Patent ID: 8333857

Claim:
A method of forming a bar comprising: forming an elongate body from longitudinally extending components of reinforcing fibers with the components arranged generally longitudinal to the body which is fed forwardly along its length; wherein the body comprises a series of inner longitudinally extending components of reinforcing fibers arranged longitudinal to the bar and at least one helical wrapping of at least one component wrapped around the inner longitudinally extending components; wetting the elongate body with a unset curable resin permeated through the fibers of the components; providing a holder for receiving a length of the elongate body; mounting the holder for rotation about an axis; providing on the holder a plurality of engagement members at spaced positions around the axis; while the resin remains unset, wrapping the body around the holder such that the fed length of the body is wrapped from one engagement member to a next engagement member such that bent portions of the body are wrapped partly around each engagement member and straight portions of the body extend between each engagement member and the next; each engagement member having angularly extending axially separated surface portions which are shaped to mold the bent portions to a required bent shape; providing relative movement between the body as it is fed forwardly and the holder so as to wrap the body around the holder at stepped positions along the engagement members; and curing the resin of the body on the holder while the body remains wrapped thereon to form the bar from the cured body.