Alternating pattern gel cushioning elements and related methods
First Claim
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1. An alternating pattern gel cushioning element comprising:
- a gel cushioning element comprising a sheet of gel material having a first face, a second face, and an outer periphery,a plurality of first face gel protrusions extending from the first face of the gel cushioning element, the plurality of first face gel protrusions protruding away from the first face of the gel cushioning element in a direction generally orthogonal to the first face of the gel cushioning element;
a plurality of first face gel recesses formed in the first face of the gel cushioning element, each of the plurality of first face gel recesses being located adjacent to at least one of the plurality of first face gel protrusions;
a plurality of second face gel protrusions extending from the second face of the gel cushioning element, the plurality of second face gel protrusions protruding away from the second face of the gel cushioning element in a direction generally orthogonal to the second face of the gel cushioning element; and
a plurality of second face gel recesses formed in the second face of the gel cushioning element, each of the plurality of second face gel recesses being located adjacent to at least one of the plurality of second face gel protrusions;
wherein a combination of the plurality of first face gel protrusions and the plurality of first face gel recesses form a first face pattern;
wherein a combination of the plurality of second face gel protrusions and the plurality of second face gel recesses form a second face pattern; and
wherein the recesses of the plurality of first face gel recesses are aligned with and extend into the protrusions of the plurality of second face gel protrusions, and the recesses of the plurality of second face gel recesses are aligned with and extend into the protrusions of the plurality of first face gel protrusions.
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Abstract
An alternating pattern gel cushioning device and methods for making the same. The gel pattern may be two- or three-dimensional. The devices may be zoned or stacked. The device may be made by a variety of methods including roller molding, open-face molding, injection molding, casting, extrusion, compression molding and other methods.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. An alternating pattern gel cushioning element comprising:
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a gel cushioning element comprising a sheet of gel material having a first face, a second face, and an outer periphery, a plurality of first face gel protrusions extending from the first face of the gel cushioning element, the plurality of first face gel protrusions protruding away from the first face of the gel cushioning element in a direction generally orthogonal to the first face of the gel cushioning element; a plurality of first face gel recesses formed in the first face of the gel cushioning element, each of the plurality of first face gel recesses being located adjacent to at least one of the plurality of first face gel protrusions; a plurality of second face gel protrusions extending from the second face of the gel cushioning element, the plurality of second face gel protrusions protruding away from the second face of the gel cushioning element in a direction generally orthogonal to the second face of the gel cushioning element; and a plurality of second face gel recesses formed in the second face of the gel cushioning element, each of the plurality of second face gel recesses being located adjacent to at least one of the plurality of second face gel protrusions; wherein a combination of the plurality of first face gel protrusions and the plurality of first face gel recesses form a first face pattern; wherein a combination of the plurality of second face gel protrusions and the plurality of second face gel recesses form a second face pattern; and wherein the recesses of the plurality of first face gel recesses are aligned with and extend into the protrusions of the plurality of second face gel protrusions, and the recesses of the plurality of second face gel recesses are aligned with and extend into the protrusions of the plurality of first face gel protrusions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An alternating pattern gel cushioning element comprising:
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a gel cushioning element comprising a sheet of gel material having a first side, a second side and an outer periphery; a plurality of first side gel protrusions extending from the first side of the gel cushioning element, the plurality of first side gel protrusions protruding away from the first side of the gel cushioning element in a direction generally orthogonal to the first side of the gel cushioning element; a plurality of first side gel recesses formed in the first side of the gel cushioning element, each of the plurality of first side gel recesses being located adjacent to at least one of the plurality of first side gel protrusions; a plurality of second side gel protrusions extending from the second side of the gel cushioning element, the plurality of second side gel protrusions protruding away from the second side of the gel cushioning element in a direction generally orthogonal to the second side of the gel cushioning element; and a plurality of second side gel recesses formed in the second side of the gel cushioning element, each of the plurality of second side gel recesses being located adjacent to at least one of the plurality of second side gel protrusions; wherein a combination of the plurality of first side gel protrusions and the plurality of first side gel recesses form a first side pattern; wherein a combination of the plurality of second side gel protrusions and the plurality of second side gel recesses form a second side pattern; and wherein the recesses of the plurality of first side gel recesses are aligned with and extend into the protrusions of the plurality of second side gel protrusions, and the recesses of the plurality of second side gel recesses are aligned with and extend into the protrusions of the plurality of first side gel protrusions. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification