Recreational vehicle component with data and method of manufacturing

Abstract

A structural panel for a recreational vehicle includes a plurality of layers laminated together to form an outer surface of the structural panel, which is configured to form a sidewall, a ceiling, or a floor of the recreational vehicle when mounted in the recreational vehicle relative to the vehicle chassis. The structural panel also includes an image formed on or in one of the plurality of layers in or internal to the structural panel and visible at the outer first surface, with the image including readable information about the recreational vehicle or a component to be mounted in the recreational vehicle.

1 . A structural panel for a recreational vehicle, the recreational vehicle having a chassis and a plurality of wheels, said structural panel being formed in accordance with the method of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         2 . The structural panel according to  claim 1 , wherein said image comprises a plurality of shapes and/or lines forming a barcode, wherein said image is machine readable. 
     
     
         3 . The structural panel according to  claim 2 , wherein said image includes machine readable information about a component to be mounted in the recreational. 
     
     
         4 . The structural panel according to  claim 3 , wherein said machine readable information further includes information about the recreational vehicle. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The structural panel according to  claim 3 , wherein said structural panel has an outer perimeter, further comprising a second image formed on or in one of said plurality of layers in or internal to said structural panel and visible at said outer surface, said second image in a location in a known fixed registry with said outer perimeter of said structural panel prior to said panel being mounted in the recreational vehicle wherein the location of said second image is known relative to said outer perimeter of said structural panel. 
     
     
         7 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A method of forming structural panel for a recreational vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:
 providing a plurality of layers, one layer of the plurality of layers comprising a printable layer formed from an ink printable material;   forming a lamination from the plurality of the layers, the lamination having an exterior surface for forming an exterior side of the structural panel;   reinforcing the lamination to form the structural panel; and   printing a readable image in or on the printable layer, the readable image being internal to the structural panel, and the readable image having information about the recreational vehicle and/or a component to be mounted relative to the structural panel and being viewable and readable at the exterior side of the structural panel when the structural panel is formed.   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein said printing is prior to said forming the lamination. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein said printing is prior to said reinforcing of the lamination. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein said printing is after said forming the lamination. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein said printing is after said reinforcing of the lamination. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein said printing a readable image comprises printing a first image, further comprising printing a second image on the printable layer. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein said printing a second image includes printing instructions on the printable layer. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein said printing the first image comprises printing a readable image having information about the recreational vehicle and a component to be mounted relative to the structural panel. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein said printing instructions includes printing instructions for the installation of the component relative to the structural panel. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein said printing a second image includes printing an installation reference guide. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein said printing an installation reference guide comprises a printing a line for forming a reference line for aligning the component relative to said structural panel. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising coating the exterior side of the structural panel with a protecting coating. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein said printing the readable image includes printing the readable image in the printable layer using dye-sublimation. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 22 , wherein said printing is after said forming the lamination. 
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 23 , further comprising coating the exterior side of the structural panel with a protective coating.