Films for inflatable cusions

Abstract

Films for inflatable cushions are disclosed. Generally, each of the disclosed films includes a pair of web layers that are aligned to be generally coextensive and that are sealed together by longitudinal and/or transverse seals that cooperatively define the boundaries of inflatable chambers.

1 - 50 . (canceled) 
     
     
         51 . A film for inflatable cushions, comprising:
 a first web layer connected to a second web layer defining a plurality of transverse air chambers and an inflation region therebetween, the inflation channel and the air chambers being in fluid communication;   a plurality of transverse seals connecting the first and second web layers defining the plurality of transverse air chambers, with each of the plurality of transverse air chambers having a first transverse seal that is one of the plurality of transverse seals; and   a plurality of entrance ports disposed between each of the transverse air chambers and the inflation channel, wherein each air chamber includes a first entrance port, wherein the first entrance port is longitudinally narrower than a longitudinal width of the respective air chamber and is transversely disposed at a first end of the first transverse seal, with the first end being an end of the first transverse seal proximate the inflation region; and   wherein the first entrance port includes a longitudinal boundary defined by the first transverse seal with the first entrance port being disposed on the same side of the air chamber as the first transverse seal.   
     
     
         52 . The film of  claim 51 , wherein each of the transverse air chambers includes a second entrance port disposed on a longitudinal side of each of the air chambers opposite of the first entrance port. 
     
     
         53 . The film of  claim 51 , wherein the first entrance port includes a second longitudinal boundary defined by a longitudinal seal segment disposed between the first end of the first transverse seal and a second end of a second transverse seal that is one of the plurality of transverse seals, wherein the second transverse seal is adjacent the first transverse seal. 
     
     
         55 . The film of claim  54 , wherein the longitudinal seal segments separate the first and second entrance ports making the first and second entrance ports independent of each other so that each of the air chambers has a plurality connections that provide independent fluid communication between the longitudinal inflation region and the plurality of transverse air chambers. 
     
     
         56 . The film of  claim 51 , wherein the inflation region is an inflation channel that includes an opening configured to receive an inflation nozzle therein. 
     
     
         57 . The film of  claim 51 , further comprising a plurality of internal longitudinal seal segments connecting the first and second web layers and positioned within the transverse air chambers to define air chamber portions within the transverse air chambers, each of the plurality of longitudinal seal segments being positioned to define an air passage between an end of the longitudinal seal segment and an adjacent transverse seal. 
     
     
         58 . The film of  claim 57 , wherein the first entrance port includes a second longitudinal boundary defined by a longitudinal seal segment disposed between the first end of the first transverse seal and a second end of a second transverse seal that is one of the plurality of transverse seals, wherein the second transverse seal is adjacent the first transverse seal, wherein a transverse width of the longitudinal seal segment is greater than a transverse width of the internal longitudinal seal segments. 
     
     
         59 . The film of  claim 57 , wherein:
 the plurality of transverse seals are configured to facilitate folding of the film, when inflated, in a transverse direction along each of the plurality of transverse seals; and   the plurality of internal longitudinal seal segments are configured to facilitate folding of the film, when inflated, in a longitudinal direction, at generally a right angle to the transverse direction, along each of the plurality of longitudinal seal segments.   
     
     
         60 . The film of  claim 59 , wherein each of the plurality of internal longitudinal seal segments has first and second seal segment ends and being positioned to define an air passage between each of the first and second segment ends of the transverse seals adjacent thereto. 
     
     
         61 . The film of  claim 59 , wherein the plurality of internal longitudinal seal segments are positioned within the transverse air chambers to define substantially rectangular air chamber portions within the transverse air chambers. 
     
     
         62 . The film of  claim 58 , further comprising a plurality of transverse weakened areas, two consecutive weakened areas defining individual cushions therebetween and the weakened areas being configured to facilitate separating the individual cushions, wherein each individual cushion includes a plurality of transverse air chambers. 
     
     
         63 . The film of  claim 62 , wherein the weakened areas are disposed directly adjacent to and between two consecutive transverse seals. 
     
     
         64 . The film of  claim 51 , wherein:
 the first and second layers are coextensive over the inflation region and air chambers; and   the air chambers have a side boundary on an opposite side thereof from the inflation region, such that air is contained in the chambers between the first and second layers, the side boundary, and the transverse seals, when a longitudinal seal is applied across the entrance port into each air chamber.   
     
     
         65 . The film of claim  54 , wherein the longitudinal seal segment is positioned to facilitate sealing of the plurality of entrance ports into the air chambers by a longitudinal seal which passes through the longitudinal seal segment. 
     
     
         66 . The film of  claim 51 , wherein adjacent pairs of the air chambers are divided by common transverse seals. 
     
     
         67 . The film of  claim 64 , wherein the longitudinal seal extending adjacent the longitudinal inflation region and across the transverse seal permanently affixes the first and second web layers together 
     
     
         68 . The film of  claim 67 , wherein the longitudinal seal extending adjacent the longitudinal inflation region and across the transverse seal is at least one of an adhesive, friction weld, fusion seal, heat seal, laser seal, and ultrasonic weld. 
     
     
         69 . The film of  claim 51 , wherein each transverse seal of the plurality of transverse seals comprises a pattern with abrupt bends or corners that cumulatively extends transversely to define the longitudinal sides of the plurality of transverse air chambers, with the pattern being arranged such that each of the plurality of air chambers are sealed from each other and from the longitudinal inflation region upon application of a longitudinal seal extending adjacent the longitudinal inflation region and across the plurality of transverse seals. 
     
     
         70 . A film for inflatable cushions, the film comprising:
 a first web layer with first and second longitudinal edges;   a second web layer with first and second longitudinal edges disposed over the first web layer to be generally co-extensive therewith, the second web layer connected to the first web layer to define a plurality of air chambers therebetween, and to define a longitudinal inflation channel extending between the first and second layer that has an open end and is configured to receive an inflation nozzle therein, the longitudinal inflation channel being in fluid communication with the air chambers;   a series of transverse seals spaced apart from each other, each transverse seal having a first end on one transverse side of at least one of the chambers, and a second end that is disposed proximate the longitudinal inflation channel on the other transverse side of the at least one chamber, wherein each transverse seal comprises a pattern with abrupt bends or corners and cumulatively extending transversely to define the longitudinal sides of the air chambers and being arranged such that the air chambers are sealed from each other and from the longitudinal inflation channel upon application of a longitudinal seal extending adjacent the longitudinal inflation channel and across the transverse seals; and   traverse lines of weakness.