# US 11,027,530 B2 · Recreational vehicle component with image and method of manufacturing

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- Number: US 11,027,530 B2
- Document ID: US11027530B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/356,716
- Filed: 2019-03-18
- Published: 2020-09-24
- Granted: 2021-06-08
- Earliest claimed: 2019-03-18
- Assignees: Jayco, Inc.
- Applicants: Jayco, Inc.
- Inventors: Todd B. Lozier; Steven J. Romanowski
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11027530B2

## CPC

- B32B 21/10: Next to a fibrous or filamentary layer
- B62D 29/043: {Superstructures (B62D25/161 takes precedence)}
- B32B 3/08: characterised by added members at particular parts {(layer formed of separate pieces of material which are juxtaposed side-by-side B32B3/14, B32B3/18)}
- B32B 3/12: characterised by a layer of regularly- arranged cells, e.g. a honeycomb structure
- B32B 5/024: {Woven fabric}
- B32B 5/18: characterised by features of a layer {of} foamed material
- B32B 5/245: {another layer next to it being a foam layer}
- B32B 7/12: using interposed adhesives or interposed materials with bonding properties
- B32B 21/08: of synthetic resin
- B32B 27/12: next to a fibrous or filamentary layer
- B32B 27/36: comprising polyesters
- B32B 37/182: {one or more of the layers being plastic}
- B32B 38/145: {Printing}
- B60R 13/005: {Manufacturers' emblems, name plates, bonnet ornaments, mascots or the like; Mounting means therefor}
- B62D 21/18: characterised by the vehicle type and not provided for in groups B62D21/02 - B62D21/17
- B62D 65/00: Designing, manufacturing, e.g. assembling, facilitating disassembly, or structurally modifying motor vehicles or trailers, not otherwise provided for
- B32B 2255/02: on fibrous or filamentary layer
- B32B 2255/10: on synthetic resin layer or on natural or synthetic rubber layer
- B32B 2255/26: Polymeric coating
- B32B 2262/101: Glass fibres
- B32B 2266/0228: Aromatic vinyl resin, e.g. styrenic (co)polymers
- B32B 2266/0264: Polyester
- B32B 2307/4023: on the layer surface, e.g. ink
- B32B 2307/75: Printability
- B32B 2605/00: Vehicles
- B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M)
- B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

A structural panel for a recreational vehicle includes a plurality of layers laminated together to form a lamination. The lamination forms an outer surface of the structural panel, which is configured to form a sidewall, a ceiling, or a floor of the recreational vehicle when mounted in the recreational vehicle relative to the vehicle chassis. The structural panel further includes an image that is formed on or in one of the plurality of layers in or internal to the structural panel and which is visible at the outer surface. The image is in a location that is in a known fixed registry with a structural reference, such as the outer perimeter, of the structural panel prior to the panel being mounted in the recreational vehicle wherein the location of the image is known relative to the structural reference of the structural panel.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of forming a structural panel for a recreational vehicle, the structural panel forming a sidewall, an interior wall, a floor, or a ceiling of the recreational vehicle and having an outer side and an inner side, said method comprising the steps of:
providing a plurality of layers, one layer of the plurality of layers comprising a printable layer formed from an ink printable material;
forming a lamination from the plurality of the layers to form the structural panel, said forming including forming an outer surface of the outer side of the structural panel with the printable layer, and said forming further includes forming the lamination into the sidewall, interior wall, floor, or ceiling of the recreational vehicle;
reinforcing the lamination with a reinforcing component;
forming an optical reference in a known fixed location relative to the structural panel;
printing a two-dimensional image on the printable layer, the image being formed from a plurality of pixels, said printing including printing the image at a known location in fixed registry with the optical reference wherein each pixel forming the image is in a precise known location on the structural panel; and
providing the reinforcement component in a known location in fixed registry with the optical reference wherein each pixel forming the image is in a precise known location in fixed registry with the reinforcement component; and
wherein the printable layer has a first side and a second side, said forming an optical reference comprises printing an image on the second side of the printable layer, and said printing further comprises printing the image on the first side of the printable layer at a known location in fixed registry with the optical reference on the second side of the printable layer.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein said printing is prior to said reinforcing of the lamination.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein said printing is after said reinforcing of the lamination.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein said printing a two-dimensional image includes printing the two-dimensional image across the entire side of the printable layer.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, further comprising coating the printable layer with a protective coating.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein said reinforcing includes reinforcing the lamination with a frame.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein said locating the two-dimensional image at a known location in fixed registry with the optical reference includes storing a location of the optical reference and referencing the stored location to an image file for the two-dimensional image.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein said printing a two-dimensional image comprises printing a reference guide.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein said printing a two-dimensional image comprises printing a decorative image.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein said printing a two-dimensional image comprises printing a readable image.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

A structural panel for a recreational vehicle, said structural panel forming a sidewall, an interior wall, a floor, or a ceiling of the recreational vehicle and having an outer side and an inner side, the recreational vehicle having a chassis and a plurality of wheels, at least a portion of said outer side of said structural panel being visible when mounted relative to the chassis of the recreational vehicle, and said structural panel being formed by the method of claim 1.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The structural panel according to claim 11, wherein said plurality of layers includes a layer of wood and a layer of fiber reinforced plastic (FRP), and said image printed on or in said layer of FRP.