Packaging materials and methods

• US 10,220,590 B2
• Filed: 04/17/2017
• Issued: 03/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michael Baines
• Original Assignee: Michael Baines
• Inventors: Baines, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Ackun, Jacob K
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pagan, Jenine
• Application Number:
  US15/489,213
• Publication Number:
  US 20180036989A1
• Time in Patent Office: 687 Days
• Field of Search: 206522, 206521
• CPC Class Codes: B31D 5/0073 including pillow forming
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/052 filled with fluid, e.g. inflatable elements

Abstract

An inflatable packaging material includes two outer films, a plurality of valve films, and a non-sealable material positioned between the valve films. The films are sealed together by a plurality of seals, including a valve seal extending across the material. The seals define a plurality of air columns and an inflation passage in communication with the columns. The non-sealable material is arranged to form valve portions positioned along the valve seal and spaced passage portions positioned along the inflation passage. The valve portions provide valve passages through the valve seal, to allow airflow into each air column. The passage portions are arranged such that one side seal passes through a space between the passage portions to seal one end of the inflation passage, and the other side seal passes through one of the passage portions to create an open inflation port. The valve films allow air to pass through from the inflation passage to the columns, and prevent reverse flow of air from the columns into the inflation passage.

Claims

1. An inflatable packaging material comprising:

first and second outer films positioned in confronting relation to each other and sealed together by a perimeter seal and a plurality of border seals located inward of the perimeter seal, the perimeter seal comprising a top seal and a bottom seal, wherein the border seals define a plurality of parallel air columns, wherein alternate ones of the border seals each have an air conduit therethrough, such that the air columns are arranged in a plurality of pairs of air columns, each of the pairs of air columns comprising a main air column and an auxiliary air column in communication with each other via the air conduit, wherein the main air column of each pair has a width that is greater than a width of the auxiliary air column of the pair;

a valve assembly positioned between the first and second outer films, the valve assembly comprising a first valve film, a second valve film, and a non-sealable material positioned between the first and second valve films;

a valve seal extending parallel to the top seal and spaced from the top seal, the valve seal connecting the first and second outer films and the first and second valve films, such that the top seal and the valve seal define an inflation passage therebetween, and the valve seal forms a top end of each of the air columns, wherein the non-sealable material is arranged to form a plurality of valve passages through the valve seal, with each air column having one of the valve passages located at the top end thereof to allow airflow into each air column; and

a plurality of airflow seals within each air column connecting the first and second valve films to the first outer film and adapted to guide airflow between the first and second valve films, wherein the plurality of airflow seals within each air column comprises a pair of elongated seals adjacent the valve seal and extending into the air column and a central seal positioned adjacent distal ends of the pair of elongated seals, wherein the elongated seals of each pair are angled toward each other to define a tapered tunnel, and wherein each central seal has curved lateral edges defining a maximum width that is greater than a spacing between the distal ends of the elongated seals adjacent to the central seal,

wherein the first and second valve films form a one-way valve, such that airflow from the inflation passage through the valve passages is permitted, and the first and second valve films cooperate to obstruct airflow from the air columns through the valve passages.

2. The inflatable packaging material of claim 1, wherein the valve assembly further comprises a third valve film positioned between the first and second valve films, wherein the non-sealable material is positioned between the third valve film and the first and second valve films, wherein the plurality of airflow seals within each air column connect the first, second, and third valve films to the first outer film, and wherein the first, second, and third valve films cooperate to obstruct airflow from the air columns through the valve passages.

3. The inflatable packaging material of claim 1, wherein the airflow seals in each of the air columns are identical to the airflow seals in all other of the air columns.

4. The inflatable packaging material of claim 1, wherein the airflow seals in each of the main air columns are identical to the airflow seals in all other of the main air columns, and the airflow seals in each of the auxiliary air columns are identical to the airflow seals in all other of the auxiliary air columns.

5. The inflatable packaging material of claim 1, wherein at least one of the airflow seals in each of the main air columns is structured differently from at least one of the airflow seals in each of the auxiliary air columns.

6. The inflatable packaging material of claim 1, wherein the plurality of airflow seals within each air column further comprise a plurality of parallel seals that are parallel to the border seals and extend to a bottom end of at least one of the first and second valve films distal from the valve seal, wherein the plurality of parallel seals and the border seals defining the air column combine to define a plurality of airflow passages therebetween.

7. The inflatable packaging material of claim 6, wherein the maximum width of each central seal is greater than a width of any of the airflow passages in the air column.

8. The inflatable packaging material of claim 6, wherein the central seal, the elongated seals, and the parallel seals in each air column are separate from each other.

9. The inflatable packaging material of claim 1, wherein the central seal in each air column is separate from the elongated seals in the air column.

10. An inflatable packaging material comprising:

first and second outer films positioned in confronting relation to each other and sealed together by a perimeter seal and a plurality of border seals located inward of the perimeter seal, the perimeter seal comprising a top seal and a bottom seal, wherein the border seals define a plurality of parallel air columns, wherein alternate ones of the border seals each have an air conduit therethrough, such that the air columns are arranged in a plurality of pairs of air columns, each of the pairs of air columns comprising a main air column and an auxiliary air column in communication with each other via the air conduit, wherein the main air column of each pair has a width that is greater than a width of the auxiliary air column of the pair;

a valve assembly positioned between the first and second outer films, the valve assembly comprising a first valve film, a second valve film, and a non-sealable material positioned between the first and second valve films;

a valve seal extending parallel to the top seal and spaced from the top seal, the valve seal connecting the first and second outer films and the first and second valve films, such that the top seal and the valve seal define an inflation passage therebetween, and the valve seal forms a top end of each of the air columns, wherein the non-sealable material is arranged to form a plurality of valve passages through the valve seal, with each air column having one of the valve passages located at the top end thereof to allow airflow into each air column; and

a plurality of airflow seals within each air column connecting the first and second valve films to the first outer film and adapted to guide airflow between the first and second valve films, wherein the plurality of airflow seals within each air column comprises a pair of elongated seals adjacent the valve seal and extending into the air column, wherein the elongated seals of each pair are angled toward each other to define a tapered tunnel, and a plurality of parallel seals that are parallel to the border seals and extend to a bottom end of at least one of the first and second valve films distal from the valve seal, wherein the plurality of parallel seals and the border seals defining the air column combine to define a plurality of airflow passages therebetween,

wherein the first and second valve films form a one-way valve, such that airflow from the inflation passage through the valve passages is permitted, and the first and second valve films cooperate to obstruct airflow from the air columns through the valve passages.

11. The inflatable packaging material of claim 10, wherein the airflow seals in each of the air columns are identical to the airflow seals in all other of the air columns.

12. The inflatable packaging material of claim 10, wherein the airflow seals in each of the main air columns are identical to the airflow seals in all other of the main air columns, and the airflow seals in each of the auxiliary air columns are identical to the airflow seals in all other of the auxiliary air columns.

13. The inflatable packaging material of claim 10, wherein at least one of the airflow seals in each of the main air columns is structured differently from at least one of the airflow seals in each of the auxiliary air columns.

14. The inflatable packaging material of claim 10, wherein the plurality of airflow seals within each air column further comprise a central seal positioned between the elongated seals and the parallel seals, and wherein each central seal has curved lateral edges defining a maximum width that is greater than a spacing between distal ends of the elongated seals adjacent to the central seal.

15. The inflatable packaging material of claim 14, wherein the maximum width of each central seal is greater than a width of any of the airflow passages in the air column.

16. The inflatable packaging material of claim 14, wherein the central seal, the elongated seals, and the parallel seals in each air column are separate from each other.

17. The inflatable packaging material of claim 10, wherein the central seal in each air column is separate from the elongated seals in the air column.

18. An inflatable packaging material comprising:

first and second outer films positioned in confronting relation to each other and sealed together by a perimeter seal and a plurality of border seals located inward of the perimeter seal, the perimeter seal comprising a top seal and a bottom seal, wherein the border seals define a plurality of parallel air columns, wherein alternate ones of the border seals each have an air conduit therethrough, such that the air columns are arranged in a plurality of pairs of air columns, each of the pairs of air columns comprising a main air column and an auxiliary air column in communication with each other via the air conduit, wherein the main air column of each pair has a width that is greater than a width of the auxiliary air column of the pair;

a valve assembly positioned between the first and second outer films, the valve assembly comprising a first valve film, a second valve film, and a non-sealable material positioned between the first and second valve films;

a valve seal extending parallel to the top seal and spaced from the top seal, the valve seal connecting the first and second outer films and the first and second valve films, such that the top seal and the valve seal define an inflation passage therebetween, and the valve seal forms a top end of each of the air columns, wherein the non-sealable material is arranged to form a plurality of valve passages through the valve seal, with each air column having one of the valve passages located at the top end thereof to allow airflow into each air column; and

a plurality of airflow seals within each air column connecting the first and second valve films to the first outer film and adapted to guide airflow between the first and second valve films, wherein the plurality of airflow seals within each air column comprises a plurality of parallel seals that are parallel to the border seals and extend to a bottom end of at least one of the first and second valve films distal from the valve seal, wherein the plurality of parallel seals and the border seals defining the air column combine to define a plurality of airflow passages therebetween, and a central seal located between the valve seal and the parallel seals, wherein each central seal has curved lateral edges defining a maximum width that is greater than a width of any of the airflow passages in the air column,

wherein the first and second valve films form a one-way valve, such that airflow from the inflation passage through the valve passages is permitted, and the first and second valve films cooperate to obstruct airflow from the air columns through the valve passages.

19. The inflatable packaging material of claim 18, wherein the airflow seals in each of the air columns are identical to the airflow seals in all other of the air columns.

20. The inflatable packaging material of claim 18, wherein the airflow seals in each of the main air columns are identical to the airflow seals in all other of the main air columns, and the airflow seals in each of the auxiliary air columns are identical to the airflow seals in all other of the auxiliary air columns.

21. The inflatable packaging material of claim 18, wherein at least one of the airflow seals in each of the main air columns is structured differently from at least one of the airflow seals in each of the auxiliary air columns.

22. The inflatable packaging material of claim 18, wherein the plurality of airflow seals within each air column comprises a pair of elongated seals adjacent the valve seal and extending into the air column, wherein the elongated seals of each pair are angled toward each other to define a tapered tunnel.

23. The inflatable packaging material of claim 22, wherein the maximum width of the central seal in each air column is greater than a spacing between distal ends of the elongated seals in the air column.

24. The inflatable packaging material of claim 22, wherein the central seal, the elongated seals, and the parallel seals in each air column are separate from each other.

25. The inflatable packaging material of claim 18, wherein the central seal in each air column is separate from the parallel seals in the air column.