Elastic assembly and method of manufacturing the same

Abstract

The application discloses an elastic assembly, which comprises an elastic outer layer defining a sealed space, and a TPE and filling oil in the form of a sheet accommodated in the sealed space. The TPE is in an oil-absorbing saturated state, and the filling oil covers at least two opposite surfaces of the TPE, so that the elastic outer layer is spaced from the two opposite surfaces by the filling oil. By setting the TPE in the oil-absorbing saturated state and cooperatively arranging the filling oil, the elastic assembly can realize flexible and controllable compression deformation under the condition of underwater pressure and maintain long-term elastic stability, thereby improving the reliability and safety of underwater touch control.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to elastic components, and more particularly to an elastic component comprising an elastic material and a filling medium forming a sealed space. Background Technology

[0002] With the continuous development of electronic devices, smart terminals, and human-computer interaction devices, more and more products need to achieve reliable touch operation or pressure sensing in complex environments. Display devices, as the core interactive components of these devices, have evolved from simple display functions to the ability to present high-definition content. For portable terminals, touchscreen technology has become a key solution due to its ability to replace physical keyboards, balancing the need for large screens with lightweight design. However, in practical applications, many scenarios place higher demands on touch reliability. For example, the screen casing of electronic devices used in underwater environments, or the surface structure of robots that frequently come into contact with people or external objects, typically require a flexible structure with a certain degree of compliance on the outer surface of the device to achieve functions such as protection, cushioning, or touch transmission. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The purpose of this application is to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and provide an elastic component structure that exhibits a stable and controllable elastic response under pressure.

[0004] This application provides an elastic component, including an elastic outer layer defining a sealed space, and a sheet-like TPE and filler oil housed within the sealed space. The TPE is in an oil-saturated state, and the filler oil covers at least two opposing surfaces of the TPE, such that the elastic outer layer is spaced from the two opposing surfaces by the filler oil.

[0005] In one embodiment, the oil adsorbed within the TPE in an oil-saturated state belongs to one of the following categories in terms of hydrocarbon composition as the filler oil: aromatic oil, naphthenic oil, or paraffin oil.

[0006] In one embodiment, the mass ratio M of the TPE to the filler oil is in the range of 75% ≤ M ≤ 95%.

[0007] In one embodiment, the Shore hardness range A of the TPE in the oil-saturated state is: A≤15HA, so that the elastic component maintains a stable compression response during repeated pressing.

[0008] In one embodiment, under the condition that the underwater hydrostatic pressure is less than 6 atmospheres, the compression deformation Δh of the elastic component is not greater than a preset threshold of 0.05mm.

[0009] In one embodiment, under underwater hydrostatic pressure less than 6 atmospheres, the compression deformation Δh does not exceed 0.1% of the initial thickness of the elastic component.

[0010] In one embodiment, when the TPE is placed horizontally without external pressure, the distance S between either of the two opposing surfaces of the TPE and the adjacent elastic outer layer is in the range of 0.05mm ≤ S ≤ 0.8mm.

[0011] In one embodiment, the elastic outer layer is made of polyether-type TPU, polyester-type TPU, or PVC.

[0012] Another aspect of this application provides a method for manufacturing an elastic component, comprising the following steps: placing a TPE of a predetermined shape inside a high-pressure container, maintaining the pressure inside the high-pressure container at 20-30 atmospheres and the temperature at 65-85 degrees Celsius, and maintaining these conditions for at least 4 hours to form a pressurized TPE; immersing the pressurized TPE in oil for at least 12 hours to form an oil-saturated TPE; inserting the oil-saturated TPE into a sealed space defined by an elastic outer layer; filling the sealed space with filling oil; and sealing the sealed space.

[0013] This application also provides a method for manufacturing TPE in an oil-saturated state, comprising the following steps: placing a TPE of a predetermined shape in a high-pressure container, maintaining the pressure inside the high-pressure container at 20 to 30 atmospheres and the temperature at 65 to 85 degrees Celsius, and maintaining the above conditions for not less than 4 hours to form a pressurized TPE; immersing the pressurized TPE in oil for not less than 12 hours to form a TPE in an oil-saturated state.

[0014] In this application, by encapsulating the TPE in an oil-saturated state and the filler oil together in a sealed space, the elastic component described herein achieves mechanical properties highly matched to the operating conditions in an underwater touch environment. Because the oil-saturated TPE has fully absorbed the oil, its elastic modulus is significantly reduced compared to the unsaturated state. This allows the elastic component to produce controllable compressive deformation with a small force under external pressure, effectively compensating for the touch distance even under underwater hydrostatic pressure, ensuring stable touch signal sensing, and improving the reliability of underwater touch operation. Simultaneously, since the TPE is already oil-saturated, it will not continue to absorb oil and undergo uncontrollable hardening or property changes when coexisting with the filler oil in the sealed space for a long time. This avoids elastic performance drift during long-term or repeated underwater use, helping to maintain stable thickness, elasticity, and touch response characteristics. Furthermore, each of the two opposing surfaces of the TPE is spaced with a filler oil between itself and the elastic outer layer. Under localized pressure or impact, the filler oil flows within the sealed space, diffusing the localized pressure over a larger area, effectively buffering the impact and reducing stress concentration. Combined with the compliant deformation characteristics of the TPE in its oil-saturated state, this structure helps reduce the risk of impact on localized areas of the touchscreen during underwater operation or external pressure, improving the safety and reliability of electronic devices used underwater.

[0015] Another aspect of this application provides a housing device for housing an electronic device having a control surface, characterized in that the housing device includes an upper housing for covering the control surface and a lower housing forming a sealed accommodating space with the upper housing, the electronic device being housed in the accommodating space; the upper housing includes the elastic component described above.

[0016] In another aspect, this application provides a robotic skin, characterized in that it includes the elastic component described above and a sensor located below the elastic component. Attached Figure Description

[0017] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0018] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional view of the elastic component of this application; Figure 2 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the elastic component after it has been pressed; Figure 3A cross-sectional schematic diagram of the containment device provided in this application, in which an electronic device is contained; Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the robot skin provided in this application.

[0019] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the manufacturing process of the flexible component in this application.

[0020] In the diagram: 100: elastic component, 10: elastic outer layer, 15: sealed space, 20: TPE, 40: filling oil, 200: containment device, 202: electronic device, 202a: control surface, 204: upper shell, 205: accommodating space, 206: lower shell, 300: robot skin. Detailed Implementation

[0021] In this application, the terms "set up," "equipped with," and "connected" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral structure; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, or an internal connection between two devices, components, or parts. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0022] The terms “center,” “longitudinal,” “lateral,” “length,” “width,” “thickness,” “upper,” “lower,” “front,” “rear,” “left,” “right,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” “top,” “bottom,” “inner,” “outer,” “radial,” and “circumferential” indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this application.

[0023] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. In the description of this application, "multiple" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0024] Furthermore, in addition to indicating location or positional relationship, some of the aforementioned terms may also have other meanings. For example, the term "above" may also be used in some cases to indicate a certain dependency or connection relationship. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of these terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0025] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the following detailed description is provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative and not intended to limit the scope of this application.

[0026] like Figures 1 to 2 As shown, this application discloses an elastic component 100, including an elastic outer layer 10 defining a sealed space 15. The elastic component 100 also includes a sheet-like thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) 20 and a filler oil 40 housed within the sealed space 15. The TPE is in an oil-saturated state, and the filler oil covers at least two opposing surfaces of the TPE, such that the elastic outer layer is spaced from the two opposing surfaces by the filler oil.

[0027] In this application, the TPE 20 can be selected from various thermoplastic elastomer materials with good elasticity and oil absorption properties. For example, the TPE 20 may include styrene-based polymers, such as styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymers (SBC) and styrene-ethylene / butene-styrene block copolymers (SEBS). These materials typically have a significant microphase separation structure, and their soft segments have a strong adsorption capacity for mineral oil or synthetic oil. After being filled or impregnated with oil, they can form a stable oil-saturated state, thereby significantly reducing the overall elastic modulus of the material and improving its flexibility. The oil contained in the TPE 20 acts as its plasticizer. In addition, the TPE 20 material can still maintain good structural integrity and resilience after absorbing oil, making it suitable for long-term coexistence with the filling oil 40 in the sealed space 15, and for maintaining the oil-saturated PTE in a dynamic saturated state. Depending on the specific application requirements, the TPE 20 can also be adjusted in terms of molecular weight, block ratio, or formulation system to obtain different degrees of softness and hardness and oil absorption characteristics, thereby meeting the requirements of underwater touch components or flexible surface structures for softness, controllable deformation, and long-term stability. Of course, the TPE may also include reinforcing components, such as polypropylene (PP) or polystyrene (PS), to increase hardness and abrasion resistance; it may also include flame retardants and colorants, etc.

[0028] In the above embodiments, when the absorbent space inside the TPE 20 is substantially occupied by the filler oil 40, and further soaking or oil filling no longer significantly changes the mass or physical properties of the TPE 20, the TPE 20 can be considered to be in an oil-saturated state. After obtaining the TPE 20 in an oil-saturated state, it is placed in a sealed space 15 defined by the elastic outer layer 10, and an appropriate amount of filler oil 40 is filled into the sealed space 15, so that the TPE 20 and the filler oil 40 are jointly encapsulated in the sealed space 15, thereby forming the aforementioned elastic component 100 structure.

[0029] In this elastic component 100, the TPE 20 is in an oil-saturated state, meaning that the absorbent space inside the TPE 20 is essentially occupied by oil. Therefore, under long-term immersion conditions, the oil saturation of the TPE 20 remains in a dynamic equilibrium state, thus stabilizing its material properties. In addition to the oil-saturated TPE 20, the sealed space 15 also retains free-state filling oil 40, ensuring that the filling oil 40 is spaced between the two opposing surfaces of the elastic outer layer 10 and the TPE 20. This structural arrangement constitutes an elastic buffer structure formed by combining an "elastic outer layer—filling oil—oil-saturated TPE—filling oil—elastic outer layer." This elastic buffer structure has significant application value in certain scenarios. The following example, using a mobile phone case for underwater use, specifically its application on the control surface covering the touchscreen, illustrates its beneficial effects: 1) Mechanical properties directly related to the underwater touch environment have been optimized. Since the TPE 20 is in an oil-saturated state, its interior has fully absorbed oil, which significantly reduces the elastic modulus of the TPE 20 compared to the unsaturated state. As a result, it can undergo controllable compression deformation with a small force when subjected to external pressure.

[0030] In environments with hydrostatic pressure, such as underwater, when a user operates the touch screen of an electronic device through the elastic component 100, the oil-saturated TPE 20 can generate deformation sufficient to compensate for the touch distance under low pressing pressure, which is conducive to the stable sensing of touch signals and improves the reliability of underwater touch operation.

[0031] 2) Improve the stability of elastic performance under long-term use Since the TPE 20 is already saturated with oil, even if it coexists with the filling oil 40 in the sealed space 15 for a long time, it will not continue to absorb the filling oil 40 and cause uncontrollable hardening or changes in physical properties. This avoids the elastic properties of the elastic component 100 from drifting due to continuous oil absorption during long-term or repeated underwater use. Therefore, by limiting the oil absorption state of the TPE 20, the elastic component 100 can maintain stable thickness, elasticity, and touch response characteristics in the underwater environment.

[0032] 3) Favorable for stress distribution and screen protection under underwater pressure conditions Because the TPE 20 has filling oil 40 spaced between its two opposing surfaces and the elastic outer layer 10, the filling oil 40 can flow within the sealed space 15 under localized pressure, allowing the localized pressure to diffuse and be evenly transmitted over a larger area. This can buffer the impact of some hard objects, preventing the phone inside the case from cracking or being damaged due to excessive impact.

[0033] Combining the compliant deformation characteristics of TPE 20 under oil-saturated conditions, the above structure helps to reduce stress concentration during underwater operations or external pressure, thereby reducing the risk of impact on local areas of electronic device touch screens and improving safety and reliability during underwater use.

[0034] It should be noted that the "soft" elastic state described in this application is not only used to improve the user's tactile experience, but also, through the coordinated setting of the material's oil absorption state and the space filled with oil 40, the elastic component 100 can still achieve stable and predictable compression deformation under underwater conductive medium and hydrostatic pressure conditions, thereby meeting the comprehensive technical requirements of underwater capacitive touch operation for isolation, responsiveness and stability.

[0035] Furthermore, in one embodiment, the oil adsorbed within the TPE 20 in its oil-saturated state and the filler oil 40 belong to one or any combination of the following categories in terms of hydrocarbon composition: aromatic oil, naphthenic oil, or paraffinic oil. For example, if aromatic oil is used in the process of filling TPE 20 to saturation, then aromatic oil is also used in the filler oil 40; or, naphthenic oil, or a mixture of naphthenic oil and paraffinic oil, is used in the filler oil 40.

[0036] Furthermore, in one embodiment, the main component of the TPE 20 is defined as follows: the mass ratio M of oil in the TPE 20 is limited to the range of 75% ≤ M ≤ 95%. When the proportion of filling oil 40 is too high, touch delay or accidental touch may easily occur due to fluid-dominated deformation; when the proportion of filling oil 40 is too low, the TPE 20 may have difficulty maintaining an oil-saturated state, thereby affecting the compensation effect of touch distance. This embodiment effectively avoids the above problems by limiting the mass ratio, thereby improving the touch reliability and stability of the elastic component 100 in an underwater environment. Within this range, while the TPE 20 can achieve and maintain an oil-saturated state within the sealed space 15, the sealed space 15 still retains an appropriate amount of free-state filling oil 40 to cover the relative surfaces of the TPE 20 and participate in the elastic buffering process.

[0037] By limiting the mass ratio of TPE 20 to filler oil 40 to within the range of 1:9 to 1:6, a stable working state can be achieved during the manufacturing stage and long-term use, where TPE 20 is saturated with oil and free filler oil 40 remains within the sealed space 15. This avoids uncontrollable changes in the physical properties of TPE 20 due to excessive or insufficient filler oil 40. Simultaneously, TPE 20 still constitutes the majority of the load-bearing capacity in the overall elastic component 100. Under the combined action of underwater hydrostatic pressure and user pressure, the elastic component 100 is primarily deformed by TPE 20, while the filler oil 40 assists in softening and pressure dispersion. This results in a more stable and predictable compression stroke and touch response of the elastic component 100.

[0038] Furthermore, in one embodiment, the Shore hardness range A of the TPE 20 in its oil-saturated state is: A≤15HA, ensuring that the elastic component 100 maintains a stable compression response during repeated pressing. This not only achieves stable operation of the elastic component 100 at the structural and material state level, but also clearly defines the effective operating range of the elastic component 100 for underwater touch applications at the mechanical response level, thereby further improving the touch reliability and stability of the elastic component 100 in underwater environments.

[0039] Specifically, when the Shore hardness of the TPE 20 is controlled within the range of A ≤ 15HA, the TPE 20 exhibits near-gel-like mechanical properties in its oil-saturated state. It can undergo continuous and reversible compressive deformation under relatively small external forces, thus avoiding the situation where the material's initial rigidity is too high, making it difficult to produce effective deformation within a small load range. Therefore, in environments with hydrostatic pressure and operational damping, such as underwater, the user does not need to apply significant pressing force to cause the elastic component 100 to deform sufficiently to compensate for the touch distance, which is beneficial for improving the sensitivity and reliability of touch response. Secondly, by limiting the Shore hardness of the TPE 20, the deformation of the elastic component 100 under pressure is primarily driven by the elastic compression of the TPE 20 body, rather than by the flow of the filling oil 40. This avoids problems such as unpredictable deformation, delayed rebound, or touch drift caused by fluid-dominated deformation. The combination of the TPE 20 being in an oil-absorbing saturated state and the sealed space 15 still retaining free-filling oil 40 enables the elastic component 100 to maintain a stable and consistent mechanical response during repeated underwater pressing.

[0040] Furthermore, in one embodiment, the elastic component 100 has controlled pressure-deformation response characteristics in an underwater environment. Specifically, under conditions where the underwater hydrostatic pressure is less than 6 atmospheres, the amount of compression deformation Δh generated by the elastic component 100 under external pressure is limited to within a preset threshold, and the amount of compression deformation Δh is not greater than 0.05 mm. By limiting the amount of compression deformation Δh of the elastic component 100 to no more than 0.05 mm under conditions where the underwater hydrostatic pressure is less than 6 atmospheres, the elastic component 100 can maintain a controlled range of compression deformation in actual underwater use environments. This avoids excessive deformation of the elastic component 100 due to underwater pressure, which could cause water to enter the trigger distance of the capacitive touch screen, effectively reducing the risk of accidental underwater touches.

[0041] The aforementioned pressure-deformation response limitation ensures that the elastic component 100, under underwater hydrostatic pressure, remains dominated by elastomer compressive deformation, rather than experiencing uncontrollable collapse or deformation concentration, thus maintaining stable isolation and tactile performance in the underwater environment. Therefore, this application not only achieves compliance of the elastic component 100 at the material and structural levels, but also clearly defines the effective operating range of the elastic component 100 in the underwater environment at the engineering application level.

[0042] In another embodiment, under underwater hydrostatic pressure less than 6 atmospheres, the compression deformation Δh does not exceed 0.1% of the initial thickness of the elastic component 100. By further limiting the compression deformation Δh to no more than 0.1% of the initial thickness of the elastic component 100, the elastic component 100 can maintain a relatively stable deformation ratio even under the design condition of overall thickness reduction. This improves the applicability of the elastic component 100 in thin-film designs while meeting the reliability requirements of underwater touch control. This limitation based on relative deformation helps to avoid performance inconsistencies caused by changes in absolute thickness.

[0043] The aforementioned controlled compression deformation characteristics can be achieved through the synergistic effect of TPE 20 in an oil-saturated state, the mass ratio of TPE 20 to filler oil 40, and the Shore hardness of TPE 20. This application does not further limit these aspects.

[0044] Furthermore, in one embodiment, in its natural state of being placed horizontally without external pressure, the two opposing surfaces of the TPE 20, which are in an oil-saturated state, maintain a certain initial distance S between each surface and its adjacent elastic outer layer 10. Specifically, the initial distance S ranges from 0.05 mm to 0.8 mm. In this state, the initial distance is formed by the filling oil 40, so that when placed horizontally without external pressure, the TPE 20 does not directly adhere to the elastic outer layer 10, but rather has a stable oil layer space between it and the elastic outer layer 10.

[0045] By setting an initial gap of 0.05mm to 0.8mm between the TPE 20 and the adjacent elastic outer layer 10 in a horizontally placed state without external pressure, the problem of direct pressure transmission caused by too small a gap can be avoided, as well as the problem of touch response lag or unstable feel caused by too large a gap. This allows the elastic component 100 to balance anti-accidental touch performance and touch sensitivity during underwater touch operation. Furthermore, in an underwater environment, the elastic component 100 can preferentially absorb underwater hydrostatic pressure and its minor fluctuations through the gaps in the filling oil 40, thereby preventing underwater pressure from directly acting on the TPE 20 and causing unnecessary compression deformation, effectively reducing the risk of accidental touches caused by changes in environmental pressure. Therefore, by limiting the initial gap S, while ensuring the flexibility of the elastic component 100, effective buffering against changes in underwater environmental pressure is achieved. This allows the elastic component 100 to stably avoid accidental touches caused by the water medium even under thinner structural design conditions, further improving the reliability and practical value of the elastic component 100 in underwater applications.

[0046] In embodiments of this application, the elastic outer layer 10 used to define the sealed space 15 can be made of a polymeric elastic film material with flexibility and good sealing performance. This application does not limit this. For example, the elastic outer layer 10 can be made of a transparent polyether-type thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) film, which has good flexibility and water resistance, making it suitable for long-term use in underwater environments.

[0047] In another alternative, the elastic outer layer 10 can also be made of polyester TPU film or PVC, which also have good elasticity and sealing properties, and can meet the needs of forming the sealed space 15 and cooperating with the internal elastic structure. It should be noted that the above-mentioned different types of TPU films are only examples of optional materials for the elastic outer layer 10. As long as the elastic outer layer 10 can provide the necessary flexibility, sealing and mechanical strength, such as thermoplastic polyester elastomer (TPE 20E), transparent thermoplastic elastomer (transparent TPE 20), etc., it should be understood that it falls within the protection scope of the elastic outer layer 10 described in this application.

[0048] The following describes the formation process of the elastic component 100 described in this application with reference to an exemplary manufacturing process, but this application is not limited to the order of the following steps or the specific process.

[0049] First, an elastic outer layer 10 material is provided to form the external structure of the elastic component 100, and the elastic outer layer 10 is used to enclose a sealed space 15 by means of molding, heat sealing, or bonding. Second, a TPE 20 in an oil-saturated state is provided. The TPE 20 can be formed by one-time oil filling molding, or by immersion in filler oil 40 after molding to achieve oil saturation; this application does not limit this. Then, the oil-saturated TPE 20 is housed in the sealed space 15 in sheet form, and an appropriate amount of filler oil 40 is filled into the sealed space 15, such that the filler oil 40 at least covers two opposite surfaces of the TPE 20, thereby forming an oil layer gap between the TPE 20 and the elastic outer layer 10. Subsequently, the elastic outer layer 10 is sealed, so that the TPE 20 and the filler oil 40 are sealed together in the sealed space 15, forming the elastic component 100. During the sealing process, the initial spacing between the TPE 20 and the elastic outer layer 10 can be adjusted as needed to meet the desired structural state. Finally, the formed elastic component 100 undergoes necessary appearance and sealing checks to ensure it meets the usage requirements. Through the above process, the aforementioned elastic component 100 with controlled mechanical response characteristics can be obtained.

[0050] As mentioned above, this elastic component can be used to manufacture mobile phone cases suitable for underwater environments; of course, the mobile phone case can also be a housing for other electronic devices, as long as it has a surface that requires touch operation. Specifically, this application provides a housing device 200 for housing an electronic device 202 having a control surface 202a. The housing device 200 includes an upper housing 204 for covering the control surface and a lower housing 206 forming a sealed accommodating space 205 with the upper housing 204. The electronic device 202 is housed in the accommodating space 205. The upper housing includes the aforementioned elastic component 100. The upper housing 204 and the lower housing 206 are fixedly connected on one side, and the other side is sealed and openable via a sealing structure 203, such as a snap-lock sealing strip, to house the electronic device 202.

[0051] In addition to its application in underwater containment devices, the elastic component described in this application can also be applied to the outer surface of a robot as a flexible skin structure to cover the robot body or a local area thereof.

[0052] In this application scenario, the elastic component 100 is arranged on the outer side of the robot body (not shown) as the robot's skin 300. Sensors 302, such as pressure sensors, tactile sensors, proximity sensors, or other sensing elements, can be installed below it to sense the contact state or magnitude of force between external objects and the robot's surface. By placing the elastic component 100 between the sensors and the external environment, a flexible interface with a smooth feel and controllable deformation capability is formed on the robot's surface. Therefore, when the robot comes into contact with an external object, the elastic compression deformation of the elastic component can buffer the contact force and transmit the corresponding deformation or pressure change to the sensors below.

[0053] In the aforementioned robotic skin application, the TPE in its oil-saturated state, along with the filler oil, is encapsulated within a sealed space formed by the elastic outer layer. This allows the elastic component to generate a compliant response primarily through the elastic compressive deformation of the TPE when subjected to external contact forces. Compared to traditional rigid covering structures or single elastic material covering structures, the aforementioned multi-phase synergistic elastic structure achieves greater compliance with a smaller overall thickness. This significantly reduces instantaneous contact force when the robot comes into contact with people or other objects, improving contact safety and comfort. Furthermore, because the elastic component exhibits controlled and continuous pressure-deformation response characteristics during compression, the sensors positioned below can stably sense deformation or pressure changes caused by external contact, thereby improving the robot's sensitivity and reliability in detecting contact events.

[0054] It is evident that the elastic component described in this application is not only suitable for touch control and accidental touch prevention scenarios in underwater environments, but can also be used as a flexible skin structure for robots in the field of human-computer interaction, thus expanding the application scope and engineering applicability of the elastic component.

[0055] In one embodiment of this application, please refer to Figure 5 The TPE in the oil-saturated state can be obtained through the following manufacturing process.

[0056] The TPE material is molded into a predetermined shape, such as a sheet or other form suitable for containment in a sealed space. The molding method can employ compression molding, extrusion, or other conventional thermoplastic elastomer molding processes, which are not limited in this application. Subsequently, the molded TPE is placed in a high-pressure container, and the container is pressurized. During this pressurization process, the pressure inside the high-pressure container can be set in the range of approximately 20 to 30 atmospheres, while the temperature is controlled at approximately 65 to 85 degrees Celsius, and these pressure and temperature conditions are maintained for no less than 4 hours. This high-pressure and high-temperature treatment helps to open up the microstructure inside the TPE, improving its subsequent adsorption capacity for oils.

[0057] After pressurization, the TPE is removed from the high-pressure vessel and immersed in filler oil for at least 12 hours. This immersion process allows the filler oil to fully penetrate the TPE, bringing it to oil saturation.

[0058] Thus, TPE in an oil-saturated state can be obtained. Based on this oil-saturated TPE, the manufacturing process of the aforementioned elastic component can continue through the following steps: After obtaining the TPE in an oil-absorbing saturated state, an elastic outer layer is provided to define a sealing space, and the elastic outer layer is placed in a pre-encapsulation state. Subsequently, the oil-absorbing saturated TPE is placed into the sealing space defined by the elastic outer layer.

[0059] During the process of filling the TPE into the sealed space, an appropriate amount of filling oil can be filled into the sealed space as needed, so that the filling oil covers at least two opposite surfaces of the TPE, thereby forming an oil layer gap between the TPE and the elastic outer layer.

[0060] After the above loading and filling are completed, the elastic outer layer is sealed, so that the TPE and the filler oil are sealed together in the sealed space, thereby forming a complete elastic component. Through the above continuous steps, the TPE in the oil-saturated state and the filler oil work together in the sealed space to obtain the expected elastic mechanical properties.

[0061] The TPE obtained through the above manufacturing process has a relatively uniform distribution of oil inside, which is beneficial for obtaining stable and controllable elastic mechanical properties after subsequent encapsulation into a sealed space. It should be noted that the above manufacturing conditions are only an exemplary implementation method; the specific pressure, temperature, and time parameters can be adjusted according to the actual material type and application requirements, and should all be understood to fall within the protection scope of this application. It should also be noted that the above loading and sealing steps are only an exemplary illustration of the elastic component formation process; the specific operation method, step sequence, or sealing process can be adjusted according to actual production conditions and does not constitute a limitation on the technical solution of this application.

[0062] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of this application and is not intended to limit this application. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of this application should be included within the protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. A resilient component comprising a resilient outer layer defining a sealed space, characterized in that: It also includes a sheet-like TPE contained within the sealed space and a filler oil; the TPE is in an oil-saturated state, and the filler oil covers at least two opposing surfaces of the TPE, such that the elastic outer layer is spaced apart from the two opposing surfaces by the filler oil.

2. The elastic component according to claim 1, characterized in that: The oil adsorbed in the TPE in an oil-saturated state belongs to one or any combination of the following categories in terms of hydrocarbon composition as well as the filler oil: aromatic oil, naphthenic oil or paraffin oil.

3. The elastic component according to claim 2, characterized in that: The oil content (M) in this TPE is in the range of 75% ≤ M ≤ 95%.

4. The elastic component according to claim 1, characterized in that: The Shore hardness range A of the TPE in the oil-absorbing saturated state is: A≤15HA.

5. The elastic component according to claim 1, characterized in that: Under conditions where the underwater hydrostatic pressure is less than 6 atmospheres, the compression deformation Δh of the elastic component is not greater than a preset threshold of 0.05mm.

6. The elastic component according to claim 1, characterized in that: Under conditions where the underwater hydrostatic pressure is less than 6 atmospheres, the compression deformation Δh does not exceed 0.1% of the initial thickness of the elastic component.

7. The elastic component according to claim 1, characterized in that: When placed horizontally without external pressure, the distance S between any of the two opposing surfaces of the TPE and the adjacent elastic outer layer is in the range of: 0.05mm≤S≤0.8mm.

8. The elastic component according to claim 1, characterized in that: The elastic outer layer is made of polyether-type TPU, polyester-type TPU, or PVC.

9. A housing device for housing an electronic device having a control surface, characterized in that, The housing includes an upper housing for covering the control surface and a lower housing that forms a sealed receiving space with the upper housing, wherein the electronic device is received; the upper housing includes an elastic component as described in any one of claims 1-8.

10. A robotic skin, characterized in that, It includes the elastic component as described in any one of claims 1-8 and the sensor located below the elastic component.

11. A method for manufacturing an elastic component, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: A TPE of a predetermined shape is placed in a high-pressure container, and the pressure inside the high-pressure container is maintained at 20 to 30 atmospheres, the temperature is maintained at 65 to 85 degrees Celsius, and the above conditions are maintained for no less than 4 hours to form a pressurized TPE. The pressurized TPE is immersed in oil for no less than 12 hours to form TPE in an oil-saturated state; The oil-saturated TPE is inserted into the sealed space defined by the elastic outer layer; Fill the sealed space with filling oil; Seal the sealed space.

12. A method for manufacturing TPE in an oil-saturated state, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: A TPE of a predetermined shape is placed in a high-pressure container, and the pressure inside the high-pressure container is maintained at 20 to 30 atmospheres, the temperature is maintained at 65 to 85 degrees Celsius, and the above conditions are maintained for no less than 4 hours to form a pressurized TPE. The pressurized TPE is immersed in oil for no less than 12 hours to form TPE in an oil-saturated state.

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