Patent ID: 8409691

Claim:
A composite material comprising: a polymer-based or silicone-based continuous variable stiffness matrix; a first plurality of rigidly interconnected reinforcements embedded within the continuous variable stiffness matrix; and a second plurality of rigidly interconnected reinforcements embedded within the continuous variable stiffness matrix, the second plurality of rigidly interconnected reinforcements being separated from the first plurality of rigidly interconnected reinforcements by the continuous variable stiffness matrix, the first plurality and the second plurality of rigidly interconnected reinforcements opposing a deformation of the composite material along a first direction by blocking a rigid body motion of the reinforcements with respect to one another in the first direction while allowing a deformation in a second direction differing from the first direction, wherein the first plurality of rigidly interconnected reinforcements are rigidly connected to one another in the first direction, wherein the second plurality of rigidly interconnected reinforcements are rigidly connected to one another in the first direction, and wherein the first plurality of rigidly interconnected reinforcements is spaced from the second plurality of rigidly interconnected reinforcements in the first direction, the second direction, and a third direction perpendicular to the first and second directions.