Patent ID: 7716835

Claim:
A method for manufacturing a structural panel, the method comprising: positioning a first flange portion of a first stiffener at least proximate to a second flange portion of a second stiffener to form an at least approximately continuous support surface extending transversely relative to lengths of the first and second stiffeners between a first raised portion of the first stiffener and a second raised portion of the second stiffener; mating at least the first flange portion of the first stiffener to a skin, the-first raised portion projecting away from the skin; mating at least the second flange portion of the second stiffener to the skin, the second raised portion projecting away from the skin; positioning a base portion of a support member in contact with the approximately continuous support surface; and mating the base portion of the support member to the first flange portion of the first stiffener and the second flange portion of the second stiffener without mating the base portion to the skin between the first raised portion of the first stiffener and the second raised portion of the second stiffener.