Templates for controlling application of materials around protuberances

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11241712-B2
Application number	US-202017135561-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 28, 2020
Priority date	May 14, 2018
Publication date	Feb 8, 2022
Grant date	Feb 8, 2022

Abstract

A template for controlling application of material around a protuberance is disclosed. The protuberance extends from a workpiece and has a base. The template comprises a first portion and a second portion, removably attached to the first portion at a boundary. The first portion comprises a first-portion inner peripheral edge that at least partially defines a positioning opening and that is geometrically complementary to at least a portion of the base of the protuberance. The first portion also comprises a first-portion workpiece-facing surface that is adhesive-free. The second portion comprises a visual material-placement indicator, located on a second-portion environment-facing surface. The second portion also comprises an adhesive layer, located on at least a portion of a second-portion workpiece-facing surface.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A template for controlling application of material around a protuberance, the protuberance extending from a workpiece and having a base, the template comprising:
a first portion; and
a second portion, removably attached to the first portion at a boundary, and wherein:
the first portion comprises:
a first-portion inner peripheral edge that at least partially defines a positioning opening and that is geometrically complementary to at least a portion of the base of the protuberance;
a first-portion workpiece-facing surface that is located between the first-portion inner peripheral edge and the boundary and that is adhesive-free; and
a first-portion environment-facing surface, located between the first-portion inner peripheral edge and the boundary and opposite the first-portion workpiece-facing surface and

the second portion comprises:
a second-portion outer peripheral edge, opposite the first-portion inner peripheral edge of the first portion;
a second-portion workpiece-facing surface, defined between the boundary and the second-portion outer peripheral edge;
a second-portion environment-facing surface, defined between the boundary and the second-portion outer peripheral edge and opposite the second-portion workpiece-facing surface;
a visual material-placement indicator, located on the second-portion environment-facing surface; and
an adhesive layer, located on at least a portion of the second-portion workpiece-facing surface.

2. The template according to claim 1 , wherein the boundary ( 120 ) comprises a perforation in a sheet.

3. The template according to claim 1 , wherein the boundary ( 120 ) comprises a thinned region in a sheet.

4. The template according to claim 1 , wherein the first-portion inner peripheral edge is circumferentially closed.

5. The template according to claim 1 , wherein the first-portion inner peripheral edge extends to the boundary.

6. The template according to claim 1 , further comprising a visual template-alignment indicator, located on at least one of the first-portion environment-facing surface or the second-portion environment-facing surface.

7. The template according to claim 6 , wherein the visual template-alignment indicator extends to the first-portion inner peripheral edge.

8. The template according to claim 7 , wherein the visual template-alignment indicator extends to the second-portion outer peripheral edge.

9. The template according to claim 1 , wherein the positioning opening and the boundary are concentric.

10. The template according to claim 9 , wherein the positioning opening and the boundary are geometrically similar.

11. The template according to claim 1 , wherein the first portion further comprises a vent opening, sized to enable a gaseous substance to flow therethrough.

12. The template according to claim 1 , further comprising a first-portion tab, attached to the first portion.

13. The template according to claim 1 , wherein the first portion further comprises:
a vent opening, sized to enable a gaseous substance to flow therethrough; and
a first-portion tab, at least partially defined by the vent opening.

14. The template according to claim 1 , wherein the second portion further comprises a second-portion tab.

15. The template according to claim 14 , wherein the second portion further comprises a weakened region, extending between the boundary and the second-portion outer peripheral edge of the second portion, such that pulling the second-portion tab causes the second portion to separate along the weakened region.

16. The template according to claim 14 , wherein the second portion further comprises an additional second-portion tab, opposite the second-portion tab.

17. The template according to claim 1 , wherein the visual material-placement indicator and the boundary are concentric.

18. The template according to claim 1 , wherein the visual material-placement indicator is a marking on the second-portion environment-facing surface.

19. The template according to claim 1 , wherein the visual material-placement indicator projects outwardly relative to the second-portion environment-facing surface.

20. The template according to claim 1 , wherein the visual material-placement indicator is configured to control flow of the material on the second-portion environment-facing surface.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Galdamez Kevin P

Classifications

• B05C17/06

  Stencils (B05C17/04 takes precedence; stencils used in connection with printing plates or foils B41N1/24; drawing accessories B43L13/00) · CPC title

• B05C21/005

  Masking devices (stencils B05C17/06; masking devices for which the means for applying liquids or other fluent material is spraying or is not important B05B12/20) · CPC title

• B05D1/325 Primary

  Masking layer made of peelable film · CPC title

• B05B12/20 Primary

  Masking elements, i.e. elements defining uncoated areas on an object to be coated · CPC title