Inflatable packaging with apertures
AssigneePregis Innovative Packaging LLC
InventorThomas D. Wetsch
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An inflatable packaging element is disclosed herein. The inflatable packaging element includes a first film ply and second film ply overlayed on the first ply, and a seal pattern. The seal pattern has a plurality of seals sealing the first and second plies to each other to define an inflation chamber between the first and second plies. The inflation chamber is inflatable with and configured to contain a fluid. An aperture extends through at least one of the first or second ply, and the seal pattern separates opposite side of the aperture from the inflation chamber.
Claims28
A continuous web of inflatable protective packaging elements, comprising:
- a first ply;
- and
- a second ply overlaid on the first ply to define a plurality of connected inflatable protective packaging elements;
- wherein the first and second plies are sealed together along a seal pattern in each of the protective packaging elements, the seal pattern defining one or more inflation chambers between the first and second plies, which one or more inflation chambers are inflatable with, and configured to, contain a fluid;
- wherein a line of perforations extends through the first and second plies providing a separable boundary between first and second inflatable protective packaging elements of the plurality of connected inflatable protective packaging elements, the line of perforations being configured to reduce tearing forces to facilitate tearing the first protective packaging element from the second protective packaging element;
- and
- wherein the first and second plies define a handle disposed longitudinally adjacent the separable boundary, which handle is configured and dimensioned to receive a user's fingers through the first and second plies.
A method of producing a plurality of inflated protective packaging elements separated by a plurality of separable boundaries, comprising:
- inflating the protective packaging elements by inflating, with a fluid, a plurality of connected inflation chambers of a continuous web, the inflation chambers being disposed between first and second plies of the continuous web, wherein a plurality of lines of perforations extend through the first and second plies providing the plurality of separable boundaries extending transversely across the web periodically between adjacent ones of the inflation chambers;
- forming a seal between the first and second plies adjacent the inflated inflatable chambers to seal closed and retain the fluid in the inflated inflation chambers;
- inserting a user's fingers into a handle through the first and second plies, the handle disposed longitudinally adjacent one of the plurality of separable boundaries;
- and
- tearing an inflated protective packaging element from a remainder of the web at the one of the plurality of separable boundaries by pulling on the handle with the user's fingers inserted therein, such that the torn off inflated protective packaging element includes at least one of the inflated inflation chambers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.