Abstract: An inflatable article has a first film bonded to a second film so as to provide between the first film and the second film a plurality of inflatable chambers, each of the inflatable chambers containing a plurality of cells. Each of the cells is connected to at least one adjacent cell by an inflatable connecting channel. The first film is bonded to the second film between adjacent inflatable chambers. The first film and the second film each have at least one formed region corresponding with a location of a cell, with the at least one formed region of the second film being nested into the at least one formed region of the first film. Also disclosed are processes of making the inflatable article.

Abstract: A case-ready package has a support member, a lid, and an absorbent pad capable of withstanding sudden evacuation without rupture. The absorbent pad has upper and lower webs enveloping an absorbent layer, with the upper and lower webs adhered to one another around the periphery of the pad. The lower web is a permeable web comprising fiber. The fiber is preferably hydrophobic, and preferably has a hydrophilic composition thereon. The invention also pertains to a packaging process and packaged product using the absorbent pad.

Abstract: A packaging method and apparatus wherein each product is packaged by capturing the product in flexible packaging material. The packing apparatus includes a product detector for detecting the presence or absence of a product to be packaged. The detection of the product may cause the advancement of packaging material and the product through a nipping station to form a package. The failure to detect a product may cause the advancement of the packaging material to stop and conserve packaging material until a product is detected. The product detector may be a color sensor trained to detect a color of the first web, a luminescence sensor trained to detect a luminance of the first web, or a light-sensitive sensor trained to detect a difference in light passing through the first web. Also, a luminescence additive may be joined with the lower web to provide a distinct luminance.

Abstract: A cellular cushioning article and roll is provided. The cellular cushioning article and roll may include a film that has a plurality of multi-size bubbles for cushioning. The bubbles may be arranged in a pattern such that any straight line, which is positioned between two bubbles and extends from one side of the film to another side of the film, crosses at least one other bubble of the film. The bubbles may also be arranged in a pattern wherein at least one of the relatively lower bubbles is positioned at least partially within an area defined by the perimeters of the relatively higher bubbles and two straight lines tangent to the perimeters of the two relatively higher bubbles and extending therebetween.

Abstract: An inflatable cushioning article is made from a multilayer film having a seal layer, a gas barrier layer, and a tie layer adhering the seal layer to the gas barrier layer. The cushioning article has a plurality of inflatable chambers, with each of the chambers having a plurality of cells connected in series to one another via inflation channels. Although the inflatable article can be made from relatively thin films, the article exhibits a relatively high burst pressure and can be inflated to, for example 3 psi, and withstand conditions such as 140° F. and high altitude, without film delamination, seal failure, or film rupture. Preferably, the tie layer comprises an anhydride modified polyolefin having an anhydride content of at least 150 ppm.

Abstract: An inflatable bag, folded on itself to form a first inflatable panel and a second inflatable panel, includes a first and second side, a first and second end, a valve, and two heat seals, each extending from the second side of the bag, spaced apart from each other and the first side and first and second end of the bag, and bonding a portion of the first inflatable panel to a portion of the second inflatable panel, the bag adapted upon inflation of the bag, to hold an article disposed between the first and second panels of the bag. The inflatable bag can be adhered to a flat blank, or otherwise disposed in a box or on a box component. Upon inflation of the bag, an article disposed between the first and second panels of the bag can be encapsulated by the bag. Alternative embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: A packaging method and apparatus wherein each product is packaged by capturing the product in flexible packaging material. The packing apparatus includes a product detector for detecting the presence or absence of a product to be packaged. The detection of the product may cause the advancement of packaging material and the product through a nipping station to form a package. The failure to detect a product may cause the advancement of the packaging material to stop and conserve packaging material until a product is detected. The product detector may be a color sensor trained to detect a color of the first web, a luminescence sensor trained to detect a luminance of the first web, or a light-sensitive sensor trained to detect a difference in light passing through the first web. Also, a luminescence additive may be joined with the lower web to provide a distinct luminance.

Abstract: An inflatable article has a first film bonded to a second film so as to provide between the first film and the second film a plurality of inflatable chambers, each of the inflatable chambers containing a plurality of cells. Each of the cells is connected to at least one adjacent cell by an inflatable connecting channel. The first film is bonded to the second film between adjacent inflatable chambers. The first film and the second film each have at least one formed region corresponding with a location of a cell, with the at least one formed region of the second film being nested into the at least one formed region of the first film. Also disclosed are processes of making the inflatable article.

Abstract: An inflatable laminated article is prepared by contacting a first film (8) with a second film (10), and heating selected portions of at least one the first and second films to a temperature above a fusion temperature of the first and second films, so that the first and second films are heat sealed to one another. The heat sealing is carried out in a pattern which provides a plurality of inflatable chambers between the first film and the second film. The first and second films are for warded at a speed of at least “0.6096 m/s” (120 feet per minute) while coming into contact with one another. The heating is carried out by contacting the first film with a heated raised surface roller (16) having a release coating thereon.

Abstract: The invention provides an absorbent pad for a case-ready package that has a controlled rate of wicking. The packaging comprises a support member, a food product that exudes liquids positioned on the support member, an absorbent pad between the food product and the support member, and a lid member enclosing the package. The absorbent pad is composed of an upper layer, an intermediate absorbent layer, and a lower layer. The upper and lower layers extend beyond the periphery of the absorbent layer and are attached directly to one another. Preferably, the upper and lower layers are composed of nonwoven materials that are coated with a hydrophilic composition. Typically the upper layer will be a spunbonded/meltblown/spunbonded web and the lower layer will be a spunbonded web. The hydrophilic coating wicks liquid exuded by the food product into the absorbent layer, and therefore prevents the accumulation of liquids within the support member.

Abstract: An inflatable cushioning article is made by a process of extruding two multilayer films (or extruding one film which is either annular or folded over) each having (a) a seal layer, (b) a tie layer containing an anhydride modified olefin polymer containing anhydride at a level of at least 150 ppm, based on the weight of the modified olefin polymer, and (c) an oxygen barrier layer comprising crystalline polyamide, crystalline polyester, ethylene/vinyl alcohol copolymer, polyacrylonitrile, and/or crystalline polycycloolefin. Selected portions of the films are heat sealed to one another in a selected area providing a heat seal pattern which leaves inflatable chambers between the films, whereby an inflatable cellular cushioning article is produced. At some point after extrusion, at least one of the multilayer films are aged for a time and at a temperature in accordance with at least one member selected from the group consisting of: (i) 141° F. to 250° F. for a period of at least 1 second; (ii) 101° F. to 140° F.

Abstract: A method of installing a radiant density floor heating system, in which a multi-layer conductive/insulation pad is disposed atop the ground or a subfloor, a heating element is placed atop the pad, a concrete or cement layer is laid atop the heating element and pad, and a flooring material is laid atop the cement layer. The pad comprises a first polymer layer having a first side that forms an outer surface of the multi-layer conductive/insulation pad, a conductive layer laminated to an opposite second side of the first polymer layer, a second polymer layer laminated to the side of the conductive layer opposite the first polymer layer, and a first air cellular cushioning layer laminated to the side of the second polymer layer opposite the conductive layer. The pad can also include a second air cellular cushioning layer and/or a protective polymer layer.

Abstract: An inflatable cushioning article is made from a multilayer film having a seal layer, a gas barrier layer, and a tie layer adhering the seal layer to the gas barrier layer. The cushioning article has a plurality of inflatable chambers, with each of the chambers having a plurality of cells connected in series to one another via inflation channels. Although the inflatable article can be made from relatively thin films, the article exhibits a relatively high burst pressure and can be inflated to, for example 3 psi, and withstand conditions such as 140° F. and high altitude, without film delamination, seal failure, or film rupture. Preferably, the tie layer comprises an anhydride modified polyolefin having an anhydride content of at least 150 ppm.

Abstract: A bag comprises an upper chamber and a lower chamber. The upper chamber comprises an inlet end defining an inlet opening. The lower chamber defines a lower chamber interior volume less than the upper chamber interior volume. A strainer is between the bottom end of the upper chamber and the top end of the lower chamber. The strainer places the upper chamber interior volume in fluid communication with the lower chamber interior volume. The bag wall may define an outlet port. A filter patch may be attached to the bag wall to cover the outlet port. The filter patch may be adapted to entrap airborne particles having a diameter of one micron or greater carried by air passing from the bag interior volume through the filter patch. The bag may be useful in enhancing the detectability of and in reducing the exposure to contaminants that may be present in mail deposited in the bags.

Abstract: A packaging structure useful as retention and suspension packaging. The packaging structure comprises a frame and a film connected to the frame. The film comprises first and second layers. The first layer is an outer layer of the film and comprises polyethylene polymer having a density of at least about 0.910 g/cc. The first layer comprises no more than about 20% of the total thickness of the film. The second layer comprises ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer having a density of less than about 0.910 g/cc. The film has an elastic recovery in each of the transverse and longitudinal directions of at least about 60% measured according to ASTM D5459-95 at 100% strain, 30 seconds relaxation time, and 60 second recovery time.

Abstract: A metallic laminated gusseted insulated bag includes a front and rear wall each having two lateral edges, a top edge, and a bottom edge; first and second side walls; a bottom member; and a means for hermetically closing the bag; wherein the front and rear walls are joined along their respective lateral edges to the first and second side walls; either or both of the side walls and bottom member are gusseted; and the front and rear walls are joined along their respective bottom edges to the bottom member; and the front and rear walls each include an outer ply including a metallic foil or metallic coated web, and an inner ply having an inner and outer surface, including a thermal insulating layer; the metallic foil or metallic coated web being adhered to the outer surface of the inner ply.

Abstract: A tamper evident container includes a first portion; an opening capable of providing access to the interior of the tamper evident container; a second portion; an adhesive strip adhered to the first or second portion; and a temperature sensitive tape; wherein at least one of the first portion, second portion, and temperature sensitive tape includes a radiation cured adhesive; and wherein the temperature sensitive tape is adhered to the first or second portion by means of the radiation cured adhesive. A method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A composite material wherein one or more backing materials are disposed in generally contiguous relation to an insulating material. Methods for forming composite materials comprising securing one or more backing materials to an insulating material such that the backing materials are in generally contiguous relation to the insulating material. Methods for using the composite materials of the present invention wherein a structure is wrapped with a composite material of the present invention.

Abstract: An integrated process for making an inflatable laminated article comprises extruding a first film and a second film, followed by cooling the first film and the second film so that the films will not fuse to one another upon contact with each other. The films are then brought into contact with one another, and selected portions of one or both films are heated so that the films are heat sealed to one another in a selected area having a desired pattern. The unsealed area between the film provides inflatable chambers between the first film and the second film. An alternative process utilizes a film tubing in lay-flat configuration to produce a laminated inflatable article.

Abstract: Abstract of the Disclosure There is provides a multi-layer conductive/insulation pad is provided having a first polymer layer, a conductive layer such as a thin foil of metal or a metallized thermoplastic film laminated to the first polymer layer, a second polymer layer laminated to the side of the conductive layer opposite the side of the first polymer layer, and a first bubble wrap layer. The first bubble wrap layer is laminated to the side of the second polymer film opposite the conductive layer. Optionally, a protective heavy-duty polymer layer is laminated to the first bubble wrap layer on the opposite side of the second polymer layer. In another embodiment the multi-layer construction of pad of the first embodiment has added thereto a third polymer layer laminated to the side opposite the first layer of bubble wrap and a second layer of bubble wrap laminated to the third polymer layer on the side opposite the first bubble wrap.