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US 6,015,047 AGranted
Inflatable package cushioning and method of using same
OwnerSteven J. Greenlandinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An inflatable cushioning system with separate inflatable cushioning chambers and a common air inlet. The inflatable cushioning chambers each have an inflation port. The common air inlet is in fluid communication with each of the inflatable cushioning chambers. During inflation, pressurized air is inserted into the common air inlet. The pressurized air then enters the individual cushioning chambers through the inflation ports.
Claims19
An inflatable cushioning system, comprising:
- a plurality of inflatable cushioning chambers, each said chamber having a one way inflation valve and corresponding inflation port with a corresponding outer terminus;
- a common inflation tool guideway extending through the middle of said chambers for the entire length of said chambers, and intersecting each of said inflation ports at each respective said outer terminus, said inflation tool guideway for directing an inflation tool to each of said inflation ports and said inflation tool guideway for coupling said inflation tool to a plurality of said outer termini of said inflation ports in fluid communication whereby fluid within the inflation tool may enter a plurality of said inflation ports;
- said plurality of chambers being inflated;
- and
- said common inflation tool guideway being ruptured along the extent of said inflation tool guideway.
2 more elements
An inflatable cushioning device comprising:
- a plurality of hermetically sealed fluid retention chambers formed from first and second layers of superimposed, flexible thermoplastic films joined at a perimeter;
- a plurality of inflation valve assemblies, each of said valve assemblies transgressing said perimeter of a respective one of said chambers and including:
- a one way valve to sustain said chamber;
- an outer terminus;
- and
- a common inflation tool guideway in communication with said plurality of chambers and said plurality of valve assemblies;
- said common inflation tool guideway extending down the middle of said chambers;
- said chambers being inflated;
- and
- said inflation tool guideway being ruptured along the extent of said inflated chambers;
- whereby said common inflation tool guideway is ruptured after said corresponding chambers are inflated.
8 more elements
A method of cushioning a package, comprising the steps of:
- providing a product;
- providing an inflatable cushioning system, said cushioning system comprising:
- a plurality of separate inflatable cushion chambers, each of said chambers having an inflation port;
- and
- a common fluid inlet in fluid communication with said plurality of inflation ports;
- said common fluid inlet extending through the center of, and for the full extent of, said plurality of chambers;
- inflating said plurality of chambers;
- rupturing said common fluid inlet the entire extent of said common fluid inlet;
- and
- positioning said inflated inflatable cushioning system adjacent said product in said package.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.