BREATHABLE IMPACT ABSORBING CUSHIONING AND CONSTRUCTIONS

1 . A breathable cushioning pad, comprising:

a cushioning pad comprising a continuous upper layer with an upper surface, a continuous lower layer with a lower surface, and a cushioning material disposed between the continuous upper layer and the continuous lower layer, the cushioning pad comprising a cushioning region having a thickness, the cushioning region comprising a cushioning material disposed between and continuously bonded to the continuous upper layer and the continuous lower layer;

a channel disposed in the cushioning pad and defining the cushioning region, the channel forming a hinge region of the cushioning pad, the hinge region comprising a thickness less than the thickness of the cushioning region, the hinge region further comprising the continuous upper layer and the continuous lower layer, the continuous upper layer at least partially bonded to the continuous lower layer; and

at least one vent extending through and in fluid connection with the upper surface and the lower surface, wherein the vent is disposed in the hinge region.

2 . The breathable cushioning pad of claim 1 , further comprising a groove defined in the upper surface of the cushioning region, the groove comprising a thickness less than the thickness of the cushioning region and greater than the thickness of the hinge region.

3 . The breathable cushioning pad of claim 1 , further comprising a perimeter flange and a perimeter channel defining a perimeter hinge adjacent to the perimeter flange, the perimeter flange having a thickness greater than the thickness of the perimeter hinge and less than the thickness of the cushioning region.

4 . The breathable cushioning pad of claim 2 , further comprising a perimeter flange and a perimeter channel defining a perimeter hinge adjacent to the perimeter flange, the perimeter flange having a thickness greater than the thickness of the perimeter hinge and less than the thickness of the cushioning region.