Patent Publication Number: US-11041309-B2

Title: Non-corrosive micro rebar

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to micro rebar. More specifically, the present invention is a non-corrosive micro rebar. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Concrete mixtures are used to for a variety of structures that endure plenty of wear and tear. Such structures include, roads, sidewalks, divider walls, roof structures, homes, buildings, support columns submerged in water, and so on. In order to reinforce concrete mixtures, rebar is used to accommodate for any imbalances in concrete. More commonly used is micro rebar, which accommodates a wider range of shapes and sizes of concrete structures. Moreover, micro rebar accounts for more volume of concrete within a specific area of the concrete structure and more easily incorporated into concrete mixture than rebar itself. Micro rebar reduces the labor cost as well. 
     It is therefore an objective of the present invention to improve upon the structural reinforcement of micro rebar within concrete structures. The present invention not only accounts for the imbalances in concrete and accommodate any force or stress imposed upon the concrete structures, the present invention comprises improved threads that allows the concrete mixture to remain intact while supporting heavy loads, absorbing direct contact and force, withstanding harsh weather environments, and so on. Furthermore, the present invention is preferably made of plastic in order to lessen the weight of the of the present invention and the overall weight of the concrete structure. The plastic material also eliminates issues of corrosion in wet or harsh chemical environments. The present invention is able to hold together concrete structures, despite being made of plastic, as the present invention comprises a plurality of structurally sound threads. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a bottom perspective view of the first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a top side view of the first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-section view of  FIG. 3  along line  4 - 4  of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a front side view of the first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-section view of  FIG. 5  along line  6 - 6  of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a top perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION 
     All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. 
     The present invention is a non-corrosive micro rebar that effectively reinforces concrete structures. The present invention not only enhances the structural integrity of concrete structures but preserves the concrete structures for a longer period of time as the present invention preferably comprises plastic materials. In order for the present invention to reinforce concrete structures, the present invention comprises a central rod  1 , a plurality of threads  4 , and a plurality of channels  15 , as seen in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 . The central rod  1  positions and connects the plurality of threads  4  to one another. The plurality of threads  4  allows a concrete mixture to securely grip and surround the present invention. The central rod  1  and the plurality of threads  4  allows the concrete structure to better respond to high-force impact whether the high-force impact is a result of direct contact, an earthquake, a hurricane, and so on. The plurality of channels  15  allows the concrete mixture to surround each of the plurality of threads  4  and the central rod  1 . Furthermore, the plurality of channels  15  is defined by the plurality of threads  4 . Each of the plurality of threads  4  comprises a connecting rod  5  and an anchoring bar  6 . The connecting rod  5  offsets the anchoring bar  6  from the central rod  1 . The anchoring bar  6  allows the concrete mixture to securely solidify around and grasp onto each thread  4  and, consequently the central rod  1 . 
     The overall configuration of the aforementioned components allows a concrete structure to be effectively reinforced by the present invention. The plurality of threads  4  laterally traverses along the central rod  1 , seen in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 , and is radially distributed around the central rod  1 , seen in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 6 , thereby reducing the stress on both the central rod  1  and the plurality of threads  4 . More specifically, the plurality of threads  4  is equally distributed around the central rod  1 . In order for a concrete mixture to surround the plurality of threads  4  and the central rod  1 , each channel of the plurality of channels  15  is positioned in between a thread  4  and an adjacent thread  4  of the plurality of threads  4 . Moreover, each channel of the plurality of channels  15  is offset from each other by a thread of the plurality of threads  4  such that limited stress is imposed upon each thread. In order for each thread  4  to be structurally sound within the concrete mixture, the connecting rod  5  is fixed to the central rod  1  and is oriented perpendicular to the central rod  1 . The anchoring bar  6  is positioned adjacent the connecting rod  5 , opposite the central rod  1  so that each thread  4  is properly anchored within the concrete structure. In order to preserve the structural integrity of the central rod  1 , the anchoring bar  6  traverses across the connecting rod  5 . Each thread  4  is structurally sound within the concrete structure as the anchoring bar  6  is oriented concave with the connecting rod  5  and is centrally aligned with the connecting rod  5 . 
     In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the central rod  1  comprises a first flat surface  2  and a second flat surface  3 , shown in  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 4 , and  FIG. 5 . Each of the plurality of threads  4  further comprise a first flat surface  7  and a second flat surface  8 . The first flat surface  2  and the second flat surface  3  of the central rod  1 , as well as the first flat surface  7  and the second flat surface  8  of each thread  4 , allows a concrete mixture to grasp onto the present invention. The first flat surface  2  of the central rod  1  is positioned opposite the second flat surface  3  of the central rod  1 , across the central rod  1 . The first flat surface  7  of each thread  4  is positioned adjacent the first flat surface  2  of the central rod  1 . Similarly, the second flat surface  8  of each thread  4  is positioned adjacent the second flat surface  3  of the central rod  1 . More specifically, the first flat surface  2  of the central rod  1  is coplanar with the first flat surface  7  of each thread  4 , and the second flat surface  3  of the central rod  1  is coplanar with the second flat surface  8  of each thread  4 . This arrangement reduces the amount of stress on the central rod  1  from the surrounding concrete structure. 
     In a first embodiment of the present invention, seen in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 6 , the plurality of threads  4  comprises a first thread  9 , a second thread  10 , and a third thread  11 . The first thread  9 , the second thread  10 , and the third thread  11 , together, effectively holds together and reinforces the concrete structure, while allowing for more mobility of connecting rod  5 . The second thread  10  is positioned in between the first thread  9  and the third thread  11 . Moreover, the first thread  9 , the second thread  10 , and the third thread  11  are equally distributed about the central rod  1 . The central rod  1  of first thread  9 , the central rod  1  of the second thread  10 , and the central rod  1  of the third thread  11  are 120 degrees apart from each other. 
     In a second embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of threads  4  comprises a first thread  9 , a second thread  10 , a third thread  11 , a fourth thread  12 , a fifth thread  13 , and a sixth thread  14 , seen in  FIG. 7 . The first thread  9 , the second thread  10 , the third thread  11 , the fourth thread  12 , the fifth thread  13 , and the sixth thread  14 , together, effectively holds together and reinforces the concrete structure. Unlike the first embodiment of the present invention, the second embodiment of the present invention comprises a more rigid construction as a result. Consequently, the concrete structure imbedded with the second embodiment of the present invention is more rigid as well. Similar to the first embodiment of the second thread  10  is positioned in between the first thread  9  and the third thread  11 . The fourth thread  12  is positioned adjacent the third thread  11 , opposite the second thread  10 . The fifth thread  13  is positioned adjacent the fourth thread  12 , opposite the third thread  11 . The sixth thread  14  is positioned adjacent the fifth thread  13 , opposite the fourth thread  12 . The first thread  9  is positioned adjacent the sixth thread  14 , opposite the fifth thread  13 . Similar to the first embodiment of the present invention, the first thread  9 , the second thread  10 , the third thread  11 , the fourth thread  12 , the fifth thread  13 , and the sixth thread  14  are equally distributed about the central rod  1 . The central rod  1  of first thread  9 , the central rod  1  of the second thread  10 , the central rod  1  of the third thread  11 , the central rod  1  of the fourth thread  12 , the central rod  1  of the fifth thread  13 , and the central rod  1  of the sixth rod are 60 degrees apart from each other. 
     It is understood that various embodiments of the present invention may comprise varying amounts of threads that are equally distributed about the central rod  1 . More specifically, the degrees between the central rod  1  a thread  4  and a central rod  1  of an adjacent thread may vary in each embodiment. 
     In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, seen in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 , each thread  4  comprises a pitch-to-revolution ratio of 1:1 along the connecting rod  5 , wherein the pitch is one inch. This ratio maximizes the strength of the present invention. The overall length of the connecting rod  5  is approximately 1-3 inches, and the width is approximately ¼ an inch. Various embodiments of the present invention may comprise varying lengths and widths. Furthermore, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the central rod  1  and the plurality of threads  4  are made of plastic. The plastic material preserves the present invention in wet environments and under harsh chemical exposures. Moreover, the plastic material is lightweight, reducing the overall weight of the concrete structure. The strength does not lessen over time as a result of rusting like that of metal-like materials. 
     In order to effectively reinforce concrete structures with the present invention, the method begins with by providing a quantity of concrete mixture. As the concrete mixture is being mixed, in order to preserve the consistency of the mixture, a plurality of the present invention is poured into the concrete mixture. The concrete mixture and the present invention are thoroughly mixed until a combination of the concrete mixture and the present invention is ready to be poured into a mold. The mold may include, but is not limited to, wall molds, pavement, and so on. The combination is poured and dried as that of typical concrete mixtures. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, recycled plastic is used construct the central rod  1  and the plurality of threads  4 . 
     Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.