Patent ID: 7201867

Claim:
A method of installing a circuit member in a resin-molded panel, comprising the steps of: a first step of placing the circuit member to be installed on an upper surface of a circuit member-installing portion formed on and projecting from a front surface of a base mold of a vacuum forming mold; a second step of laying, after said first step, a heated and softened panel material on said front surface of said base mold in a manner to cover at least a first surface of said circuit member placed on said upper surface of said circuit member-installing portion; and a third step of drawing, after said second step, the air between said panel material and said base mold via a notch space, formed by cutting upper and side surfaces of said circuit member-installing portion, and an air-drawing hole formed in said base mold and communicating with said notch space, thereby forming retaining portions which project into the notch space by drawing and fitting the heated and softened panel material around side surfaces of the circuit member and at least a portion of a second surface of the circuit member, which is opposed to the first surface; wherein said circuit member is installed in the resin-molded panel simultaneously when said resin-molded panel is vacuum formed.