Patterned tiles and floor coverings comprising same

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

• selectively positioning a plurality of substantially similar carpet tiles, each carpet tile having first and second end edges and first and second side edges, the distance between the first and second end edges of the carpet tile corresponding to a length of the carpet tile, the distance between the first and second side edges of the carpet tile corresponding to a width of the carpet tile, the first and second end edges being joined to the first and second side edges at four spaced corners, each carpet tile comprising:
• a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion comprises a first trapezoidal section and the second portion comprises a second trapezoidal section, wherein the first portion and the second portion are partially defined by a diagonal boundary line extending across the width of the carpet tile from a first position on the first side edge of the carpet tile to a second position on the second side edge of the carpet 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, wherein the first distance is substantially equal to the second distance;
• and wherein:
• the first portion comprises a background pattern comprising at least two colors;
• the second portion comprises a contrast pattern intermixed with the background pattern, the contrast pattern comprising at least one contrast color different than any one color of the at least two colors of the background pattern and at least one color of the at least two colors of the background pattern;
• and
• wherein the combined first portion and second portion cooperate to form a carpet tile having a corner-oriented contrast pattern region;
• and
• wherein the plurality of carpet tiles are positioned relative to one another such that the corner-oriented contrast pattern region of each carpet tile has a particular orientation relative to the corner-oriented contrast pattern regions of adjacent carpet tiles, and wherein the plurality of carpet tiles are configured to cooperatively define at least a portion of a floor covering.

A carpet tile system, comprising:

• a plurality of carpet tiles, each carpet tile having first and second end edges and first and second side edges, the distance between the first and second end edges of the carpet tile corresponding to a length of the carpet tile, the distance between the first and second side edges of the carpet tile corresponding to a width of the carpet tile, the first and second end edges being joined to the first and second side edges at four spaced corners, each carpet tile comprising:
• a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion comprises a first trapezoidal section and the second portion comprises a second trapezoidal section, wherein the first portion and the second portion are partially defined by a diagonal boundary line extending across the width of the carpet tile from a first position on the first side edge of the carpet tile to a second position on the second side edge of the carpet 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, wherein the first distance is substantially equal to the second distance;
• and wherein:
• the first portion comprises a background pattern comprising a first tuft height;
• the second portion comprises a contrast pattern intermixed with the background pattern, the contrast pattern comprising at least one contrast tuft height different than the first tuft height of the background pattern and the first tuft height of the background pattern;
• and
• wherein the combined first portion and second portion cooperate to form a carpet tile having a corner-oriented contrast pattern region;
• and
• wherein the plurality of carpet tiles are positioned relative to one another such that the corner-oriented contrast pattern region of each carpet tile has a particular orientation relative to the corner-oriented contrast pattern regions of adjacent carpet tiles, and wherein the plurality of carpet tiles are configured to cooperatively define a least a portion of a floor covering.