Magnetic tiles and method of installation thereof

Abstract

A tile is for installation with at least another tile on a wall surface having magnetic properties, the tile comprising a rear surface, a front surface and a peripheral edge. The tile rear surface has magnetic properties for magnetic adherence to the surface, and the peripheral edge of the tile defines first and second fastening means, the first fastening means of a given tile for releasable connection to the second fastening means of an adjacent tile.

The embodiments of the present invention, in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed, are defined as follows: 
     
         1 . A tile, for installation with at least another said tile on a wall surface having magnetic properties, said tile comprising a rear surface, a front surface and a peripheral edge, wherein said tile rear surface has magnetic properties for magnetic adherence to the surface, and said peripheral edge defines first and second fastening means, said first fastening means of one of said tile for releasable connection to the second fastening means of an adjacent one of said tile. 
     
     
         2 . The tile according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein said rear panel is at least partially magnetically attractive, and is for installation on a wall surface having high magnetic permeability.   
     
     
         3 . The tile according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein said tile is made from flexible materials, enabling it to be resiliently bent.   
     
     
         4 . The tile according to  claim 3 ,
 with said first fastening means consisting of male fastening means and with said second fastening means consisting of female fastening means, wherein said male fastening means of one said tile is for interlocking engagement with the female fastening means of an adjacent said tile.   
     
     
         5 . The tile according to  claim 4 ,
 wherein a portion of said tile peripheral edge forms a tongue, and another portion of said tile peripheral edge forms a groove, said tongue and said groove being of complementary shape.   
     
     
         6 . The tile according to  claim 5 ,
 further comprising a front panel, a rear panel, and an intermediate panel sandwiched between said front and rear panels, each one of said front, intermediate and rear panels defining a peripheral edge.   
     
     
         7 . The tile according to  claim 6 ,
 wherein said front and rear panels have similar peripheral dimensions, and are aligned together, and said intermediate panel is offset relative to said front and rear panels;   wherein the offset of said intermediate panel with respect to said front and rear panels causes:
 a portion of said intermediate panel to extend beyond the peripheral edges of said front and rear panels, this portion of said intermediate portion forming said tongue; and 
 registering portions of said front and rear panels to extend beyond the peripheral edge of said intermediate panels, thus creating a channel having sides defined by said front and rear panels, and a floor defined by said intermediate panel peripheral edge, said channel forming said groove. 
   
     
     
         8 . The tile according to  claim 6 ,
 wherein said rear panel is made of magnetic sheet material.   
     
     
         9 . The tile according to  claim 5 ,
 wherein said tongue is provided with magnetically attractive means, enabling magnetic fastening of said tongue in said groove.   
     
     
         10 . The tile according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein a decorative design is displayed on said tile front surface.   
     
     
         11 . A method of installation of magnetic tiles on a wall surface, said wall surface having magnetic properties, said method comprising the steps of:
 providing a number of tiles, each tile comprising a rear surface, a front surface and a peripheral edge, wherein said tile rear surface has magnetic properties for magnetic adherence to said wall surface, and said peripheral edge defines first and second fastening means, said first fastening means of one of said tiles for releasable connection to the second fastening means of an adjacent one of said tiles;   magnetically adhering a first one of said tiles to said wall surface by bringing said first tile rear surface into contact with said wall surface;   connecting said first fastening means of said second tile with said second fastening means of said first tile; and   magnetically adhering said second tile with said wall surface.