Random installation carpet tiles

Abstract

Carpet tiles having patterns and color schemes that obviate the need to orient the tiles relative to each other. The tiles exhibit orthogonal ambiguity, meaning that they may be laid in any side-by-side orientation with respect to adjacent tiles without looking out of place to the ordinary viewer and thereby still achieving an appearance of continuity like broadloom carpet. Each tile has patterns of shapes having some straight sides and that appear to be randomly positioned but oriented with some straight sides parallel to carpet tile sides. The shapes are formed from a color or combination of colors so that adjacent shapes on each tile have at least one color in common. Furthermore, each tile has at least one color in common with every other tile, so that when the tiles are laid, the colors on adjacent tiles coordinate. All of the colors have similar intensities so that no one color will significantly stand out from the other colors. Moreover, because the pattern on each tile appears random, placement of the tiles on the floor in any side-by-side orientation simply creates a larger, apparently random pattern, rendering it impossible for any tile to look out of place.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An orthogonally ambiguous carpet tile.  
     
     
         2 . The orthogonally ambiguous carpet tile of  claim 1 , wherein the tile has a tufted face.  
     
     
         3 . The orthogonally ambiguous carpet tile of  claim 1 , wherein the tile has a woven face.  
     
     
         4 . The orthogonally ambiguous carpet tile of  claim 1 , wherein the tile has a fusion bonded face.  
     
     
         5 . An orthogonally ambiguous carpet tile having a pattern comprising a background color and a first color different from the background color.  
     
     
         6 . The carpet tile of  claim 5 , wherein the background color and the first color have similar intensities.  
     
     
         7 . The carpet tile of  claim 5 , wherein the pattern comprises shapes, at least one of which shapes is formed by at least one straight line.  
     
     
         8 . The carpet tile of  claim 7 , wherein adjacent shapes comprise at least one common color.  
     
     
         9 . The carpet tile of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one straight line is oriented parallel to an edge of the carpet tile.  
     
     
         10 . The carpet tile of  claim 7 , wherein at least one shape comprises only the background color.  
     
     
         11 . The carpet tile of  claim 7 , wherein a least one shape comprises the background color and the first color.  
     
     
         12 . The carpet tile of  claim 7 , wherein the pattern further comprises a second color different from the background color and the first color.  
     
     
         13 . The carpet tile of  claim 12 , wherein the background color, the first color, and the second color have similar intensities.  
     
     
         14 . The carpet tile of  claim 12 , wherein at least one shape comprises only the background color and the second color.  
     
     
         15 . The carpet tile of  claim 12 , wherein at least one shape comprises the background color, the first color, and the second color.  
     
     
         16 . The carpet tile of  claim 12 , wherein the pattern further comprises a third color different from the background color, the first color, and the second color.  
     
     
         17 . The carpet tile of  claim 16 , wherein the background color, the first color, the second color, and the third color have similar intensities.  
     
     
         18 . The carpet tile of  claim 16 , wherein at least one shape comprises only the background color and the third color.  
     
     
         19 . The carpet tile of  claim 16 , wherein at least one shape comprises only the background color, the second color, and the third color.  
     
     
         20 . An orthogonally ambiguous carpet tile comprising a pattern of shapes, at least one of which shapes is formed by a straight line oriented parallel to an edge of the carpet tile, wherein the shapes are further formed from at least one of a plurality of colors comprising at least a background color, a first color, and a second color, wherein at least one of the shapes is formed from the background color only, at least one of the shapes is formed from the background color and the first color only, at least one of the shapes is formed from the background color and the second color only, and at least one of the shapes is formed from the background color, the first color, and the second color, wherein the background color, the first color, and the second color have similar intensities and wherein adjacent shapes comprise at least one common color.  
     
     
         21 . Floorcovering comprising at least two orthogonally ambiguous carpet tiles positioned side-by-side.  
     
     
         22 . Floorcovering comprising at least two orthogonally ambiguous carpet tiles positioned side-by-side wherein each tile comprises a pattern formed by a background color and at least two colors different from the background color, wherein the background color and at least one of the at least two colors different from the background color are the same for the at least two orthogonally ambiguous carpet tiles.  
     
     
         23 . The carpeting of  claim 22 , wherein the pattern on each of the at least two orthogonally ambiguous carpet tiles comprises shapes, at least one shape on each of the at least two orthogonally ambiguous carpet tiles having a straight side.  
     
     
         24 . The carpeting of  claim 23 , wherein adjacent shapes on each of the at least two orthogonally ambiguous carpet tiles comprise at least one common color.  
     
     
         25 . A method for designing a pattern for a carpet web usable to produce orthogonally ambiguous carpet tiles, comprising: 
 a. selecting a background color for the carpet web;    b. using a plurality of colors, including the background color, to form shapes on the carpet web; and    c. designing and positioning the shapes on the carpet web so that at least one shape has at least one straight side parallel to an edge of the carpet web and adjacent shapes have at least one common color.    
     
     
         26 . A method for designing a pattern usable to produce orthogonally ambiguous square modules, comprising: 
 a. selecting a background color for the pattern;    b. using a plurality of colors, including the background color, to form shapes in the pattern; and    c. designing and positioning the shapes in the pattern so that at least one shape has at least one straight side parallel to a module edge and adjacent shapes have at least one common color.