Abstract: An apparatus providing a sleeping surface is described. A mattress support includes a honeycomb core formed of undulated strips of resilient thermoplastic material, thermal compression bonded together and expanded to form cell walls defining a plurality of contiguous regularly shaped cells. The honeycomb core has a top face and a bottom face, and includes a thermal compression planarizing deformation of the top face and the bottom face. A first facing sheet of resilient thermoplastic material is bonded to the top face of the honeycomb core, and a second facing sheet of resilient thermoplastic material is bonded to the bottom face of the honeycomb core. The mattress support is configured to support the mattress and a human being positioned on top of the mattress, the mattress positioned on top of the first facing sheet of the mattress support.

Abstract: A honeycomb shock absorbing unit or assembly formed from a honeycomb panel. In one embodiment, the shock absorber unit includes a cylindrical member formed of a folded or rolled honeycomb panel, and a flange formed by bonding the opposing ends of the honeycomb panel seamed together. In a shock absorbing system, the flange of the honeycomb shock absorbing unit can be connected to another structure.

Abstract: A multi-section mattress or mattress overlay including a first generally rectangular section made from a first honeycomb core having a first core face and a second core face, the first core having a first facing sheet bonded to one of the first and second core faces, a second generally rectangular section made from a second honeycomb core having a third core face and a fourth core face, the second core having a second facing sheet bonded to one of the third and fourth core faces, the second section being positioned with one side thereof immediately adjacent an opposing side of the first section; and a seam joining the first and second sections together along the lengths of the one side and the opposing side, the seam being formed by bonding a portion of the first face extending along the one side to a portion of the third face extending along the opposing side, and by orienting the bonded portions of the first and third faces such that they extend away from a plane including the first and third faces and towa

Abstract: Methods and apparatus directed to a multi-layer honeycomb sole. A footwear item in accordance with the invention includes a sole that includes a top layer attached to a bottom layer such that their edges are fused together. The top layer includes a first honeycomb core having an exposed surface that includes contours configured to accommodate contours of a foot. The first honeycomb core includes unsealed cells that have walls with perforations. The bottom layer includes a second honeycomb core that includes sealed cells.