Patent ID: 8555441

Claim:
A cellular structure comprising: a base comprising a first lateral side, a second lateral side, a first axial side and a second axial side and at least a first layer and a second layer positioned between said first and second lateral sides and between said first and second axial sides; a plurality of hollow cells coupled to said base and extending outwardly from said base, each of said cells being aligned in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns that are substantially perpendicular to said rows, said plurality of cells grouped together in at least a first zone, a second zone, and a third zone, said first and second zones being laterally aligned between said first and second lateral sides and said first and third zones being axially aligned between said first and second axial sides, said plurality of cells in each of said first, second, and third zones are only coupled in flow communication with said plurality of cells in that respective zone; a sealing layer coupled to at least one of said base first and second layers; and a pressurization system coupled to said first, second, and third zones for selectively pressurizing each of said zones independently of cells coupled in said other zones, said pressurization zone configured such that in at least a first mode of operation said first zone is pressurized while said second and third zones are depressurized and such that in at least a second mode of operation, said first zone is depressurized while, said second and third zones are pressurized, wherein said plurality of cells in each of said first, second, and third zones are coupled together in a plurality of clusters that include at least three adjacent cells, wherein at least two of the three adjacent cells are in the same row, and wherein within each of said clusters the three adjacent cells coupled are in fluid communication with one another by a plurality of passageways that extend between adjacent said cells within each of said clusters.