Packaging product with thermal and mechanical insulation features
AssigneeAkx, SA
InventorAlice K. Duong
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A packaging product taking the form of a thermally insulating packaging material includes a first multi-layer film bonded to a second layer of multi-layer film. Each multi-layer film can include one or more polymer layers and one or more metallized layers. The multi-layer films are bonded to each other with a pattern that leaves a number of inflatable cells dispersed across a surface of the sheet. At least one end of the sheet can be left unbonded. The uninflated packaging product can be stored and distributed in its uninflated state prior to it being used as a packaging material. Once ready for use, the cells can be inflated through the unbonded ends and the unbonded ends of the sheets can then be sealed to form a robust sheet of thermally insulating packaging material.
Claims15
An insulating packaging material, comprising:
- a first insulating structure comprising:
- a first multi-layer film including a first polymer layer;
- and
- a second multi-layer film including a second polymer layer and a first metallized layer, wherein the first multi-layer film is joined to the second multi-layer film over a first bonded region, the first bonded region being interspersed with unbonded regions that when filled with gas form a first array of adjacent cells;
- and
- a second insulating structure comprising:
- a third multi-layer film including a third polymer layer;
- and
- a fourth multi-layer film including a fourth polymer layer and a second metallized layer, wherein the third multi-layer film is joined to the fourth multi-layer film over a second bonded region, the second bonded region being interspersed with unbonded regions that when filled with gas form a second array of adjacent cells.
A method of forming a thermally insulating packaging material, the method comprising:
- bonding a first multi-layer film to a second multi-layer film at an interface, wherein the first multi-layer film includes a first polymer layer and a first metallized layer, and wherein the second multi-layer film includes a second polymer layer and a second metallized layer;
- inflating a first cell disposed within the first multi-layer film and the second multi-layer film, wherein the first cell comprises a set of orifices, each of the set of orifices being positioned on a different side of the first cell;
- inflating, by fluid communication with the first cell, a second cell disposed within the first multi-layer film and the second multi-layer film, wherein the second cell comprises one of the set of orifices of the first cell;
- and
- sealing a peripheral edge of the first multi-layer film and the second multi-layer film, wherein the peripheral edge is disposed along a perimeter of the first multi-layer film and the second multi-layer film.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.