IP Library › Granted Patent US 12691632
Granted Patent B2
US 12691632 · App. 18/619,705 · Granted Jul 28, 2026

Systems and methods for applying a tactile textured substrate to a surface of a structure

Inventors: Jason William Drexler (Edmonds, WA); Stephanie Iris Metting (Seattle, WA); Lloyd Layton Womack, II (Kirkland, WA); Bryan Bleda (Edmonds, WA); Menelaos Spyridon Kafkalidis (Lynnwood, WA)
Assignee: The Boeing Company
B29C64/112B29C64/209B29C64/245B29C64/264B29C64/30B33Y10/00B33Y30/00B33Y40/20B33Y80/00B29L2031/3076B64C1/066
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12691632
App. No.
18/619,705
Granted
Jul 28, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method includes coupling a substrate with a surface of an aircraft. One or more tactile features are printed onto the substrate. The method can also include forming one or more perforated features onto the substrate, and curing the tactile features with ultraviolet (UV) light. The printing of the tactile features can include controlling, by a control unit, a printer to form the one or more tactile features onto the substrate.

Claims (24)

1 . A method comprising:

coupling a substrate with a surface of an aircraft, wherein one or more tactile features are printed onto the substrate, the substrate including one or more perforated features formed onto the substrate, wherein portions of the substrate are configured to be removed from the surface of the aircraft based at least in part on locations of the one or more perforated features.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising preparing the substrate to be coupled with the surface of the aircraft by:

forming the one or more perforated features onto the substrate;

printing the one or more tactile features onto the substrate; and

curing the one or more tactile features with ultraviolet (UV) light.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising preparing the substrate to be coupled with the surface of the aircraft by:

printing the one or more tactile features onto the substrate, wherein the one or more tactile features are configured to be arranged in groups of tactile features; and

curing the one or more tactile features with ultraviolet (UV) light.

4 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising separating a first portion of the substrate including one of the groups of the tactile features from another portion of the substrate including one or more other groups of the tactile features.

5 . The method of claim 3 , wherein a first portion of the substrate includes a first group of tactile features having one or more first attributes, and a second portion of the substrate includes a second group of tactile features having one or more second attributes that differ in relation to the one or more first attributes.

6 . The method of claim 5 , further comprising:

coupling the first portion of the substrate including the first group of the tactile features with the surface of the aircraft at a first location of the aircraft; and

coupling the second portion of the substrate including the second group of the tactile features with the surface of the aircraft at a second location of the aircraft.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

removing a portion of the substrate from a region of the surface of the aircraft, wherein one or more of a shape or a size of the portion of the substrate is based at least in part on the locations of the one or more perforated features of the substrate; and

coupling a replacement substrate with the region of the surface of the aircraft, the replacement substrate including one or more tactile features having one or more attributes that are similar in relation to one or more attributes of the one or more tactile features of the portion of the substrate that is removed from the region of the surface of the aircraft.

8 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising applying a filler material to a gap disposed between the substrate and the replacement substrate.

9 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising positioning the replacement substrate within the region of the surface of the aircraft to overlap with at least some of the substrate coupled with the surface of the aircraft.

10 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising coupling the substrate with the surface of the aircraft via an adhesive material disposed between the surface of the aircraft and the substrate.

11 . A method, comprising:

coupling a substrate with a surface of an aircraft, wherein one or more tactile features are printed onto the substrate;

removing a portion of the substrate from a region of the surface of the aircraft, wherein one or more of a shape or a size of the portion of the substrate is based at least in part on a location of one or more perforated features of the substrate; and

coupling a replacement substrate with the region of the surface of the aircraft, the replacement substrate including one or more tactile features having one or more attributes that are similar in relation to one or more attributes of the one or more tactile features of the portion of the substrate that is removed from the region of the surface of the aircraft.