Patent ID: 7163654

Claim:
A method of smoothing out wrinkles in pre-impregnated material applied during the construction of composite laminates comprising: laying up a layer of pre-impregnated material onto a tool; smoothing out wrinkles in the pre-impregnated material using a one-handed apparatus comprising, a top surface, a bottom surface and a plurality of side surfaces; an insulated base; a flexible non-contaminating non-stick outer layer; a flexible heating element positioned between said insulated base and said flexible non-contaminating non-stick outer layer, said flexible heating element transmitting heat through said flexible non-contaminating non-stick outer layer to the pre-impregnated material; a power unit positioned within said insulated base, said power unit supplying energy to said flexible heating element; and an ergonomic element positioned on said top surface wherein the apparatus can be moved across the pre-impregnated material using single-handed operation.