US 7,320,774 B2
Method for providing multiple tile shapes or appearances of the same
Troy Simmons, Laguna Niguel, Calif. (US); and Bruce E. Lennick, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. (US)
Assigned to MonierLifetile, LLC, Irvine, Calif. (US)
Filed on Sep. 04, 2003, as Appl. No. 10/656,893.
Application 10/656893 is a continuation in part of application No. 10/347663, filed on Jan. 21, 2003, abandoned.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/441336, filed on Jan. 21, 2003.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/423971, filed on Nov. 04, 2002.
Prior Publication US 2004/0123544 A1, Jul. 01, 2004
Int. Cl. B28B 11/08 (2006.01); B28B 1/00 (2006.01); B28B 7/02 (2006.01); B28B 7/14 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 264—333  [264/162; 52/519; 425/308] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of providing multiple tile shapes from one tile mold, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a first tile shape without a simulation interface channel by use of said tile mold and a first slipper, said first tile shape being a single, generally S-tile shape; and
providing a second tile shape by use of said tile mold and a second slipper, said second tile shape being a single, generally S-tile shape, and defining a necked portion between a cap portion and a pan portion of the second tile shape, the necked portion having a thickness that is substantially equal to or less than a thickness of the cap portion and a thickness of the pan portion immediately adjacent the necked portion, wherein the necked portion defines a simulation interface channel that lies within a plane that is skewed relative to a vertical plane that includes the gravitational axis of the second tile shape while in said mold, wherein said second tile shape simulates two tiles that each have a generally “C”-shaped transverse cross section, and wherein the simulation interface channel is configured to facilitate breakage of the second tile shape between the cap portion and the pan portion.