Protective packaging assembly

Abstract

A protective packaging assembly and a method of making the same. The packaging assembly is for packaging and protecting one or more articles for shipment. The assembly may include an outer container, an inflatable element, and a framing element. The container defines an interior for holding the article(s), as well as the inflatable element and the framing element. The inflatable element defines a plurality of inflated cells for cushioning and protecting the article or articles against impact and other forces. The framing element has a peripheral shape that corresponds to at least a portion of the interior of the container so that the framing element may be securely held within the interior. The framing element may be operatively connected to the inflatable element to position the inflatable element adjacent to the article in a predetermined manner so that the inflated cells protect the article when the packaging structure is closed.

1 . A packaging assembly for packaging and protecting an article for shipment, said packaging assembly comprising: 
 an outer container defining an interior for holding the article and having an inner surface;    an inflatable element; and    a framing element having a peripheral shape corresponding to and engages at least a portion of the inner surface of the outer container such that the framing element is securely held within the outer container, and wherein the inflatable element is operatively connected to the framing element to position the inflatable element adjacent to the article in a predetermined manner so that the inflatable element engages the article to cushion and restrict the movement of the article to the outer container.    
   
   
       2 . The packaging assembly according to  claim 1  further comprising an adhesive for operatively connecting the inflatable element to the framing element.  
   
   
       3 . The packaging assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the framing element includes at least one foldable tab and the inflatable element defines at least one slit, wherein the tab and slit are engaged to operatively connect the framing element to the inflatable element.  
   
   
       4 . The packaging assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the framing element includes an opening configured to receive and retain a portion of the inflatable element so as to operatively connect the inflatable element to the framing element.  
   
   
       5 . The packaging assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the framing element is made from corrugated cardboard.  
   
   
       6 . The packaging assembly according to  claim 1  further comprising at least two inflatable elements, wherein at least one of the inflatable elements is operatively connected to the framing element.  
   
   
       7 . The packaging assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein each of the inflatable elements defines at least one inflated cell.  
   
   
       8 . The packaging assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the inflatable element includes at least two layers of a film material, the layers defining a plurality of inflated cells between them.  
   
   
       9 . The packaging assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein at least two of the inflated cells are interconnected.  
   
   
       10 . The packaging assembly according to  claim 1  further comprising at least two framing elements, wherein the inflatable element is operatively connected to at least one of the framing elements.  
   
   
       11 . A packaging structure for supporting and protecting an article within an outer container, said packaging structure comprising: 
 an inflatable sheet material for protecting the article, the inflatable sheet material defining a plurality of inflated cells for cushioning at least part of the article from impact forces;    a framing element for supporting the article within the outer container, the framing element including an outer peripheral shape configured to engage the outer container such that the framing element is securely held within the outer container, and wherein the inflatable sheet material is operatively connected to the framing element to position at least one of the inflated cells adjacent to the article in a predetermined manner so that the inflated cells cushion the article.    
   
   
       12 . The packaging structure according to  claim 11 , wherein the framing element includes a first side and a second side and the inflatable sheet material substantially covers the first side and is adhered to at least a portion of the first side.  
   
   
       13 . The packaging structure according to  claim 12 , wherein at least two of the inflated cells are interconnected.  
   
   
       14 . The packaging structure according to  claim 11  further comprising an adhesive for operatively connecting the inflatable sheet material to the framing element.  
   
   
       15 . The packaging structure according to  claim 11 , wherein the framing element defines at least one foldable tab and the inflatable sheet material defines at least one slit, wherein the tab and slit are engaged to operatively connect the framing element to the inflatable element.  
   
   
       16 . The packaging structure according to  claim 11 , wherein the framing element includes an opening configured to receive and retain a portion of the inflatable sheet material so as to operatively connect the inflatable sheet material to the framing element.  
   
   
       17 . A method of constructing a packaging structure for supporting and protecting an article within an outer container, said method comprising: 
 forming a rigid and foldable framing element;    operatively connecting a sheet of inflatable material to the framing element, the inflatable material defining at least one inflated cell for cushioning at least part of the article from impact forces; and    configuring the framing element so that an outer peripheral shape of the framing element engages the outer container to securely hold the framing element within the outer container and the sheet of inflatable material at least partially lines an inner cavity region of the framing element to receive and cushion the article.    
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the step of operatively connecting the sheet of inflatable material to the framing element includes adhering a portion of the inflatable material to a first side of the framing sheet.  
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the framing element defines at least one foldable tab and the sheet of inflatable material defines at least one slit, wherein the step of operatively connecting the sheet of inflatable material to the framing element includes inserting at least one foldable tab of the framing element through at least one slit of the sheet of inflatable material.  
   
   
       20 . A method of forming a packaging structure for protecting an article during shipment, the method comprising: 
 attaching an inflatable protective material to a rigid and foldable sheet of material; and    folding the sheet of material into a framing element having an outer peripheral shape and an inner cavity region, wherein the inflatable protective material and the inner cavity region is configured to receive the article.    
   
   
       21 . The method according to  claim 20 , further comprising inflating at least one cell defined by the inflatable protective material so as to provide protection to the article.  
   
   
       22 . The method according to  claim 20  further comprising placing the article into the inner cavity region, inflating at least one cell defined by the inflatable protective material so as to provide protection to the article, and placing the framing element, inflatable protective material, and article into an outer container, wherein an outer peripheral shape of the framing element engages the outer container such that the framing element, inflatable protective material, and article are held securely within the container.  
   
   
       23 . The method according to claim to  20 , wherein the inflatable protective material and the foldable sheet of material are attached by an adhesive.  
   
   
       24 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the inflatable protective material defines at least one slit and the foldable sheet of material defines at least one foldable tab.  
   
   
       25 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein at least one foldable tab of the foldable sheet of material is inserted into at least one slit of the inflatable protective material for attaching the inflatable protective material to the foldable sheet of material.