Simultaneous butt and lap joints

A method for the simultaneous formation of butt joint and lap joints comprising:

• a) providing a radiation source of electromagnetic radiation;
• b) providing an end of an end portion of a first piece in butt joint relation with an end of an end portion of a second piece;
• c) providing a lap joint piece in lap joint relation with:
• 1) said end portion of said first piece,
• 2) said end portion of said second piece, and
• 3) said butt joint relation of said end of said end portion of said first piece and said end of said end portion of said second piece,
• d) providing at least one of the group consisting of:
• 1) said end portion of said first piece,
• 2) said end portion of said second piece, and
• 3) said lap joint piece
• as a substantially rigid transmitting material that transmits said electromagnetic radiation;
• e) providing an absorbing material that absorbs said electromagnetic radiation with generation of heat in at least a portion of a bond line comprising:
• 1) a first interface between said end of said first piece and said end of said second piece,
• 2) a second interface between said end portion of said first piece and said lap joint piece, and
• 3) a third interface between said end portion of said second piece and said lap joint piece
• with said quantity of heat sufficient to:
• 1) bond said end of said first piece to said end of said second piece with a butt joint,
• 2) bond said end portion of said first piece to said lap joint piece with a lap joint, and
• 3) bond said end portion of said second piece to said lap joint piece with a lap joint;
• f) directing said electromagnetic radiation from said radiation source initially through said transmitting material and then to said absorbing material;
• g) absorbing said electromagnetic radiation with said absorbing material to produce sufficient heat in said bond line to provide sufficient molten material to afford fusion of:
• 1) said end of the first piece,
• 2) said end of the second piece,
• 3) said end portion of said first piece,
• 4) said end portion of said second piece, and
• 5) said lap joint piece;
• and
• h) cooling said bond line to bond:
• 1) said end of the first piece with said end of the second piece with said butt joint,
• 2) said end portion of said first piece with said lap joint piece with said lap joint, and
• 3) said end portion of said second piece with said lap joint piece with said lap joint.