Patent ID: 7758786

Claim:
A method of fabricating a composite panel having a decorative textured surface, comprising sequentially the steps of: (A) placing a flexible tool having a textured surface in a female portion of a compression mold, said flexible tool contained within said compression mold; (B) placing a first composite charge having a decorative film in said female portion of the mold over said flexible tool; (C) embossing said decorative film by pressing said textured surface on said flexible tool into said decorative film while said first composite charge is in the mold, said pressing being carried out by placing a pressurizer in said female portion of the mold over said flexible tool and said first composite charge; (D) after completion of said embossing step, placing a second composite charge in the mold over an embossed first composite charge; and, (E) consolidating said first and second composite charges in a compaction process within the mold by engaging a male portion of the mold with said female portion of said mold while said first and second charges are within said female portion of said mold.