Method of forming padded articles

Claim 1

IN A METHOD OF MAKING A LAMINATED, FOAM-ELASTOMER PADDED ARTICLE, THE STEPS OF POSITIONING A SHEET OF FLEXIBLE PAD-COVEING MATERIAL OVER A DIE-CAVITY HAVING THE FORM OF THE PAD TO BE PRODUCED WITH THE MARGINS OF SAID MATERIAL DISPOSED OVER A DIE FACE BEYOND THE MARGINS OF THE DIE CAVITY, CLAMPING SAID PAD-COVERING MATERIAL IN FIXED POSITION THEREON, HEATING SAID DIE TO INCREASE THE FLEXIBILITY OF SAID MATERIAL AND EXHAUSTING THE DIE-CAVITY WHILE IN HEATED CONDITION TO CAUSE THE PORTION OF SAID MATERIAL OVERLYING THE DIE-CAVITY TO BE DISTENED THEREINTO AGAINST THE CAVITY WALLS TO FORM A POCKET, SUPPORTING A FLAT, ADHESIVE COATED RIGID PANEL ON SAID DIE AGAINST THE MARGINS OF SAID SKIN INTRODUCING A FOAM-ELASTOMER COMPOSITION INTO SAID POCKET, AND CURING SAID COMPOSITION INTO FOAMED CONDITION WHILE MAINTAINING A VACUUM ON THE CAVITY TO RETAIN THE PAD-COVERING MATERIAL TENDED CONDITION, SAID PANEL AND PAD-COVERING MATERIAL BEING BONDED TOGETHER ALONG THEIR MARGINAL EDGES PRIOR TO THE COMPLETION OF THE CURING OPERATION, AND THE FOAMELASTOMER BEING BONDED TO THE OPPOSED FACES OF THE PANEL AND PAD-COVERING MATERIAL, SAID SKIN BEING RETAINED IN A FIXED SUPPORTED POSITION IN THE DIE CAVITY DURING THE CURING STEP.