Filamentary tape constructions and methods

Claim 1

A flexible plied filamentary tape of a given width for use for constructing a load bearing member, said tape being formed of fibers pre-aligned to carry the various loads within the load bearing member and comprising: a first ply of unidirectional fibers extending along the length of said tape, a first flattened tube-shaped member extending along the length of said tape and whose flattened sides define a first pair of angle plies in the plane of said tape and which are formed of fibers that extend transversely to each other respectively and oblique to the fibers of said first ply, a second flattened tube-shaped member extending along the length of said tape and whose flattened sides define a second pair of angle plies in the plane of said tape and which are formed of fibers that extend transversely to each other respectively and oblique to the fibers of said first ply, the width of said second tube-shaped member, as seen in a transverse cross-section of said tape, being slightly greater than the width of said first flattened tube-shaped member and defining said given width of said tape, said first flattened tube-shaped member being located within said second flattened tube-shaped member with said first pair of angle plies being located close to said second pair of angle plies respectively, the fibers of adjacent plies of said first and second pair of angle plies extending transversely to each other, said first ply having a width substantially less than the widths of said first and second flattened tube-shaped members and being centered between the edges of said first and second flattened tube-shaped members, said fibers being selected from the class consisting of fiberglass, graphite and boron, and said fibers being held together by a resin in the uncured state suitable for subsequent hardening.