INTERLOCKING RUBBER TILES, MATS, BLOCKS AND PAVERS FOR ATHLETIC AND RECREATIONAL SURFACES, PLAYGROUNDS AND ROOFTOPS

Abstract

A tile for covering an area which interlocks with an adjacent tile includes a main body having a top surface and a bottom surface disposed opposite the top surface. The main body has at least a first lateral side and a second lateral side. The tile includes a plurality of spaced apart male connectors situated on the first lateral side, and a plurality of spaced apart female receptacles situated on the second lateral side. Each male connector further includes a lip or flange situated at a free end thereof, and each female receptacle includes a slot formed therein. When one tile is mated to an adjacent tile, the male connectors of one tile are received by corresponding female receptacles of the other tile, with the lip or flange of the male connectors being received by the slots formed in the female receptacles to help hold the male connectors in place within the female receptacles and to help interlock the adjacent tiles together. Ramp-like border tiles having a top surface with an increasing slope may be mated to the aforementioned tiles and provide a border around a matrix or array of interlocked tiles.

Claims

1. A tile for covering an area and which interlocks with an adjacent tile, which comprises: a main body having a top surface and a bottom surface disposed opposite the top surface, the main body having at least a first lateral side and a second lateral side; at least one male connector situated on at least one of the first lateral side and the second lateral side of the main body and extending outwardly therefrom; and at least one female receptacle situated on at least one of the first lateral side and the second lateral side of the main body; wherein the at least one male connector of the tile is engageable with a female receptacle of an adjacent tile so that the tile may interlock with the adjacent tile; wherein the main body of the tile resides generally in a plane; wherein the at least one male connector includes a first segment extending outwardly from the main body and co-planarly with the main body, and a second segment joined to the first segment and extending perpendicularly from the first segment, the second segment having an exterior surface and a free end; and wherein the female receptacle includes an inner wall, an outer wall disposed opposite the inner wall, side walls interposed between the inner wall and the outer wall, and a recessed bottom wall, the inner wall, outer wall, side walls and bottom wall of the female receptacle defining a recess for at least partially receiving the second segment of the male connector of an adjacent tile to interlock the tile with the adjacent tile; wherein the second segment of the at least one male connector includes at least one lip extending outwardly from the exterior surface of the second segment; and wherein the at least one female receptacle includes at least one corresponding slot which is dimensioned to receive the at least one lip of the second segment of a male connector of an adjacent tile when the male connector of one tile is received by a corresponding female receptable of an adjacent tile to help interlock the two tiles together, the at least one slot being complementary in shape to that of the at least one lip of the male connector.

2. A tile as defined by claim 1, wherein the at least one slot of the at least one female receptacle is formed in at least one of the inner wall, the oppositely disposed outer wall and at least one of the side walls of the at least one female receptacle.

3. A tile as defined by claim 2, wherein the at least one slot formed in the at least one of the inner wall, the oppositely disposed outer wall and the at least one of the side walls of the at least one female receptacle is disposed thereon near the recessed bottom wall of the at least one female receptacle; and wherein the at least one lip of the at least one male connector is disposed near the free end of the second segment thereof.

4. A tile as defined by claim 1, wherein the second segment of the at least one male connector further includes at least one rib-receiving slot formed in the exterior surface of the second segment; and wherein at least one of the inner wall, the oppositely-disposed outer wall and at least one of the side walls defining the at least one female receptacle includes at least one rib extending outwardly therefrom, the at least one rib-receiving slot of the second segment of the at least one male connector being dimensioned to receive therein the at least one rib of the at least one female receptacle of an adjacent tile when the male connector of one tile is received by a corresponding female receptable of an adjacent tile to help interlock the two tiles together, the at least one rib-receiving slot of the at least one male connector being complementary in shape to that of the at least one rib of the at least one female receptacle.

5. A tile as defined by claim 1, wherein the first segment of the at least one male connector includes an underside surface and a lock recess formed in the underside surface; wherein the tile includes an outer wall which at least partially defines the at least one receptacle, the outer wall having an end wall; and wherein the outer wall includes a lock protrusion disposed on the end wall thereof.

6. A tile as defined by claim 1, wherein the lock protrusion has an exposed surface, the exposed surface of the lock protrusion having a raised mid-section, the exposed surface sloping downwardly and laterally from the raised mid-section.

7. A ramp-like transition tile for covering an area and which interlocks with an adjacent tile, which comprises: a main body having a top surface and a bottom surface disposed opposite the top surface, the main body having at least a first side and a second side situated opposite the first side, and opposite lateral sides joined to and extending between the first side and the second side, the height of the first side being less than that of the second side to provide the top surface of the ramp-like transition tile with an increasing slope extending from the first side to the second side; at least one of 1) at least one male connector situated on the second side of the main body and extending outwardly therefrom, and 2) at least one female receptacle situated on the second side of the main body; wherein the at least one male connector includes a first segment extending outwardly from the main body of the ramp-like transition tile, and a second segment joined to the first segment and extending perpendicularly from the first segment, the second segment having an exterior surface and a free end, the at least one male connector being provided for engagement with an adjacent tile and for interlocking the ramp-like transition tile with the adjacent tile; and wherein the at least one female receptacle includes an inner wall, an outer wall disposed opposite the inner wall, side walls interposed between the inner wall and the outer wall, and a recessed bottom wall, the inner wall, outer wall, side walls and bottom wall of the at least one female receptacle defining a recess, the at least one female receptacle being provided for engagement with an adjacent tile and for interlocking the ramp-like transition tile with the adjacent tile.

8. A ramp-like transition tile as defined by claim 7, wherein the second segment of the at least one male connector includes at least one lip extending outwardly from the exterior surface of the second segment.

9. A ramp-like transition tile as defined by claim 7, wherein the at least one female receptacle includes at least one lip-receiving slot formed in at least one of the inner wall, the outer wall and at least one of the side walls defining the at least one female receptacle.

10. A ramp-like transition tile as defined by claim 7, wherein the second segment of the at least one male connector includes at least one lip extending outwardly from the exterior surface of the second segment; wherein the second segment of the at least one male connector includes at least one rib-receiving slot formed in the exterior surface of the second segment; wherein the at least one female receptacle includes at least one lip-receiving slot formed in at least one of the inner wall, the outer wall and at least one of the side walls defining the at least one female receptacle; and wherein the at least one female receptacle includes at least one rib extending outwardly from at least one of the inner wall, the outer wall and at least one of the side walls defining the at least one female receptacle.

11. A ramp-like transition tile as defined by claim 7, wherein the ramp-like transition tile includes a bottom surface and a plurality of spaced apart slots formed in a portion of the bottom surface in proximity to the first side of the ramp-like transition tile.

12. A ramp-like transition tile as defined by claim 11, wherein the slots are arranged parallel to one another.

13. A ramp-like transition tile as defined by claim 7, which further comprises: a plurality of stanchions mounted on the bottom surface of the main body and extending downwardly and outwardly from the bottom surface, the stanchions being spaced apart from each other and arranged in rows extending between the first side and the second side, each stanchion in each row increasing in longitudinal length and in the downward and outward extension thereof from the bottom surface in a direction of increasing length from the first side to the opposite second side.

14. A ramp-like transition tile as defined by claim 13, wherein each stanchion of the plurality of stanchions is frusto-conical in shape.

15. A ramp-like transition tile as defined by claim 13, wherein each stanchion of the plurality of stanchions has an outer surface and spaced apart ribs situated on the outer surface.

16. A ramp-like transition tile as defined by claim 7, wherein the second side of the ramp-like transition tile has an outer surface; and wherein the ramp-like transition tile further comprises: at least one of 1) at least one generally wedge-shaped projection situated on the outer surface of the second side, and 2) at least one generally wedge-shaped slot formed in the outer surface of the second side.

17. A ramp-like transition tile as defined by claim 7, wherein the first segment of the at least one male connector includes an underside surface and a lock recess formed in the underside surface; wherein the ramp-like transition tile includes an outer wall which at least partially defines the at least one receptacle, the outer wall having an end wall; and wherein the outer wall includes a lock protrusion disposed on the end wall thereof.

18. A tile as defined by claim 17, wherein the lock protrusion has an exposed surface, the exposed surface of the lock protrusion having a raised mid-section, the exposed surface sloping downwardly and laterally from the raised mid-section.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the interlocking tiles of the present invention joined together to form a protective surface for playgrounds, rooftops and the like.

[0024] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the tile formed in accordance with the present invention.

[0025] FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of a tile formed in accordance with the present invention.

[0026] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of the tile of the present invention shown encircled in FIG. 2, and illustrating a male connector of the tile used for interlocking adjacent tiles together.

[0027] FIG. 4a is a top plan view of a portion of the tile of the present invention, and illustrating the male connector shown in FIG. 4.

[0028] FIG. 4b is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the tile formed in accordance with the present invention and, in particular, the male connector thereof, taken along line 4b-4b of FIG. 4.

[0029] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of the underside of the tile formed in accordance with the present invention shown encircled in FIG. 3, and illustrating a female receptacle of the tile used for interlocking adjacent tiles together.

[0030] FIG. 5a is a top plan view of a portion of the tile of the present invention, and illustrating the female receptacle shown in FIG. 5.

[0031] FIG. 5b is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the tile of the present invention, and illustrating the female receptacle of the tile, taken along line 5b-5b of FIG. 5a.

[0032] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a portion of the tile of the present invention, and illustrating a liquid adhesive being applied to a male connector thereof.

[0033] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the tile of the present invention and, in particular, the male connector of the tile, taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

[0034] FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of portions of two adjacent tiles of the present invention, and illustrating the joining of the two tiles together.

[0035] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of portions of two joined together tiles of the present invention.

[0036] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the tile formed in accordance with the present invention.

[0037] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of two tiles formed in accordance with the present invention joined together.

[0038] FIG. 12 is a right elevational view of the tile of the present invention shown in FIG. 10, showing the tile with side slots.

[0039] FIG. 13 is a left elevational view of the tile of the present invention shown in FIG. 10, showing the tile with side projections.

[0040] FIG. 14 is a top plan view of a corner portion of the tile of the present invention shown encircled in FIG. 10 by the broken line circle indicated by arrowed line 14.

[0041] FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the male connector of the tile of the present invention shown in FIG. 10, taken along line 15-15 of FIG. 14.

[0042] FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a portion of the underside of the tile formed in accordance with the present invention shown encircled in FIG. 10 by the broken line circle indicated by arrowed line 16, and illustrating an excess glue channel communicating with a female receptacle of the tile.

[0043] FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view of portions of two adjacent tiles formed in accordance with the present invention, and illustrating the joining of the two tiles together.

[0044] FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view of portions of two joined together tiles formed in accordance with the present invention, taken along line 18-18 of FIG. 11.

[0045] FIG. 19 is another cross-sectional view of portions of two joined together tiles formed in accordance with the present invention, taken along line 19-19 of FIG. 11.

[0046] FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a portion of the tile formed in accordance with the present invention and showing a first form of a projection formed thereon for preventing curling of a lateral side of the tile.

[0047] FIG. 21 is a perspective view of a portion of the tile formed in accordance with the present invention and showing a first form of a slot formed thereon for receiving the tile projection shown in FIG. 20.

[0048] FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional perspective view of portions of adjacent tiles formed in accordance with the present invention, and illustrating the projection and slot shown in FIGS. 20 and 21 mated together.

[0049] FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional, exploded, perspective view of portions of adjacent tiles formed in accordance with the present invention, and illustrating the projection and the slot shown in FIGS. 20 and 21 separated from each other.

[0050] FIG. 24 is a perspective view of a portion of the tile formed in accordance with the present invention and showing a second form of a projection formed thereon for preventing curling of a lateral side of the tile.

[0051] FIG. 25 is a perspective view of a portion of the tile formed in accordance with the present invention and showing a second form of a slot formed thereon for receiving the tile projection shown in FIG. 24.

[0052] FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional perspective view of portions of adjacent tiles formed in accordance with the present invention, and illustrating the projection and slot shown in FIGS. 24 and 25 mated together.

[0053] FIG. 27 is a cross-sectional, exploded, perspective view of portions of adjacent tiles formed in accordance with the present invention, and illustrating the projection and the slot shown in FIGS. 24 and 25 separated from each other.

[0054] FIG. 28 is a perspective view of a portion of the tile formed in accordance with the present invention and showing a third form of a projection formed thereon for preventing curling of a lateral side of the tile.

[0055] FIG. 29 is a perspective view of a portion of the tile formed in accordance with the present invention and showing a third form of a slot formed thereon for receiving the tile projection shown in FIG. 28.

[0056] FIG. 30 is a cross-sectional perspective view of portions of adjacent tiles formed in accordance with the present invention, and illustrating the projection and slot shown in FIGS. 28 and 29 mated together.

[0057] FIG. 31 is a cross-sectional, exploded, perspective view of portions of adjacent tiles formed in accordance with the present invention, and illustrating the projection and the slot shown in FIGS. 28 and 29 separated from each other.

[0058] FIG. 32 is an isometric view of the bottom of an improved interlockable tile formed in accordance with the present invention in which the male connectors on the tile include a lip or flange and the female receptacles on the tile include a slot in which the lip or flange of a male connector of an adjacent tile is received to interlock two adjacent tiles together.

[0059] FIG. 33 is an isometric view of the bottom of an improved interlockable tile of the present invention similar to that shown in FIG. 32, except that the height or depth of the tile shown in FIG. 33 is less than that of the tile shown in FIG. 32.

[0060] FIG. 33A is an isometric view of the top of an improved interlockable tile formed in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention in which the male connectors on the tile include an additional lock recess and the top surface of the outer wall of the tile adjacent to the female receptacles of the tile includes lock protrusions which are received in corresponding lock recesses of the male connectors of an adjacent tile to help further interlock two adjacent tiles together.

[0061] FIG. 33B is an isometric view of the bottom of the improved interlockable tile of the present invention shown in FIG. 33A.

[0062] FIG. 34 is an exploded, isometric view of portions of two matable tiles of the present invention, and illustrating how the male connector, with a lip or flange extending therefrom, of one tile is receivable in a female receptacle of an adjacent tile to interlock the adjacent tiles together, the female receptacle of one tile having formed therein a slot which is adapted to receive the lip or flange of the male connector of the adjacent tile.

[0063] FIG. 35 is an isometric view of the portions of the adjacent tiles of the present invention shown in FIG. 34 interlocked together by the male connector of one tile being received by a corresponding female receptacle of the other tile.

[0064] FIG. 36 is a top isometric view of a ramp-like border tile formed in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0065] FIG. 37 is a bottom isometric view of a ramp-like border tile formed in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0066] FIG. 38 is a top isometric view of a ramp-like border tile formed in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0067] FIG. 39 is a bottom isometric view of a ramp-like border tile formed in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0068] FIG. 40 is a top isometric view of a ramp-like border tile formed in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention.

[0069] FIG. 41 is a bottom isometric view of a ramp-like border tile formed in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention.

[0070] FIG. 42 is a top isometric view of a ramp-like border tile formed in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[0071] FIG. 43 is a bottom isometric view of a ramp-like border tile formed in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[0072] FIG. 44 is a top isometric view of a ramp-like border tile formed in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

[0073] FIG. 45 is a bottom isometric view of a ramp-like border tile formed in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

[0074] FIG. 46 is a top isometric view of a ramp-like border tile formed in accordance with a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

[0075] FIG. 47 is a bottom isometric view of a ramp-like border tile formed in accordance with a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

[0076] FIG. 48 is a top isometric view of a ramp-like border tile formed in accordance with a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

[0077] FIG. 49 is a bottom isometric view of a ramp-like border tile formed in accordance with a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

[0078] FIG. 50 is a top isometric view of a ramp-like border tile formed in accordance with an eighth embodiment of the present invention.

[0079] FIG. 51 is a bottom isometric view of a ramp-like border tile formed in accordance with an eighth embodiment of the present invention.

[0080] FIG. 52 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the ramp-like border tile of the present invention shown in FIGS. 44-47.

[0081] FIG. 53 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the ramp-like border tile of the present invention shown in FIGS. 48-51.

[0082] FIG. 54 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the ramp-like border tile of the present invention shown in FIGS. 36-39.

[0083] FIG. 55 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the ramp-like border tile of the present invention shown in FIGS. 40-43.

[0084] FIG. 56 is top plan view of a plurality of interlocked rectangular tiles surrounded by a plurality of interlocked ramp-like border tiles to cover with the plurality of rectangular tiles and ramp-like border tiles of the present invention an area such as an athletic or recreational surface, a playground or a rooftop, for example.

[0085] FIG. 57 is a top plan view of a plurality of interlocked rectangular tiles of the present invention and a plurality of interlocked ramp-like border tiles of the present invention to cover an area, such as an athletic or recreational surface, a playground or a rooftop, or the like.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0086] Referring to FIGS. 1-9 of the drawings, it will be seen that a rubber tile protective system constructed in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of rubber tiles 2, each rubber tile 2 being interconnectable to another by a series of interlocking mechanisms integrated along the peripheral edges of each tile. The rubber tiles 2 may be selectively coupled by the interlocking mechanisms to one another to form a customizable protective surface of various proportion and size, depending on the specific application and area to be protected.

[0087] Each tile 2 may be formed in a plurality of shapes and sizes, but preferably is rectangular. The tile 2 includes a main body 3 residing generally in a plane and having a top surface 4 having a high coefficient of friction for providing sufficient traction to children and other users. The main body 3 of the tile 2 also includes an oppositely disposed bottom surface 6, the bottom surface 6 being laid on and resting on the ground or other supporting surface and having a recessed portion 8 formed therein. A plurality of cylindrical stanchions 10 extending downwardly and outwardly from the recessed portion 8, the end face 12 of each stanchion 10 being coplanar with the bottom surface 6 of the tile 2, provide gripping means to resist movement of the tile 2 when the ground surface consists of loose materials such as gravel, pebbles or shale. More specifically, when the tiles 2 are placed on a ground surface consisting of loose materials, the loose ground material may fill the recessed area around the stanchions 10 and the stanchions 10 may anchor the tile 2 in place. Each end face 12 of the stanchions 10 defines a flat bottom surface that is co-planarly aligned with the bottom surface 6 of the tile 2 to provide a large surface area to grip flat ground materials such as concrete slab.

[0088] Along the periphery of the main body 3 of the rubber tiles 2 are situated a plurality of interlocking mechanisms comprising a male connector 14 and a mating female receptacle 16. More specifically, along a first lateral side and neighboring second lateral side of the main body 3 of the tile 2 are extending outwardly therefrom a series of male connectors 14. Disposed oppositely of the male connectors 14, along a third lateral side and neighboring fourth lateral side of the main body 3, are extending outwardly therefrom a series of female receptacles 16. Individual rubber tiles 2 may be joined together by cooperatively mating the male connectors 14 on the first and second lateral side of a first tile 2 with the female receptacles 16 on the third or fourth lateral side of a second tile. To provide structural support, the tiles 2 are preferably joined together in a staggered manner, as shown in FIG. 1.

[0089] Now referring to FIGS. 3, 4, 4a, 6 and 7 of the drawings, it can be seen that each male connector 14 is formed as an L-shaped member extending perpendicularly outwardly from the side of the tile 2. The male connector 14 includes a horizontally disposed first segment 18, which extends co-planarly with the main body 3, and a vertically disposed second segment 20, the second segment 20 extending perpendicularly from the first segment 18. The first segment 18 further includes a top surface 22 having a glue reservoir 24 formed as a recess therein for receiving liquid adhesive. A plurality of male connectors 14 are preferably formed in series along the first and second sides of the tile 2, the connectors 14 preferably being equidistant from one another.

[0090] The female receptacles 16, as illustrated in FIGS. 3, 5, 5a and 5b of the drawings, are formed as rectangular recesses 26 within the bottom surface 6 of the tile 2, along the third and fourth sides thereof. The recesses 26 are defined by an inner wall 28, an oppositely disposed outer wall 30, two side walls 32 and a recessed surface 33. The inner wall 28 is connected to the oppositely disposed outer wall 30 by the two side walls 32, the inner wall 28 extending from the recessed portion 8 of the bottom surface 6 and terminating in an end wall 34 that is coplanar to the bottom surface 6, and the outer wall 30 extending from the recessed surface 33 of the female receptacle 16 and terminating in an end wall 36, the outer wall 30 being shorter than the inner wall 28 to accommodate and engage the horizontal first segment 18 and top surface 22 thereof of an aligned male connector 14 of an adjacent tile 2. The female receptacles 16 are preferably formed in series along the third and fourth sides of the tile 2, each female receptacle 16 preferably being positioned opposite from its corresponding male connector 14 on the first and second sides. The recesses 26 cooperatively receive the vertical second segment 20 of the male connector 14, mating the male connector 14 and the female receptacle 16 and interlocking neighboring tiles 2. The recessed surface 33 (within the recess 26) of each female receptacle 16 also has formed therein a glue reservoir 38 as a recess for receiving liquid adhesive, the glue reservoir 38 being similar in shape to the glue reservoir 24 formed in the male connector 14.

[0091] Each of the outer wall 30 of the female receptacle 16 and the vertical second segment 20 of the male connector 14 further includes a vertically disposed slot 40, which slots 40 are aligned with one another when the connector 14 is received by the receptacle 16. The vertical slot 40 of the vertical second segment 20 of the male connector 14 is in fluid communication with the glue reservoir 24 formed in the male connector 14 to allow excess adhesive filling the reservoir to flow through the vertical slot 40 from the male connector 14. Similarly, the vertical slot 40 of the outer wall 30 of the female receptacle 16 is in fluid communication with the glue reservoir 38 formed in the female receptacle 16 to allow excess adhesive filling the reservoir 38 to flow through the vertical slot 40 from the female receptacle 16.

[0092] Each inner wall 28 of the female receptacles 16 further includes a vertically disposed channel 50 formed therein, as shown in FIGS. 5, 5a, 5b and 16. The vertical channel 50 of each inner wall 28 extends from the glue reservoir 38 of the female receptacle 16 through the end wall 34 thereof. Each vertical channel 50 of each inner wall 28 is in communication with the glue reservoir 38 and recess 26 formed in the female receptacle 16 to allow excess adhesive filling the reservoir 38 to flow through the vertical channel 50 from the female receptacle 16, especially when two tiles are joined together and placed right-side up. In a preferred embodiment, the vertical channel 50 of the inner wall 28 is oppositely situated to the vertical slot 40 of the outer wall 30 of each female receptacle 16.

[0093] Prior to interlocking two neighboring tiles 2, a liquid adhesive is applied to one or both of the horizontal first segment 18 and/or glue reservoir 24 of each male connector 14 and the recess 26 and/or glue reservoir 38 of each female receptacle 16. As the aligned male connector 14 and female receptacle 16 of adjacent tiles 2 are mated and pressure is applied, the aligned vertical slots 40 in the outer wall 30 of the female receptacle 16 and the vertical second segment 20 of the male connector 14 create a path for excess adhesive to exit the glue reservoirs 24, 38 of the male connectors 14 and female receptacles 16 and the sides of the joined together tiles 2. Excess glue will also escape the female receptacle 16 through the channel 50 formed in the inner wall 28 of the female receptacle 16 and will flow downwardly towards the ground and away from the top surface of the tile when the tiles are joined together and positioned with the top surface properly facing upwardly. Thus, the channels 40, 50 will help minimize or prevent any adhesive from adhering to the top surface of the tile, which would otherwise have required its removal therefrom, which is difficult to do because of the rough surface texture of the tile. The adhesive secures the vertical second segment 20 of the male connector 14 within the recess 26 of the female receptacle 16 and preferably secures the top surface 22 of the horizontal first segment 18 of the male connector 14 to the end wall 36 of the outer wall 30 of the female receptacle 16.

[0094] The top surface 4 of each tile 2 preferably further includes a plurality of water channels 42. The water channels 42 are preferably formed as chamfers along the top peripheral edges of the tile 2. As neighboring tiles 2 are interlocked, their facing peripheral chamfered edges create such a recess or channel 42 that allows water to run off the top surface 4 of the tile 2 into the channel 42, minimizing water pooling. Additional water channels 44 may be formed as elongated recesses in the top surface 4, each being in fluid communication with an aforementioned peripheral water channel 42.

[0095] Referring to FIGS. 10-19 of the drawings, it can be seen that the rubber tile protective system of the present invention also preferably includes a plurality of interconnectable rubber tiles 2, each tile 2 having a main body 3, a top surface 4, a bottom surface 6, a plurality of cylindrical stanchions 10, and a plurality of interlocking mechanisms comprising a male connector 14 and a mating female receptacle 16. Furthermore, as can be seen in FIGS. 10-13, 16, 17 and 20-23 of the drawings, the tile 2 includes one or more generally wedge-shaped slots or recesses 17 formed in at least one lateral side thereof, and one or more generally wedge-shaped projections 15 formed on at least another lateral side of the tile 2 which is preferably situated opposite the side having the slot or slots 17 formed therein. In a preferred form, the tile 2 includes a plurality of generally wedge-shaped slots 17 spaced apart from each other, each slot being positioned on a side of the tile between adjacent male connectors 14, as shown in FIG. 12 of the drawings. Alternatively, one or more generally wedge-shaped projections 15 may be situated on this side between the male connectors 14 instead of the slots 17.

[0096] Correspondingly, in this preferred form, the tile 2 includes a plurality of generally wedge-shaped projections 15 spaced apart from each other, each projection being positioned on a side of the tile that is preferably opposite the side having the generally wedge-shaped slots 17, as shown in FIG. 13 of the drawings. Each projection 15 is preferably situated on the side between adjacent female receptacles 16. Alternatively, one or more generally wedge-shaped slots 17 may be situated on this side between the female receptacles 16 instead of the projections 15.

[0097] The slots 17 and projections 15 are preferably complementary in shape so that the projections may be received by the slots. However, it is envisioned to be within the scope of the present invention for the slot 17 to have any general shape that allows it to at least partially receive the generally wedge-shaped projection 15. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the projections 15 preferably include an upper portion 60 and a lower portion 62 disposed opposite the upper portion 60, and at least two opposite lateral side walls 61. Preferably, the upper portion 60 and lower portion 62 are asymmetrical to one another. More specifically, the projections 15 are preferably wedge-shaped and the slots 17 are preferably formed as complementary wedge-shaped recesses.

[0098] Referring to FIGS. 20-23 of the drawings, it can be seen that the upper portion 60 of the projection 15 is preferably generally rectangular in shape having a flat top side 64 situated between the lateral sides 61 and preferably extending perpendicularly outwardly from the outer surface of the lateral side of the tile on which the projection 15 is situated and below the top surface of the tile. The lower portion 62 is preferably tapered or sloped on three sides, that is, opposite lateral sides 62a and 62b, and the front side 62c, so that the projection 15 has a generally wedge shape. The three sides 62a, 62b, 62c of the lower portion 62 converge to a point or apex A located equi-distant from the lateral sides 61 of the projection 15 and on or near the surface of the tile from which the projection 15 protrudes. Correspondingly, in this preferred form, the complementary-shaped slots 17 are formed with an upper recess portion 66 and a lower recess portion 68 disposed opposite the upper recess portion 66. The upper recess portion 66 of the slot 17 is preferably generally rectangular in shape so as to complement the shape of the upper portion 60 of the projection 15, which is in alignment therewith when the projection 15 of one tile is received by a corresponding slot 17 of an adjacent tile. The upper recess portion 66 of the slot 17 is formed with a flat top wall 67 which extends preferably perpendicularly into the tile from the outer surface of the lateral side of the tile on which the slot 17 is formed and is positioned below the top surface of the tile to form a lip 63 therewith. The lower recess portion 68 is preferably tapered or sloped in shape to complement the shape of the lower portion 62 of the projection 15, having opposite lateral side surfaces 68a and 68b, and a front surface 68c, which are in alignment with sides 62a, 62b and 62c, respectively, of the lower portion 62 when the projection 15 of one tile is received by a corresponding slot 17 of an adjacent tile.

[0099] When two tiles 2 are placed adjacent one another, with the side of one tile which includes projections 15 facing the side of the other tile which includes slots 17, the projections 15 and slots 17 should be positioned on their respective sides so that they are in alignment and may mate with one another, the projections 15 of one tile being received by corresponding slots 17 of the other tile, as can be seen in FIGS. 22 and 23 of the drawings. More specifically, the sloping sides 62a, 62b and 62c of the projection 15 together define an inverted triangular sloped entrance surface which may be more easily received in a complementary-shaped recess or slot 17 of an adjacent tile. The sloped entrance surface on each projection of one tile allows the tile to be forced downwardly in close side-by-side proximity to an adjacent tile without causing the projection 15 to be sheared off or damaged when doing this. The projection 15, being formed of the same material as the rest of the tile on which it is mounted, which is preferably a rubberized material, has some resiliency, and this resiliency aides in allowing the projection 15 to pass beyond the top surface of an adjacent tile and into a complementary-shaped recess 17 of the adjacent tile.

[0100] When two adjacent tiles are mated together using a downward force on one tile, the sloped entrance surfaces of the projections 15 pass beyond the top surface and slot lip 63 of the adjacent tile and into their respective complementary-shaped recesses or slots 17 of the adjacent tile. When the flat top side 64 of the projections 15 passes the flat top wall 67 defining part of the upper recess portion 66 of the slots 17, the projections 15 are locked into place within their respective recesses or slots 17 by the projection top sides 64 engaging the slot top walls 67 to prevent the tiles from lifting relative to one another along their lateral sides.

[0101] Another version of the projections 15 and complementary-shaped recesses 17 formed on the tiles is shown in FIGS. 24-27 of the drawings. It will be seen from these figures that each projection 15 includes opposite lateral sides 61 which extend outwardly preferably perpendicularly from the lateral side of the tile on which the projection 15 is mounted, a flat top side 72 extending between the lateral sides 61 and also outwardly and preferably perpendicularly from the lateral side of the tile, and a ramp-like sloping surface 70 which slopes downwardly from the outermost edge of the flat top side 72 of the projection 15 and inwardly toward the lateral side of the tile on which the projection 15 is mounted on the lowermost end 74 of the projection 15. Similarly, in this embodiment, the slot or recess 17 is formed with a complementary shape to that of the projection 15 in the lateral side of the tile, and defined with opposite lateral walls 76a, a flat top wall 76b preferably extending inwardly of the lateral side of the tile in which it is formed and perpendicularly to the outer surface of the lateral side of the tile and between the two opposite lateral walls 76a of the recess or slot 17, and a sloped back wall 76c which extends from the inner end of the flat top wall 76b towards the surface of the lateral side of the tile in which the recess or slot 17 is formed.

[0102] In a similar manner to the projections 15 and recesses or slots 17 shown in FIGS. 20-23, the projections 15 shown in FIGS. 24-27 of one tile are received by the complementary-shaped recesses or slots 17 of an adjacent tile situated in alignment with the projections 15. The ramp-like sloped front side 70 of the projections 15 defines a sloped entrance surface which aids in the projections 15 of one tile being received by the recesses or slots 17 of an adjacent tile when a downward force is exerted on the tile with the projections 15. Again, like the earlier form of the projections 15 shown in FIGS. 20-23, the sloped entrance surface defined by the ramp-like sloped front side 70 of the projections 15 shown in FIGS. 24-27 passes beyond the top surface and the lip 63 formed between the top surface and the top of the slot 17 situated below the top surface of the adjacent tile and into its respective complementary-shaped recess or slot 17 of the adjacent tile when a downward force is exerted on the tile having the projections 15. When the flat top side 72 of the projections 15 pass the flat top wall 76b of the recesses or slots 17, the projections 15 are locked into place within their respective recesses or slots 17 by the projection top sides 72 engaging the slot top walls 76b to prevent the tiles from lifting relative to one another along their lateral sides.

[0103] FIGS. 28-31 illustrate yet a third form of the projections 15 and recesses or slots 17 of the tiles of the present invention. In these figures, it can be seen that the projections 15 have an overall arrowhead shape and include a flat top side 80 extending preferably perpendicularly outwardly from the lateral side of the tile on which the projection 15 is situated, and two sloped lateral lower sides 82a, 82b which meet at a central ridge 84 and which extend downwardly from the top flat side 80 to a point or apex A near or on the surface of the lateral side of the tile from which the projection 15 extends. The recess or slot 17 has a complementary shape to that of the projection 15, including a flat top wall 86 perpendicularly disposed to the outer surface of the lateral side of the tile, followed by two sloped lateral walls 88a, 88b.

[0104] The sloped lateral sides 82a, 82b of the projection 15 define an inverted triangular sloped entrance surface to make it easier for the projections 15 of one tile to be received by the complementary-shaped recesses or slots 17 of an adjacent tile when the tile with the projections 15 is forced downwardly in close side-by-side proximity to the adjacent tile having slots 17 situated in alignment with the projections 15. The particular shape of the projections 15, and the resiliency of the tiles and the projections 15 and recesses or slots 17, allow the tiles to be mated closely together, with the projections 15 not being sheared off or damaged when rubbing against the lateral side of an adjacent tile having the recesses or slots 17. When two adjacent tiles are mated together using a downward force on the tile having the projections 15, the sloped entrance surfaces defined by the lateral sides 82a, 82b of the projections 15 pass beyond the top surface and the lip 63 defined by the top surface and the top of the slot 17 situated below the top surface of the adjacent tile and into the respective complementary-shaped recesses or slots 17 of the adjacent tile. When the flat top side 80 of the projections 15 passes the flat top wall 86 of the recesses or slots 17, the projections 15 are locked into place within their respective recesses or slots 17 by the projection top sides 80 engaging the slot top walls 86 to prevent the tiles from lifting relative to one another along their lateral sides.

[0105] An adhesive or glue may be used between the projections 15 and the recesses or slots 17 in each of the embodiments described previously to secure the projections 15 of one tile within their aligned recesses or slots 17 of an adjacent tile.

[0106] If the tile 2 is rectangular in shape, in that it includes two opposite shorter sides and two opposite longer sides, such as shown in FIG. 10, then it is preferred to have the two shorter sides formed with the projections 15 on one shorter side and the slots 17 on the other shorter side. It is the shorter sides of the tile that tend to curl, rather than the longer sides, and thus the projections 15 and slots 17 are most needed on the shorter sides of the tile. However, it is envisioned to be within the scope of the present invention to have all of the sides of the tile 2 formed with oppositely disposed projections 15 and slots 17. Alternatively, adjacent sides of the tile may be formed with either a plurality of projections 15 or a plurality of slots 17, or each of one or more sides of the tile may include an alternating or mixed pattern of projections 15 and slots 17.

[0107] Individual rubber tiles 2 may also be joined together by cooperatively mating the male connectors 14 on the first and second lateral sides of a first tile 2 with the female receptacles 16 on the third and fourth lateral sides of a second tile. Furthermore, the projections 15 of one tile 2 also cooperatively mate with the slots 17 of a second tile 2. The mating of the projections 15 and the slots 17 strengthens the connection between the first and second tiles 2. The engagement of the projections 15 and slots 17 also reduces the tendency of the lateral sides of the tile to curl upwardly or separate and helps maintain the top surfaces 4 of the joined together tiles in a common plane.

[0108] It is also envisioned to be within the scope of the present invention to fasten the tiles 2 to a supporting surface, such as asphalt or wood, by using screws or other fasteners 54 which pass through the thickness of the male connectors 14 preferably at the horizontal first segments 18 thereof and into the supporting surface, with or without the use of liquid adhesive between mating tiles 2. For this purpose, a countersunk recess 52 may be formed in the glue reservoir 24 of the horizontal first segment 18 of one or more male connectors 14 to facilitate locating where the screw or fastener 54 should be placed, as shown in FIGS. 14, 15 and 18.

[0109] The tiles 2 formed in accordance with the present invention may be formed from reprocessed or recycled rubber, for example, from shredded or pulverized rubber automobile tires. In another form of the present invention, a top layer or portion of each tile may be formed from EPDM (ephylene propylene diene monomer) granules or shredded or pulverized white, gray or yellow (i.e., light colored) rubber tires, such as those found on forklifts and other rubber wheeled equipment. This lighter colored top layer of the tile may be about one-half () inch in thickness, and the remainder bottom portion of the tile may be black and made from shredded or pulverized conventional black walled automobile tires. Tiles formed with such a lighter colored top layer may be about twenty percent (20%) cooler, or more, on its top surface than tiles formed completely from conventional black walled automobile tires.

[0110] Reference should now be had to FIGS. 32-35 of the drawings, which illustrate an improved interlocking tile 2 formed in accordance with the present invention. In this improved version of the tile 2, one or more of the male connectors 14 on the improved tile 2 include at least one lip or flange 100, and one or more of the female receptacles 16 on the same tile 2 or on another tile 2 have formed therein at least one slot 102 for receiving the lip or flange 100 of a male connector 14 of a tile 2 matable with the tile 2 having the female receptacles 16 so as to assist in interlocking two tiles 2 of the present invention together.

[0111] More specifically, preferably situated at the free end of the second segment 20 of one or more of the male connectors 14 is a lip or flange 100 that extends perpendicularly outwardly from a surface of the second segment 20. This lip or flange 100 may be situated on one or more side walls of the second segment 20 of the male connector 14. In the embodiment of the tile of the present invention shown in FIGS. 34 and 35, the lip or flange 100 extends perpendicularly outwardly from the surface of the inside side wall 132 of the second segment 20 of each male connector 14 that faces the lateral wall 134 of the tile 2 on which the male connector 14 is mounted and from which the male connector 14 extends. In another form of the tile 2 of the present invention, the lip or flange 100 may extend outwardly from a different side wall of the second segment 20 of the male connector 14, or connectors, than the inside side wall 132, such as the outside side wall 136 which is disposed opposite the inside side wall 132, or from one or both of the opposite lateral side walls 138, 140 of the second segment 20 of the male connector 14, or may extend from one or more of the aforementioned side walls 132, 136, 138, 140. Additionally, although FIGS. 34 and 35 illustrate the lip extending outwardly from the second segment 20 of the male connector 14 near the free end 142 thereof, it is envisioned to be within the scope of the present invention to position the lip or flange 100 anywhere along the length of the second segment 20 and not just at the free end 142 of the second segment 20.

[0112] The female receptacle 16 includes one or more corresponding slots 102 which are adapted to receive a respective lip or flange 100 of the second segment 20 of a male connector 14 when the male connector 14 of one tile 2 is received by a corresponding female receptable 16 of an adjacent tile 2 to help interlock the two tiles 2 together. The slot 102 is complementary in shape to that of the lip or flange 100 of the male connector 14 and may have the same or slightly greater dimensions than those of the lip or flange 100. The slot 102 may be formed in one or more of the inner wall 28, the oppositely disposed outer wall 30 and the two lateral side walls 32 and positioned thereon to receive a respective lip or flange 100 extending from one or more side walls 132, 136, 138, 140 of the second segment 20 of the male connector 14. Preferably, the slot 102 is formed in one or more of these walls 28, 30, 32 near the recessed surface 33, especially when the lip or flange 100 on the male connector 14 is located in proximity to the free end 142 of the second segment 20 thereof. In the embodiment of the tile 2 shown in FIGS. 34 and 35, the slot 102 is shown formed in the outer wall 30 that partially defines the female receptacle 16.

[0113] In a more preferred embodiment of the tile 2 of the present invention, the second segment 20 of the male connector 14, or connectors, not only has the lips or flanges 100 mentioned previously, but may also include one or more first rib-receiving slots 144 recessed into the surface of the inside side wall 132 or the oppositely-disposed outside side wall 136, or one or both of the lateral side walls 138, 140, of the second segment 20. One or more second rib-receiving slots 146 may be formed in the surface of the lateral side 134 of the tile 2 on which the male connector 14 is disposed and from which the male connector 14 extends.

[0114] Similarly, one or more female receptacles 16 may include one or more ribs 148 disposed on and extending outwardly and preferably perpendicularly from the surface of one or more of the inner wall 28, the oppositely disposed outer wall 30 and the two lateral side walls 32 defining the female receptacle 16, or receptacles, and on the lateral side 154 of the tile 2 where the mating female receptacles 16 are situated, and positioned thereon to align with the first and second rib-receiving slots 144, 146 and to be received therein when the male connectors 14 of one tile 2 are received by corresponding female receptacles 16 of a mating tile 2.

[0115] As can be seen in FIG. 35 of the drawings, when the male connector 14 of one tile 2 is fully received by the female receptacle 16 of an adjacent tile 2, the lip or flange 100 of the male connector 14 fits into a corresponding slot 102 of the mating female receptacle 16 to help hold the male connector 14 within the female receptacle 16, thereby aiding in the interlocking of adjacent tiles 2. Additionally, if such is included, the first and second rib-receiving slots 142, 144 receive corresponding ribs 148. It may still be desired, but not required, to use a liquid adhesive filling the glue reservoir 38 of the female receptacle 16 and/or filling the glue reservoir 24 formed in the male connector 14 to further secure adjacent tiles 2 together in an interlocked fashion.

[0116] As also shown in FIGS. 34 and 35, each tile 2 may include a plurality of channels 150, 152 formed in the tile sides near the bottom side thereof. When two or more tiles 2 are interconnected, the channels 150 of one tile are aligned with corresponding channels 152 of adjacent tiles 2 and together form a path therethrough for water to flow from under one tile 2 to an adjacent tile 2 to dissipate an accumulation of water under any one tile 2. Furthermore, such channels 150, 152, formed in the tile sides, which channels 150, 152 are preferably situated in proximity to the projections 15 and slots 17, provide the sides with more flexibility, making it easier for the projections 15 of one tile 2 to be forced into and mate cooperatively with the slots 17 of a second tile 2.

[0117] Reference should now be had to FIGS. 33A and 33B of the drawings, as well as again to FIGS. 34 and 35, which illustrate another feature of the tile 2 of the present invention. As can be seen in FIG. 33A, the underside surface 155 of the first segment 18 preferably of each male connector 14 has formed therein a lock recess 156. Furthermore, and as can be seen from FIG. 33B, disposed on the end wall 36 of the outer wall 30 which at least partially defines preferably each female receptacle 16 is a lock protrusion 158. The lock recesses 156 of one tile 2 are dimensioned to be adapted to receive corresponding lock protrusions 158 of an adjoining tile 2 to assist in interlocking the two tiles 2 together and to maintaining the tiles 2 in an interlocked structure. Furthermore, the lock protrusions 158 can help align the male connectors 14 having complementary-shaped lock recesses 156 with corresponding female receptacles 16 having situated in proximity thereto the lock protrusions 158 and guide the second segments 20 of the male connectors 14 into corresponding female receptacles 16, such as illustrated by FIGS. 34 and 35 of the drawings. To help in this respect, the lock protrusions 158 may have an exposed surface 160 that is slightly arrow-shaped in that the surface 160 has a raised mid-section 162, with the exposed surface 160 sloping downwardly and laterally therefrom, as shown in FIG. 33B of the drawings; such structure further facilitates entry of the lock protrusions 158 of one tile 2 into their corresponding lock recesses 156 of an adjoining tile 2.

[0118] As shown in FIGS. 32-35 of the drawings, each stanchion 10 of the tile 2 may be frustoconically-shaped, and may include longitudinally extending and spaced apart ribs 104 situated on the outer surface of each stanchion 10, which ribs 104 provide further support to the stanchions 10. Additionally, in this embodiment of the tile 2, the end face 12 of each stanchion 10 does not necessarily have to be coplanar with the bottom surface 6 of the tile 2. Rather, partial stanchions 10 may be spaced apart along the periphery of the main body 3 of the tiles 2, where the end face 12 of the peripheral stanchions 10 are coplanar with the end face 12 of each interior stanchion 10 spaced inwardly of the periphery of the main body 3.

[0119] It should be realized that the placement of the lip 100 and slot 102 respectively on the male connector 14 and the female receptacle 16 as described previously may be interchanged, that is, having the lip 100 disposed on one or more of the walls 28, 30, 32 of the female receptacle 16 and the slot 102 being formed in a surface of the second segment 20 of one or more of the male connectors 14. Similarly, the disposition of the ribs 148 on one or more of the walls 28, 30, 32 of one or more female receptacles 16 and on tile side 154 may be switched with the disposition of the first and second rib-receiving slots 144, 146 of the second segment 20 of one or more male connectors 14 and the lateral side 134 of the tile 2, respectively. Such reverse arrangements described above are also envisioned to be within the scope of the present invention.

[0120] Now referring to FIGS. 36-57, various embodiments of a ramp-like border or transition tile 2a formed in accordance with the present invention are shown and will now be described. Each ramp-like border tile 2a includes a main body 3a which has a top surface 4a having a high coefficient of friction for providing sufficient traction to children and other users, just like the top surface 4 of the rectangular, surface-covering tile 2 previously described. The main body 3a of the ramp-like border tile 2a also includes an oppositely disposed bottom surface 6a, the bottom surface 6a being laid on and resting on the ground or other supporting surface and having a recessed portion 8a formed therein.

[0121] A plurality of cylindrical, or more preferably, frustoconically-shaped, stanchions 10a extend downwardly and outwardly from the recessed portion 8a, the end face 12a of each stanchion 10a preferably being coplanar with the bottom surface 6a of the tile 2a or with one another, and providing gripping means to resist movement of the ramp-like border tile 2a when the ground surface consists of loose materials such as gravel, pebbles or shale, just like the stanchions 10 of the rectangular tiles 2 described previously. Thus, when the ramp-like border tiles 2a are placed on a ground surface consisting of loose material, the loose ground material may fill the recessed area 8a around the stanchions 10a, and the stanchions 10a may anchor the ramp-like border tile 2a in place. Each end face 12a of the stanchions 10a preferably defines a flat bottom surface that is co-planarly aligned with the bottom surface 6a of the ramp-like border tile 2a to provide a large surface area to grip flat ground materials such as a concrete slab.

[0122] As can be seen in FIGS. 36-57 of the drawings, each ramp-like border tile 2a includes a relatively unraised (or slightly raised) side 106 and an oppositely disposed raised side 108, as well as opposite lateral sides 110 which are joined to and extend between the unraised side 106 and the raised side 108. The term unraised used herein, when describing the unraised side 106, means that the height (i.e., depth or overall thickness) of the unraised side 106 of the border tile 2a is less than that of the raised side 108 to provide the border tile 2a with an inclined surface that rises from the unraised side 106 to the raised side 108. When viewed in plan, the ramp-like border tile 2a preferably takes on a rectangular shape, although it is envisioned to be within the scope of the present invention that the ramp-like border tile 2a may take on various shapes, with convex or concave unraised sides 106 and/or raised sides 108 and/or lateral sides 110.

[0123] The bottom surface 6a of the ramp-like border or transition tile 2a may include a plurality of spaced apart slots 112 formed therein near a portion of the bottom surface 6a in proximity to the unraised side 106 of the tile 2a. The slots 112 are preferably parallel to one another, and provide the unraised side 106 of the ramp-like border tile 2a with greater flexibility and to ensure that it rests more closely to the supporting surface on which the ramp-like border tile 2a is placed, but also are provided to allow water collecting under the rectangular tiles 2 within the free space between the supporting stanchions 10 to drain therefrom through the slots 112.

[0124] Also, as can be seen in FIGS. 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, 49 and 51-55, each of the preferably frustoconically-shaped stanchions 10a are spaced apart from each other and arranged in parallel rows extending between the unraised side 106 and the raised side 108, and where each stanchion 10a in each row increases in height and in its downward and outward extension from the recessed portion 8a from the unraised side 106 to the raised side 108 of the ramp-like border tile 2a. Thus, the stanchions 10a, arranged with increasing height as described previously, provide the border tile 2a with its ramp-like surface structure so that the raised side 108 of the ramp-like border tile 2a has an overall height that matches the height of a rectangular tile 2 described previously and to which the border tile 2a is mated.

[0125] In addition, at least on the raised side 108 of the ramp-like border tile 2a there is disposed a plurality of spaced apart male connectors 14 and/or female receptacles 16 in between the male connectors 14. Alternatively, the raised side 108 of the ramp-like border tile 2a may include just a plurality of male connectors 14, or just a plurality of female receptacles 16. For example, FIGS. 37, 41, 45 and 49 show ramp-like border tiles 2a of the present invention formed with spaced apart female receptacles 16 on the raised side 108 of the tile 2a. Alternatively, and as shown in FIGS. 39, 43, 47 and 51, the ramp-like border tiles 2a of the present invention may include a plurality of spaced apart male connectors 14 situated on the raised side 108 of the ramp-like border tile 2a. Alternatively, and as stated previously, there could be a mix of male connectors 14 and female receptacles 16 disposed on the raised side 108 of the ramp-like border tile 2a. It is further envisioned to be within the scope of the present invention to include either or both of male connectors 14 and female receptacles 16 on the opposite lateral sides 110 of the ramp-like border tile 2a.

[0126] Also, in a preferred form of the present invention, the ramp-like border tile 2a includes a plurality of generally wedge-shaped projections 15 spaced apart from each other at least partially along the raised side 108 of the border tile 2a. The projections 15 are preferably situated on the raised side 108 so that they would be in alignment with the generally wedge-shaped slots 17 formed in a lateral side of a rectangular tile 2 to which the border tile 2a is to be mated so that the projections 15 of the border tile 2a may be received by the slots 17 of the rectangular tile 2, which slots 17 are complementary in shape to the projections 15. Alternatively, the raised side 108 of the ramp-like border tile 2a may have formed therein a plurality of generally wedge-shaped slots 17 spaced apart from each other at least partially along the raised side 108 of the border tile 2a, which receive corresponding generally wedge-shaped projections 15 of the rectangular tile 2 to which the border tile 2a is mated. In a further alternative version of the ramp-like border tile 2a of the present invention, the raised side 108 of the border tile 2a may include both generally wedge-shaped projections 15 and generally wedge-shaped slots 17 to mate with corresponding generally wedge-shaped slots 17 and generally wedge-shaped projections 15 situated on a lateral side of the rectangular tile 2 to which the border tile 2a is mated.

[0127] In an even more preferred version of the ramp-like border tile 2a of the present invention, each male connector 14 situated on the raised side 108 of the border tile 2a includes a lip or flange 100, such as described previously with respect to the rectangular tile 2, so that the lip or flange 100 of the male connectors 14 of the border tile 2a may be received by corresponding female receptacles 16 of the rectangular tile 2 to which the ramp-like border tile 2a is mated, each female receptacle 16 of the rectangular tile 2 including a slot 102 formed therein which receives the lip or flange 100 of the male connector 14 of the border tile 2a when the border tile 2a is mated to the rectangular tile 2. If the ramp-like border tile 2a is formed with female receptacles 16 situated on the raised side 108 thereof, each female receptacle 16 preferably includes a slot 102 which is adapted to receive the lip or flange 100 of a corresponding male connector 14 of the rectangular tile 2 when the border tile 2a is mated to a rectangular tile 2.

[0128] Furthermore, the ramp-like border or transition tile 2a may include one or more first rib-receiving slots 144 recessed into the surface of the inside side wall 132 or the oppositely-disposed outside side wall 136, or one or both of the lateral side walls 138, 140, of the second segment 20 of the male connectors 14 situated on the raised side 108, such as included with the tile 2 shown in FIGS. 34 and 35. Furthermore, one or more second rib-receiving slots 146 may be formed in the surface of the raised side 108 of the ramp-like border tile 2a on which the male connectors 14 are disposed and from which the male connectors 14 extend, in the same manner described previously with respect to the tile 2 shown in FIGS. 34 and 35.

[0129] Similarly, one or more female receptacles 16 on the raised side 108 of the ramp-like border tile 2a, if such are included, may have one or more ribs 148 disposed on and extending outwardly and preferably perpendicularly from the surface of one or more of the inner wall 28, the oppositely disposed outer wall 30 and the two lateral side walls 32 defining the female receptacle 16, or receptacles, and on the raised side 108 of the ramp-like border tile 2a where the female receptacles 16 are situated, and positioned thereon to align with the first and second rib-receiving slots 144, 146 of tile 2 and to be received therein when the male connectors 14 of one tile 2, 2a are received by corresponding female receptacles 16 of a mating tile 2, 2a, in the same manner as described previously with respect to the tile shown in FIGS. 34 and 35.

[0130] As with the tile 2 described previously, it should be realized that the placement of the lip 100 and lip-receiving slot 102 respectively on the male connector 14 and the female receptacle 16 on the ramp-like border tile 2a and/or the tile 2 may be interchanged, that is, having the lip 100 disposed on one or more of the walls 28, 30, 32 of the female receptacle 16 on the ramp-like border tile 2a or the tile 2 and the lip-receiving slot 102 being formed in a surface of the second segment 20 of one or more of the male connectors 14 of the ramp-like border tile 2a or the tile 2. Similarly, the disposition of the ribs 148 on one or more of the walls 28, 30, 32 of one or more female receptacles 16 and on the raised side 108 of the ramp-like border tile 2a or side 154 of tile 2 may be switched with the disposition of the first rib-receiving slots 144 of the second segment 20 of one or more male connectors 14 and the second rib-receiving slots 146 formed in either the surface of the raised side 108 of the border tile 2a or the surface of side 134 of the tile 2, respectively. Such reverse arrangements described above are also envisioned to be within the scope of the present invention.

[0131] It may still be desired, but not required, to use a liquid adhesive filling the glue reservoir 38 of the female receptacle 16 of the border tile 2a and/or filling the glue reservoir 24 formed in the male connector 14 of the border tile 2a to further secure the ramp-like border tile 2a to an adjacent tile 2 together in an interlocked fashion.

[0132] Accordingly, the male connectors 14 and the female receptacles 16 of the ramp-like border tiles 2a have the same structure as the male connectors 14 and female receptacles 16 of the rectangular tiles 2 described previously herein, including the glue reservoirs 24 and 38, and the projections 15 and slots 17 of the ramp-like border tile 2a may take on the structure of the various versions of the projections 15 and slots 17 of the rectangular tile 2 also described previously herein, so that the ramp-like border tile 2a of the present invention may interlock with the rectangular, surface-covering tile 2 described previously. Furthermore, the ramp-like border, or transition, tiles 2a may include the lock protrusions 158 and/or the lock recesses 156, as described previously for the rectangular tile 2, formed at least on the raised side 108 so that the lock protrusions 158 and lock recesses 156 of the ramp-like border tiles 2a may interface with corresponding lock recesses 156 and lock protrusions 158 of an adjacent rectangular tile 2 to help join and lock the two tiles 2, 2a together.

[0133] As can be seen from FIGS. 52-55 of the drawings, each ramp-like border tile 2a may have different transverse thicknesses in its main body 3a, such as 0.51 inches, 0.75 inches and 1.00 inch, for example, and each ramp-like border tile 2a may have different heights or depths at the raised side 108 thereof, such as 2.00 inches, 2.50 inches, 3.00 inches and 3.50 inches. The purpose of having different heights or depths to the ramp-like border tile 2a at the raised side 108 thereof is so that the top surface 4a thereof at the raised side 108 of the border tile 2a will match the height of the rectangular tile 2 to which the border tile 2a is mated. As stated previously, and as shown in FIGS. 32 and 33, the overall height or depth of the rectangular tile 2 may differ, depending on the use of the tiles 2 and the surface on which the tiles 2 are placed. For example, in FIG. 33, the tile 2 shown therein has a height or depth which is less than the height or depth of the tile 2 shown in FIG. 32. Thus, the ramp-like border tile 2a, having different heights or depths at the raised side 108 thereof, can essentially seamlessly mate with a rectangular tile 2 by selecting a border tile 2a which has a height or depth at its raised side 108 that matches the height or depth of the rectangular tile 2 to which it is mated.

[0134] FIGS. 56 and 57 illustrate how a plurality of rectangular tiles 2 may be interlocked together to cover a desired area of an athletic or recreational surface, playground or rooftop, along with ramp-like border tiles 2a mated to the exterior-positioned rectangular tiles 2 of the plurality of rectangular tiles 2 to either completely surround the arrangement of rectangular tiles 2, as shown in FIG. 56, or just a portion of the periphery of the rectangular tiles 2, as shown in FIG. 57. The border or transition tiles 2a may be easily cut in the field, if necessary, especially at the corners of a rectangular arrangement of rectangular tiles 2, to ensure a close fit with mating border or transition tiles 2a and with the rectangular tiles 2.

[0135] The tiles 2, 2a constructed in accordance with the present invention will now be further described.

[0136] A tile 2 for covering an area and which interlocks with an adjacent tile 2 comprises a main body 3 having a top surface 4 and a bottom surface 6 disposed opposite the top surface 4, the main body 3 having at least a first lateral side and a second lateral side; at least one male connector 14 situated on at least one of the first lateral side and the second lateral side of the main body 3 and extending outwardly therefrom; and at least one female receptacle 16 situated on at least one of the first lateral side and the second lateral side of the main body 3. The at least one male connector 14 of the tile 2 is engageable with a female receptacle 16 of an adjacent tile 2 so that the tile 2 may interlock with the adjacent tile 2.

[0137] The main body 3 of the tile 2 resides generally in a plane. Preferably, the at least one male connector 14 includes a first segment 18 extending outwardly from the main body 3 and co-planarly with the main body 3, and a second segment 20 joined to the first segment 18 and extending perpendicularly from the first segment 18, the second segment 20 having an exterior surface and a free end 142. Preferably, the female receptacle 16 includes an inner wall 28, an outer wall 30 disposed opposite the inner wall 28, side walls 32 interposed between the inner wall 28 and the outer wall 30, and a recessed bottom wall 33, the inner wall 28, outer wall 30, side walls 32 and bottom wall 33 of the female receptacle 16 defining a recess 26 for at least partially receiving the second segment 20 of the male connector 14 of an adjacent tile 2 to interlock the tile 2 with the adjacent tile 2.

[0138] The second segment 20 of the at least one male connector 14 includes at least one lip 100 extending outwardly from the exterior surface of the second segment 20. The at least one female receptacle 16 includes at least one corresponding slot 102 which is dimensioned to receive the at least one lip 100 of the second segment 20 of a male connector 14 of an adjacent tile 2 when the male connector 14 of one tile 2 is received by a corresponding female receptable 16 of an adjacent tile 2 to help interlock the two tiles 2 together, the at least one slot 102 being complementary in shape to that of the at least one lip 100 of the male connector 14.

[0139] In one form of the tile 2 of the present invention, the at least one slot 102 of the at least one female receptacle 16 is formed in at least one of the inner wall 28, the oppositely disposed outer wall 30 and at least one of the side walls 32 of the at least one female receptacle 16.

[0140] In another form of the tile 2 of the present invention, the at least one slot 102 formed in the at least one of the inner wall 28, the oppositely disposed outer wall 30 and the at least one of the side walls 32 of the at least one female receptacle 16 is disposed thereon near the recessed bottom wall 33 of the at least one female receptacle 16. Furthermore, the at least one lip 100 of the at least one male connector 14 is disposed near the free end 142 of the second segment 20 thereof.

[0141] In another form of the tile 2 of the present invention, the second segment 20 of the at least one male connector 14 further includes at least one rib-receiving slot 144 formed in the exterior surface of the second segment 20. Furthermore, at least one of the inner wall 28, the oppositely disposed outer wall 30 and at least one of the side walls 32 defining the at least one female receptacle 16 includes at least one rib 148 extending outwardly therefrom, the at least one rib-receiving slot 144 of the second segment 20 of the at least one male connector 14 being dimensioned to receive therein the at least one rib 148 of the at least one female receptacle 16 of an adjacent tile 2 when the male connector 14 of one tile 2 is received by a corresponding female receptable 16 of an adjacent tile 2 to help interlock the two tiles 2 together, the at least one rib-receiving slot 144 of the at least one male connector 14 being complementary in shape to that of the at least one rib 148 of the at least one female receptacle 16.

[0142] In yet another form of the present invention, the first segment 18 of the at least one male connector 14 of the tile 2 includes an underside surface 155 and a lock recess 156 formed in the underside surface 155. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the tile 2 includes an outer wall 30 which at least partially defines the at least one receptacle 16, the outer wall 30 having an end wall 36. The outer wall 30, in this preferred form of the tile 2, includes a lock protrusion 158 disposed on the end wall 36 thereof. In an even more preferred form of the tile 2 of the present invention, the lock protrusion 158 has an exposed surface 160, the exposed surface 160 of the lock protrusion 158 having a raised mid-section 162, the exposed surface 160 sloping downwardly and laterally from the raised mid-section 162.

[0143] In another form of the tile 2 of the present invention, a ramp-like transition tile 2a for covering an area and which interlocks with an adjacent tile 2 comprises a main body 3a having a top surface 4a and a bottom surface 6a disposed opposite the top surface 4a, the main body 3a having at least a first side 106 and a second side 108 situated opposite the first side 106, and opposite lateral sides 110 joined to and extending between the first side 106 and the second side 108, the height of the first side 106 being less than that of the second side 108 to provide the top surface 4a of the ramp-like transition tile 2a with an increasing slope extending from the first side 106 to the second side 108; and at least one of 1) at least one male connector 14 situated on the second side 108 of the main body 3a and extending outwardly therefrom, and 2) at least one female receptacle 16 situated on the second side 108 of the main body 3a.

[0144] Preferably, the at least one male connector 14 includes a first segment 18 extending outwardly from the main body 3a of the ramp-like transition tile 2a, and a second segment 20 joined to the first segment 18 and extending perpendicularly from the first segment 18, the second segment 20 having an exterior surface and a free end 142, the at least one male connector 14 being provided for engagement with an adjacent tile 2 and for interlocking the ramp-like transition tile 2a with the adjacent tile 2, and preferably the at least one female receptacle 16 includes an inner wall 28, an outer wall 30 disposed opposite the inner wall 28, side walls 32 interposed between the inner wall 28 and the outer wall 30, and a recessed bottom wall 33, the inner wall 28, outer wall 30, side walls 32 and bottom wall 33 of the at least one female receptacle 16 defining a recess 26, the at least one female receptacle 16 being provided for engagement with an adjacent tile 2 and for interlocking the ramp-like transition tile 2a with the adjacent tile 2.

[0145] In yet another form of the ramp-like transition tile 2a of the present invention, the second segment 20 of the at least one male connector 14 includes at least one lip 100 extending outwardly from the exterior surface of the second segment 20.

[0146] In a further form of the ramp-like transition tile 2a of the present invention, the at least one female receptacle 16 includes at least one lip-receiving slot 102 formed in at least one of the inner wall 28, the outer wall 30 and at least one of the side walls 32 defining the at least one female receptacle 16.

[0147] In yet a further form of the ramp-like transition tile 2a of the present invention, the second segment 20 of the at least one male connector 14 includes at least one lip 100 extending outwardly from the exterior surface of the second segment 20. The second segment 20 of the at least one male connector 14 includes at least one rib-receiving slot 144 formed in the exterior surface of the second segment 20. The at least one female receptacle 16 includes at least one lip-receiving slot 102 formed in at least one of the inner wall 28, the outer wall 30 and at least one of the side walls 32 defining the at least one female receptacle 16. Furthermore, the at least one female receptacle 16 includes at least one rib 148 extending outwardly from at least one of the inner wall 28, the outer wall 30 and at least one of the side walls 32 defining the at least one female receptacle 16.

[0148] In another form of the ramp-like transition tile 2a of the present invention, the ramp-like transition tile 2a includes a bottom surface 6a and a plurality of spaced apart slots 112 formed in a portion of the bottom surface 6a in proximity to the first side 106 of the ramp-like transition tile 2a. Preferably, the slots 112 are arranged parallel to one another.

[0149] In still another form of the ramp-like transition tile 2a of the present invention, the ramp-like transition tile 2a further comprises a plurality of stanchions 10a mounted on the bottom surface 6a of the main body 3a and extending downwardly and outwardly from the bottom surface 6a, the stanchions 10a being spaced apart from each other and arranged in parallel rows extending between the first side 106 and the second side 108, each stanchion 10a in each row increasing in longitudinal length and in the downward and outward extension thereof from the bottom surface 6a in a direction of increasing length from the first side 106 to the opposite second side 108.

[0150] Preferably, each stanchion 10a of the plurality of stanchions 10a is frusto-conical in shape. Even more preferably, each stanchion 10a of the plurality of stanchions 10a has an outer surface and spaced apart ribs 104 situated on the outer surface.

[0151] The second side 108 of the ramp-like transition tile 2a has an outer surface. Furthermore, in a preferred form, the ramp-like transition tile 2a further comprises at least one of 1) at least one generally wedge-shaped projection 15 situated on the outer surface of the second side 108, and 2) at least one generally wedge-shaped slot 17 formed in the outer surface of the second side 108.

[0152] In yet another form of the present invention, the first segment 18 of the at least one male connector 14 of the ramp-like transition tile 2a includes an underside surface 155 and a lock recess 156 formed in the underside surface 155. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the tile 2a includes an outer wall 30 which at least partially defines the at least one receptacle 16, the outer wall 30 having an end wall 36. The outer wall 30, in this preferred form of the tile 2a, includes a lock protrusion 158 disposed on the end wall 36 thereof. In an even more preferred form of the tile 2a of the present invention, the lock protrusion 158 has an exposed surface 160, the exposed surface 160 of the lock protrusion 158 having a raised mid-section 162, the exposed surface 160 sloping downwardly and laterally from the raised mid-section 162.

[0153] The interlocking rubber tiles 2, 2a are described herein as being particularly useful for playgrounds. However, it should be realized that the tiles 2, 2a have many different uses, including, for example, for covering rooftop surfaces and other athletic and recreational surfaces.

[0154] Although illustrative embodiments of the present invention have been described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various other changes and modifications may be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.