Patent ID: 8512854

Claim:
A cushioning article, comprising: a layer of open-cell foam material comprising an upper surface and a first thickness; a layer of gel-infused foam material in direct contact with the upper surface of said layer of open-cell foam material, said layer of gel-infused foam material comprising an upper surface and having a second thickness, the gel-infused foam layer comprising a polymeric gel material infused into the open-cell foam material, extending from the upper surface of the layer of open-cell foam material to a pre-determined depth from the upper surface of the layer of open-cell foam material; and a barrier layer disposed adjacent to the upper surface of the gel-infused foam layer, opposite the layer of open-cell foam material; a first material layer different from the gel material and the barrier layer, disposed between the upper surface of the layer of gel-infused foam material and the barrier layer; a first gel layer disposed between the upper surface of the layer of gel-infused foam material and the first material layer; and a second gel layer disposed between the first material layer and the barrier layer; wherein the upper surfaces of the open-cell foam layer and the gel-infused foam layer are coplanar, and the second thickness of the layer of gel-infused foam material is less than the first thickness of the layer of open-cell foam material.