Patent ID: 6454889
Filing Date: 2002-09-24
Classification: B29B,B29C,B29K,E01C,E04C,Y10T

Abstract:
A method of structurally reinforcing a product comprising the steps ofproviding a gridwork comprising a set of warp strands and a set of weft strands disposed at substantially right angles to each other, with each of the strands comprising at least one continuous filament, wherein the sets of strands are non-interlaced, wherein at least some of the strands of each set are spaced apart so as to define an open structure, and wherein the set of warp strands is separated into groups each containing a plurality of contiguous strands, with at least one strand of each group lying on one side of the set of weft stands, and at least one other strand of each group lying on the other side of the set of weft strands in contiguous superimposed relationship with said at least one strand, and with the gridwork being impregnated substantially throughout with a thermosettable B-stage resin so as to interlock the strands at their crossover points and maintain the gridwork in a semi-flexible state which permits the gridwork to conform to the shape of the product to be reinforced, applying the gridwork to the product, and applying heat to the gridwork so as to cure the resin and convert the same into a fully cured composite to thereby rigidize the gridwork and reinforce the product.