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TeslaPatent applicationMaterials & manufacturingInterest 3/10

Tesla patents film rollers that pre-stretch material for curved surfaces

Tesla describes a system that stretches thin film over a curved roller before storing it on a non-cylindrical roll. This pre-stretched film is designed to fit curved surfaces more easily when applied later.

Why it mattersThis improves the manufacturing process for applying protective or decorative films to curved parts, likely reducing waste or effort in production.

In the filing’s own words

The present disclosure seeks to address technical problems associated with the application of film to curved surfaces by providing for systems and methods for pre-stretching film. A system for pre-stretching film includes an intermediate roller to receive film from a starting cylindrical roll of film, stretch the film as the film passes over the intermediate roller, and provide the film to a final non-cylindrical roll that stores the film in a pre-stretched condition. The pre-stretched film is stored on the final non-cylindrical roll, which is detachable from the system, until the application of the pre-stretched film to a curved surface. The pre-stretched film is pre-stretched to fit on the curved surface.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. A system for pre-stretching film, comprising: a starting cylindrical roll configured to supply a film; a first intermediate roller positioned between the starting cylindrical roll and a final non-cylindrical roll, the first intermediate roller configured to receive the film from the starting cylindrical roll, the first intermediate roller having a first intermediate curvature radius greater than a final curvature radius of the final non-cylindrical roll; and the final non-cylindrical roll configured to receive the film.

Facts

Company
Tesla (Tesla, Inc.)
Official title
CURVED ROLLER PROCESS FOR PRE-STRETCHED FILM
Publication number
US20260273836A1
Application number
19468955
Filed
Feb 3, 2026
Published
Sep 17, 2026
Inventors
1
Claims
20

Classified under

B29C 55/00 Operations & transportB65H 37/00 Operations & transportB65H 2301/5124 Operations & transport
Read the full filing (official PDF) ↗ Open in the Patent Tracker

Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.