Patent ID: 8641848

Claim:
A method of forming a reinforced structure, the steps comprising: providing a first strip having a longitudinal axis, the first strip having at least three faces that extend in a direction along the longitudinal axis, the at least three faces comprising a first face, a second face, and a third face; moving the first strip into contact with a flexible material and wrapping the flexible material about the first face and the second face, wherein the flexible material comprises a reinforcement material and an adhesive; wrapping the flexible material about the third face; pushing the first strip along a direction that is substantially perpendicular to its longitudinal axis; constraining the first strip along its longitudinal axis so as to maintain the wrapping of flexible material about the first strip; providing a second strip having a longitudinal axis, the second strip also having at least three faces that extend in a direction along the longitudinal axis; repeating said steps of pushing, wrapping, and constraining with the second strip such that the second strip is positioned against the third face of the first strip with the longitudinal axis of the second strip and the first strip being substantially parallel, and whereby the flexible material is positioned between the first strip and the second strip; separating the first strip and the second strip so as to expose the flexible material located between the first strip and the second strip; activating the adhesive in the flexible material exposed during said step of separating; and, pressing the first strip and the second strip back together with the flexible material located between so as to bond together the first strip and the second strip.