Elongated structural member having a plastic sleeve and a filler composite material

Abstract

An elongated structural member that includes a plastic sleeve surrounding a filler composite material. The filler composite material includes ground rubber particles and a binder, wherein the granular particle size for the ground rubber particles ranges from 0.125 inches to 0.5 inches. When the binder is a concrete binder, ten to twenty percent by volume of the filler composite material is the concrete binder and eighty to ninety percent by volume of the filler composite material is the ground rubber particles. Moreover, when the binder is a resin binder, ten percent by volume of the filler composite material is the resin binder and ninety percent by volume of the filler composite material is the ground rubber particles.

1 . An elongated structural member comprising: 
 a filler composite material, said filler composite material including ground rubber particles and a binder; and    a plastic sleeve surrounding said filler composite material,    wherein the granular particle size for said ground rubber particles ranges from 0.125 inches to 0.5 inches.    
   
   
       2 . An elongated structural member according to  claim 1 , wherein said ground rubber particles are post-consumer scrap rubber that has been pounded, crushed, or ground.  
   
   
       3 . An elongated structural member according to  claim 1 , wherein said ground rubber particles are post-industrial scrap rubber that has been pounded, crushed, or ground.  
   
   
       4 . An elongated structural member according to  claim 1 , wherein said plastic sleeve is a high-density poly-ethylene (HDPE) plastic sleeve.  
   
   
       5 . An elongated structural member according to  claim 1 , wherein the outer dimension of said sleeve ranges from 10 inches to 16 inches.  
   
   
       6 . An elongated structural member according to  claim 1 , wherein the wall thickness of said sleeve ranges from 0.75 inches to 1.5 inches.  
   
   
       7 . An elongated structural member according to  claim 1 , wherein the outer dimension of said sleeve is uniform throughout the entire length of said sleeve.  
   
   
       8 . An elongated structural member according to  claim 1 , wherein the outer dimension of said sleeve is variable along the length of said sleeve.  
   
   
       9 . An elongated structural member according to  claim 1 , wherein the wall thickness of said sleeve is uniform throughout the entire length of said sleeve.  
   
   
       10 . An elongated structural member according to  claim 1 , wherein the wall thickness of said sleeve is variable along the length of said sleeve.  
   
   
       11 . An elongated structural member according to  claim 1 , Wherein said binder is a concrete binder, 
 ten to twenty percent by volume of said filler composite material being said concrete binder and eighty to ninety percent by volume of said filler composite material being said ground rubber particles.    
   
   
       12 . An elongated structural member according to  claim 11 , wherein a solid-core steel bar extends axially along the length of said sleeve, said solid-core steel bar being incorporated within said filler composite material.  
   
   
       13 . An elongated structural member according to  claim 1 , wherein said binder is a resin binder, 
 ten percent by volume of said filler composite material being said resin binder and ninety percent by volume of said filler composite material being said ground rubber particles.    
   
   
       14 . An elongated structural member according to  claim 13 , wherein said resin binder is a urethane binder.  
   
   
       15 . An elongated structural member according to  claim 13 , wherein steel components are absent from within said ground rubber particles.  
   
   
       16 . An elongated structural member according to  claim 1 , wherein one of an end cap, an end plug, or an end plate is disposed at a distal end said sleeve.  
   
   
       17 . An elongated structural member according to  claim 16 , wherein said one of said end cap, said end plug, or said end plate is structurally adapted to seal said sleeve at said distal end.  
   
   
       18 . An elongated structural member according to  claim 16 , wherein said one of said end cap, said end plug, or said end plate provides an obstruction between said filler composite material and an environment that is external to said sleeve.  
   
   
       19 . An elongated structural member according to  claim 16 , wherein said end plug is disposed within an opening of the sleeve.  
   
   
       20 . An elongated structural member according to  claim 16 , wherein said end plate and sleeve are formed as a single unitary member.