Composite structures for localized stiffening

Abstract

A reinforcing device comprising a composite reinforcing patch including a first layer comprising a first activatable material that is flexible and tacky in its green state prior to activation, a second layer comprising a stabilizing material selected from a mesh, a film, a chemical coating, a fibrous or spherical material, or a second activatable material located in planar contact with the activatable material and along the entirety of a first surface of the activatable material, and an optional third layer comprising a mesh, a film, a chemical coating, second activatable material, or a release paper located in planar contact with the activatable material and along the entirety of a surface of the first layer or second layer, wherein upon activation of the activatable material, the presence of the second layer, the optional third layer, or both provides dimensional stability to the activatable material and minimizes shrinking of the activatable material.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.