Easy to install ceramic or stone tile product

Abstract

A hard tile product and system useful for covering floors, walls and other surfaces which are both easy to install and remove are provided.

1 - 35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . A system for covering floors, walls and other surfaces, said system comprising two or more engineered planks, wherein each plank comprises
 a) hard tile with a top and bottom, said hard tile comprising mineral or metal with a Mohs hardness scale rating of 4 or greater;   b) a composite core with a top and bottom, said composite core having a Mohs hardness scale rating of less than 4;   c) a removable adhesive or magnetic attachment system which attaches the bottom of (a) to the top of (b);   d) a non-adhesive connection system to connect adjacent engineered planks via the composite core (b); and   e) a removable caulk or sealant filling any spaces between tiles (a),   said two or more planks being connected adjacently via the nonadhesive connection system (d).   
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 36  wherein hard tile of the engineered plank is inset from an edge of the composite core to provide a gap when connected to an adjacent engineered plank. 
     
     
         38 . (canceled) 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 36  wherein the removable caulk or sealant is selected from the group consisting of acrylic, urethane, epoxy, acrylic latex, silicone, butyl rubber, oil based asphalt caulk, polyurethane, and caulking cord. 
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 36  wherein the hard tile a) comprises ceramic, porcelain, natural stone, glass, metal, metal alloy or a non-rectified ceramic, porcelain or stone. 
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 36  wherein the hard tile a) thickness is 3 mm to 30 mm. 
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 36  wherein the removable adhesive is selected from a removable hot melt adhesive, a pressure sensitive adhesive, a moisture resistant adhesive, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 42  wherein
 the removable hot melt adhesive is selected from the group consisting of ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, ethylene acrylate copolymer, acrylic copolymer emulsion, ethylene n-butyl acrylate, ethylene acrylic acid, ethylene ethyl acetate, polyurethanes, and amorphous polyolefins; 
 the removable pressure sensitive adhesive selected from the group consisting of vinyl acrylic copolymer emulsion, acrylic, modified acrylic, styrene-ethylene/propylene, styrene-isoprene-styrene (SIS), acrylate polymer, biobased acrylates, thermo plastic elastomer, natural rubber and silicone rubber; and 
 the removable moisture resistant adhesive is selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl acetate, epoxy resin, resorcinol-formaldehyde, polyacrylic polymer, acrylic, modified acrylic and polyurethane. 
 
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 36  wherein the magnetic attachment system comprises magnetic properties built into the hard tile and the composite core and/or an underlayer or comprises a peel-and-stick polymeric sheet material attached to the bottom of the hard tile and either the top of the composite core, the bottom of the composite core or to an underlayment layer. 
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 36  wherein the composite core is a water resistant high density or medium density fiber board. 
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 36  wherein the composite core has a density ranging from 1.0 to 2.4 gm/cc. 
     
     
         47 . The system of  claim 36  wherein the composite core has a coefficient of expansion of core ranging from 5×10 −6  to 30×10 −6  inch/inch/deg F. 
     
     
         48 . The system of  claim 36  wherein the composite core has a dent resistance such that long term denting per ASTM F970 is less than 0.005 inches and/or short term denting per ASTM F1914 is less than 0.005 inches. 
     
     
         49 . The system of  claim 36  wherein the composite core comprises a polymer selected from high density polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene, low density polyethylene, polyamide, polyester, poly vinyl chloride, polylactic acid or any copolymer, recycled polymer or blend thereof. 
     
     
         50 . The system of  claim 49  wherein the composite core further comprises a filler selected from limestone, talc, calcium carbonate, wood dust, bamboo dust, cork, perlite, glass fiber, polyamide fiber, cellulosic fiber, wood fiber, polymeric fiber, glass, sand, synthetic fiber, fly ash, flax fiber, hemp fiber, Kaolin clay, Mica, Wollastonite (CaSiO 3 ), carbon black or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         51 . The system of  claim 49  wherein the composite core further comprises an additive selected from a colorant, anti-UV agent, UV absorber, fire retardant, anti-fungal agent, antimicrobial agent, coupling agent, reinforcing agent, interfacial adhesion promoting agent, stabilizer, antioxidants, lubricant, plasticizer and recycled additive or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         52 . The system of  claim 36  wherein the hard tile are inset from an edge of the composite core b) to provide a gap when connected to an adjacent engineered plank and/or have a beveled edge. 
     
     
         53 . The system of  claim 36  wherein the connection system to connect to an adjacent engineered plank comprises a grip lock strip technology or a click lock technology. 
     
     
         54 . The system of  claim 36  further comprising a second attachment system beneath the composite core of the plank for adherence of an underlayment layer. 
     
     
         55 . The system of  claim 54  wherein the second attachment system is magnetic or comprises an adhesive. 
     
     
         56 . The system of  claim 54  further comprising an underlayment layer adhered to the additional adhesive layer. 
     
     
         57 . The system of  claim 56  wherein the underlayment layer comprises cork, rubber, foam or paper.