BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field Of The Invention This invention relates to a reinforcement element for composite materials such as concrete, ceramics, glasses, asphalt and other castable materials.

Description of the Related Art Many materials have good compressive strength but poor tensile and/or shear strength. This significantly limits their usefulness.

There are well known methods for improving tensile and/or shear characteristics for some materials. For instance, the use of reinforcing steels bars (rebars) or welded wire fabric in concrete. These materials must be specifically located spatially in the concrete to provide the desired improvement in strength. This is labor intensive and subject to error.

Small metal or Fiberglas fibers have been used in concrete to control crack propagation or provide limited improvements in the tensile characteristics of concrete.

In glass materials steel or plastic wire fabric has been placed in the glass or between layers of glass to improve impact and tensile strengths. Safety glass has a solid sheet of plastic laminated between two layers of glass.

Ceramic materials are often mounted on a substrate which provides the needed tensile or shear characteristics.

For bituminous asphalt pavement sheets of fabric like material can be laid under the layer of pavement to improve reflection crack propagation.

These methods do not provide reinforcement throughout the composite material, are not homogeneous, are frequently unidirectional, and are often costly and difficult to use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates in one aspect thereof to a reinforcement element for composite materials.

Such reinforcement element may comprise a member with a longitudinal section and with end sections. The end sections may be shaped as necessary or desired in a given end use application of the reinforcement element.

Alternatively, the reinforcement element of the invention may be fabricated from a material having desirable electrical or magnetic characteristics.

In another embodiment of the present inventions, the reinforcement element may be fabricated from a material having specific chemical, biochemical, bioelectical, or biomagnetic characteristics In yet another embodiment of the present inventions, the reinforcement element may be fabricated from a material having thermal characteristics different from those of the composite material.

Other aspects, features and embodiments of the invention will be more fully apparent from the ensuing disclosure and appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the reinforcement element of the present invention wherein both end sections of the reinforcement element are angled in substantially the same plane.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the reinforcement element of the present invention wherein one end section is angled in a plane that is 90 degrees different than the other end section.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the reinforcement element of the present invention wherein both end sections are in substantially the same plane, and such end sections are angular in shape and closed.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the reinforcement element of the present invention wherein one end section is angled in a plane that is 90 degrees different than the other end section, and such end sections are angular in shape and closed.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the reinforcement element of the present invention wherein both end sections are in substantially the same plane, and such end sections are circular in shape and closed.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the reinforcement element of the present invention wherein one end section is angled in a plane that is 90 degrees

different than the other end section, and such end sections are circular in shape and closed.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the reinforcement element of the present invention wherein the element comprises a closed element which can be circular, elliptical, rectangular, etc.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION. AND PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS THEREOF In accordance with the present invention, the performance of composite materials is improved by use of the reinforcement elements disclosed herein. Many materials have structural characteristics which are directionally limited. Concrete, ceramics, glasses, and asphalt are examples of materials that are strong in compression, but weak in tension or bending.

This invention provides, in one aspect, reinforcement elements for composite materials for simply and efficiently reinforcing such materials to improve directional strength. Such elements can be added to a composite mix prior to hardening to provide a homogeneous mixture of composite material and reinforcement elements.

The reinforcement elements may be made of metal, carbon fiber, graphite, plastic or other materials which may be formed to provide an element having a longitudinal section with two end sections of a distinct shape.

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown one embodiment of the present invention in which the reinforcement element 5 has two end sections 10 and 15. The end sections are angled in the same plane. The end section 10 may be angled anywhere between 0 degrees and 180 degrees with respect to the body of the element 5. End section 15 5

may be angled at the same or different angle as end section 10 with respect to the body of element 5.

Figure 2 shows a reinforcement element 20, wherein end section 23 is angled in a different plane than end section 21. The end section 23 may be angled anywhere between 0 degrees and 180 degrees with respect to the body of the element 20. End section 21 may be angled at the same or different angle as end section 23 with respect to the body of the element 20.

In another aspect, this invention provides for reinforcement elements for composite materials that are shaped to reduce the risk of entanglement when placed in the composite mixture. Accordingly, the end sections of the reinforcement elements are shaped such that the end sections are a closed shape, Referring now to Figure 3, there is shown a reinforcement element 30 having end section 33 and 37. The end sections are angled in the same plane, such that they are not visible in the 90 degree view. The end section 33 may have a triangular shape as shown in Figure 3, or may have any other angular shape, such as a rectangle, provided that such shape is closed. End section 37 may be the same angular shape as end section 33, or may be any other angular shape, provided that such shape is closed.

Figure 4 shows a reinforcement element 40, wherein end section 43 is angled in a different plane than end section 47. Similar to the reinforcement element 30 shown in Figure 3, the end sections 43 and 47 of reinforcement element 40 are angular in shape and closed.

Referring now to Figure 5, there will be seen a reinforcement element 50 having end section 53 and 57. The end sections are round and in the same plane, such that they are not visible in the 90 degree view. The end section 53 may have a circular shape as

shown in Figure 5, or may have any other round shape, such as an ellipse, provided that such shape is closed. End section 57 may be the same round shape as end section 53, or may be any other round shape, provided that such shape is closed.

Figure 6 shows a reinforcement element 60, wherein end section 63 is angled in a different plane than end section 67. Similar to the reinforcement element 50 shown in Figure 5, the end sections 63 and 67 of reinforcement element 60 are round in shape and closed.

Other embodiments of the present invention include reinforcement elements having one end section which is angular in shape and another which is round in shape.

Figure 7 shows a continuous reinforcement element 70 formed into a circular shape.

The use of one geometry or another is determined by the application and material.

For instance, with poured concrete for a building foundation a shape which can be added to the concrete at the mixing plant or just prior to discharging from a concrete truck would require a shape which would not clump or lock together. This would permit the reinforcement to be uniformly and predictably distributed in the concrete.

A closed loop or longitudinal member with closed ends loops would be appropriate.

For a concrete slab the same situation might apply. Or the reinforcement members could be spread over the concrete slab after the concrete is poured and worked into the concrete. In this case longer longitudinal members with bent ends might provide the desired reinforcement.

With bituminous asphalt used for a highway closed loops or a longitudinal member with closed loops of a material which would not cause tire damage as the road surface wears would be appropriate.

The end section may have a cross sectional area which is the same or different from other parts of the reinforcement element.

In many instances a circular cross section as in a wire will provide the most cost effective geometry for the reinforcing member. Circular cross sections provide uniform structural characteristics which are desirable in many instances.

A rectangular cross section will provide differential reinforcing with the larger dimension providing the greater reinforcement. In a thin ceramic a thin rectangular member set in a parallel pattern provides greater lateral strength than in the perpendicular axis.

The size of the member is determined by a combination of factors: the volume of the composite, the use of the composite, the reinforcement required, etc.

For a four inch thick concrete slab a 12 gauge wire member a few inches long with closed loops 1/2"in diameter at each end would be appropriate.

A ceramic for a semiconductor use would require microscopic sized members.

For bituminous asphalt a rigid yet flexible longitudinal member several inches long with closed looped ends 1"or more in diameter might be appropriate for a highway.

For safety glass closed loop members with desired optical properties a few thousandths of an inch in diameter would be appropriate.

For nanofabrication materials members on the molecular scale would be used.

For large concrete structures members might be several feet long.

In another aspect, the present invention also provides for altering the electrical, magnetic, chemical, biochemical or thermal characteristics of the composite material.

Although the invention has been variously disclosed herein with reference to illustrative embodiments and features, it will be appreciated that the embodiments and features described herein above are not intended to limit the invention, and that other variations, modifications and other embodiments will suggest themselves to those of ordinary skill in the art. The invention therefore is to be broadly construed, consistent with the claims hereafter set forth.