to lock together in a first direction, i.e., perpendicular to the plane of the tiles (301), and in a second direction, i.e., parallel to the plane of the tiles (301). Furthermore, distortion of the tiles 301, i.e., deformation that would damage the shape of the tiles 301, is reduced. The tiles 301 shown have a rectangular shape. However, the tiles 301 may also have a square, pentagonal, hexagonal, or octagonal shape.

[0124] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along section line AA in Figure 3. This cross-sectional view details the configuration of the complementary first and second sides (315, 316). The first side (315) includes a lateral tongue (329) integrally connected to the core layer (312). A vertical dashed line visualizes the boundary between the lateral tongue (329) and the core layer (312). The anterior region (329a) of the lateral tongue (329) is provided with a rounded bottom surface (320). The outer end of the rounded bottom surface (320) is adjacent to the angled locking surface (321). The opposite end of the rounded bottom surface (320) is adjacent to the bearing surface (322) and forms part of the posterior region (329b) of the lateral tongue (329). The second side (316) includes an upper lip (323) and a lower lip (324) and defines a recess (325). Both lips (323, 324) are integrally connected to the core (312). A vertical dashed line visualizes the boundary between the lips (323, 324) and the core (312). As shown in FIG. 3, the width of the upper lip (323) is significantly smaller than the width of the lower lip (324). The shape of the recess (325) is complementary to the shape of the lateral tongue (329). More specifically, the top surface (326) of the rear region (324a) of the lower lip (324) has a (complementary) rounded shape that cooperates with the rounded front region (329a) of the lateral tongue (329), while the front region (324b) of the lower lip (324) has an upwardly projecting shoulder (327) that cooperates with the bearing surface (322) of the lateral tongue (329). The lower surface (328) of the upper lip (323) is sloped and corresponds to the locking surface (321) of the lateral tongue (329). The locking state between the first side (315) and the second side (316) of adjacent tiles (301) is achieved by inserting the lateral tongue (329) of the interlocking tile (301) into the recess (325). At this time, the tiles (301) are initially held in an inclined position. After the lateral tongues (329) are inserted into the recesses, the connecting tile (301) is pivoted (tilted) downward about an axis parallel to the first side (315) so that both tiles (301) are positioned in the same (generally horizontal) plane.At this point, the locking surfaces (321) of the lateral tongues (329) engage with the locking surfaces of the upper lip (328), and at least the bottom front portion is substantially contoured and received in the recess (325), with the bearing surfaces (322) supported by the shoulders (327). The locking state of the first and second sides (315, 316) locks the connected tiles (301) together both horizontally and vertically. The tilt-and-lock principle of the first and second sides (315, 316) is a relatively easy locking principle, which significantly facilitates the connection of tiles together along these sides (315, 316).

[0125] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along section line BB in Figure 3. This cross-sectional view details the shape of the complementary third side (317) and second side (318). The third side 317 includes an upward tongue 339, an upward flank 330, and an upward groove 331 formed between the upward tongue 339 and the upward flank 330. The upward tongue 339 is connected to the core 312 by a bridge 332, which is preferably somewhat resilient. The side 339a of the upward tongue 339 facing the upward flank 330 extends in the direction of a normal N1 to the upper side 313 of the core 312. Thus, the tangent R1 and the normal N1 to the upper side 313 of the core 312 converge toward each other, and the angle between R1 and N1 is preferably between 0 and 10 degrees in this exemplary embodiment. Due to the converging orientation of the upward flank (330) and the side (339a) of the upward tongue (339) facing the upward flank (330), the upward groove is a closed groove, and a complementary counterpart can only be reached by deformation of the upward tongue (339) and / or the bridge (332). The other side (339b) of the upward tongue (339) facing the upward flank (330) forms a registering edge, allowing for easier connection with adjacent tiles (301). As shown, this side (339b), which functions as a registering edge, is oriented away from the normal N1 of the upper side (313) of the core (312). However, the upper side (339dd) of the upward tongue (339) extends in the direction of the normal N1 of the upper side (313) of the core (312) and extends obliquely downwards in the direction of the side (339e) of the upward tongue (339) facing away from the upward flank (330). Such a chamfer provides the option of making the complementary fourth edge (318) more robust and therefore stronger. The part of the side (339e) of the upward tongue (339) facing away from the upward flank (330) is oriented approximately vertically and is further provided with an outward bulge (333). The lower part (330a) of the upward flank (330) is oriented obliquely, while the upper part (330b) of the upward flank (330) is shown approximately vertical and forms a stop surface for the fourth edge (318).Between the inclined portion 330a and the substantially vertical portion 330b of the upward flank there is provided an additional connecting element, in particular an additional bulge 334. The lower wall 331a of the upward groove 331 is oriented substantially horizontally in this exemplary embodiment. The fourth side (318) is substantially complementary to the third side (317). The fourth side (318) includes a downward tongue (345), a downward flank (346), and a downward groove (347) formed between the downward tongue (345) and the downward flank (346). The downward tongue (345) is connected to the core (312) by a bridge (348), which is preferably somewhat resilient. The side (345a) of the downward tongue (345) facing the downward flank (346) lies in the direction of the normal N2 to the lower side (413) of the core (312). This means that the tangent R2 to the side (345a) of the downward tongue (345) and the normal to the lower side (314) of the core (312) converge to each other; the angle between R2 and N2 is preferably between 0 and 10 degrees in this exemplary embodiment. More preferably, the slope of R1 is identical to the slope of R2, and therefore R1 and R2 are preferably parallel. Due to the convergent orientation of the downward flank (346) and the side (345a) of the downward tongue (345) facing the downward flank (346), the downward groove (347) is a closed groove, and can only be reached by the upward tongue (339) of the adjacent tile (301) through deformation of the downward tongue (345) and / or bridge (348). As a result of this deformation, the entrance of the downward groove can be (temporarily) widened. The side (345b) of the downward tongue (345) facing away from the downward flank (346) is oriented diagonally but is flatter than the complementary side (330a) of the upward flank (330). This creates a gap (air space) at the connection location, generally facilitating connection between two tiles (301). The sloping side (345b) of the downward tongue (345) also functions as an alignment edge to further facilitate connection between two tiles (301). The other side (345c) facing away from the downward flank (346) has a nearly vertical configuration but includes a small gap (349). The gap (349) is configured to cooperate with the additional bulge (334) of the other tile (301).The top portion of the side portion (345c) facing away from the downward flank (346) forms a complementary stop surface for the stop surface (330b) of the upward flank (330) (of the adjacent tile). The downward flank (346) is oriented substantially vertically and is provided with a recess (340) adapted to receive the outward bulge (333) of the upward tongue (339) (of the adjacent tile).

[0126] The inventive concepts described above are illustrated by several exemplary embodiments of carpet tiles and non-carpet tiles. It is contemplated that individual inventive concepts may be applied in application without applying other details of the described examples. Those skilled in the art will recognize that many inventive concepts can be combined (recombined) to arrive at specific applications, so it is not necessary to detail examples of all possible combinations of the described inventive concepts.

[0127] It will be clear that the invention is not limited to the embodiments shown and described herein, but is capable of many variations within the scope of the appended claims which will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

[0128] The verb "comprise" and its conjugations as used in this patent publication are understood to mean not only "comprise" but also "contain," "substantially consist of," "formed by," and their conjugations.

Claims

1. A tile, a base layer having a top side and a bottom side; at least one adhesive layer directly or indirectly attached to the bottom side of the base layer; Pile yarns are provided on at least a portion of the top side of the base layer, the adhesive layer defines at least a portion of a bottom surface of the tile; the adhesive layer provides sufficient adhesion to removably attach the tile to a suitable support surface; the adhesive layer covers substantially the entire bottom side of the base layer; a bottom side of the adhesive layer forming a flat surface; The adhesive layer is configured to provide polar force adhesion when subjected to load or pressure.

2. A tile, a base layer having a top side and a bottom side; at least one adhesive layer directly or indirectly attached to the bottom side of the base layer; Pile yarns are provided on at least a portion of the top side of the base layer, the adhesive layer defines at least a portion of a bottom surface of the tile; the adhesive layer provides sufficient adhesion to removably attach the tile to a suitable support surface; the adhesive layer covers substantially the entire bottom side of the base layer; a bottom side of the adhesive layer forming a flat surface; the adhesive layer covers at least one sidewall of the base layer; The sidewalls are connected to the bottom side of the base layer.

3. 3. The tile according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the adhesive of the adhesive layer is present on the sides and / or corners of the bottom surface of the tile.

4. 4. The tile according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the adhesive of the adhesive layer is a pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA).

5. 5. A tile according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the tile has two sides, each of the sides being provided with interconnecting features such as a tongue and groove.

6. 6. A tile according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a peelable protective film is applied to the adhesive layer on the bottom surface of the tile and / or on the bottom side of the adhesive layer.

7. The base layer is A decorative layer; Optionally, at least one transparent wear layer covering the decorative layer; 7. The tile of claim 1, comprising:

8. 8. The tile of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the adhesive strength of the bottom side of the adhesive layer is at least 170 g / cm.

9. 3. The tile of claim 2, wherein the adhesive layer is configured to provide polar force adhesion when subjected to load or pressure.

10. 10. A tile according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the adhesive layer is formed by a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer.

11. 11. A tile according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the adhesive layer is a hydrophobic layer.

12. A plurality of superficial suction ports are formed on at least the lower surface of the adhesive layer, 12. The tile according to claim 1, wherein the superficial suction openings are open in a direction away from the base layer and are substantially closed in a direction facing the base layer.

13. The superficial suction ports collectively define a gap area; the material between the superficial suction ports on the underside of the adhesive layer defines a material area; 13. A tile according to claim 12, wherein the ratio between the void area and the material area is at least 4, thereby allowing for rapid attachment to and removal from a support surface.

14. 14. A tile according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the adhesive layer is configured to provide a polar vacuum based adhesion when subjected to load or pressure.

15. 15. A tile according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the adhesive layer is at least partially cured.

16. the adhesive layer and / or the base layer comprises an antimicrobial substance; and / or 16. A tile according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the adhesive layer and / or the base layer is coated with an antimicrobial agent.

17. A tile as described in any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein a peelable protective film is attached to the adhesive layer and covers almost the entire side of the adhesive layer facing away from the base layer.

18. A tile covering material comprising a plurality of adjacent tiles according to any one of claims 1 to 17.

19. A method for manufacturing a tile, comprising: a) providing a base layer having a top side and a bottom side; b) applying, directly or indirectly, an adhesive layer to the bottom side of the base layer, the adhesive layer being configured to provide sufficient adhesion to removably attach the tile to a suitable support surface; c) achieving a connection between a peelable protective film and the bottom surface of the adhesive layer; Including, In step c), the adhesive layer is initially applied to the protective film in a liquid state and then at least partially cured; The tiles are a base layer having a top side and a bottom side; at least one adhesive layer directly or indirectly attached to the bottom side of the base layer; Pile yarns are provided on at least a portion of the top side of the base layer, the adhesive layer defines at least a portion of a bottom surface of the tile; the adhesive layer provides sufficient adhesion to removably attach the tile to a suitable support surface; the adhesive layer covers substantially the entire bottom side of the base layer; The method wherein the bottom side of the adhesive layer forms a flat surface.

20. 20. The method of claim 19, wherein in step b) the adhesive layer is provided in an at least partially cured state.

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