Apparatus and method of making a reinforced plastic laminate structure and products resulting therefrom

Abstract

The present invention provides a reinforced plastic laminate structure comprising an elongated reinforcing material that is encapsulated by an extruded plastic material that forms a continuous structure around the reinforcing material. The present invention contemplates methods of extruding a tube of plastic material while simultaneously introducing a reinforcing material within the interior of the tube. Thereafter, the tube is flattened so that the interior wall of the tube comes in contact with the reinforcing material to encapsulate the reinforcing material in a continuous structure. The reinforced plastic laminate sheet is made from an apparatus an extruding machine for extruding plastic with an annular die and opening for the extruding tubing. Attached to the extruding machine is a mandrel which feeds a reinforcing material into the center of the annular opening. Pressure rollers flatten the tubing after it exits from the annular die. The reinforcing plastic material may be formed into a variety of useful products where increased strength is required. The ease of manufacture provides a cost advantage over conventional construction materials.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.