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Reinforced structural component

Reinforced structural component description/claims

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to structural components and more particularly to a structural member shaped as a rod, plate, or the like and having a matrix formed of a composite material such as plastics reinforced with wood fibers (or glass fibers) and additives, and a reinforcing element such as aluminum alloy or steel.

2. Related Art

Conventionally, wood products such as wood rods or metal products such as metal rods have drawbacks including high cost, not waterproof, and susceptible to getting rust or corrosion. Such products are particularly susceptible to getting rust or corrosion when they are disposed in an outdoor environment.

Rods or plates made of plastics reinforced with wood fibers are widely employed as constructional components of fences, sheds, boardwalks, equipment of amusement parks, etc. Such reinforced products are advantageous for being highly resistant to moisture, not susceptible to breakage, durable, and not susceptible to getting rust or corrosion.

While the reinforced products have the above advantages, they tend to deform over a period of time of use due to direct sunlight. Thus, applications of such reinforced products are relatively limited. Hence, a need has arisen for an improved reinforced material.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a reinforced structural member comprising a composite matrix formed of plastics reinforced with wood fibers (or glass fibers) and additives including calcium carbonate and ashes; and a metal reinforcing element with the composite matrix formed therearound. The reinforced structural member of the present invention has the advantages of being not susceptible to deform due to direct sunlight, and a great increase of structural strength.

In one aspect of the present invention the metal reinforcing element has a hollow, axial tube for reducing weight and increasing structural strength of the structural member.

In another aspect of the present invention the metal reinforcing element is a skeleton for supporting the composite matrix such that the structural strength of the structural member is greatly increased.

In yet another aspect of the present invention the structural member is shaped as a rod or a plate.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of reinforced structural member (e.g., rod of circular section having a first configuration of reinforcing element) according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a broken-away perspective view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a second preferred embodiment of reinforced structural member (e.g., rod of square section having a second configuration of reinforcing element) according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a third preferred embodiment of reinforced structural member (e.g., rod of square section having a third configuration of reinforcing element) according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a fourth preferred embodiment of reinforced structural member (e.g., plate of rectangular section having a fourth configuration of reinforcing element) according to the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a fifth preferred embodiment of reinforced structural member (e.g., plate of rectangular section having a fifth configuration of reinforcing element) according to the present invention.

• Provisional Patent
• Utility Patent

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