Inflatable packaging system

• US 7,168,567 B2
• Filed: 07/13/2005
• Issued: 01/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Bartusiak, Joseph T., Peper, William A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fidel; David T.
• Application Number:
  US11/180,182
• Publication Number:
  US 20050247592A1
• Time in Patent Office: 566 Days
• Field of Search: 206/521, 206/522, 206/584, 206/591, 206/592, 410/119, 383/3, 383/44, 383/58, 383/109, 383/110, 383/116, 564/4, 570/6, 571/2
• US Class Current: 206/522
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 21/08 of synthetic resin
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/052 filled with fluid, e.g. inflatable elements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 206/821 Stacking member
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/13 Hollow or container type article [e.g., tube, vase, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1334 Nonself-supporting tubular film or bag [e.g., pouch, envelope, packet, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1352 Polymer or resin containing [i.e., natural or synthetic]

Abstract

An inflatable packaging system comprised of an inflation channel that feeds a plurality of inflatable cells prevents buckling of the inflation header as the inflatable cells inflate by relieving stress along a seal line that separates the inflation header from the inflatable cells.

Claims

1. In a multi-chambered inflatable packaging system having overlying first and second film layers connected together around a perimeter of the first and second layers by a perimeter seal except for a gap sufficient in size to allow an inflation medium to be introduced into an interior defined between the first and second film layers, an inflation channel formed by a first seal of the first and second film layers adjacent a portion of the perimeter, wherein the inflation channel is in fluid communication with the gap, a plurality of separate inflatable cells in fluid communication with the inflation channel, the plurality of inflatable cells formed by plurality of spaced second seals extending from and transverse to the first seal, the improvement comprising:

a slit through the first and second film layers for maintaining airflow through the inflation channel as the plurality of inflatable cells are inflated.

2. The packaging system of claim 1, wherein the slit of the first and second film layers is along a portion of the first seal.

3. The packaging system of claim 1, wherein the slit of the first and second film layers is along a portion of each of the second seals.

4. The packaging system of claim 3 wherein the plurality of spaced second seals extend between the first seal and a first segment of the perimeter seal, the slit extending between the first seal and the first segment of the perimeter seal.