초록 ▼

A structural panel includes a frame having one or more attachment members. A material injection-molded onto at least a portion of the frame fills one or more openings at least partly defined by the frame and defines at least a portion of a shape of the panel. The attachment member(s) are at least pa

A structural panel includes a frame having one or more attachment members. A material injection-molded onto at least a portion of the frame fills one or more openings at least partly defined by the frame and defines at least a portion of a shape of the panel. The attachment member(s) are at least partially embedded in the injection-molded material for attaching the panel relative to the structure. Because attachment members can be embedded in this panel, little if any post-processing is needed to install the panel.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A structural panel configured for inclusion in a structure, the panel comprising: a frame having a plurality of attachment members; and a material injection-molded onto at least a portion of the frame that encapsulates at least a portion of the frame and fills one or more ope

What is claimed is: 1. A structural panel configured for inclusion in a structure, the panel comprising: a frame having a plurality of attachment members; and a material injection-molded onto at least a portion of the frame that encapsulates at least a portion of the frame and fills one or more openings, the openings being at least partly defined by the frame, the frame further defining at least a portion of a shape of the panel; wherein the attachment members are at least partially embedded in the injection-molded material for attaching the panel relative to the structure; the attachment members including an attachment blade having a base portion and a blade member, the base portion projecting non-parallel from the blade member, the base portion being fully embedded and completely encapsulated in the injection-molded material, and a portion of the blade member being encapsulated within the injection-molded material; the blade member including a plurality of openings formed therein to receive a plurality of fasteners along the blade member for attaching the structural panel relative to the structure. 2. The panel of claim 1, wherein the frame further comprises one or more framework elements at least partially embedded in the injection-molded material and that support the attachment members. 3. The panel of claim 1, wherein the injection-molded material comprises a transparent material. 4. The panel of claim 1, wherein the attachment members further comprise a framework attachment insert having a head and a shaft extending from the head through a hole in the frame, the shaft positioned in the panel to receive a fastener for attaching the panel relative to the structure. 5. The panel of claim 4, wherein the framework attachment insert comprises a metallic material. 6. The panel of claim 1, comprising a curvature that essentially continues a curvature of the structure when the panel is attached relative to the structure. 7. The panel of claim 1, wherein the frame comprises at least one of a composite material and a metallic material. 8. A frame for inclusion in a structural panel comprising: a plurality of framework elements made of a composite material, the framework elements at least generally defining an overall panel shape and defining one or more openings; and a plurality of attachment members supported by the framework elements for attaching the panel relative to a structure, the attachment members including a framework attachment insert having a head and a shaft substantially concentric with and extending from the head through a hole in one of the framework elements to receive a fastener in the shaft; the attachment members further including an attachment blade having an elongated base supported by one of the framework elements and a blade member extending from and generally normal to the base, the supporting framework element, and the overall panel shape, the elongated base and the blade member together forming a T-shaped component; wherein the frame is configured to be at least partially covered by a polymeric material injection-molded around the one or more framework elements and into the openings to form the structural panel; and wherein the elongated base is completely encapsulated within the polymeric material, and wherein a portion of the blade member is encapsulated within the polymeric material. 9. The frame of claim 8, wherein the framework attachment insert comprises a metallic material. 10. The frame of claim 8, wherein the composite material comprises a carbon fabric. 11. The frame of claim 10, wherein the attachment blade comprises at least one of a composite material and a metallic material. 12. The frame of claim 8, configured with the polymeric material to form a panel having at least one transparent portion. 13. The frame of claim 8, wherein the frame at least partly defines one or more windows when covered by the polymeric material. 14. A structural panel configured for inclusion in a structure, the panel comprising: a frame having one or more composite framework elements; and a material injection-molded onto at least a portion of the frame that fills one or more openings at least partly defined by the framework elements and defines at least a portion of a shape of the panel, the frame being completely encapsulated within the material during an injection-molding operation and the openings defining transparent sections forming windows; the frame further including a plurality of attachment members at least partly embedded in the injection-molded material and supported by the one or more composite framework elements; the attachment members including: an attachment blade having a base, the base being fully embedded in the injection-molded material so as to be encapsulated therein during the injection-molding operation, and a blade member substantially co-extensive with the base to form a T-shape with the base, a portion of the blade member being encapsulated within the injection-molded material during the injection-molding operation, and a major portion of the blade member extending outwardly from the injection-molded material to receive a plurality of fasteners along the blade member; and a framework attachment insert having a head and a shaft extending from the head through a hole in one of the one or more framework elements, the shaft configured to be at least partially penetrated by a fastener.