Decorative tiles for ceilings and/or walls

Abstract

A decorative tile includes a base element and a veneer element. The veneer element is attached to the base element in any suitable manner. The veneer element is made of any suitable material such as wood, including natural wood products and engineered wood products. The decorative tiles can provide, among other things, a pleasing aesthetic appearance in building structures. The decorative tiles can be used as, for example, a wall panel or as a ceiling panel for a drop ceiling.

1 . A decorative tile for a ceiling and/or walls, the decorative tile including an interior facing side, the decorative tile comprising:
 a base element; and   a veneer element attached to the base element, the veneer element being a natural wood product or an engineered wood product.   
     
     
         2 . The decorative tile of  claim 1 , wherein the veneer element includes a plurality of veneer segments. 
     
     
         3 . The decorative tile of  claim 1 , wherein the veneer element is raw. 
     
     
         4 . The decorative tile of  claim 1 , wherein the veneer element is recessed from a side of the base element such that a ledge is formed by a portion of the base element that extends beyond the veneer element. 
     
     
         5 . The decorative tile of  claim 1 , wherein the base element is recessed from a side of the veneer element such that a ledge is formed by a portion of the veneer element that extends beyond the base element. 
     
     
         6 . The decorative tile of  claim 1 , wherein the base element includes a first wall and a second wall, the first and second walls being spaced from each other and interconnected by a plurality of connecting members. 
     
     
         7 . The decorative tile of  claim 1 , wherein the decorative tile further includes a second veneer element attached to the base element on an opposite side thereof from the veneer element, the second veneer element being a natural wood product or an engineered wood product, whereby the interior facing side of the decorative tile is selectable by a user. 
     
     
         8 . The decorative tile of  claim 7 , wherein the veneer element and the second veneer element are different from each other. 
     
     
         9 . The decorative tile of  claim 1 , wherein the veneer element includes a backing. 
     
     
         10 . The decorative tile of  claim 1 , wherein the base element is substantially non-collapsible. 
     
     
         11 . A decorative tile for a ceiling and/or walls, the decorative tile including an interior facing side, the decorative tile comprising:
 a base element, the base element including a first wall and a second wall, the first and second walls being spaced from each other and interconnected by a plurality of connecting members, the base element being rigid and substantially non-collapsible; and   a veneer element attached to one of the first and second walls of the base element, the veneer element being a natural wood product or an engineered wood product.   
     
     
         12 . A decorative tile system comprising:
 a support structure;   a decorative tile including an interior facing side, the decorative tile including a base element and a veneer element attached to the base element, the veneer element being a natural wood product or an engineered wood product, the decorative tile being at least partially supported by the support structure such that the interior facing side of the decorative tile is defined by the veneer element.   
     
     
         13 . The decorative tile system of  claim 12 , wherein the support structure is a grid of support members that define a plurality of openings, the decorative tile being at least partially supported by the grid of support members to substantially fill a respective one of the plurality of openings, whereby the grid of support members is a part of a drop ceiling system. 
     
     
         14 . The decorative tile system of  claim 12 , wherein the support structure is a wall, wherein the decorative tile is attached to the wall. 
     
     
         15 . The decorative tile system of  claim 12 , wherein the veneer element is recessed from a side of the base element such that a ledge is formed by a portion of the base element that extends beyond the veneer element. 
     
     
         16 . The decorative tile system of  claim 12 , wherein the base element is recessed from a side of the veneer element such that a ledge is formed by a portion of the veneer element that extends beyond the base element. 
     
     
         17 . The decorative tile system of  claim 12 , wherein the base element includes a first wall and a second wall, the first and second walls being spaced from each other and interconnected by a plurality of connecting members. 
     
     
         18 . The decorative tile system of  claim 12 , further including a second decorative tile including an interior facing side, the second decorative tile including a base element and a veneer element attached to the base element, the veneer element being a natural wood product or an engineered wood product, the second decorative tile being at least partially supported by the support structure such that the interior facing side of the second decorative tile is defined by the veneer element. 
     
     
         19 . The decorative tile system of  claim 12 , wherein the decorative tile further includes a second veneer element attached to the base element on an opposite side thereof from the veneer element, the second veneer element being a natural wood product or an engineered wood product, whereby the interior facing side of the decorative tile is selectable by a user. 
     
     
         20 . The decorative tile system of  claim 19 , wherein the veneer element and the second veneer element are different from each other.