SYSTEM INCLUDING A PANEL ASSEMBLY HAVING A CONTAINER AND A COMPRESSION-MOLDED, COMPOSITE COVER FOR COVERING THE CONTAINER

摘要

A system including a panel assembly having a container and a compression-molded, composite cover for covering the container is provided. The system may be a flooring system such as a vehicle flooring system and the assembly may be a floor panel assembly. The assembly includes at least one load-bearing component positioned between a lower outer layer of the cover and a bottom wall of the container in a closed position of the cover. Each component is bonded or joined to the outer layer and is in abutting engagement with the bottom wall in the closed position of the cover to transfer a load appearing at an outer surface of an upper outer layer of the cover to the bottom wall of the container. The system also includes a structure such as floor having a cavity for receiving the panel assembly.