Abstract: The Present Invention discloses a slit web material, substantially longer than it is wide, with specially shaped slits that permit relatively easy expansion upon deployment. The specially shaped slits are referred to in the Present Application as “tilde-slits,” because they resemble a tilde mark. The cuts are arranged in continuous rows of tilde-slits. In any given row, the tilde-slits follow one-after-the-other in a linear direction. Adjacent rows of slits are parallel to each other, but are offset from one another such that a line drawn between adjacent tilde-slits in adjacent rows is not perpendicular to the direction of the rows. The invention contemplates that the material dispenses from a continuous roll. If the slits are arranged in the longitudinal direction, then the web material expands in the width direction only upon deployment.

Abstract: A closed cell board including a core sandwiched between first and second liner sheets wherein the second liner sheet has a stronger construction than the first liner sheet, or vice versa.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention comprise an off-set gear assembly for use in producing cushioning material and methods for using the same. Each gear of the off-set gear assembly has at least two sections. Each section includes a set of gear teeth. The gear teeth of the two sections can be rotationally off-set and this can result in the production of cushioning material with staggered ridges. Some embodiments of the present invention also comprising cushioning material with staggered ridges.

Abstract: A packing mat has an outer layer sheet, an inner layer sheet, and beads. The outer layer sheet and the inner layer sheet are layered vertically and the peripheral edges are hermetically sealed. The beads are granular synthetic resin foamed bodies, and a large number of beads are filled between the outer layer sheet and the inner layer sheet. The outer layer sheet and the inner layer sheet become the mat having a fixed thickness by filling a layer of beads evenly. A check valve blocking a discharge of air during deaeration is attached to a surface of the outer layer sheet. The surface of the inner layer sheet is a surface to wrap the articles, and by folding the mat, the mat contacts with the articles from three directions, and by deaeration, the mat contracts and solidifies to support each article at three surfaces and hold at fixed positions.

Abstract: A machine which inflates and seals pillows in packaging is compact in overall size, can be conveniently operated to produce varied lengths of strips of inflated pillow-type packaging as needed, can begin production of inflated pillow-type strip packaging immediately after being held out of a production cycle for some period of time, and applies a heated sealing element directly to and in sliding contact with a web of film to securely seal the inlet port of an inflated pillow while the pillow is under pressure and as the web of film is continuously and uninterruptedly advanced through the machine.

Abstract: A packaging container including a packaging insert suspending an article within an exterior box. The packaging insert is formed as a top portion overlying a bottom portion, each including a pair of side panels and a pair of end panels, corresponding top and bottom side panels being affixed together face-to-face such as with adhesive at manufacturing time, and corresponding top and bottom end panels being affixed together face-to-face at packaging time. The bottom end panels include bottom end panel extensions which trap the top end panels against the bottom end panels, and which include lock tabs engaging the bottom panel. The mated side panels are angled e.g. downward and the mated end panels are angled e.g. upward, to provide stand-off within an exterior box, protecting the packaged article. The top and/or bottom panels include break control means such as slotted holes, which control where each panel breaks when stressed around the packaged article by closure of the packaging insert.

Abstract: An air enclosure with independent double layer air chambers is constituted by disposing a middle film between a first outer film and a second outer film which are folded together, in which the length of the middle film is shorter than the first outer film and the second outer film, and the lower sides of the three parties are lined up with one another to allow an air filling passageway to be formed on one common end of the first outer film and the second outer film by means of hot sealing and in the meantime, a first air inlet and a plurality of first air chambers to be formed by adhering the first outer film to the middle film and a second air inlet and a plurality second air chambers to be formed by adhering the middle film to the second outer film.

Abstract: The present invention is a corrugated wrapper for a water heater folded to form a plurality of panels. Inserts attached to an interior face of some of the side panels of the corrugated wrapper provide cushioning for the water heater. The configured corrugated wrapper provides better product protection, reducing damage that may occur during shipping and handling thereafter.

Abstract: The invention relates to a container for bottles or the like. In accordance with the invention, it comprises a plurality of hollow cells each adapted to receive one bottle and presenting two converging external side faces and one bottom face with which the side faces define side edges, the cells being interconnected so that two adjacent cells are hinged together via the side edges such that the container presents a folded state in which the side faces of the cells bear one against another so as to give the container the shape of a cylinder on a polygonal base and a deployed state in which the bottom walls of the cells extend flat and the cells extend beside one another, with each of them remaining suitable for receiving one bottle.

Abstract: A paper product may be made as a crumpled paper strip provided with a layer of coadhesive on one side to adhere opposed portions of the strip together in a strong manner to form a dunnage material. The paper product may also be made as a packaging wrap of two-ply construction with the corrugations of a corrugated ply adhered to a flat ply via a coadhesive on both plies. The paper product may also be made as small discrete elements. The apparatus for making the packaging wrap employs a pair of rolls with interengaging projections to form corrugations in a sheet of material coated with a coadhesive and guides for adhering the corrugated sheet to a flat sheet of material.

Abstract: [Object] To reduce the trouble of packing an article the repair of which a customer is going to request. [Solution Means] A mat 1, an outer layer sheet 2, and cushioning bodies 4 are combined. The mat 1 is an airtight square-shaped sheet, and is sealed airtightly and laminated on and integrated with the outer layer sheet 2 to form a packing region Wa. The packing region Wa sandwiches an articles M and is folded in two, and a flap 5 of the outer layer sheet 2 formed on an extension portion of the packing region serves as an extension portion Wc that closes a gap of the folded portion of the mat 1. When the air in the mat 1 is evacuated and the capacity of the bag body is reduced, the cushioning bodies 4 fit the shape of the article packed in the mat 1 and increase the filling density, and are brought into close contact with the surface of the article M.

Abstract: The invention relates to protective devices for use in packaging and seeks to improve on known padded packaging and those employing deformable members such as plastics beads. The object of the invention is to provide packaging employing deformable members that can be manufactured employing conventional machinery. The object is met by a construction comprising a number of cushions of non-porous plastics material containing resiliently deformable members and connected together to enable an item to be protected to be embraced between the cushions, the connection between the cushions allowing movement of air between the cushions, and a valve in the outer face of one of the cushions, to enable air to be extracted from the cushions when an item is embraced between them and cause the resiliently deformable members to form into a rigid state.

Abstract: A laminate of thermoplastic polymeric films comprises a fluted ply A and non-fluted ply B, adhered to one another in bonded zones along some of the flute crests the fluted ply A. The wavelength of the flutes is preferably no more than 3 mm. Ply A has a generally uniform thickness or can have attenuated zones of lesser thickness extending parallel to the flute direction, each bonded zone being located mainly within an attenuated zone. The flutes can be sinuous with crests on both sides of ply A and can be adhered on each side to a ply B. The flutes can be filled with filler material, including reinforcement strands, and one or both sides can be perforated. The method and apparatus employ aligned grooved fluting rollers and a grooved laminating roller.

Abstract: A versatile packaging box for products, which can be folded into a book cover or an envelope for the contained book, is disclosed. On its front, rear, left and right vertical panels a folding line whose position is adapted to the thickness of the contained book is respectively provided. The front, rear, left and right vertical panels are provided with foldable end panels. The height of the part of the left and right vertical panels above the fold line and below the end panel and the length of end panel add up to the length of the front cover of said book. When the end panel is folded onto the inner side of the rear and front vertical panels, the height of the part of the rear and front vertical panel above the fold line and below the end panel is equal to the width of the front cover of said book. The packaging box has the advantages as follows: making full use of the used packaging box, beautifying and protecting the contained book, and reducing waste.

Abstract: A cushioning structure includes a main body and two first cushioning elements. The first cushioning elements clip two ends of the main body, respectively, to form a containing space. Each of the first cushioning elements has two symmetrical cushioning portions for sandwiching the main body. Each of the cushioning portions has an inclined plane extending inward from an edge of the main body.

Abstract: An inflatable cellular cushioning material having an air inlet pipe path to be inflated by an inflating device through the use of an air inlet pipe, the inflatable cushioning material comprising at least two layers of plastic pre-welded in such a manner so as to form a substantially diagonally oriented lines forming sleeves along the longitudinal axis of the inflatable cellular cushioning material and a substantially horizontal welded lines along the path of the air inlet pipe whereby the horizontal welded lines substantially reduce the non-inflated areas along the path of the air inlet pipe.

Abstract: An air packaging device comprises two layers of thermoplastic films, which form a sealable space where air is fulfilled after a 1st and a 2nd steps of heat-sealing process, includes a number of independent sealed air chambers and a main air passage channel. The main channel has an air inlet. Each sealed air chamber is connected with the main channel by at least one of one-way valves each consists of at least two layers of plastic films. At least two of one-way valves are installed inside of the air chambers. This air packaging device increases the cushioning protection where the protection is most needed, but can reduce air chamber dimension at the less important location in order to reduce the volumetric size and hence reduce the shipping cost.

Abstract: A packaging container with a reinforced bottom and corners is a lamination of a container material alternating with a reinforcing material that is shaped to form a rigid unit of generally U-shaped cross-section having a main body portion with a generally flat bottom wall and upstanding, opposing sidewalls. The bottom and corners are reinforced with the reinforcing material to withstand additional stresses associated with dropping, bumping, scratching or general handling of packaging containers.

Abstract: A fruit protection and transportation system providing various apparatus and methods to absorb impact and compression forces to reduce damage to fruit (3). Particular embodiments of the invention comprise a fruit protector blank (1) of resiliently compressible force absorption material having a substantially planar surface (2) that can be conformed to a portion of the exterior surface of various kinds of fruit (3). Other embodiments of the invention provide a molded force absorption cover (21) of resiliently compressible foam material that elastically conforms to a portion of the exterior surface of a fruit (3).

Abstract: A machine which inflates and seals pillows in packaging is compact in overall size, can be conveniently operated to produce varied lengths of strips of inflated pillow-type packaging as needed, can begin production of inflated pillow-type strip packaging immediately after being held out of a production cycle for some period of time, and applies a heated sealing element directly to and in sliding contact with a web of film to securely seal the inlet port of an inflated pillow while the pillow is under pressure and as the web of film is continuously and uninterruptedly advanced through the machine.

Abstract: A fruit protection and transportation system providing various apparatus and methods to absorb impact and compression forces to reduce damage to fruit (3). Particular embodiments of the invention comprise a fruit protector blank (1) of resiliently compressible force absorption material having a substantially planar surface (2) that can be conformed to a portion of the exterior surface of various kinds of fruit (3). Other embodiments of the invention provide a molded force absorption cover (21) of resiliently compressible foam material that elastically conforms to a portion of the exterior surface of a fruit (3).

Abstract: The present invention provides an air-filling cushioning material which can sufficiently inflate cells and, in addition, which can hold the crease of the fold when being formed into a three-dimensional configuration. An air-filling cushioning material 1, in which a plurality of cells 2 having an air-fillable space are formed by adhering overlapped flexible sheets 1a, 1b at predetermined spots wherein one sheet 1a is flat while the other sheet 1b is molded beforehand into a configuration of the cells 2 in inflation at the position where the cells 2 are to be formed. Therefore, there is no such problem, as in the conventional case where the cells are formed by tucking the other sheet, the cells cannot inflate well. The cells 2 formed on the other sheet 1b can inflate sufficiently into a configuration as molded.

Abstract: A package (30) for an individual charging wire (10) includes a backing (32) having a back portion (42) and a front portion (44). A first perforation (46) is defined in the backing (32) between the back portion (42) and the front portion (44). A closing strip (36) is disposed on the back portion (42). A padding strip (34) is disposed on the back portion (42) between the closing strip (36) and the first perforation (46). A second perforation (48) is defined in the back portion (42) between the closing strip (36) and the padding strip (34).

Abstract: A machine which inflates and seals pillows in packaging is compact in overall size, can be conveniently operated to produce varied lengths of strips of inflated pillow-type packaging as needed, can begin production of inflated pillow-type strip packaging immediately after being held out of a production cycle for some period of time, and applies a heated sealing element directly to and in sliding contact with a web of film to securely seal the inlet port of an inflated pillow while the pillow is under pressure and as the web of film is continuously and uninterruptedly advanced through the machine.

Abstract: An inflatable web, and method and apparatus for inflating the web, which generally includes two sheets having inner surfaces sealed to each other in a pattern defining a series of inflatable chambers of predetermined length, each of the chambers having at least one change in width over their length; an inflation port located at a proximal end of each chamber, the inflation ports being formed by intermittent seals between the sheets; and longitudinal flanges formed by a portion of each of the sheets that extend beyond the inflation ports and intermittent seals.

Abstract: A machine which inflates and seals pillows in packaging is compact in overall size, can be conveniently operated to produce varied lengths of strips of inflated pillow-type packaging as needed, can begin production of inflated pillow-type strip packaging immediately after being held out of a production cycle for some period of time, and applies a heated sealing element directly to and in sliding contact with a web of film to securely seal the inlet port of an inflated pillow while the pillow is under pressure and as the web of film is continuously and uninterruptedly advanced through the machine.

Abstract: A packing material having a plurality of domes formed therein, and methods for forming same are provided. A plurality of layers of a substrate are placed together to form a composite material with a plurality of layers, and domes are formed in the plurality of layers. The domes can be formed in more than one direction and can be of different sizes and shapes. Thereafter, the materials can be cut to desired sizes or shapes. The domes formed in the layers are nested and accordingly, the packaging material takes up a minimal amount of space after same is manufactured. This serves to minimize the expense and space requirements for storage and shipping and disposal. In use, the sheets are separated and disoriented to achieve bulk and are utilized for packing. The domes are sized, shaped and positioned to tend against re-nesting.

Abstract: A new way of shipping cartons and other packages so as to minimize the cost and the resource used. The invention is directed in the first embodiment to a liner, particularly for use in combination with shrink wrap packaging, which includes corners for compressive strength and yet panels having deceased height intermediate such corners. The decreased height panels result in conversation of the resource used to make the liner. In a preferred embodiment, the liners are nestable so that they fit closely one on top of each other in the manufacturing process, therefore conserving space. Moreover, nestability of the liner blanks helps promote conservation of resource particularly when the liner blanks are cut from the same fiberboard blank.

Abstract: An envelope, bag or other mailing device for preventing the shifting of an item located within the envelope and a method for making the same is provided. The envelope includes a front panel, a back panel and at least one protrusion. The back panel is coupled to the front panel to form an interior portion formed between opposed interior surfaces of the front and back panels. The protrusion is coupled to one of the opposed interior surfaces and extends into the interior portion of the envelope. In another embodiment, a second protrusion is coupled to the other side of opposed interior surfaces and extends into the interior portion of the envelope. The protrusions are adapted tp associate with one another to protect items contained within the envelope from external forces and prevent the item from moving around within the interior portion of the envelope.

Abstract: An inflatable, conformable, cushioning, packaging product comprises a plurality of individual inflatable strips of multiple bubble cushioning structures. Each individual inflatable strip has a plurality of bubble chambers with each bubble chamber interconnected to an adjacent bubble chamber by an interconnecting passageway which is smaller in size and internal volume than the bubble chambers, but which is sufficiently large to enable air volume and pressure in one inflated bubble chamber to be transmitted to adjacent bubble chambers for distributing a shock load on one bubble chamber along the entire length of the individual inflatable strip of interconnected bubble chambers. Each individual inflatable strip is defined between two laterally extending spaced apart peripheral seal lines which have an undulating configuration free of corner shapes which could concentrate stresses.

Abstract: A tube-shaped cushioning material in which an air bag is continuously connected in line or mat-shaped cushioning material in which an air bag is continuously connected in two dimensions, in which a cutout notch is formed at a given space or continuously in a side edge and/or connecting part of the air bag, thereby facilitating a separating-dividing operation of the air bag in a size suitable for an article to be packed and a volume reduction operation of the air bag discarded after opening a package.

Abstract: A machine which inflates and seals pillows in packaging is compact in overall size, can be conveniently operated to produce varied lengths of strips of inflated pillow-type packaging as needed, can begin production of inflated pillow-type strip packaging immediately after being held out of a production cycle for some period of time, and applies a heated sealing element directly to and in sliding contact with a web of film to securely seal the inlet port of an inflated pillow while the pillow is under pressure and as the web of film is continuously and uninterruptedly advanced through the machine.

Abstract: A cushioning conversion machine includes a plurality of laterally spaced apart upstream assemblies which advance the sheet stock material with a transversely reciprocating twisting motion and at least one downstream assembly that retards the advance of the stock material. Additionally, the upstream assemblies feed the sheet stock material at a feed rate greater than the feed rate at which the downstream assembly passes the sheet stock material. The downstream assembly thereby cooperates with the upstream assemblies to crumple the stock material and impart loft thereto, and as a further result, the crumpled stock material includes a regular arrangement of folds preferably forming a herringbone pattern.

Abstract: An inflatable, conformable, cushioning, packaging product comprises a plurality of individual inflatable strips of multiple bubble cushioning structures. Each individual inflatable strip has a plurality of bubble chambers with each bubble chamber interconnected to an adjacent bubble chamber by an interconnecting passageway which is smaller in size and internal volume than the bubble chambers, but which is sufficiently large to enable air volume and pressure in one inflated bubble chamber to be transmitted to adjacent bubble chambers for distributing a shock load on one bubble chamber along the entire length of the individual inflatable strip of interconnected bubble chambers. Each individual inflatable strip is defined between two laterally extending spaced apart peripheral seal line which have an undulating configuration free of corner shapes which could concentration stresses.

Abstract: An inflatable, conformable, cushioning, packaging product comprises a plurality of individual inflatable strips of multiple bubble cushioning structures. Each individual inflatable strip has a plurality of bubble chambers with each bubble chamber interconnected to an adjacent bubble chamber by an interconnecting passageway which is smaller in size and internal volume than the bubble chambers, but which is sufficiently large to enable air volume and pressure in one inflated bubble chamber to be transmitted to adjacent bubble chambers for distributing a shock load on one bubble chamber along the entire length of the individual inflatable strip of interconnected bubble chambers. Each individual inflatable strip is defined between two laterally extending spaced apart peripheral seal lines which have an undulating configuration free of corner shapes which could concentrate stresses.