Patent ID: 6026527
Filing Date: 2000-02-22
Classification: A43B,A47C,B29C,B29K,B29L,C08K,C08L,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
A yieldable cushioning element that includes a flexible, resilient, gel cushioning media having shape memory and being substantially solid and non-flowable at temperatures below 130 degrees Fahrenheit, the cushioning element comprising:a quantity of gel cushioning medium formed to have a top, a bottom, and an outer periphery, said cushioning medium being compressible so that it will deform under the compressive force of a cushioned object,a plurality of hollow columns formed in said cushioning medium, each of said columns having a longitudinal axis along its length, each of said columns having a column wall which defines a column interior, and each of said columns having two ends;wherein the cushioning element is adapted to have a cushioned object placed in contact with said top;wherein each of said column ends is positioned at two different points of said column axis;wherein at least one of said columns is positioned within said cushioning medium such that said column axis is positioned generally parallel to the direction of a compressive force exerted on the cushioning element by a cushioned object in contact with said cushioning medium; andwherein at least one of said column walls is capable of buckling beneath a protuberance that is located on the cushioned object.