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 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: 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: An insert configured to modify an appearance of a breast comprises a flexible bladder comprising a gelatinous elastomer and a flowable material disposed within the flexible bladder. A bra may comprise at least one insert and a shell configured to cover the breast and the at least one insert. An underwire comprises an elongated body comprising an elastomeric material having a Shore A durometer hardness of about 1 or greater. A shell may be connected to the underwire and configured to cover a breast. A method of forming a bra comprises forming an underwire and securing the underwire to a shell. Another method of forming a bra comprises forming a flexible bladder comprising a gelatinous elastomer, disposing a flowable material within the flexible bladder to form an insert, and securing the insert to a shell.

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: Gel cushioning elements may comprise a sheet of elastomeric gel. The sheet may be shaped and configured to define recesses aligned with and extending into corresponding protrusions. The protrusions are configured to buckle in response to a pressure greater than a threshold pressure. Methods of forming a gel cushioning element may comprise disposing elastomeric gel between two molds having elevated features to impart an alternating pattern to the elastomeric gel, and hardening the elastomeric gel to form a sheet defining a plurality of protrusions. Elevated features of one mold may face elevated features of the other mold, and each elevated feature of one mold may be adjacent an elevated feature of the other mold. A portion of the sheet may be configured to buckle in response to a pressure greater than a threshold pressure. A cushion may comprise a gel cushioning element and fabric bonded to the gel cushioning element.

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.

Abstract: A gelatinous elastomer comprising an A-B-A triblock copolymer and a plasticizer useful, for example, in casting fine-detail molds at a low processing temperature. The gelatinous elastomer comprises copolymer molecules having a molecular weights generally evenly distributed across a range of molecular weights rather than having a relatively narrow molecular weight distribution centered about a single molecular weight. The A-B-A triblock copolymer may include SEBS, SEEPS, or other triblock copolymers. The plasticizer may include mineral oil or other plasticizing fluids.

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: 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: Cushions include a plurality of core structures wherein each core structure of the plurality of core structures is interconnected along a length thereof to at least one other core structure of the plurality of core structures. Each of the core structures may be configured as a column having a column axis. The core structures may be connected by a joiner rib. The joiner ribs may be integrally formed with the core structures. Methods of forming cushions include forming a plurality of core structures and configuring each core structure to be interconnected along at least a portion of a length thereof to at least one other core structure.