Tile Connector

Abstract

A connector for joining modular flooring tiles to one another on a floor without joining the tiles to the floor includes a tile-contacting surface comprising a material operative for preventing movement of the flooring tiles.

1 . A connector for joining modular flooring tiles to one another on a floor without adhering the tiles to the floor, the connector comprising a material for engaging a bottom surface of the adjoined tiles, wherein
 each tile includes an edge having a length, and   the connector extends substantially along the length of the edge.   
     
     
         2 . The connector of  claim 1 , wherein the material for engaging the bottom surface of the adjoined tiles is operative for preventing movement of the adjoined tiles with respect to one another. 
     
     
         3 . The connector of  claim 1 , wherein the material for engaging the bottom surface of the adjoined tiles comprises an adhesive. 
     
     
         4 . The connector of  claim 1 , wherein the material for engaging the bottom surface of the adjoined tiles comprises a slip resistant material. 
     
     
         5 . The connector of  claim 1 , wherein the connector extends substantially along the length of the edge without overlapping another connector. 
     
     
         6 . The connector of  claim 1 , wherein the connector has a major linear dimension that is approximately equal to an integer multiple of the length of the edge. 
     
     
         7 . The connector of  claim 1 , wherein the connector includes at least one end having a substantially right isosceles triangular shape. 
     
     
         8 . The connector of  claim 7 , wherein the end is adapted to substantially fittedly abut at least one another connector along an adjacent perpendicular seam between tiles. 
     
     
         9 . The connector of  claim 1 , wherein the connector is elongate in shape. 
     
     
         10 . The connector of  claim 1 , wherein the connector is cross-shaped. 
     
     
         11 . A connector for joining modular flooring tiles to one another on a floor without adhering the tiles to the floor, comprising:
 an upper surface for engaging a bottom surface of a pair of adjacent tiles, the upper surface of the connector being operative for preventing movement of the adjacent tiles with respect to one another; and   a lowermost surface for engaging the floor, the lowermost surface being operative for preventing movement of the adjacent tiles with respect to the floor.   
     
     
         12 . The connector of  claim 11 , wherein the upper surface comprises an adhesive. 
     
     
         13 . The connector of  claim 11 , wherein the upper surface comprises a slip resistant material. 
     
     
         14 . The connector of  claim 11 , wherein the lowermost surface comprises a low tack adhesive. 
     
     
         15 . The connector of  claim 11 , wherein the lowermost surface comprises a slip resistant material. 
     
     
         16 . The connector of  claim 11 , wherein
 a seam is defined between the pair of adjacent tiles, the seam having a length, and   the connector has a major linear dimension that is approximately equal to an integer multiple of the length of the seam.   
     
     
         17 . The connector of  claim 16 , wherein the connector extends substantially along the entire length of seam. 
     
     
         18 . The connector of  claim 17 , wherein the connector extends substantially along the entire length of seam without overlapping another connector. 
     
     
         19 . The connector of  claim 16 , wherein the connector extends approximately along one-half of the length of seam. 
     
     
         20 . The connector of  claim 18 , wherein the connector positioned adjacent to another connector collectively extend substantially along the entire length of seam. 
     
     
         21 . The connector of  claim 20 , wherein the connector positioned adjacent to another connector collectively extend substantially along the entire length of seam without overlapping another connector. 
     
     
         22 . The connector of  claim 11 , wherein the connector includes an end having a substantially right isosceles triangular shape. 
     
     
         23 . The connector of  claim 22 , wherein the end is adapted to substantially fittedly abut at least one another connector along an adjacent perpendicular seam between tiles. 
     
     
         24 . The connector of  claim 11 , wherein the connector is elongate in shape. 
     
     
         25 . The connector of  claim 11 , wherein the connector is cross-shaped. 
     
     
         26 . An assembly comprising a plurality of adjoined modular flooring tiles, the tiles being adjoined by a plurality of connectors, each connector including an uppermost surface operative for preventing movement of the tiles relative to one another, wherein each connector includes at least one end that is shaped to fittedly abut an end of another connector.