# US 8,770,408 B2 · Multi-chamber inflatable packaging cushion and method of inflation thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,770,408 B2 - Document ID: US8770408B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/134,550 - Filed: 2011-06-08 - Published: 2012-03-22 - Granted: 2014-07-08 - Earliest claimed: 2010-06-08 - Applicants: Michell C. Tschantz; Kerry M. McKinley - Inventors: Michell C. Tschantz; Kerry M. McKinley - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8770408B2 ## CPC - B31D 5/0073: {including pillow forming} - B65D 81/052: {filled with fluid, e.g. inflatable elements} - 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) - 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 ## Abstract An inflatable packaging cushion has an inflation manifold connected to inflatable chambers through check valves. The inflation manifold mounts an inflation plate defining an aperture. Placing the end of an inflation tube on the inflation plate inflates the manifold and the inflation chambers through the check valves. This eliminates the need to insert an inflation tube through an opening in the polymer sheet forming the manifold, and the inflation tube placement may be automated. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An inflatable packaging cushion comprising: A) at least one inflatable chamber formed between two juxtaposed sheets of polymer material; B) an inflation manifold formed between the two juxtaposed sheets of polymer material adjacent the at least one inflatable chamber, the juxtaposed sheets disposed in contacting facing relationship when the inflatable packaging cushion is placed in uninflated condition on a support surface; C) an inflation air check valve disposed between the inflation manifold and the at least one inflatable chamber for delivering inflation air from the inflation manifold to the inflatable chamber and for sealing the at least one inflatable chamber after inflation thereof; D) an inflation plate secured to one of the two sheets of polymer material juxtaposed and closely above the other of the two sheets of polymer material when the inflatable packaging cushion is placed in uninflated condition on a support surface, the inflation plate having an aperture therethrough registered with an inflation opening to the inflation manifold, the inflation plate adapted to establish air communication with the end of an inflation tube for delivering inflation air through the aperture and inflation opening whereby inflation air delivered through the aperture separates the two sheets of polymer material and passes through the inflation air check valve to inflate the at least one inflatable air chamber. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An inflatable packaging cushion as defined in claim 1 wherein the inflation plate is sized and configured to receive the end of an inflation tube thereon. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) An inflatable packaging cushion as defined in claim 2 wherein the inflation plate is annular. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) An inflatable packaging cushion as defined in claim 2 wherein the inflation plate is elongated. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) An inflatable packaging cushion as defined in claim 2 wherein the inflation plate has an upstanding placement flange around the aperture. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) An inflatable packaging cushion as defined in claim 5 wherein the placement flange is continuous. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) An inflatable packaging cushion as defined in claim 5 wherein the placement flange is discontinuous. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) An inflatable packaging cushion as defined in claim 1 and further comprising an inflation tube having an extending tip sized and configured to be received in the aperture of the inflation plate. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) An inflatable packaging cushion as defined in claim 1 wherein the at least one inflatable chamber comprises a plurality of inflatable chambers each inflatable chamber having an inflation air check valve disposed between it and the inflation manifold. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) An inflatable packaging cushion as defined in claim 9 wherein the inflation plate is sized and configured to receive the end of an inflation tube thereon. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) An inflatable packaging cushion as defined in claim 10 wherein the inflation plate is annular. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) An inflatable packaging cushion as defined in claim 10 wherein the inflation plate is elongated. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) An inflatable packaging cushion as defined in claim 10 wherein the inflation plate has an upstanding placement flange around the aperture. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) An inflatable packaging cushion as defined in claim 13 wherein the placement flange is continuous. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) An inflatable packaging cushion as defined in claim 13 wherein the placement flange is discontinuous. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) An inflatable packaging cushion as defined in claim 9 and further comprising an inflation tube having an extending tip sized and configured to be received in the aperture of the inflation plate.