Patterned tiles and floor coverings comprising same

A tile system, comprising:

• a plurality of tiles, each tile having first and second end edges and first and second side edges, the distance between the first and second end edges of the tile corresponding to a length of the tile, the distance between the first and second side edges of the tile corresponding to a width of the tile, the first and second end edges being joined to the first and second side edges at four spaced corners, each tile comprising:
• a first portion having a background pattern comprising at least one color;
• a second portion having a contrast pattern intermixed with a portion of the background pattern, the contrast pattern comprising at least one color different than the at least one color of the background pattern;
• and
• a diagonal boundary line extending across the width of the tile from a first position on the first side edge of the tile to a second position on the second side edge of the tile, the boundary line substantially dividing the first portion of the tile from the second portion of the tile, wherein the first position on the first side edge is spaced from the first end edge by a first distance, wherein the second position on the second side edge is spaced from the second end edge by a second distance, and wherein the first distance is substantially equal to the second distance,
• wherein the contrast pattern is configured to emphasize the location of a selected corner of the tile,
• wherein the plurality of tiles are configured for selective positioning relative to one another such that the contrast pattern of each tile has a desired visual appearance relative to the contrast patterns of adjacent tiles, and wherein the plurality of tiles are configured to cooperatively define a surface covering.

A method for forming a surface covering, the method comprising:

• providing a plurality of tiles, each tile having first and second end edges and first and second side edges, the distance between the first and second end edges of the tile corresponding to a length of the tile, the distance between the first and second side edges of the tile corresponding to a width of the tile, the first and second end edges being joined to the first and second side edges at four spaced corners, each tile comprising:
• a first portion having a background pattern comprising at least one color;
• a second portion having a contrast pattern intermixed with a portion of the background pattern, the contrast pattern comprising at least one color different than the at least one color of the background pattern;
• and
• a diagonal boundary line extending across the width of the tile from a first position on the first side edge of the tile to a second position on the second side edge of the tile, the boundary line substantially dividing the first portion of the tile from the second portion of the tile, wherein the first position on the first side edge is spaced from the first end edge by a first distance, wherein the second position on the second side edge is spaced from the second end edge by a second distance, and wherein the first distance is substantially equal to the second distance, and
• wherein the contrast pattern is configured to emphasize the location of a selected corner of the tile;
• and
• selectively positioning the plurality of tiles relative to one another thereon a hard surface such that the contrast pattern of each tile has a desired visual appearance relative to the contrast pattern of adjacent tiles,
• wherein the plurality of tiles cooperate to define the surface covering.