Hemp building material

Abstract

A hemp building material for creating a reinforced structure utilizing hemp fibers. The hemp building material includes an elongate structure having a plurality of bast fibers contained within the elongate structure. The bast fibers are orientated substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the elongate structure. The bast fibers are preferably positioned within the lower portion of the elongate structure to provide tensile resistance to the elongate structure during the supporting of a vertical load. The elongate structure may have various configurations and may be constructed of various materials such as but not limited to plastic and composite materials.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A building material, comprising: 
 an elongate structure having an upper layer and a lower layer; and    a plurality of bast fibers positioned longitudinally within said elongate structure.    
     
     
         2 . The building material of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of bast fibers are positioned within said lower layer of said elongate structure.  
     
     
         3 . The building material of  claim 2 , wherein said bast fibers are comprised of a hemp material.  
     
     
         4 . The building material of  claim 3 , wherein said hemp material is comprised of a plurality of hemp stalks.  
     
     
         5 . The building material of  claim 4 , wherein said hemp stalks are positioned parallel to one another within said lower layer.  
     
     
         6 . The building material of  claim 5 , wherein said elongate structure is comprised of a board member having an upper surface and a lower surface.  
     
     
         7 . The building material of  claim 5 , wherein said elongate structure is comprised of an I-beam having an upper member, a middle member and a lower member.  
     
     
         8 . The building material of  claim 7 , wherein said lower member of said I-beam comprises said lower layer of said elongate structure.  
     
     
         9 . The building material of  claim 5 , wherein said elongate structure is comprised of a beam member having an upper edge and a lower edge.  
     
     
         10 . The building material of  claim 9 , wherein said beam member includes a passage.  
     
     
         11 . The building material of  claim 10 , wherein said beam member has a rectangular shape with a lower portion and an upper portion, wherein said lower portion includes a plurality of bast fibers forming a U-shape.  
     
     
         12 . The building material of  claim 5 , wherein said elongate structure is comprised of a column having an inner wall and an outer wall, wherein said plurality of bast fibers are positioned between said inner wall and said outer wall.  
     
     
         13 . A method of manufacturing a building material containing bast fibers, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing a plurality of bast fibers and a volume of binding agent;    (b) mixing said bast fibers with said binding agent into a mixture; and    (c) forming said mixture into an elongate structure with said bast fibers orientated along a longitudinal axis of said elongate structure.    
     
     
         14 . The method of manufacturing the building material containing bast fibers of  claim 13 , wherein said bast fibers are comprised of hemp material.  
     
     
         15 . The method of manufacturing the building material containing bast fibers of  claim 14 , wherein said hemp material is comprised of a plurality of whole hemp stalks.  
     
     
         16 . The method of manufacturing the building material containing bast fibers of  claim 15 , wherein said step of forming said mixture into an elongate structure is comprised of an extrusion process.  
     
     
         17 . The method of manufacturing the building material containing bast fibers of  claim 15 , wherein said step of forming said mixture into an elongate structure is comprised of a pressing process.  
     
     
         18 . The method of manufacturing the building material containing bast fibers of  claim 15 , wherein said step of forming said mixture into an elongate structure is comprised of a molding process.  
     
     
         19 . A method of manufacturing a building material containing bast fibers, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing a plurality of bast fibers and a volume of binding agent;    (b) positioning said bast fibers parallel to one another within a mold;    (c) dispensing said binding agent upon said bast fibers within said mold forming an upper layer and a lower layer, wherein said lower layer completely encloses said bast fibers; and    (d) allowing said binding agent to harden about said bast fibers.    
     
     
         20 . The method of manufacturing the building material containing bast fibers of  claim 19 , wherein said bast fibers are comprised of hemp material having a whole stalk structure.