Granted Patent B2

US 12,735,899 · App. 18/572,905 · Granted Sep 15, 2026

Inventors: Eddy Alberic Boucké (Turnhout, BE); Pieter Renaat Karel Devos (Koolskamp, BE)

Assignee: i4F Licensing NV

E04F15/02038E04F13/0894E04F15/105E04F2201/0146E04F2201/0153E04F2201/023E04F2201/042E04F2201/043

Abstract

Claims (68)

1 . A multi-purpose tile system comprising a plurality of multi-purpose tiles, wherein each tile comprises:

at least one first edge having a first coupling profile comprising:

a sideward tongue extending in a direction substantially parallel to the upper side of the tile,

at least one first downward flank lying at a distance from the sideward tongue, and

a first downward recess formed between the sideward tongue and the first downward flank,

at least one second edge having a second coupling profile comprising:

a downward tongue extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the upper side of the tile,

at least one second downward flank lying at a distance from the downward tongue,

a second downward recess formed between the downward tongue and the downward flank, and

at least one second locking element provided at the second downward flank of the second coupling profile

at least one third edge having a third coupling profile comprising:

a third recess configured for accommodating at least a part of the sideward tongue of a first coupling profile of a further tile and at least a part of the downward tongue of the further tile, said third recess being defined by an upper lip and a lower lip, wherein said lower lip is provided with an upward locking element, and

at least one third locking element provided at a distal side of the lower lip facing away from the third recess and/or a distal side of the upward locking element facing away from the third recess,

wherein the proximal side of the upward locking element of the third coupling profile, facing the third recess, is entirely upwardly inclined in a direction away from the upper lip, wherein the proximal side of the upward locking element comprises a third lower contact portion extending in a first direction and a third upper contact portion extending in a second direction, deviating from the first direction,

wherein the first coupling profile and the third coupling profile of each tile are configured to be coupled to the first and third edges of a first adjacent tile by means of a turning movement, wherein, in coupled condition:

at least a part of the sideward tongue of the first coupling profile is inserted into the third recess of the third coupling profile of the first adjacent tile,

at least a part of the upward locking element of the third coupling profile of the first adjacent tile is inserted into the first downward recess of the first coupling profile, and

a proximal side of the sideward tongue, facing the first downward flank, co-acts with the third upper contact portion of the upward locking element of the third coupling profile of the first adjacent tile, and

wherein the second coupling profile and the third coupling profile of each tile are configured to be coupled to the second and third edges of a second adjacent tile wherein, in coupled condition:

at least a part of the downward tongue of the second coupling profile is inserted in the third recess of the third coupling profile of the second adjacent tile,

at least a part of the upward locking element of the third coupling profile of the second adjacent tile is inserted in the second downward recess of the second coupling profile,

at least one second locking element is facing at least one third locking element of the second adjacent tile to realise a vertical locking effect, and

a proximal side of the downward tongue, facing the second downward flank, of the second coupling profile co-acts with the third lower contact portion of the upward locking element of the third coupling profile of the second adjacent tile;

wherein the sideward tongue comprises a tip, facing away from the first downward flank, and a heel, facing towards the first downward flank, wherein a bottom side of the sideward tongue situated in between said tip and said heel is upwardly inclined in a direction towards the first downward flank, and wherein the direction in which the bottom side of the sideward tongue extends and a plane defined by each tile mutually encloses an angle of between 2° and 10°.

2 . The tile system according to claim 1 , wherein the third lower contact portion connects to the third upper contact portion, wherein the third lower contact portion extends in the first direction, and the third upper contact portion extends in the second direction, deviating from the first direction and/or wherein third lower contact portion connects via at least one intermediate curved zone to the third upper contact portion, wherein the third lower contact portion extends in the first direction, and the third upper contact portion extends in the second direction, deviating from the first direction.

3 . The tile system according to claim 1 , wherein a first angle enclosed by the first direction in which the third lower contact portion extends and a plane defined by the tile is larger than a second angle enclosed by the second direction in which the third upper contact portion extends and a plane defined by the tile.

4 . The tile system according to claim 1 , wherein the first direction in which the third lower contact portion extends encloses an angle with a plane define by the tile which is 50° to 85° and/or wherein the second direction in which the third upper contact portion extends encloses an angle with a plane define by the tile which is 30° to 65°.

5 . The tile system according to claim 1 , wherein, in coupled condition of the first coupling profile and the third coupling profile of adjacent tiles, the proximal side of the sideward tongue, facing the first downward flank, co-acts only with the third upper contact portion of the upward locking element of the third coupling profile and/or wherein, in coupled condition of the second coupling profile and the third coupling profile of adjacent tiles, the proximal side of the downward tongue, facing the second downward flank, co-acts only with the third lower contact portion of the upward locking element of the third coupling profile.

6 . The tile system according to claim 1 , wherein the heel of the downward tongue, defined by a bottom side of the downward tongue and the proximal side of the downward tongue, is provided with a cut-out portion to facilitate uncoupling of second coupling and the third coupling profile.

7 . The tile system according to claim 1 , wherein the first edge and the third edge, in coupled condition, define a first closing surface which defines a first vertical plane through the upper edges of the coupled tiles or at least the location where the tiles come together at the upper side of the tiles.

8 . The tile system according to claim 1 , wherein the second edge and the third edge, in coupled condition, define a second closing surface which defines a second vertical plane through the upper edges of the coupled tiles or at least the location where the tiles come together at the upper side of the tiles.

9 . The tile system according to claim 1 , wherein the distal side of the downward tongue, facing away from the second downward flank, is provided with a fourth locking element, and wherein the upper lip of the third coupling profile is provided with a fifth locking element configured to face said fourth locking element to achieve a vertical locking effect, in coupled condition of the second coupling profile and the third coupling profile of adjacent tiles.

10 . The tile system according to claim 1 , wherein an upper side of the lower lip defines to a support surface for both the downward tongue of the second coupling profile of an adjacent tile, and the sideward tongue of the first coupling profile of an adjacent tile.

11 . The tile system according to claim 1 , wherein the first coupling profile and third coupling profile are configured to allow these coupling profiles, in coupled condition, to be uncoupled by means of an upward turning movement and/or wherein the second coupling profile and third coupling profile are configured to allow these coupling profiles, in coupled condition, to be uncoupled by means of an upward turning movement.

12 . The tile system according to claim 1 , wherein the third locking element comprises at least one outward bulge, and that the second locking element comprises at least one second locking recess, and wherein the bulge and the recess have a substantially complementary shape.

13 . The tile system according to claim 1 , wherein at least one second locking element of the second coupling profile is provided at a distal side of the downward tongue facing away from the second downward recess, and wherein at least one third locking element of the third coupling profile is provided at a side of the upper lip, in coupled condition facing said distal side of the downward tongue of the second coupling profile of an adjacent tile.

14 . The tile system according to claim 1 , wherein at least a part of the proximal side of the downward tongue of the second coupling profile, facing the second downward recess, is downwardly inclined in a direction away from the second downward flank and/or wherein at least a part of the proximal side of the sideward tongue of the first coupling profile, facing the first downward recess, is downwardly inclined in a direction away from the first downward flank.

15 . The tile system according to claim 1 , wherein at least a part of the proximal side of the sideward tongue of the first coupling profile, facing the first downward recess, is downwardly inclined in a direction towards the first downward flank.

16 . The tile system according to claim 1 , wherein the first coupling profile and the third coupling profile are configured such that in coupled condition the first coupling profile is clamped by the third coupling profile and/or wherein the second coupling profile and the third coupling profile are configured such that in coupled the second coupling profile is clamped by the third coupling profile.

17 . The tile system according to claim 1 , wherein in a coupled condition of tiles, the first downward flank of the first coupling profile and a distal side of the upward locking element and/or lower lip of the third coupling profile, facing the first downward flank, are positioned at a distance from each other and/or wherein in the coupled condition of tiles, the second downward flank of the second coupling profile and a distal side of the upward locking element and/or lower lip of the third coupling profile, facing the second downward flank, are at least partially positioned at a distance from each other.

18 . The tile system according to claim 1 , wherein at least a part of upper side of the upward locking element is inclined downwardly in a direction facing way from the upper lip of the third coupling profile and/or wherein at least a part of upper side of the first downward recess is inclined downwardly towards the first downward flank and/or wherein at least a part of upper side of the second downward recess is inclined downwardly towards the second downward flank.

19 . The tile system according to claim 1 , wherein, in a coupled condition of two tiles, the upper side of the upward locking element of the third coupling profile is positioned at a distance from the upper side of the first downward recess of the first coupling profile, and wherein, in the coupled condition of two tiles, the upper side of the upward locking element of the third coupling profile is positioned at a distance from the upper side of the second downward recess of the second coupling profile.

20 . A multi-purpose tile system, comprising a plurality of multi-purpose tiles,

wherein at least one first tile comprises at least one first edge having a first coupling profile comprising:

a sideward tongue extending in a direction substantially parallel to the upper side of the tile,

at least one first downward flank lying at a distance from the sideward tongue, and

a first downward recess formed between the sideward tongue and the first downward flank,

wherein at least one second tile comprises at least one second edge having a second coupling profile comprising:

a downward tongue extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the upper side of the tile,

at least one second downward flank lying at a distance from the downward tongue,

a second downward recess formed between the downward tongue and the downward flank, and

at least one second locking element provided at the second downward flank of the second coupling profile, and

wherein at least one third tile comprises at least one third edge having a third coupling profile comprising:

a third recess configured for accommodating at least a part of the sideward tongue of the first coupling profile of the at least one first tile, said third recess being defined by an upper lip and a lower lip, wherein said lower lip is provided with an upward locking element, and

at least one third locking element provided at a distal side of the lower lip facing away from the third recess and/or a distal side of the upward locking element facing away from the third recess,

wherein the proximal side of the upward locking element of the third coupling profile, facing the third recess, is entirely upwardly inclined in a direction away from the upper lip, wherein the proximal side of the upward locking element comprises a third lower contact portion extending in a first direction and a third upper contact portion extending in a second direction, and

wherein the first coupling profile and the third coupling profile are configured such that the at least one first tile and the at least one third tile can be coupled to each other at the first and third edges by means of a turning movement, wherein, in coupled condition:

at least a part of the sideward tongue of the first coupling profile is inserted into the third recess of the third coupling profile,

at least a part of the upward locking element of the third coupling profile is inserted into the first downward recess of the first coupling profile, and

a proximal side of the sideward tongue, facing the first downward flank, co-acts with the third upper contact portion of the upward locking element of the third coupling profile, and

wherein the second coupling profile and the third coupling profile are configured such that the two of such tiles can be coupled to each other at the second and third edges in coupled condition:

at least a part of the downward tongue of the second coupling profile is inserted in the third recess of the third coupling profile, and

at least a part of the upward locking element of the third coupling profile is inserted in the second downward recess of the second coupling profile,

at least one second locking element is facing at least one third locking element to realise a vertical locking effect, and

a proximal side of the downward tongue, facing the second downward flank, of the second coupling profile co-acts with the third lower contact portion of the upward locking element of the third coupling profile, and

wherein the sideward tongue comprises a tip, facing away from the first downward flank, and a heel, facing towards the first downward flank, wherein a bottom side of the sideward tongue situated in between said tip and said heel is upwardly inclined in a direction towards the first downward flank, and wherein the direction in which the bottom side of the sideward tongue extends, and the plane defined by the at least one first tile mutually encloses an angle of between 2° and 10°.

21 . A tile covering, consisting of mutually coupled tiles of the tile system according to claim 1 .

22 . A plurality of tiles for use in a multi-purpose tile system according to claim 1 .

Assignments (1)

Priority Claims (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (18)