Removable floor tile

Abstract

A floor tile is disclosed which comprises visually contrasting background and inlay portions that are not permanently or semi-permanently adhered to the flooring material during installation. The floor tile comprises a background piece comprising a shaped cavity and an identically shaped inlay which fits inside the shaped cavity. The two pieces are selectively removable from a flooring surface. Alternatively, either the background piece or the inlay piece may be permanently or semi-permanently affixed to the flooring surface, or to a support surface. The present invention also provides a method of manufacturing a decorative floor tile where two identically shaped inlay pieces are cut from two different pieces of tile material. The inlays are removed from the materials, forming cavities. The inlay from the first material is placed within the inlay cavity of the second material, and vice versa. The two pieces are selectively removable from a flooring surface. Alternatively, either the background piece or the inlay piece may be permanently or semi-permanently affixed to the flooring surface, or to a support surface.

1 . A floor tile comprising:
 a background piece comprising a shaped cavity therein; and   an inlay piece comprising an identical shape as said shaped cavity,   wherein said inlay piece is disposed within said shaped cavity and wherein at least one of said background piece and said inlay piece are selectively removable from a flooring surface.   
     
     
         2 . The floor tile of  claim 1 , wherein said background piece is permanently or semi-permanently affixed to the flooring surface. 
     
     
         3 . The floor tile of  claim 1 , wherein said inlay piece is permanently or semi-permanently affixed to the flooring surface. 
     
     
         4 . The floor tile of  claim 1 , wherein said background piece is permanently or semi-permanently affixed to a support piece. 
     
     
         5 . The floor tile of  claim 1 , wherein said inlay piece is permanently or semi-permanently affixed to a support piece. 
     
     
         6 . The floor tile of  claim 1 , wherein said background piece and said inlay piece comprise a vinyl material. 
     
     
         7 . The floor tile of  claim 1 , wherein said background piece and said inlay piece are visually contrasting. 
     
     
         8 . A method of installation of a multipart floor tile comprising the steps of:
 selecting a floor tile having ant inlay piece constructed from a first material and a background piece having a cavity into which said inlay piece may be mounted, wherein said inlay piece is identical in shape to said cavity of said background piece; and   mounting at least one of said background piece and said inlay piece to a flooring surface and mounting the other of said inlay and background pieces to flooring surface to form a continuous surface, wherein at least one of said inlay and background pieces is selectively removable from said flooring surface.   
     
     
         9 . The floor tile of  claim 8 , wherein said background piece is permanently or semi-permanently affixed to the flooring surface. 
     
     
         10 . The floor tile of  claim 8 , wherein said inlay piece is permanently or semi-permanently affixed to the flooring surface. 
     
     
         11 . The floor tile of  claim 8 , wherein said background piece is permanently or semi-permanently affixed to a support piece. 
     
     
         12 . The floor tile of  claim 8 , wherein said inlay piece is permanently or semi-permanently affixed to a support piece. 
     
     
         13 . The floor tile of  claim 8 , wherein said background piece and said inlay piece comprise a vinyl material. 
     
     
         14 . The floor tile of  claim 8 , wherein said background piece and said inlay piece are visually contrasting.