Abstract: Cushioning elements include a breathable material configured to allow gases to pass through at least a portion thereof, and a plurality of discrete segments of thermoplastic elastomeric gel (“gel”) heat-fused or otherwise attached to the breathable material. The gel comprises an elastomeric polymer and a plasticizer, with a plasticizer-to-polymer ratio of from about 0.3 to about 50. The plurality of discrete segments defines at least one breathable gap between adjacent discrete segments. Methods of forming cushioning elements include forming a plurality of discrete segments of gel, securing each segment to a breathable material, and providing a gas path through the breathable material and between adjacent segments. Another method includes providing molten gel within a mold, providing at least a second portion of the gel within a permeable material, and solidifying the gel to form discrete segments of gel.

Abstract: A molding system includes a plurality of injection heads each configured to inject molten polymer into a mold cavity. Each injection head has an outer body, a piston disposed within the outer body and defining a polymer chamber on a first side of the piston and a pressure chamber on an opposite second side of the piston. The piston moves from a retracted position to an extended position responsive to pressurization of the pressure chamber. Molten polymer is injected from the polymer chamber into the mold cavity as the piston moves from the retracted position to the extended position. Such systems may be used to mold relatively large articles of manufacture.

Abstract: A healable gel putty may comprise an elastomeric polymer and a plasticizer. The elastomeric polymer may have a melt mass-flow rate in a range extending from about 2 g/10 min to about 100 g/10 min. A weight ratio of the plasticizer to the elastomeric polymer may be from about 1-to-1 to about 50-to-1. An article of manufacture may comprise gel putty disposed in a flexible container. A method of forming gel putty may comprise forming a mixture comprising an elastomeric polymer and a plasticizer. An article of manufacture may be formed by disposing gel putty within a flexible container.

Abstract: Cushioning elements include a breathable material configured to allow gases to pass through at least a portion thereof, and a plurality of discrete segments of thermoplastic elastomeric gel (“gel”) heat-fused or otherwise attached to the breathable material. The gel comprises an elastomeric polymer and a plasticizer, with a plasticizer-to-polymer ratio of from about 0.3 to about 50. The plurality of discrete segments defines at least one breathable gap between adjacent discrete segments. Methods of forming cushioning elements include forming a plurality of discrete segments of gel, securing each segment to a breathable material, and providing a gas path through the breathable material and between adjacent segments. Another method includes providing molten gel within a mold, providing at least a second portion of the gel within a permeable material, and solidifying the gel to form discrete segments of gel.

Abstract: Portable cushions include first and second portions that may be folded relative to one another between a folded state in which the cushion may be carried by a user and an unfolded state in which the cushion may be used to cushion the body of a person or another object. Each of the first and second portions of the cushion includes deformable wall members that are located and configured to define voids therebetween, such that the deformable wall members may be displaced into adjacent voids upon deformation of the deformable wall members during cushioning. Methods of manufacturing such portable cushions include the formation of such first and second portions of a cushion.

Abstract: Cushions include a plurality of pockets formed from a support material and a deformable member comprising a deformable polymer material disposed in each pocket of the plurality of pockets. The support material may comprise at least one of a fabric and a film. Each of the deformable members may be configured as a column having a column axis. Methods of forming cushions include forming a plurality of deformable members, forming a plurality of pockets from a support material, and disposing each of the deformable members of the plurality of deformable members in each of the pockets of the plurality of pockets. The deformable members may be configured so that each of the deformable members is isolated from the other deformable members by the support material.

Abstract: Cushioning elements having a top cushioning surface and a bottom base surface include an elastomeric cushion member and a stabilizing material. The elastomeric cushion member includes a first plurality of interconnected buckling walls having a first mean height and a second plurality of buckling walls having a second mean height. Each buckling wall of the second plurality intersects and connects to at least two buckling walls of the first plurality. A surface of the stabilizing material on a side thereof opposite the elastomeric cushion member defines the bottom base surface of the cushioning element. The first ends of the first plurality of interconnected buckling walls and the first ends of the second plurality of buckling walls define the top cushioning surface of the cushioning element. Methods of forming cushioning elements include securing a stabilizing material to ends of the first plurality of interconnected buckling walls.

Abstract: Portable cushions include first and second portions that may be folded relative to one another between a folded state in which the cushion may be carried by a user and an unfolded state in which the cushion may be used to cushion the body of a person or another object. Each of the first and second portions of the cushion includes deformable wall members that are located and configured to define voids therebetween, such that the deformable wall members may be displaced into adjacent voids upon deformation of the deformable wall members during cushioning. Methods of manufacturing such portable cushions include the formation of such first and second portions of a cushion.

Abstract: An elastomer-enhanced fabric includes one or more fiber strands, and an elastomeric material carried by the one or more fiber strands. The elastomeric material may comprise an elastomeric polymer and a plasticizer. The elastomeric material does not entirely fill all spaces between the one or more fiber strands, such that the fabric has a textured surface. Articles of manufacture include such elastomer-enhanced fabric. A method of forming an elastomer-enhanced fabric includes providing an elastomeric material on one or more fiber strands of a fabric, and causing the elastomeric material to not entirely fill all spaces between the one or more fiber strands, such that the fabric has a textured surface. The elastomeric material may comprise an elastomeric polymer and a plasticizer.

Abstract: Disclosed is an enclosure for artificial features such as artificial fish and artificial plants. The enclosure has one or more walls and is configured to house a liquid therein. One or more electromagnets are provided to generate a magnetic field within the enclosure. A controller is configured to control electric currents that generate magnetic fields from the one or more electromagnets. The controller is configured to selectively reverse the magnetic polarity of at least one of the one or more electromagnets. Also disclosed is an artificial feature such as an artificial fish or artificial plant with a body made of elastomeric gel. The artificial feature may include multiple permanent magnets housed in a body where the permanent magnets are aligned based on an orientation of a north pole and a south pole of each permanent magnet.

Abstract: Cushioning elements include a porous foam comprising a series of interconnected cell walls and an elastomeric material formed over at least a portion of the interconnected cell walls. The porous foam is configured to allow gases to pass through at least a portion thereof. Methods of forming cushioning elements may include coating interconnected cell walls of a breathable porous foam with a liquid comprising an elastomeric material, solidifying at least a portion of the elastomeric material, and providing a gas path through the elastomeric material. Other methods include pressing sheets of foam together at a pinch point, disposing a liquid between the foam over the pinch point, coating the foam with the liquid, and separating the sheets beyond the pinch point. Some methods include consolidating a plurality of portions of porous foam into a continuous cushioning material.

Abstract: A molding system includes a plurality of injection heads each configured to inject molten polymer into a mold cavity. Each injection head has an outer body, a piston disposed within the outer body and defining a polymer chamber on a first side of the piston and a pressure chamber on an opposite second side of the piston. The piston moves from a retracted position to an extended position responsive to pressurization of the pressure chamber. Molten polymer is injected from the polymer chamber into the mold cavity as the piston moves from the retracted position to the extended position. Such systems may be used to mold relatively large articles of manufacture.

Abstract: An ultralight flowable material comprises a plurality of macrospheres having an average diameter of about 150 microns or above, and a lubricant. An amount of the lubricant in the ultralight flowable material is sufficient to substantially coat the exterior surfaces of essentially all macrospheres, but less than an amount to cause dispersion of the macrospheres in the lubricant. An article of manufacture includes a flexible container and an ultralight flowable material contained within the flexible container. The ultralight flowable material may comprise a plurality of spherical objects and a tacky lubricant in an amount to substantially coat the exterior surfaces of essentially all spherical objects but less than an amount to cause dispersion of the spherical objects in the tacky lubricant. The spherical objects comprise macrospheres, microspheres, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: Cushions include a plurality of core structures and a support material at least partially surrounding each core structure of the plurality of core structures. The core structures and support material comprise different deformable polymer materials. Each of the core structures may be configured as a column having a column axis. Methods of forming cushions include forming a plurality of core structures, and at least partially surrounding each core structure of the plurality of core structures with a support material comprising a second, different deformable polymer material. The core structures may be configured such that each core structure is integrally interconnected along a length thereof to no more than two other core structures of the plurality of core structures.

Abstract: Disclosed is an enclosure for artificial features such as artificial fish and artificial plants. The enclosure has one or more walls and is configured to house a liquid therein. One or more electromagnets are provided to generate a magnetic field within the enclosure. A controller controls electric currents that generate magnetic fields from the one or more electromagnets. The controller is configured to selectively reverse the magnetic polarity of at least one of the one or more electromagnets. Also disclosed is an artificial feature such as an artificial fish or artificial plant with a body made of elastomeric gel. The artificial feature may include multiple permanent magnets housed in a body where the permanent magnets are aligned based on an orientation of a north pole and south pole of each permanent magnet.

Abstract: Cushioning elements having a first plurality of parallel buckling walls and a second plurality of parallel buckling walls each comprising an elastomeric material. At least some of the buckling walls of the second plurality intersect and interconnect with at least some of the buckling walls of the first plurality. The elastomeric material comprises an elastomeric polymer and a plasticizer, and a ratio of a weight of the plasticizer to a weight of the elastomeric polymer is from about 0.1 to about 2.2. A height of the cushioning element is at least about 5 inches (12.7 cm). A mattress includes a core structure including buckling walls and a flexible material formed over the core structure.

Abstract: Various gel springs can be constructed for cushioning purposes.

Abstract: Ribbed gel devices for cushioning purposes.

Abstract: Cushioning elements having a top cushioning surface and a bottom base surface include an elastomeric cushion member and a stabilizing material. The elastomeric cushion member includes a first plurality of interconnected buckling walls having a first mean height and a second plurality of buckling walls having a second mean height. Each buckling wall of the second plurality intersects and connects to at least two buckling walls of the first plurality. A surface of the stabilizing material on a side thereof opposite the elastomeric cushion member defines the bottom base surface of the cushioning element. The first ends of the first plurality of interconnected buckling walls and the first ends of the second plurality of buckling walls define the top cushioning surface of the cushioning element. Methods of forming cushioning elements include securing a stabilizing material to ends of the first plurality of interconnected buckling walls.