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US 10,118,320 B2Granted
Biomimetic skin for an animatronic figure and other applications
AssigneeDisney Enterprises, Inc.
InventorsAlexander W. Hsing, Philip Jackson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A biomimetic skin for an animatronic figure and other applications is provided. The biomimetic skin may include an outer layer having a surface texture, and an inner layer attached to the outer layer. The inner layer may include a compressible cellular material. The outer layer may move correspondingly with the inner layer such that as the inner layer is moved the outer layer moves.
Claims22
A biomimetic skin comprising:
- a nonporous outer layer having a surface texture;
- and
- a porous inner layer attached to a surface of the outer layer, the inner layer comprising a compressible cellular material having a plurality of three dimensional cells, each cell defining a void arranged to allow air to move through the inner layer, wherein the cells are arranged in an orderly and repeating pattern, the cellular material including a top surface, a bottom surface, and one or more compressible elements extending between the top surface and the bottom surface, wherein the top surface and the bottom surface are a mesh material, and wherein the one or more compressible elements are monofilament fibers.
A multi-layer artificial skin comprising:
- a nonporous dermis layer;
- and
- a porous hypodermis layer connected to a surface of the dermis layer, the hypodermis layer comprising a cellular structure having a plurality of cells, each cell defining an air pocket arranged to allow air to flow through the hypodermis layer, wherein the plurality of cells are arranged in an orderly and repeating three dimensional pattern, the cellular structure including a top surface, a bottom surface, and a plurality of monofilament fibers extending between the top surface and the bottom surface, wherein the top surface and the bottom surface are a mesh material.
A skin for an animatronic figure, the skin comprising:
- an impermeable outer layer made from a rubber or silicone material, wherein the outer layer includes a surface texture mimicking a skin appearance of a human or animal;
- and
- a permeable inner layer attached to a surface of the outer layer, the inner layer made from a textile material defining a plurality of three dimensional air chambers arranged to allow air to move through the inner layer, wherein the plurality of air chambers are arranged in an orderly and repeating pattern, the textile material including a first surface, a second surface, and a plurality of monofilament fibers extending between the first and second surfaces, wherein the first and second surfaces are a mesh material.
An animatronic figure comprising:
- a support frame;
- and
- at least one biomimetic skin section attached to the support frame, the at least one biomimetic skin section comprising:
- a nonporous first layer;
- and
- a porous second layer attached to a surface of the first layer to be positioned at least partially between the first layer and the support frame, and at least partially connected to the first layer and the support frame, the second layer including a cellular structure defining a plurality of voids arranged to allow air to flow through the second layer, wherein the plurality of voids are arranged in an orderly and repeating pattern, the second layer including a top surface, a bottom surface, and one or more monofilament fibers extending between the top and bottom surfaces, wherein the top and bottom surfaces are a mesh material.
3 more elements
A method of fabricating a multi-layered biomimetic skin, the method comprising:
- forming a skin mold having a cavity defined by a bottom wall and generally parallel sidewalls extending from the bottom wall, the bottom wall including a texture region;
- filling a first material for a nonporous exterior skin layer into the skin mold to occupy at least a portion of the cavity;
- and
- attaching a second material for a porous interior skin layer to the first material, the second material including a cellular structure defining a plurality of chambers arranged to allow air to move through the second material, wherein the plurality of chambers are arranged in a geometric pattern, the second material including a top surface, a bottom surface, and one or more monofilament fibers extending between the top and bottom surfaces, wherein the top and bottom surfaces are a mesh material.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.