Patent Application
20210078786
The present invention relates to packaging airbags, and more particularly, the present invention relates to a packaging airbag with an inner float pouch.
The packaging is a means to protect an article from contamination, dirt, and damage. The packaging is of utmost significance in the manufacture, sale, and transport of articles. The primary purpose of the packaging is to protect an article from the environment. For example, packaging can protect an article from dust, water, etc. Also, the packaging has a primary function to protect an article from an external shock or a bump. This function of packaging is of importance in the transportation of fragile articles which are very susceptible to damage during transportation. Good packaging can protect an article from damage due to shock or bumps both during transportation and the mishandling of the article.
Different kinds of packaging materials are commercially available, such as paper, plastic, and cardboard. Each packaging material has its uses and indications. The paper can be used to protect an article from dirt. The plastic can protect an article from both dirt and liquid. Cardboards, on the other hand, are sturdy and can provide limited protection against shocks. For enhanced protection against shocks, materials such as Styrofoam, foam, bubble packs, crumpled paper, or airbags, each being inserted inside a bag or container are popularly used.
Airbags are bags that have air as the cushioning material to protect an article surrounded by or contained in the airbag. The airbag can be made of polyethylene or other materials having comparable properties. The airbag is manufactured as a sheet having two overlapping plies. The two plies have air cavities which can be inflated. The airbag can be manufactured in the form of a container. For example, airbag containers are used to contain glass bottles for protection against bumps, shocks, vibration as well as thermal insulation. Such airbag containers have become quite popular for the transportation of wine bottles. At retail outlets, costly glass articles, such as wine bottles are packed in airbag containers for protection. Although airbags provide good cushioning, but the cushion is not enough for delicate articles, such as laptops and tablet computers. Particularly, the known designs of airbags do not provide enough protection for the edges that are more susceptible to damage by bumps. Thus, a need is appreciated for an improved airbag design that provides overall protection against bumps and shock.
Hereinafter the term tubes, channels, chambers, and columns are interchangeably used and refer to an inflatable prolong structure preferably made of flexible material.
The principal object of the present invention is therefore directed to an airbag for packaging.
It is another object of the present invention that an article can floatably received in the airbag.
It is an additional object of the present invention that the airbags provide enhanced protection at the edges.
In one aspect, disclosed is an airbag with an inner hammock that floats from the periphery of the bag. The airbag includes an upstanding wall defining an inner volume of a bag, the upstanding wall having an upper perimeter. The periphery of the flexible web can bond with the upper periphery of the upstanding wall forming the hammock or an inner pouch. The inner pouch can be received into the inner volume of the bag, such as the depth of the inner pouch is less than the depth of the inner volume of the bag. The upstanding wall comprises a series of inflatable tubes arranged side-by-side. Each inflatable tube of the series of inflatable tubes having an opening for receiving air under pressure, the opening configured with a one-way valve.
In one aspect, the upstanding wall includes the front wall and the rear wall and each of two opposite edges of the web can be coupled to the upper perimeter of the front wall and the rear wall.
In one aspect, the upstanding wall includes the front wall and the rear wall, and each of the two opposite edges of the web can be coupled to the inner sides of the front wall and the rear wall, respectively.
In one aspect, the depth of the inner pouch is at least 0.5 inches less than the depth of the inner volume of the bag.
In one aspect, the upstanding wall is of a cylindrical configuration having a circular upper perimeter. The periphery of the web can be bonded with the upper perimeter of the upstanding wall or inner sides of the upstanding wall of the bag.
These and other objects and advantages of the embodiments herein will become readily apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
The accompanying figures, which are incorporated herein, form part of the specification and illustrate embodiments of the present invention. Together with the description, the figures further explain the principles of the present invention and to enable a person skilled in the relevant arts to make and use the invention.
Subject matter will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and which show, by way of illustration, specific exemplary embodiments. Subject matter may, however, be embodied in a variety of different forms and, therefore, covered or claimed subject matter is intended to be construed as not being limited to any exemplary embodiments set forth herein; exemplary embodiments are provided merely to be illustrative. Likewise, the reasonably broad scope for claimed or covered subject matter is intended. Among other things, for example, the subject matter may be embodied as methods, devices, components, or systems. The following detailed description is, therefore, not intended to be taken in a limiting sense.
The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any embodiment described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. Likewise, the term “embodiments of the present invention” does not require that all embodiments of the invention include the discussed feature, advantage, or mode of operation.
The terminology used herein is to describe specific embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of embodiments of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”, “comprising,”, “includes” and/or “including”, when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
The following detailed description includes the best currently contemplated mode or modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense but is made merely to illustrate the general principles of the invention since the scope of the invention will be best defined by the allowed claims of any resulting patent.
Referring to
The airbag also includes a web 140 of an elongate configuration. For example, the web can be rectangular made of a flexible material. In one case, both the bag and the web can be made of the same material. The web along its edges can be seen in
An article for storage can be received in the inner volume or cavity of the airbag. The article can be held at a distance above the base of the bag in the pouch. In one case, the depth of the valley is 0.5 inches less than the depth of the cavity of the bag. Perhaps the bag forms a U-shaped inner pouch that is suspended from the periphery of the outer bag, wherein the inner pouch floats with relative to the outer bag. The web may or may not include the inflatable tube. In one case, the web or the inner pouch can include a series of inflatable tubes that provided additional protection.
Referring to
Referring to
According to an alternate embodiment, disclosed is a bag that includes an upstanding wall defining an inner volume of the bag. The walls include a series of inflatable tubes arranged side-by-side. A web at its periphery can bond to the inner sides of the upstanding wall forming an inner pouch. An inner pouch bonded to the inner sides of the upstanding wall. The inner pouch is at a height from the base of the outer bag, such that the inner pouch floats relative to the outer bag. The inner pouch can receive an article for storage, wherein the article can be held at a height from the base, providing additional protection.
In one embodiment, disclosed is a sheet that can be folded to form a bag.
In one implementation, disclosed is a bag for protecting corners of articles, such as a frame or TV. The bag includes an elongated web and an inflatable liner. Each web and the inflatable liner having a front edge, a rear edge, a left edge, and a right edge. The web is at least 1 inch less than the length of the inflatable liner, wherein the front edges and the rear edges of the web and the inflatable liner can be bonded. The inflatable line and the web can be folded with front edges facing the rear edges. Either the right side or the left side of the web can be bonded, while the two sides of the web are open. The bag can be mounted on the corner of an object through the two open sides.
While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above-described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention as claimed.
This application claims priority to a U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/940,594 filed Nov. 26, 2019, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62940594 | Nov 2019 | US |
