Patent ID: 8356373

Claim:
A unitary composite cushioning structure formed from a cellular thermoplastic material and a cellular thermoset material, comprising: a cellular thermoplastic material providing support characteristics and cushioning characteristics; a cellular thermoset material providing a resilient structure with cushioning characteristics; and a stratum disposed between at least a portion of the cellular thermoplastic material and at least a portion of the cellular thermoset material formed and defined by a non-solid phase of the cellular thermoset material on a cellular thermoplastic foam profile, wherein the cellular thermoset material undergoes a transition into a solid phase intermixing with and comprising a direct chemical bond with the cellular thermoplastic material, to secure the at least a portion of the cellular thermoset material directly to the at least a portion of the cellular thermoplastic material to form the unitary composite cushioning structure exhibiting a combination of the support characteristics and the resilient structure with cushioning characteristics when the unitary composite cushioning structure is placed under a load.