Note : Les revendications sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
CLAIMS:
1. A method for increasing rigidity of an elongate plastic member, comprising:
supplying a metal reinforcing member having a principal axis and a cross-
section
perpendicular to the principal axis;
forming in an exterior surface of the elongate plastic member a groove adapted
so
that the reinforcing member fits tightly within the groove; and
placing the reinforcing member within the groove.
2. A method for increasing rigidity of an elongate plastic member according to
claim 1, wherein said cross-section is substantially T-shaped.
3. A method for increasing rigidity of an elongate plastic member according to
claim 2, wherein the cross-section of the reinforcing member defines a shape
having:
a thickness t;
a starting point p1;
a first segment of length L1, the first segment joining the starting point p1
to a
first angle a1;
a second segment of length L2, the second segment being essentially
perpendicular to the first segment and joining first angle al and a second
angle a2;
a third segment of length L3, L3 being approximately equal to two times the
length (L2 + t), the third segment running parallel and adjacent to the second
segment and joining second angle a2 and a third angle a3;
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a fourth segment of length L4, L4 being approximately equal to L2, the fourth
segment running parallel and adjacent to the third segment and joining third
angle
a3 and a fourth angle a4;
a fifth segment of length L5, L5 being greater than L1, the fifth segment
running
parallel and adjacent to the first segment and joining fourth angle a4 and a
fifth
angle a5; and
a sixth segment of length L6, the sixth segment running parallel and adjacent
to
the first segment and joining fifth angle a5 and an end point p2.
4. A method for increasing the rigidity of an elongate plastic member
according to
claim 2, wherein the cross-section of the reinforcing member defines a shape
having:
a thickness t;
a starting point p1;
a first segment of length L1, the first segment joining the starting point p1
to a
first angle al;
a second segment of length L2, the second segment being essentially
perpendicular to the first segment and joining first angle al and a second
angle a2;
a third segment of length L3, L3 being approximately equal to twice the length
(L2 + t), the third segment running parallel and adjacent to the second
segment
and joining second angle a2 and a third angle a3;
a fourth segment of length L4, L4 being approximately equal to L2, the fourth
segment running parallel and adjacent to the third segment and joining third
angle
a3 and a fourth angle a4;
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a fifth segment of length L5, L5 being greater than L1, the fifth segment
running
parallel and adjacent to the first segment and joining fourth angle a4 and a
fifth
angle a5; and
a sixth segment of length L6, L6 being slightly less than L minus L1, the
sixth
segment running adjacent to the fifth segment and forming an angle with said
fifth
segment of approximately 3 to approximately 5 degrees at a5, and joining fifth
angle a5 and an end point p2.
5. A method for increasing the rigidity of an elongate plastic member
according to
claim 2, wherein the groove is T-shaped and is adapted such that when the
reinforcing member is
placed in position in the groove, the base of the cross-section of the
reinforcing member is
recessed with respect to the surface of the elongate plastic member.
6. A method for increasing the rigidity of an elongate plastic member
according to
claim 3, wherein the reinforcing member is formed from sheet metal.
7. A method for increasing the rigidity of an elongate plastic member
according to
claim 4, wherein the reinforcing member is formed from sheet metal.
8. A method for increasing the rigidity of an elongate plastic member
according to
claim 6, wherein the reinforcing member is formed from sheet metal by a
process comprising
rolling.
9. A method for increasing the rigidity of an elongate plastic member
according to
claim 7, wherein the reinforcing member is formed from sheet metal that is
formed by a process
comprising rolling.
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10. A method for reinforcing an elongate plastic member according to claim 4,
further
comprising the step of incorporating the reinforced elongate plastic member
into a structure.
11. A method of reinforcing an elongate plastic member according to claim 10,
wherein the reinforced plastic member is incorporated into the structure so as
to bear a load.
12. A method of reinforcing an elongate plastic member according to claim 11,
wherein the structure is a fence.
13. A method of reinforcing an elongate plastic member according to claim 12,
wherein the reinforced elongate plastic member forms at least one fence post.
14. A method of reinforcing an elongate plastic member according to claim 12,
wherein the reinforced elongate plastic member forms at least one segment of
the fence rail.
15. A method of reinforcing an elongate plastic member according to claim 10,
wherein the plastic member is made from recycled plastic material.
16. A method of reinforcing an elongate plastic member according to claim 10,
wherein the metal reinforcing member is made of steel.
17. An apparatus for increasing the rigidity of an elongate plastic member
having a
groove formed in an exterior surface thereof, comprising:
an elongate metal member, the member being adapted for placement into the
groove so that the member fits snugly into the groove.
18. An apparatus for increasing the rigidity of an elongate plastic member
according
to claim 17, wherein the elongate metal member has a cross-section
perpendicular to its principal
axis, the cross-section being generally T-shaped.
19. An apparatus for increasing the rigidity of an elongate plastic member
according
to claim 18, wherein the elongate metal member has a cross-section
perpendicular to its principal
axis, the cross-section defining a shape having:
a thickness t;
a starting point p1;
a first segment of length L1, the first segment joining the starting point p1
to a
first angle a1;
a second segment of length L2, the second segment being essentially
perpendicular to the first segment and joining first angle al and second angle
a2;
a third segment of length L3, L3 being approximately equal to twice the length
(L2 + t), the third segment running parallel and adjacent to the second
segment
and joining second angle a2 and a third angle a3;
a fourth segment of length L4, L4 being approximately equal to L2, the fourth
segment running parallel and adjacent to the third segment and joining third
angle
a3 and a fourth angle a4;
a fifth segment of length L5, L5 being greater than L1, the fifth segment
running
parallel and adjacent to the first segment and joining fourth angle a4 and a
fifth
angle a5; and
a sixth segment of length L6, the sixth segment running parallel and adjacent
to
the first segment and joining fifth angle a5 and an end point p2.
20. An apparatus for increasing the rigidity of an elongate plastic member
according
to claim 18, wherein the elongate member has a cross-section perpendicular to
its principal axis,
the cross-section defining a shape having:
a thickness t;
a starting point p1;
a first segment of length L1, the first segment joining the starting point p1
to a
first angle a1;
a second segment of length L2, the second segment being essentially
perpendicular to the first segment and joining first angle al and a second
angle a2;
a third segment of length L3, L3 being approximately equal to two times the
length (L2 + t), the third segment running parallel and adjacent to the second
segment and joining second angle a2 and a third angle a3;
a fourth segment of length L4, L4 being approximately equal to L2, the fourth
segment running parallel and adjacent to the third segment and joining third
angle
a3 and a fourth angle a4;
a fifth segment of length L5, L5 being greater than L1;, the fifth segment
running
parallel and adjacent to the first segment and joining fourth angle a4 and a
fifth
angle a5; and
a sixth segment of length L6, L6 being slightly less than L5 minus L1, the
sixth
segment running adjacent to the fifth segment and forming with said fifth
segment
an angle of approximately 3 to approximately 5 degrees at a5, and joining
fifth
angle a5 and an end point p2.
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21. An apparatus for increasing the rigidity of an elongate plastic member
according
to claim 20, wherein the reinforcing member is formed from sheet metal.
22. An apparatus for increasing the rigidity of an elongate plastic member
according
to claim 21, wherein the reinforcing member is formed from sheet metal that is
formed by a
process comprising rolling.
23. An apparatus for increasing the rigidity of an elongate plastic member
according
to claim 22, wherein the apparatus is made of steel.
24. An improved elongate plastic member having a principal axis, comprising:
an elongate plastic member having a groove in one exterior surface thereof
parallel to the principal axis of the elongate plastic member; and
an elongate metal member adapted for insertion into and inserted into the
groove
so that the elongate metal member fits tightly within the groove.
25. An improved elongate plastic member according to claim 24, wherein said
reinforcing member has a cross-section perpendicular to its principal axis,
the cross-section
being generally T-shaped.
26. An improved elongate plastic member according to claim 25, wherein the
elongate metal member has a cross-section perpendicular to its principal axis,
the cross-section
defining a shape having:
a thickness t;
a starting point p1;
a first segment of length L1, the first segment joining the starting point p1
to a
first angle a1;
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a second segment of length L2, the second segment being essentially
perpendicular to the first segment and joining first angle a1 and a second
angle a2;
a third segment of length L3, L3 being approximately equal to twice the length
(L2 + t), the third segment running parallel and adjacent to the second
segment
and joining second angle a2 and a third angle a3;
a fourth segment of length L4, L4 being approximately equal to L2, the fourth
segment running parallel and adjacent to the third segment and joining third
angle
a3 and a fourth angle a4;
a fifth segment of length L5, L5 being greater than L1, the fifth segment
running
parallel and adjacent to the first segment and joining fourth angle a4 and a
fifth
angle a5; and
a sixth segment of length L6, the sixth segment running parallel and adjacent
to
the first segment and adjoining fifth angle a5 and an end point p2.
27. An improved elongate plastic member according to claim 25, wherein the
elongate metal member has a cross-section perpendicular to its principal axis,
the cross-section
defining a shape having:
a thickness t;
a starting point p1;
a first segment of length L1, the first segment joining the starting point p1
to a
first angle a1;
a second segment of length L2, the second segment being essentially
perpendicular to the first segment and joining first angle a1 and a second
angle a2;
a third segment of length L3, L3 being approximately equal to twice the length
(L2 + t), the third segment running parallel and adjacent to the second
segment
and joining second angle a2 and a third angle a3;
a fourth segment of length L4, L4 being approximately equal to L2, the fourth
segment running parallel and adjacent to the third segment and joining third
angle
a3 and a fourth angle a4;
a fifth segment of length L5, L5 being greater than L1, the fifth segment
running
parallel and adjacent to the first segment and joining fourth angle a4 and a
fifth
angle a5; and
a sixth segment of length L6, L6 being less than L5 minus L1, the sixth
segment
running adjacent to the fifth segment and forming an angle with said fifth
segment
of approximately 3 to approximately 5 degrees, and joining fifth angle a5 and
an
end point p2.
28. An improved elongate plastic member according to claim 28, wherein the
reinforcing member is formed from sheet metal.
29. An improved elongate plastic member according to claim 28, wherein the
reinforcing member is formed by a process comprising rolling.