Interlocking landscape/building tiles

Abstract

Landscaping/building tile systems comprising a plurality of individual tiles secured by a plurality of interlocking fastening strips. In one aspect, the tile systems comprise a plurality of tile sections, each of which includes a plurality of individual tiles, that can be secured together to form a single, unitary mat.

1 . A tile system comprising: 
 (a) a plurality of tile sections, each tile section including 
 (i) a plurality of individual tiles cooperatively defining a plurality of transversely extending channels, and  
 (ii) a mesh attached to at least some of said tiles; and  
   (b) a plurality of interlockable fastening strips received in the transversely extending channels and securing said tile sections to one another.    
   
   
       2 . The tile system according to  claim 1 , 
 said individual tiles presenting top and bottom surfaces,    said mesh being attached to the bottom surfaces of the at least some of said tiles.    
   
   
       3 . The tile system according to  claim 2;  and 
 (c) a plurality of spacer blocks attached to at least a portion of said mesh and opposite said tiles.    
   
   
       4 . The tile system according to  claim 1 , 
 said fastening strips presenting top and bottom edges,    said fastening strips comprising a plurality of fastening tabs attached to the bottom edges thereof.    
   
   
       5 . The tile system according to  claim 4 , 
 said fastening tabs being inserted through said mesh.    
   
   
       6 . The tile system according to  claim 1 , 
 said fastening strips having a plurality of grooves formed therein.    
   
   
       7 . The tile system according to  claim 6 , 
 at least one of said transversely extending channels intersecting at least one other of said transversely extending channels.    
   
   
       8 . The tile system according to  claim 7 , 
 at least one of the grooves of one of said fastening strips received in said at least one of said transversely extending channels receiving the fastening strip in said at least one other of said transversely extending channels.    
   
   
       9 . The tile system according to  claim 1 , 
 at least a first portion of one of said fastening strips received in a transversely extending channel of one of said tile sections and at least a second portion of said one fastening strip received in a transversely extending channel of another tile section.    
   
   
       10 . A tile system comprising: 
 (a) a plurality of individual tiles cooperatively defining a plurality of transversely extending channels;    (b) a mesh attached to at least some of said tiles;    (c) a plurality of spacer blocks attached to at least a portion of said mesh opposite said tiles; and    (d) a plurality of elongated, interlockable fastening strips received in the transversely extending channels and securing the tiles to one another.    
   
   
       11 . The tile system according to  claim 10 , 
 said individual tiles presenting top and bottom surfaces,    said mesh being attached to the bottom surfaces of the at least some of said tiles.    
   
   
       12 . The tile system according to  claim 10 , 
 said fastening strips presenting top and bottom edges,    said fastening strips comprising a plurality of fastening tabs attached to the bottom edges thereof.    
   
   
       13 . The tile system according to  claim 12 , 
 said fastening tabs being inserted through said mesh.    
   
   
       14 . The tile system according to  claim 10 , 
 said fastening strips having a plurality of grooves formed therein.    
   
   
       15 . The tile system according to  claim 14 , 
 at least one of said transversely extending channels intersecting at least one other of said transversely extending channels.    
   
   
       16 . The tile system according to  claim 15 , 
 at least one of the grooves of one of said fastening strips received in said at least one of said transversely extending channels receiving the fastening strip in said at least one other of said transversely extending channels.    
   
   
       17 . A method of laying tile, said method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) placing first and second tile sections next to one another, each of said tile sections including a plurality of individual tiles and a mesh attached to at least some of the individual tiles, the individual tiles cooperatively defining first transversely extending channels within each of the tile sections, the first and second tile sections cooperatively defining a second transversely extending channel therebetween;    (b) placing a first interlocking fastening strip in at least a portion of the first channel of the first tile section and in at least a portion of the first channel of the second tile section, the first fastening strip intersecting the second channel; and    (c) placing a second interlocking fastening strip in the second channel between the first and second tile sections, the second fastening strip interlocking with the first fastening strip.    
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 17 , 
 said first and second fastening strips comprising a plurality of grooves formed therein,    step (c) further including the step of mating at least one groove of the second fastening strip with at least one groove of the first fastening strip.    
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 17 , 
 said plurality of individual tiles cooperatively defining a third transversely extending channel within each of the tile sections that is substantially parallel to the first channels.    
   
   
       20 . The method according to  claim 19;  and 
 (d) placing a third interlocking fastening strip in at least a portion of the third channel of the first tile section and in at least a portion of the third channel of the second tile section.    
   
   
       21 . The method according to  claim 20 , 
 said third fastening strip interlocking with said second fastening strip.    
   
   
       22 . The method according to  claim 17;  and 
 (e) anchoring at least one of the first and second tile sections to a surface using a helically-flighted fastener inserted through the at least one tile section and into the surface.