Composite Material
AssigneeEcovative Design LLC
InventorsEben Bayer, Gavin R. McIntyre
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The composite material is comprised of a substrate of discrete particles and a network of interconnected mycelia cells bonding the discrete particles together. The composite material is made by inoculating a substrate of discrete particles and a nutrient material with a preselected fungus. The fungus digests the nutrient material over a period of time sufficient to grow hyphae and to allow the hyphae to form a network of interconnected mycelia cells through and around the discrete particles thereby bonding the discrete particles together to form a self-supporting composite material.
Claims23
A self-supporting composite material comprising
- a substrate of discrete particles;
- and
- a network of interconnected mycelia cells extending through and around all of said discrete particles to fully colonize said substrate and bond said discrete particles together.
A packing material comprising
- a substrate of discrete particles;
- and
- a network of interconnected mycelia cells extending through and around said discrete particles and bonding said discrete particles together and characterized in having at least one void in a surface thereof for receiving a device for packaging.
A self-supporting composite material comprising
- a first layer composed of a substrate of discrete particles and a network of interconnected mycelia cells extending through and around said discrete particles and bonding said discrete particles together;
- and
- at least a second layer bonded to said first layer and composed of a substrate of discrete particles and a network of interconnected mycelia cells extending through and around said discrete particles of said second layer and bonding said discrete particles of said second layer together.
A package comprising
- an object of three dimensional shape;
- and
- a self-supporting packaging material encasing said object therein in tight-fit relation, said packaging material including a plurality of discrete particles and a network of interconnected mycelia cells extending through and around said discrete particles and bonding said discrete particles together.
A growth enclosure comprising
- a molding form defining a cavity with an open top for receiving a substrate of discrete particles and a nutrient material and an inoculum including a preselected fungus for growth within said substrate;
- a lid for mounting on said molding form to close said open top thereof;
- and
- a filter disk sized and calibrated to the shape and volume of said cavity mounted in said lid to allow passage of carbon dioxide from within said cavity to without said lid and to allow passage of oxygen from without said lid into said cavity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.