Apparatus and method for making decorative tiles

Abstract

Apparatus and a method for making decorative tiles from container cans wherein a pair of clamp members have generally rectangular clamping surfaces between which a flattened can portion of a rectangular shape is clamped with at least one of its edges projecting outwardly from between the clamp members. One of the clamp members, which is preferably a base clamp member on which the other clamp member is movably supported, has an edge surface that extends from its clamping surface in a perpendicular relationship adjacent the outwardly projecting can portion edge. The other movably supported clamp member has an edge surface that is inclined with respect to its clamping surface adjacent the outwardly projecting can portion edge so that this edge can be readily bent toward the perpendicular edge surface of the base clamp member to provide a reinforcing edge flange. Preferably, the clamp members have three sets of the perpendicular and inclined edge surfaces so that all but one edge of the can portion can be provided with the reinforcing flanges during a single clamping of the can portion. The remaining edge is bent during another clamping to complete the tile fabrication. A screw and nut arrangement is utilized to maintain the clamp members in a closed position clamping the can portion. A template of the apparatus is preferably utilized in cutting the can portion to the proper size and a manual tool with a curved work portion is preferably utilized to bend the can portion edges.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.