Inflatable packaging with apertures

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10633147-B2
Application number	US-201816140135-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 24, 2018
Priority date	Nov 10, 2014
Publication date	Apr 28, 2020
Grant date	Apr 28, 2020

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.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An inflatable packaging element, comprising:
a first film ply and a second film ply overlaid on the first ply;
a seal pattern comprising a plurality of seals sealing the first and second plies to each other to define one or more inflation chambers and one or more uninflated regions between the first and second plies that is inflatable with and configured to contain a fluid;
a separable boundary configured to reduce tearing forces suitable to tear the inflatable packaging element; and
a plurality of apertures that extends through at least one of the first ply and the second ply,
wherein the inflatable packaging element has a transverse dimension and a longitudinal dimension, and
wherein the plurality of apertures is transversely aligned and offset from the separable boundary.

2. The inflatable packaging element of claim 1 , wherein the separable boundary is located in an inflated region.

3. The inflatable packaging element of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of apertures is located in an inflated region.

4. The inflatable packaging element of claim 1 , wherein the separable boundary is a perforated line that extends through at least one of the first film ply and the second film ply.

5. The inflatable packaging element of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of apertures is aligned with one another in an orientation that is substantially parallel to the separable boundary.

6. The inflatable packaging element of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of apertures includes a first aperture that extends through the first ply, and a second aperture that extends through and is substantially aligned with the second ply.

7. The inflatable packaging element of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of apertures is located within a transverse seal.

8. The inflatable packaging element of claim 7 , wherein the transverse seal is substantially parallel to the separable boundary.

9. The inflatable packaging element of claim 8 , wherein there is an offset between the transverse seal and the separable boundary.

10. The inflatable packaging element of claim 9 , wherein the transverse seal is located within air chambers between the plurality of seals defining the inflation chamber.

11. The inflatable packaging element of claim 8 , wherein the transverse seal is independent of the plurality of seals defining the inflation chamber.

12. The inflatable packaging element of claim 11 , wherein the transverse seals are entirely surrounded by an air chamber.

13. The inflatable packaging element of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of apertures is defined by an elongated slit.

14. The inflatable packaging element of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of apertures is defined by an X shaped through hole.

15. The inflatable packaging element of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of apertures is defined by a polygon.

16. The inflatable packaging element of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of apertures is defined by shapes having rounded ends.

17. The inflatable packaging element of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of apertures is circular.

18. An inflatable packaging element, comprising:
a first film ply and a second film ply overlaid on the first ply;
a seal pattern comprising a plurality of seals sealing the first and second plies to each other to define one or more inflation chambers and one or more uninflated regions between the first and second plies that is inflatable with and configured to contain a fluid;
a separable boundary configured to reduce tearing forces suitable to tear the inflatable packaging element; and
an elongated aperture having an elongated dimension with the elongated aperture extending through at least one of the first ply and the second ply,
wherein the inflatable packaging element has a transverse dimension and a longitudinal dimension, and
wherein the elongated aperture is transversely aligned and offset from the separable boundary.

19. The inflatable packaging element of claim 18 , wherein the separable boundary is located in an inflated region.

20. The inflatable packaging element of claim 18 , wherein the elongated aperture is located in an inflated region.

21. The inflatable packaging element of claim 18 , wherein the separable boundary is a perforated line that extends through at least one of the first film ply and the second film ply.

22. The inflatable packaging element of claim 18 , further comprising a plurality of apertures that is aligned with an elongated aperture in an orientation that is substantially parallel to the separable boundary.

Assignees

• Pregis Innovative Packaging Llc

Inventors

• Wetsch Thomas D

Classifications

• B29L2031/7128

  Bags, sacks, sachets (tea bags B29L2031/7122; medical bags B29L2031/7148) · CPC title

• B65D81/263

  for ventilating the contents (B65D5/4295, B65D51/1605 take precedence) · CPC title

• B29C65/14

  using wave energy {, i.e. electromagnetic radiation,} or particle radiation {(using mechanical waves B29C65/06; using ultrasonic waves B29C65/08; pressing means transparent to electromagnetic radiation B29C66/81267)} · CPC title

• B65D85/34

  for fruit, e.g. apples, oranges or tomatoes · CPC title

• B65D81/052

  filled with fluid, e.g. inflatable elements · CPC title