Floor tile

Abstract

A modular floor tile incorporating various features intended to improve the performance of each tile and a system of tiles. Each tile has a top surface, a bottom surface and a perimeter having a sectional thickness and at least one side (in the case of a curvilinear form and a plurality of sides in the case of a rectilinear form), and further includes lateral engaging snap-lock receivers and inserts located at the perimeter of a tile to reduce the incidence of unintended tile separation when assembled into a system; perimeter positioned lands and grooves oriented to prevent fluid migration to a supporting substrate and enhance linkage between tiles when assembled into a system; and under-tile support columns joined by arches at the bottom surface to improve under-tile air flow properties while maintaining sufficient structural support. The floor tiles may further include a biocide.

1 . A tile comprising: 
 a panel having an upper surface, an opposing lower surface and a perimeter;    a plurality of engagement receivers extending from at least a first portion of the perimeter wherein each receiver comprises an outer surface and an inner surface, and defines a opening; and    a plurality of engagement inserts proximate to at least a second portion of the perimeter wherein each insert comprises a head and a body portion, and defines a gap there between.    
   
   
       2 . The tile of  claim 1  wherein the head has a bulbous portion and a return surface for retaining the lower surface of an adjacent tile.  
   
   
       3 . The tile of  claim 2  wherein the head deforms during engagement with an adjacent tile.  
   
   
       4 . The tile of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of cells formed on the lower surface wherein at least a portion of each cell extends from the lower surface to contact a supporting substrate.  
   
   
       5 . The tile of  claim 4  wherein cells comprise a plurality of side walls and verticies defined by the intersection of two sides.  
   
   
       6 . The tile of  claim 5  further comprising a plurality of support columns at a plurality of verticies.  
   
   
       7 . The tile of  claim 5  wherein at least some of the side walls define an arch having their apex proximate to the lower surface.  
   
   
       8 . The tile of  claim 4  wherein at least some of the cells have a hexagonal cross section.  
   
   
       9 . The tile of  claim 4  wherein at least one air-path is defined by a plurality of cells extending from one portion of the perimeter to an opposite portion of the perimeter.  
   
   
       10 . The tile of  claim 1  wherein one of the upper surface or the lower surface of the tile comprises a groove defined by a perimeter portion of the tile and a spaced apart perimeter land at one portion of the perimeter, and the opposing surface at another portion of the perimeter comprises a perimeter land having a cross section width approximately equal to a cross section width of the groove.  
   
   
       11 . The tile of  claim 10  wherein the lower surface comprises a groove defined by a perimeter portion of the tile and a spaced apart perimeter land at one portion of the perimeter, and the upper surface at another portion of the perimeter comprises a perimeter land having a cross section width approximately equal to a cross section width of the lower surface groove.  
   
   
       12 . The tile of  claim 1  further comprising a perimeter extension portion wherein the lower surface thereof defines a land and the upper surface of an adjacent edge of the tile defines a groove sized to closely receive the land.  
   
   
       13 . The tile of  claim 1  constructed from a material comprising a fungicide.  
   
   
       14 . The tile of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of perimeter colums.