Pattern carpet tiles and methods of making and using same

Abstract

A carpet tile having a contrast pattern intermixed with a portion of a background pattern. The contrast pattern is positioned proximate a selected side edge of the carpet tile and has a contrast color different than the colors of the background pattern. Within a floor covering, the rotational position of the carpet tile can be varied to thereby achieve a desired visual appearance with respect to the contrast patterns of adjacent carpet tiles.

1 . A carpet tile having first and second end edges and first and second side edges, the distance between the first and second end edges of the carpet tile corresponding to a length of the carpet tile, the distance between the first and second side edges of the carpet tile corresponding to a width of the carpet tile, the carpet tile comprising:
 a first portion having a background pattern comprising at least two colors; and   a second portion having a contrast pattern intermixed with a portion of the background pattern, wherein the second portion extends inwardly from a selected side edge of the carpet tile, the contrast pattern comprising at least one contrast color different than the at least two colors of the background pattern, the second portion of the carpet tile having a width, wherein the ratio of the width of the carpet tile to the width of the second portion of the carpet tile ranges from about 2.5:1 to about 20:1,   wherein at least a portion of the contrast pattern of the second portion extends to the selected side edge.   
     
     
         2 . The carpet tile of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the carpet tile extends the entire length of the carpet tile. 
     
     
         3 . The carpet tile of  claim 2 , wherein the second portion of the carpet tile extends substantially the entire length of the carpet tile. 
     
     
         4 . The carpet tile of  claim 1 , wherein the carpet tile is substantially rectangular. 
     
     
         5 . The carpet tile of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the contrast pattern is spaced from the selected side edge. 
     
     
         6 . The carpet tile of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the carpet tile has a width, and wherein the respective widths of the first and second portions of the carpet tile combine to define the width of the carpet tile. 
     
     
         7 . The carpet tile of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two colors of the background pattern comprise a majority color and a minority color. 
     
     
         8 . The carpet tile of  claim 7 , wherein the contrast pattern comprises the minority color and at least one contrast color different from the majority color and the minority color. 
     
     
         9 . The carpet tile of  claim 8 , wherein the contrast pattern is formed from a plurality of yarn tufts, and wherein at least some of the yarn tufts of the at least one contrast color have a height greater than at least some of the yarn tufts of the minority color proximate the yarn tufts of the at least one contrast color. 
     
     
         10 . The carpet tile of  claim 1 , wherein the contrast pattern comprises a plurality of substantially parallel stripes. 
     
     
         11 . The carpet tile of  claim 10 , wherein the carpet tile has a warp axis extending between the first end edge and the second end edge and a weft axis extending between the first side edge and the second side edge, and wherein each stripe of the plurality of stripes has an elongate length extending parallel to the warp axis and a width extending parallel to the weft axis, wherein the elongate length of each stripe is greater than the width of each respective stripe. 
     
     
         12 . The carpet tile of  claim 11 , wherein at least one pair of adjacent stripes of the plurality of stripes have a substantially equal length. 
     
     
         13 . The carpet tile of  claim 11 , wherein at least one pair of adjacent stripes of the plurality of stripes have a substantially equal width. 
     
     
         14 . The carpet tile of  claim 11 , wherein the respective elongate lengths of the plurality of stripes are randomized among the plurality of stripes. 
     
     
         15 . The carpet tile of  claim 11 , wherein the respective widths of the plurality of stripes are randomized among the plurality of stripes. 
     
     
         16 . The carpet tile of  claim 10 , wherein the carpet tile has a warp axis extending between the first end edge and the second end edge and a weft axis extending between the first side edge and the second side edge, and wherein each stripe of the plurality of stripes has an elongate length extending parallel to the weft axis and a width extending parallel to the warp axis, wherein the elongate length of each stripe is greater than the width of each respective stripe. 
     
     
         17 . The carpet tile of  claim 16 , wherein at least one pair of adjacent stripes of the plurality of stripes have a substantially equal length. 
     
     
         18 . The carpet tile of  claim 16 , wherein at least one pair of adjacent stripes of the plurality of stripes have a substantially equal width. 
     
     
         19 . The carpet tile of  claim 16 , wherein the respective lengths of the plurality of stripes are randomized. 
     
     
         20 . The carpet tile of  claim 16 , wherein the respective widths of the plurality of stripes are randomized. 
     
     
         21 . A carpet tile system comprising:
 a plurality of carpet tiles, each carpet tile having first and second end edges and first and second side edges, the distance between the first and second end edges of the carpet tile corresponding to a length of the carpet tile, the distance between the first and second side edges of the carpet tile corresponding to a width of the carpet tile, each carpet tile comprising:
 a first portion having a background pattern comprising at least two colors; and 
 a second portion having a contrast pattern intermixed with a portion of the background pattern, wherein the second portion extends inwardly from a selected side edge of the carpet tile, the contrast pattern comprising at least one contrast color different than the at least two colors of the background pattern, the second portion of the carpet tile having a width, wherein the ratio of the width of the carpet tile to the width of the second portion of the carpet tile ranges from about 2.5:1 to about 20:1, 
   wherein at least a portion of the contrast pattern of the second portion of each carpet tile extends to the selected side edge, and   wherein the plurality of carpet tiles are configured for selective positioning relative to one another such that the contrast pattern of each carpet tile has a desired visual appearance relative to the contrast patterns of adjacent carpet tiles, and wherein the plurality of carpet tiles are configured to cooperatively define a floor covering.   
     
     
         22 . The carpet tile system of  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of carpet tiles are configured for selective positioning relative to one another such that at least a portion of the selected side edge of a first carpet tile abuts the selected side edge of a second carpet tile and at least a portion of the contrast pattern of the first carpet tile is positioned adjacent the contrast pattern of the second carpet tile. 
     
     
         23 . The carpet tile system of  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of carpet tiles are configured for selective positioning relative to one another such that the selected side edge of a first carpet tile is spaced apart from the selected side edge of a second, adjacent carpet tile and the contrast pattern of the first carpet tile is spaced apart from the contrast pattern of the second carpet tile. 
     
     
         24 . The carpet tile system of  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of carpet tiles are configured for selective positioning relative to one another such that at least a portion of the selected side edge of a first carpet tile abuts an end edge of an adjacent carpet tile. 
     
     
         25 . A method for forming a floor covering, the method comprising:
 providing a plurality of carpet tiles, each carpet tile having first and second end edges and first and second side edges, the distance between the first and second end edges of the carpet tile corresponding to a length of the carpet tile, the distance between the first and second side edges of the carpet tile corresponding to a width of the carpet tile, each carpet tile comprising:
 a first portion having a background pattern comprising at least two colors; and 
 a second portion having a contrast pattern intermixed with a portion of the background pattern and extending inwardly from a selected side edge of the carpet tile, the contrast pattern comprising at least one contrast color different than the at least two colors of the background pattern, the second portion of the carpet tile having a width, 
 wherein the ratio of the width of the carpet tile to the width of the second portion of the carpet tile ranges from about 2.5:1 to about 20:1, and 
 wherein at least a portion of the contrast pattern of the second portion of each carpet tile extends to the selected side edge, and 
   selectively positioning the plurality of carpet tiles relative to one another thereon a flooring surface such that the contrast pattern of each carpet tile has a desired visual appearance relative to the contrast patterns of adjacent carpet tiles,   wherein the plurality of carpet tiles cooperate to define a floor covering.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the step of selectively positioning the plurality of carpet tiles comprises positioning the plurality of carpet tiles relative to one another such that at least a portion of the selected side edge of a first carpet tile abuts the selected side edge of a second carpet tile and at least a portion of the contrast pattern of the first carpet tile is positioned adjacent the contrast pattern of the second carpet tile. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the step of selectively positioning the plurality of carpet tiles comprises positioning the plurality of carpet tiles relative to one another such that the selected side edge of a first carpet tile is spaced apart from the selected side edge of a second, adjacent carpet tile and the contrast pattern of the first carpet tile is spaced apart from the contrast pattern of the second carpet tile. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the step of selectively positioning the plurality of carpet tiles comprises positioning the plurality of carpet tiles relative to one another such that at least a portion of the selected side edge of a first carpet tile abuts an end edge of an adjacent carpet tile. 
     
     
         29 . A carpet tile having first and second end edges and first and second side edges, the distance between the first and second end edges of the carpet tile corresponding to a length of the carpet tile, the distance between the first and second side edges of the carpet tile corresponding to a width of the carpet tile, the carpet tile comprising:
 a first portion having a background pattern comprising at least one color; and   a second portion having a contrast pattern intermixed with a portion of the background pattern, wherein the second portion extends inwardly from a selected side edge of the carpet tile, the contrast pattern comprising at least one contrast color different than the at least one color of the background pattern, the second portion of the carpet tile having a width, wherein the ratio of the width of the carpet tile to the width of the second portion of the carpet tile ranges from about 2.5:1 to about 20:1   wherein at least a portion of the contrast pattern of the second portion of each carpet tile extends to the selected side edge.