Patent ID: 7134629

Claim:
A structural panel comprising: a skin; a first stiffener having a first flange portion mated to the skin and a first raised portion projecting away from the skin, wherein the first flange portion has a first outer edge; at least a second stiffener spaced apart from the first stiffener, the second stiffener having a second flange portion mated to the skin and a second raised portion projecting away from the skin, wherein the second flange portion has a second outer edge facing the first outer edge, and wherein at least one of the first flange portion of the first stiffener and the second flange portion of the second stiffener extends toward the other to form an at least approximately continuous support surface extending between the first raised portion of the first stiffener and the second raised portion of the second stiffener; and a support member having a base portion mated to the first flange portion of the first stiffener and the second flange portion of the second stiffener without being mated to the skin between the first raised portion of the first stiffener and the second raised portion of the second stiffener.