# US 11,078,001 B2 · Inflatable packaging with tear initiation feature > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,078,001 B2 - Document ID: US11078001B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/541,123 - Filed: 2019-08-14 - Published: 2020-02-20 - Granted: 2021-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2018-08-14 - Assignees: Pregis Innovative Packaging LLC - Applicants: Pregis Innovative Packaging LLC - Inventors: Thomas D. Wetsch - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11078001B2 ## CPC - B65D 75/527: {Tear-lines for separating a package into individual packages (B65D1/30, B65D21/0206, B65D75/34 take precedence)} - B26F 1/18: Perforating by slitting, i.e. forming cuts closed at their ends without removal of material - B31D 5/0073: {including pillow forming} - B65B 31/021: {the containers or wrappers being interconnected} - B65B 41/02: Feeding sheets or wrapper blanks - B65B 41/12: Feeding webs from rolls - B65B 47/08: by application of fluid pressure - B65D 75/42: Chains of interconnected packages - B65D 75/48: containing liquids, semiliquids, or pastes, e.g. cushion-shaped packages - B65D 81/052: {filled with fluid, e.g. inflatable elements} - B29C 66/1122: {Single lap to lap joints, i.e. overlap joints (B29C66/45, B29C66/472, B29C66/52272 take precedence)} - B31D 2205/0023: as web from a roll - B31D 2205/0047: Feeding, guiding or shaping the material - B31D 2205/0052: Perforating; Forming lines of weakness - B31D 2205/0058: Cutting; Individualising the final products - B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES - B26F: PERFORATING; PUNCHING; CUTTING-OUT; STAMPING-OUT; SEVERING BY MEANS OTHER THAN CUTTING (marking-out, perforating or making buttonholes A41H25/00; shoemaking A43D; surgery A61B; punching metal B21D; drilling metal B23B; cutting of metal by applying heat locally, e.g. flame cutting, B23K; cutting by abrasive fluid jets B24C5/02; details common to machines for severing B26D; drilling wood B27C; drilling stone B28D; working of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29; making boxes, cartons, envelopes or bags, of paper or similarly worked materials, e.g. metal foil, B31B; of glass C03B; of leather C14B; of textile materials D06H; for light guides G02B6/25; of tickets G07B) - B31D: MAKING ARTICLES OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN SUBCLASSES B31B OR B31C (manufacture by dry processes of articles made from particles or fibres consisting of wood or other lignocellulosic or like organic material B27N; making layered products not composed wholly of paper or cardboard B32B; making articles from cellulosic fibrous suspensions, e.g. wood pulp, D21J) - B65B: MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING (bundling and pressing devices for cigars A24C1/44; devices for tensioning and securing binders adapted to be supported by the article or articles to be bound B25B25/00; applying closure members to bottles, jars or similar containers B67B1/00-B67B6/00; concurrent cleaning, filling and closing of bottles B67C7/00; emptying bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels or similar containers B67C9/00) - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) ## Abstract An inflatable web is disclosed. The web includes first and second film plies sealed together via a plurality of generally transverse seals to define a first and second inflatable chambers and an inflation region. The chambers are inflatable with a fluid and operable to contain the fluid. The sealed plies have a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge. The web defines a separation region extending at least partially transversely across the web between the first and second inflatable chambers and is configured to facilitate separation thereof. The separation region includes a tear propagation line extending transversely across at least a portion of the web with an end of the tear propagation line terminating proximal to the first longitudinal edge of the web. The separation region includes a tear initiation feature including edges spaced apart from one another longitudinally to form a permanent opening in the web. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An inflatable web, comprising: a first film ply; and a second film ply sealed to the first ply via a plurality of generally transverse seals to define a first and second inflatable chambers therebetween and an inflation region, the chambers being inflatable with a fluid and operable to contain the fluid, the sealed plies having a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge; wherein the web defines a separation region extending at least partially transversely across the web between the first inflatable chamber and the inflatable second chamber, the separation region being configured to facilitate separation of the first and second inflatable chambers, wherein the separation region includes: a tear propagation line extending transversally across at least a portion of the web with an end of the tear propagation line terminating proximal to the first longitudinal edge of the web or the inflation region, and a tear initiation feature including edges spaced apart from one another longitudinally to form a permanent opening in the web, and close enough to the tear propagation line that a force imparted to the web via the tear initiation feature will facilitate the initiation of a tear of the web such that the tear propagates to an end of the tear propagation line and allowing for the tearing of the web to separate the first inflatable chamber from the second inflatable chamber. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The web of claim 1, wherein the tear propagation line includes a first line of weakness extending transversely across a portion of the web. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The web of claim 2, wherein the tear initiation feature is configured to facilitate the engagement between a user and the web for tearing. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The web of claim 3, wherein the tear initiation feature is suitable for a user to grasp the web by extending one of a hand, finger, or tool, through the web. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The web of claim 4, wherein the tear propagation line includes a second line of weakness extending transversely across at least a portion of the web with an end of the second line of weakness line terminating proximal to the second longitudinal edge of the web. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The web of claim 5, wherein the tear initiation feature is disposed between respective ends of the first line of weakness and the second line of weakness. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The web of claim 6, wherein respective lands are disposed between respective ends of the tear initiation feature and the first and second lines of weakness. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The web of claim 5, wherein the first line of weakness includes a line of perforations through at least one of the first ply or second ply. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The web of claim 8, wherein the second line of weakness includes a line of perforations through at least one of the first ply or second ply. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The web of claim 6, wherein the tear initiation feature is transversely offset from both the first and second longitudinal edges. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The web of claim 10, wherein the tear initiation feature is in a generally central position relative to the transverse width of the web. ### Claim 12 (depends on 6) The web of claim 6, wherein the tear propagation line and the tear initiation feature are sufficiently close that a tear initiated in the tear initiation feature propagates to the tear propagation line. ### Claim 13 (depends on 2) The web of claim 2, wherein the first line of weakness extends transversely across the web from the first longitudinal edge to the second longitudinal edge. ### Claim 14 (depends on 6) The web of claim 6, wherein the tear initiation feature is longitudinally offset from the tear propagation line. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The web of claim 14, wherein the tear initiation feature includes a pair of openings through the web and the openings are transversely offset from one another. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The web of claim 15, wherein the tear initiation feature includes a third line of weakness extending transversely across a portion of the web, and the third line of weakness is longitudinally offset from the pair of openings. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The web of claim 16, wherein the perforations of the third line of weakness are transversely larger than the perforations of the first line of weakness and the second line of weakness.