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.

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         33 . 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, wherein the plurality of carpet tiles comprises a plurality of substantially similar carpet tiles, each of the substantially similar carpet tiles consisting of:
 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 is positioned proximate 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 the combined first portion and second portion cooperate to form a carpet tile having a side edge-oriented contrast pattern region, 
   wherein the plurality of substantially similar carpet tiles are configured for selective positioning relative to one another such that the side edge-oriented contrast pattern region of each carpet tile of the plurality of substantially similar carpet tiles has a particular orientation relative to the side edge-oriented contrast pattern regions of adjacent carpet tiles of the plurality of substantially similar carpet tiles, wherein the plurality of carpet tiles are configured to cooperatively define at least a portion of a floor covering, and wherein at least one of the substantially similar carpet tiles only abuts other substantially similar carpet tiles.   
     
     
         34 . The carpet tile system of  claim 33 , wherein the plurality of substantially similar 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 of the plurality of substantially similar carpet tiles abuts the selected side edge of a second carpet tile of the plurality of substantially similar carpet tiles 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. 
     
     
         35 . The carpet tile system of  claim 33 , wherein the plurality of substantially similar carpet tiles are configured for selective positioning relative to one another such that the selected side edge of a first carpet tile of the plurality of substantially similar carpet tiles is spaced apart from the selected side edge of a second, adjacent carpet tile of the plurality of substantially similar carpet tiles and the contrast pattern of the first carpet tile is spaced apart from the contrast pattern of the second carpet tile. 
     
     
         36 . The carpet tile system of  claim 33 , wherein the plurality of substantially similar 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 of the plurality of substantially similar carpet tiles abuts an end edge of an adjacent carpet tile of the plurality of substantially similar carpet tiles. 
     
     
         37 . A method for forming a floor covering, the method comprising:
 selectively positioning a plurality of carpet tiles relative to one another on a flooring surface, 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, the plurality of carpet tiles comprising a plurality of substantially similar carpet tiles, each of the substantially similar carpet tiles consisting of:   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 positioned proximate 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 the combined first portion and second portion cooperate to form a carpet tile having a side edge-oriented contrast pattern region, 
   wherein the side edge-oriented contrast pattern of each carpet tile of the plurality of substantially similar carpet tiles has a particular orientation relative to the side edge-oriented contrast pattern of adjacent carpet tiles of the plurality of substantially similar carpet tiles.   wherein the plurality of carpet tiles cooperate to define at least a portion of a floor covering, and   wherein at least one of the substantially similar carpet tiles only abuts other substantially similar carpet tiles.   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the step of selectively positioning the plurality of carpet tiles comprises positioning the plurality of substantially similar carpet tiles relative to one another such that at least a portion of the selected side edge of a first carpet tile of the plurality of substantially similar carpet tiles abuts the selected side edge of a second carpet tile of the plurality of substantially similar carpet tiles 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. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the step of selectively positioning the plurality of carpet tiles comprises positioning the plurality of substantially similar carpet tiles relative to one another such that the selected side edge of a first carpet tile of the plurality of substantially similar carpet tiles is spaced apart from the selected side edge of a second, adjacent carpet tile of the plurality of substantially similar carpet tiles and the contrast pattern of the first carpet tile is spaced apart from the contrast pattern of the second carpet tile. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 37 , 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 of the plurality of substantially similar carpet tiles abuts an end edge of an adjacent carpet tile of the plurality of substantially similar carpet tiles. 
     
     
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         43 . The carpet tile system of  claim 33 , wherein at least one edge of each of the plurality of substantially similar carpet tiles abuts at least one edge of at least one other substantially similar carpet tile. 
     
     
         44 . The carpet tile system of  claim 33 , wherein the first portion of each of the plurality of substantially similar carpet tiles extends the entire length of the carpet tile between selected portions of the first and second end edges. 
     
     
         45 . The carpet tile system of  claim 33 , wherein each carpet tile is substantially rectangular. 
     
     
         46 . The carpet tile system of  claim 33 , wherein the contrast pattern of each of the plurality of substantially similar carpet tiles comprises at least one color of the at least two colors of the background pattern. 
     
     
         47 . The carpet tile system of  claim 33 , wherein each carpet tile of the plurality of carpet tiles has a tufted face. 
     
     
         48 . The carpet tile system of  claim 33 , wherein the contrast pattern of each of the plurality of substantially similar carpet tiles comprises a plurality of substantially parallel stripes. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein at least one edge of each of the plurality of substantially similar carpet tiles abuts at least one edge of at least one other substantially similar carpet tile. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the first portion of each of the plurality of substantially similar carpet tiles extends the entire length of the carpet tile between selected portions of the first and second end edges. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein each carpet tile is substantially rectangular. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the contrast pattern of each of the plurality of substantially similar carpet tiles comprises at least one color of the at least two colors of the background pattern. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein each carpet tile of the plurality of carpet tiles has a tufted face. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the contrast pattern of each of the plurality of substantially similar carpet tiles comprises a plurality of substantially parallel stripes.