Patent ID: 8296950

Claim:
A method of stabilizing an elastomeric property of an elastomeric material, comprising: placing the elastomeric material in a pressurizing chamber; applying a hydrostatic pressure to the elastomeric material within the pressurizing chamber to at least partially compress the elastomeric material, wherein the hydrostatic pressure applied to the elastomeric material within the pressurizing chamber is less than a pressure required to deflect the elastomeric material beyond an elongation limit of the elastomeric material; and maintaining application of the hydrostatic pressure for a period of time to at least partially stabilize a restorative force exhibited by the elastomeric material in response to subsequent exposures of the elastomeric material to a compressive force, wherein the hydrostatic pressure pre-compresses the elastomeric material to advance the elastomeric material to a condition where the restorative force of the elastomeric material is more stable.