Patent ID: 7175900

Claim:
A reinforced pad comprising a body having length, width, and thickness dimensions and opposite side and end edges, said body being formed of resiliently compressible material; at least one reinforcing sheet having opposite side and end edges, said sheet having length and width dimensions corresponding substantially to the length and width dimensions of said body and a thickness dimension less than that of said body; and a cured protective cover encapsulating said body and said sheet and being formed from an uncured curable substance which contracts and applies contracting force on said body in response to curing, said sheet being formed of material having a stiffness in the length and width dimensions of said sheet greater than the contracting force applied to said body in response to curing of said curable substance, the opposite side and end edges of said body and the opposite side and end edges of said sheet being flush following curing of said curable substance.