Patent ID: 7713893

Claim:
An integrally woven three-dimensional preform comprising: a base fabric comprising: a first woven fabric; a second woven fabric; a third woven fabric; a plurality of yarns interwoven between said first woven fabric and said second woven fabric, wherein said plurality of yarns are interwoven over a region between said first fabric and said second fabric and said first fabric is foldable relative to said second fabric; and a plurality of yarns interwoven between said second woven fabric and said third woven fabric, wherein said plurality of yarns are interwoven over a region between said second fabric and said third fabric and said third fabric is foldable relative to said second fabric, wherein said first fabric foldable relative to said second fabric is folded to form a first stiffening rib in a first direction, and said third fabric foldable relative to said second fabric is folded to form a second stiffening rib in a direction substantially perpendicular to said first stiffening rib.