Methods of coating fastener assemblies

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11801526-B2
Application number	US-202117400009-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 11, 2021
Priority date	May 21, 2019
Publication date	Oct 31, 2023
Grant date	Oct 31, 2023

Abstract

A method of coating a fastener assembly that extends from a substrate comprises steps of at least partially saturating a permeable body with a volume of a liquid and covering the fastener assembly with the permeable body. The step of covering the fastener assembly with the permeable body comprises at least partially compressing the permeable body against the fastener assembly and transferring a portion of the volume of the liquid from the permeable body to an exposed outer surface of the fastener assembly and to a ring on the substrate, surrounding the fastener assembly.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of coating a fastener assembly that extends from a substrate, the method comprising steps of:
at least partially saturating a permeable body with a volume of a liquid; and
covering the fastener assembly with the permeable body, wherein the step of covering the fastener assembly comprises steps of:
receiving the fastener assembly within a fastener cavity of the permeable body;
at least partially compressing the permeable body against the fastener assembly; and
transferring a portion of the volume of the liquid from the permeable body to an exposed outer surface of the fastener assembly and to a ring on the substrate, surrounding the fastener assembly;

wherein:
the fastener cavity has an open end and a closed end;
the fastener cavity has a depth dimension, a first lateral dimension at the open end of the fastener cavity, and a second lateral dimension at the closed end of the fastener cavity;
the first lateral dimension is measured along an axis, perpendicular to an axis along which the depth dimension is measured;
the second lateral dimension is measured along an axis, perpendicular to the axis along which the depth dimension is measured; and

the first lateral dimension is greater than the second lateral dimension.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of at least partially compressing the permeable body comprises compressing the permeable body between the fastener assembly and a non-permeable body and between the substrate and the non-permeable body.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the liquid comprises at least one of a primer, a paint, or a liquid that has a viscosity of less than 100 centistokes.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of at least partially saturating the permeable body with the volume of the liquid comprises a step of dispensing a predetermined volume of the liquid from a liquid source.

5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the step of dispensing the predetermined volume of the liquid from the liquid source comprises a step of engaging a user-input mechanism.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the permeable body is composed of a reticulated foam material.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the reticulated foam material has 50-100 pores per inch.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the permeable body consists of a single part.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the permeable body comprises a plurality of separate parts.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the fastener cavity is sized and shaped to have an interference fit with the fastener assembly.

11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein:
the permeable body comprises a first permeable-body part and a second permeable-body part in contact with the first permeable-body part;
the first permeable-body part defines the open end of the fastener cavity; and
the second permeable-body part defines the closed end of the fastener cavity.

12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein:
the step of at least partially compressing the permeable body comprises compressing the permeable body between the fastener assembly and a non-permeable body and between the substrate and the non-permeable body;
the first permeable-body part laps over at least a portion of an outer surface of a non-permeable wall of the non-permeable body;
the first permeable-body part laps over all of a terminal surface of the non-permeable wall of the non-permeable body; and
the first permeable-body part laps over at least a portion of an inner surface of the non-permeable wall of the non-permeable body.

13. The method according to claim 11 , wherein:
the permeable body has a central axis; and
the first permeable-body part at least partially laps over the second permeable-body part in a direction parallel to the central axis.

14. The method according to claim 11 , wherein:
the permeable body has a central axis; and
the first permeable-body part at least partially laps over the second permeable-body part in a direction transverse to the central axis.

15. The method according to claim 11 , wherein:
the permeable body has a central axis; and
the first permeable-body part circumscribes the second permeable-body part and does not lap over any portion of the second permeable-body part when viewed along the central axis.

16. The method according to claim 11 , wherein:
the permeable body has a central axis; and
the central axis intersects the second permeable-body part and does not intersect the first permeable-body part.

17. The method according to claim 11 , wherein:
the permeable body has a central axis; and
the second permeable-body part laps over the first permeable-body part when viewed along the central axis.

18. A method of coating a first fastener assembly that extends from a substrate and a second fastener assembly that extends from the substrate, the method comprising steps of:
grasping a handle extending between a first non-permeable body and a second non-permeable body;
at least partially saturating a first permeable body, coupled to the first non-permeable body, with a first volume of a liquid;
covering the first fastener assembly with the first permeable body, wherein the step of covering the first fastener assembly comprises steps of:
receiving the first fastener assembly within a fastener cavity of the first permeable body;
at least partially compressing the first permeable body between the first non-permeable body and the first fastener assembly; and
transferring a portion of the first volume of the liquid from the first permeable body to an exposed outer surface of the first fastener assembly and to a first ring on the substrate, surrounding the first fastener assembly;

at least partially saturating a second permeable body, coupled to the second non-permeable body, with a second volume of the liquid; and
covering the second fastener assembly with the second permeable body, wherein the step of covering the second fastener assembly comprises steps of:
at least partially compressing the second permeable body between the second non-permeable body and the second fastener assembly; and
transferring a portion of the second volume of the liquid from the second permeable body to an exposed outer surface of the second fastener assembly and to a second ring on the substrate, surrounding the second fastener assembly;

wherein:
the fastener cavity has an open end and a closed end;
the fastener cavity has a depth dimension, a first lateral dimension at the open end of the fastener cavity, and a second lateral dimension at the closed end of the fastener cavity;
the first lateral dimension is measured along an axis, perpendicular to an axis along which the depth dimension is measured;
the second lateral dimension is measured along an axis, perpendicular to the axis along which the depth dimension is measured; and
the first lateral dimension is greater than the second lateral dimension.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the step of at least partially compressing the first permeable body comprises compressing the first permeable body between the first fastener assembly and the first non-permeable body and between the substrate and the first non-permeable body.

20. The method of claim 18 , wherein the step of at least partially saturating the first permeable body with the first volume of the liquid comprises a step of dispensing a predetermined volume of the liquid from a liquid source

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Hopkins Richard Lynn
• Ducworth Lyman Scott
• Larrabee Diana Dujunco Dan
• Jackson Janet Karen H
• Boyd Sandra Loraine
• Vasquez Elker I

Classifications

• B05C1/02 Primary

  for applying liquid or other fluent material to separate articles {(B05C1/006 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B05C1/06

  by rubbing contact, e.g. by brushes, by pads {(brushes in general A46B)} · CPC title

• B05C5/0208

  for applying liquid or other fluent material to separate articles (B05C5/0204 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B05C17/00 Primary

  Hand tools or apparatus using hand held tools, for applying liquids or other fluent materials to, for spreading applied liquids or other fluent materials on, or for partially removing applied liquids or other fluent materials from, surfaces ({casings or accessories for storing or handling solid or pasty toilet or cosmetic substances A45D40/00;} brushes A46B; {shoe polish applicators A47L23/05; surgical glue applicators A61B17/00491;} absorbent pads, e.g. swabs, for applying media to the human body A61F13/15; {hand-held applicators for applying or spreading media, e.g. remedies, on the human body A61M35/003; implements for writing or drawing B43K; hand-held desk devices for applying liquid, e.g. adhesive, by contact to surfaces B43M11/06;} implements or apparatus for removing dry paint from surfaces B44D3/16 {; container closures with pads or like contents-applying means B65D47/42}) · CPC title

• B05C17/002

  with feed system for supplying material from an external source; Supply controls therefor (B05C17/02 takes precedence) · CPC title