Patent ID: 8277591

Claim:
A method of forming an elongated flat strip of material into an elongated strip having an arcuate transverse configuration, manipulating the strip into a roll such that the arcuate transverse configuration is flattened and subsequently unrolling the flattened strip so it reassumes an arcuate transverse configuration, comprising the steps of: providing an elongated starter strip of fiberglass in a thermosetting resin that has not been cross-linked by being heated; providing a first stationary mandrel having an arcuate surface and a system for heating said first stationary mandrel; providing a second stationary mandrel having an arcuate surface and a system for cooling said second stationary mandrel; passing said starter strip along its length across said first stationary mandrel to heat said thermosetting resin above its setting temperature to form a heated strip having said transverse arcuate shape; passing said heated strip along its length across said second stationary mandrel to cool said thermosetting resin beneath its setting temperature to form a cooled strip having said transverse arcuate shape; rolling up said cooled strip, whereby it will become deformed into a flattened transverse configuration and unrolling said deformed flattened strip allowing it to re-assume said arcuate transverse cross-section.