Patent ID: 8784596

Claim:
A method for forming a fitting, comprising: placing an inboard ply stack in a cavity of a first die, the inboard ply stack having a first portion tapered in thickness towards a first peripheral edge of the inboard ply stack and a second portion tapered in thickness towards a second peripheral edge of the inboard ply stack; positioning a collar tool having a pocket on the inboard ply stack such that: a first portion of the collar tool tapered in thickness towards a first inner edge defining the pocket is in alignment with the first portion of the inboard ply stack; and a second portion of the collar tool tapered in thickness towards a second inner edge defining the pocket is in alignment with the second portion of the inboard ply stack, the second inner edge extending perpendicular to the first inner edge; placing a bridge ply stack in the pocket of the collar tool in contact with the inboard ply stack; placing an outboard ply stack on the bridge ply stack such that a first portion of the outboard ply stack is in alignment with the first portion of the collar tool; positioning a second die on the outboard ply stack; and curing the inboard ply stack, the bridge ply stack and the outboard ply stack to form a fitting having the bridge ply stack positioned between the inboard ply stack and the outboard ply stack, the inboard ply stack and the outboard ply stack being spaced apart via the bridge ply stack.