Patent ID: 8336122

Claim:
A method of manufacturing a shock-absorbing bladder, the method comprising: forming a first layer of elastomer having a top surface; allowing said first layer to partially set; positioning a thin layer of material having an outer edge on said top surface of said first layer of elastomer, wherein a surface area of a bottom surface of said layer of material is less than the surface area of the top surface of said first layer of elastomer material, and wherein said thin layer of material is positioned such that a portion of the top surface is exposed around at least a substantial portion of the outer edge of said thin layer of material; forming a second layer of elastomer over said first layer and said thin layer of material; allowing said first layer and said second layer to fully set around said thin layer of material to form a body having an outer surface; removing said thin layer of material from between said first layer of elastomer and said second layer of elastomer to form a chamber therebetween; and introducing a fluid into said chamber.