Patent ID: 7037568

Claim:
A structure for supporting two opposed skins, the structure comprising: a rib having a pair of opposed outer edges; a pair of joining members, each comprising: a first surface adapted for bonding to a surface of one of the skins via an adhesive layer, wherein the first surface comprises at least one ridge extending therefrom for determining a bond-line thickness of the adhesive layer; a second surface opposite the first surface and comprising a groove having an inner surface adapted for receiving and bonding to an outer edge of the rib via another adhesive layer; wherein one of the outer edges of the rib extends into the groove of a corresponding one of the pair of joining members and is bonded to the corresponding joining member via a first adhesive layer formed in the groove of the corresponding joining member; and wherein the other outer edge of the rib extends into the groove of the other joining member and is bonded to the other joining member via a second adhesive layer formed in the groove of the other joining member.