Patent ID: 7951252

Claim:
A method of closing an open end of a ribbed thermoplastic panel having a first layer with a first end and a second layer with a second end, the first layer being spaced apart from the second layer by a rib directly interconnected therewith and extending from the first layer to the second layer, the first and second ends defining the open end, the first and second layers being heat weldable or fusable, wherein the rib is formed of a thermoplastic material, the method comprising steps of: rolling at least the first layer between spaced first and second guides configured to contact the first layer and guide the first layer along a heated guide surface toward the second layer, the rolling occurring along an arcuate surface to reorient the first layer with respect to the second layer such that the first layer contacts the second layer, and simultaneously moving the second layer to contact the first guide; fusing the first and second layers by heating at least one of a portion of the first layer that contacts the second layer and a portion of the second layer that contacts the first layer to form a closed end extending proximate an edge of the ribbed thermoplastic panel and to define a space between the rib and the closed end.