# US 11,305,929 B2 · Inflatable cellular web with multiple inflatable panels

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 11,305,929 B2
- Document ID: US11305929B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/293,315
- Filed: 2019-11-13
- Published: 2021-11-18
- Granted: 2022-04-19
- Earliest claimed: 2018-11-14
- Assignees: Sealed Air Corporation (US)
- Applicants: Sealed Air Corporation (US)
- Inventors: Ricky D. McDaniel; Robert J. O'Dowd
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11305929B2

## CPC

- B65D 81/052: {filled with fluid, e.g. inflatable elements}
- B31D 5/0073: {including pillow forming}
- B65D 75/20: in sheets or blanks doubled around contents and having their opposed free margins united, e.g. by pressure-sensitive adhesive, crimping, heat-sealing, or welding
- B65D 75/527: {Tear-lines for separating a package into individual packages (B65D1/30, B65D21/0206, B65D75/34 take precedence)}
- B65D 81/03: Wrappers or envelopes with shock-absorbing properties, e.g. bubble films {(for thermal insulating purposes B65D81/3888)}
- B31D 2205/0023: as web from a roll
- B31D 2205/0064: Stabilizing the shape of the final product, e.g. by mechanical interlocking
- 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
- 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)

## Abstract

An inflatable web includes an inflation zone, a first inflatable panel in fluid communication with the inflation zone, and a second inflatable panel in fluid communication with the inflation zone. The first inflatable panel includes a first sheet juxtaposed on a second sheet. The first and second sheets are sealed together to form inflatable chambers. The second inflatable panel include a third sheet juxtaposed on a fourth sheet. The third and fourth sheets are sealed together to form inflatable chambers. The inflatable film is configured to be inflated by an inflation and sealing machine configured to direct gas into the inflatable chambers of the first and second inflatable panels via the inflation zone and to individually seal the inflatable chambers of the first and second inflatable panels.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An inflatable web, comprising:
an inflation zone bound in part by flanges;
a first inflatable panel in fluid communication with the inflation zone, wherein the first inflatable panel includes a first sheet juxtaposed on a second sheet, wherein the first and second sheets are sealed together to form a first plurality of inflatable chambers; and
a second inflatable panel in fluid communication with the inflation zone, wherein the second inflatable panel include a third sheet juxtaposed on a fourth sheet, wherein the third and fourth sheets are sealed together to form a second plurality of inflatable chambers;
wherein the inflatable web is configured to be inflated by an inflation and sealing machine configured to direct gas into the first plurality of inflatable chambers and the second plurality of inflatable chambers via the inflation zone and to individually seal the first plurality of inflatable chambers and the second plurality of inflatable chambers.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The inflatable web of claim 1, wherein the flanges are connected to each other so that the inflation zone is closed.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The inflatable web of claim 1, wherein the flanges are not connected directly to each other so that the inflation zone is open.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The inflatable web of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of inflatable chambers includes inflatable chambers each having inflatable cells.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The inflatable web of claim 4, wherein the inflatable cells have a shape that is substantially circular.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The inflatable web of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of inflatable chambers is fluidly coupled to the inflation zone via first inflation ports, and wherein the second plurality of inflatable chambers is fluidly coupled to the inflation zone via second inflation ports.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The inflatable web of claim 6, further comprising:
a first line of weakness in the first inflation panel above the first inflation ports; and
a second line of weakness in the second inflation panel above the second inflation ports.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The inflatable web of claim 7, wherein, after inflation of the inflatable web, the inflatable web is configured to be broken at the first and second lines of weakness to form two separate inflated panels.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The inflatable web of claim 1, wherein the inflatable web includes a third line of weakness between the second sheet of the first inflatable panel and the third sheet of the second inflatable panel.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The inflatable web of claim 9, further comprising a seal near longitudinal edges of the first and second inflatable panels.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The inflatable web of claim 10, wherein the third line of weakness can be broken to permit an object to be inserted between the first and second inflatable panels above the seal near the longitudinal edges of the first and second inflatable panels.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The inflatable web of claim 1, wherein the inflatable web is configured to be wound into a supply roll with the inflation zone on a longitudinal side of the supply roll and the first and second inflatable panels overlapping each other.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The inflatable web of claim 12, wherein the first and second inflatable panels, after inflation by the inflation and sealing apparatus, are configured to be unfolded to a width that is greater than a width of the supply roll.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The inflatable web of claim 1, wherein the first and second sheets are formed from a single sheet that is folded onto itself between the first and second sheets.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The inflatable web of claim 1, wherein the third and fourth sheets are formed from a single sheet that is folded onto itself between the third and fourth sheets.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The inflatable web of claim 1, wherein the first, second, third, and fourth sheets are formed from a single sheet folded onto itself multiple times so that a heat sealable surface of the single sheet faces inward between the first and second sheets, the heat sealable surface of the single sheet faces inward between the third and fourth sheets, and an exterior surface of the single sheet faces inward between the second and third sheets.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The inflatable web of claim 1, wherein a length of the first sheet is substantially similar to a length of the fourth sheet.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The inflatable web of claim 1, wherein a combined length of the first sheet and the fourth sheet is substantially similar to a combined length of the second sheet and the third sheet.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The inflatable web of claim 18, wherein the second sheet and the third sheet are formed from a single sheet that is folded back on itself at least once so that the second and third sheets do not extend as far as the first and fourth sheets.

### Claim 20 (depends on 1)

The inflatable web of claim 1, wherein:
the first inflatable panel includes a first flap that extends from distal ends of the first plurality of inflatable chambers to a longitudinal edge of the first inflatable panel; and
the second inflatable panel includes a second flap that extends from distal ends of the second plurality of inflatable chambers to a longitudinal edge of the second inflatable panel.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The inflatable web of claim 20, further comprising:
a closure mechanism configured to couple the first and second flaps to each other.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The inflatable web of claim 21, wherein the closure mechanism includes an adhesive layer on an inner side of the first flap, and wherein the adhesive layer is configured to contact and adhere to an outer side of the second layer.

### Claim 23 (depends on 21)

The inflatable web of claim 21, wherein:
the inflatable web is configured to be wound into a supply roll with the inflation zone on a first longitudinal side of the supply roll, the first and second inflatable panels overlapping each other, and the closure mechanism on a second longitudinal side of the supply roll; and
the first longitudinal side of the supply roll is on one side of the supply roll and the second longitudinal side of the supply roll is on another side of the supply roll.