Unitized structural reinforcement construct

Abstract

The present invention relates to a fibrous and/or filamentary construct, which can be used in a mixture which can be cementitious, or an aggregate exhibiting adverse affects on the components therein, to provide supplemental and reinforcing strength upon setting, and more particularly, to a unitized construct which comprises a plurality of oriented reinforcing fibrous and/or filamentary components combined with a circumferential retaining element, said circumferential retaining element providing temporary retention of the oriented reinforcing components until such point the unitized substrate is incorporated and subjected to mechanical agitation during preparation of an aggregate compound. The unitized fibrous and/or filamentary construct is endowed with inherent and improved dispensability and dispersability of the associated reinforcing component into aggregates exhibiting adverse affects on the components therein, demonstrated by bituminous aggregates, such as asphalt, whereby the unitized fibrous and/or filamentary components are unaffected by the internal environmental conditions of the aggregate.

1 . A method of improving the properties of a mixture, wherein said method comprises the steps of: 
 a. providing a mixture;    b. providing unitized fibrous and/or filamentary constructs, each of said unitized fibrous and/or filamentary constructs being comprised of: 
 i. two or more reinforcing fibrous and/or filamentary components;  
 ii. a circumferential retaining element;  
 iii. wherein said reinforcing fibrous and/or filamentary components are combined in an essentially parallel orientation and said circumferential retaining element circumscribes about an overall circumference described by said combined and essentially parallel reinforcing fibrous and/or filamentary components;  
   c. adding into said mixture a quantity of said unitized fibrous and/or filamentary constructs so as to form a blend; and    d. mechanically agitating said blend so as to disrupt said circumferential retaining elements and disperse said reinforcing fibrous and/or filamentary components into said mixture.    
   
   
       2 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein said fibrous and/or filamentary unitized constructs exhibit an overall circumference of between about 3 mm to 150 mm.  
   
   
       3 . A method as in  claim 2 , wherein said unitized fibrous and/or filamentary constructs exhibit an overall circumference of between about 3 mm to 30 mm.  
   
   
       4 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein said unitized fibrous and/or filamentary constructs exhibit a length of between about 8 mm to 100 mm.  
   
   
       5 . A method as in  claim 4 , wherein said unitized fibrous and/or filamentary constructs exhibit a length of between about 12 mm to 50 mm.  
   
   
       6 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein said mixture is a bituminous aggregate at an elevated temperature.  
   
   
       7 . A method as in  claim 2 , wherein said mixture is a cementitious mixture, and said fibrous and/or filamentary constructs comprise metallic fibrous components exhibiting a finite staple length.  
   
   
       8 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein said mixture is a cementitious mixture, and said fibrous and/or filamentary constructs comprise metallic fibrous components of infinite length.  
   
   
       9 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein said mixture is a cementitious mixture, and said fibrous and/or filamentary constructs comprise superabsorbent polymer fibrous compounds exhibiting a finite staple length.  
   
   
       10 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein said mixture is a cementitious mixture, and said fibrous and/or filamentary constructs comprise superabsorbent polymer fibrous components exhibiting an infinite length.  
   
   
       11 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein each of said fibrous and/or filamentary constructs comprises two or more fibrous or filamentary units each comprising two or more of said reinforcing fibrous and/or filamentary components.  
   
   
       12 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein each of said reinforcing fibrous and/or filamentary components exhibits a finite staple length.  
   
   
       13 . A structural reinforcement for a mixture comprising unitized fibrous and/or filamentary constructs, each of said unitized fibrous and/or filamentary constructs being comprised of two or more reinforcing fibrous and/or filamentary components and one or more circumferential retaining elements, wherein said reinforcing fibrous and/or filamentary components are combined in an essentially parallel orientation and said circumferential retaining element circumscribes about an overall circumference described by said combined and essentially parallel reinforcing fibrous and/or filamentary components.  
   
   
       14 . A structural reinforcement for a mixture in  claim 7 , wherein said circumferential retaining element circumscribes no more than 80% of the total surface area of said unitized fibrous and/or filamentary constructs.  
   
   
       15 . A structural reinforcement as in  claim 13 , wherein said reinforcing fibrous and/or filamentary components comprise metallic fibrous components.  
   
   
       16 . A structural reinforcement as in  claim 15 , wherein said metallic fibrous components exhibit a finite staple length.  
   
   
       17 . A structural reinforcement as in  claim 13 , wherein said reinforcing fibrous and/or filamentary components comprise superabsorbent polymer fibrous components.  
   
   
       18 . A structural reinforcement as in  claim 17 , wherein said superabsorbent polymer fibrous components exhibit a finite staple length.  
   
   
       19 . A structural reinforcement as in  claim 13 , wherein each of said fibrous and/or filamentary constructs comprises two or more fibrous or filamentary units each comprising two or more of said reinforcing fibrous and/or filamentary components to provide compound reinforcing constructs.  
   
   
       20 . A structural reinforcement as in  claim 19 , wherein each of said reinforcing fibrous and/or filamentary components exhibits a finite staple length.