Patent ID: 8877331

Claim:
A multi-layer foamed polymeric article of manufacture having a plurality of different thermal and electrical properties segmented across one or more dimensions, comprising: a non-laminated multi-layer thermoplastic material object having at least one discrete outer unfoamed skin layer positioned adjacent to a plurality of discrete inner foamed layers, wherein the thermoplastic material object has a crystallinity gradient such that: the crystallinity of the plurality of discrete inner foamed layers is less than the crystallinity of the at least one discrete outer unfoamed skin layer, and the crystallinity of the inner foamed layer closest to the discrete outer unfoamed skin layer is more than the crystallinity of an inner-foamed layer disposed further away from the discrete outer unfoamed skin layer, wherein the at least one discrete outer unfoamed skin layer and the plurality of discrete inner foamed layers are integral with one another, wherein the plurality of discrete inner foamed layers each have a thickness that is greater than the thickness of the discrete outer unfoamed skin layer, and wherein the at least one discrete outer unfoamed skin layer has an outer skin layer physical property and each of the plurality of discrete inner foamed layers has a respective inner foamed layer physical property, wherein the outer skin layer physical property and the inner foamed layer physical property are different from each other.