Patent ID: 8263205

Claim:
A fiber-reinforced composite structure that is made according to a method comprising the steps of: providing a pre-plied, multi-directional laminate comprising an interior and an edge, said laminate comprising at least a first layer of prepreg and a second layer of prepreg wherein each of said prepreg layers comprises an uncured resin matrix and unidirectional fibers and wherein the direction of said unidirectional fibers in said first prepreg layer is different from the direction of said unidirectional fibers in said second prepreg layer and wherein said laminate comprises a first tab portion and a second tab portion; folding said laminate to form a preform wherein said first tab portion and said second tab portion overlap each other and are pushed together to form a portion of the preform; and curing said preform to form said composite structure wherein the portion of said preform that is formed by said first and second tab portions is cured to form a cured portion of said composite structure.