Patent ID: 6406580
Filing Date: 2002-06-18
Classification: B29C,B29K,Y10T

Abstract:
A method of manufacturing a composite part, comprising:(a) positioning a plurality of spaced-apart tooling members on a supporting surface; (b) placing filler members between the tooling members, the filler members and the tooling members having flush outer surfaces such that a generally smooth application surface is formed by the outer surfaces of the tooling members and the filler members; (c) applying a composite layer to the application surface; (d) removing the filler members, creating recesses between each of the tooling members, and cutting the composite layer along each recess, creating a plurality of composite layer segments, each having a side portion over the recess; (e) forming the composite layer segments into the composite part's final shape by folding the side portions into the recesses into abutment with each of the tooling members; and (f) holding the composite layer segments in the part's final shape until sufficiently cured to maintain the part's final shape.