Elmer R Hulstrom

US Patent:

49157710, Apr 10, 1990

Filed:

Oct 8, 1987

Appl. No.:

7/106724

Inventors:

Kevin D. O'Brien - Des Moines WA
Elmer R. Hulstrom - Sumner WA

Assignee:

The Boeing Company - Seattle WA

International Classification:

B32B 3100

US Classification:

156574

Abstract:

A segmented tape shoe for pressing tape into place along a predetermined path on a contoured lay-down surface. The tape shoe includes a plurality of tape shoe segments independently held in a close widthwise array by a shoe body. Each of the tape shoe segments has a substantially uniform width and a longitudinal cross section that is transversely urgeable against the composite tape. In one embodiment, each of the tape shoe segments is independently urgeable by pneumatic pressure. In another embodiment, the tape shoe segments can have a resilient layer covered by a low-friction skin.