Inflatable packaging cushion

Abstract

Disclosed herein are aspects of an inflatable packaging cushion. In one embodiment, the inflatable packaging cushion includes a body having at least one inflatable chamber. The body also includes a fluid port comprising an internal fluid passage that fluidly communicates with the at least one inflatable chamber such that the fluid port is configured to allow fluid to enter and exit the at least one inflatable chamber through the internal fluid passage for respective inflation and deflation of the at least one inflatable chamber. At least one elongate closure strip extends within the fluid passage of the fluid port. The at least one elongate closure strip is configured to be moved between a sealed position that closes the internal fluid passage and an unsealed position that opens the internal fluid passage.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An inflatable packaging cushion comprising:
 a body comprising at least one inflatable chamber, the body further comprising a fluid port comprising an internal fluid passage that fluidly communicates with the at least one inflatable chamber such that the fluid port is configured to allow fluid to enter and exit the at least one inflatable chamber through the internal fluid passage for respective inflation and deflation of the at least one inflatable chamber; and   at least one elongate closure strip extending within the fluid passage of the fluid port, the at least one elongate closure strip being configured to be moved between a sealed position that closes the internal fluid passage and an unsealed position that opens the internal fluid passage.   
     
     
         2 . The inflatable packaging cushion of  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a chamber segment that includes the at least one inflatable chamber, the body further comprising a neck segment that extends outward from the chamber segment, the neck segment comprising the fluid port. 
     
     
         3 . The inflatable packaging cushion of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one elongate closure strip comprises at least one snap strip. 
     
     
         4 . The inflatable packaging cushion of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one elongate closure strip comprises at least one snap strip that is configured to be moved from the sealed position to the unsealed position by squeezing the body at opposite ends of the at least one snap strip. 
     
     
         5 . The inflatable packaging cushion of  claim 1 , wherein the body extends a length that defines a closed shape. 
     
     
         6 . The inflatable packaging cushion of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one inflatable chamber comprises at least two inflatable chambers. 
     
     
         7 . The inflatable packaging cushion of  claim 1 , wherein the internal fluid passage of the fluid port comprises an opening that extends through a corner of the body. 
     
     
         8 . The inflatable packaging cushion of  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises two edges that intersect at a corner of the body, the internal fluid passage of the fluid port comprising an opening that extends through the two edges. 
     
     
         9 . The inflatable packaging cushion of  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises an edge that extends a length from an end portion of the body to an opposite end portion of the body, the internal fluid passage of the fluid port comprising an opening that extends through the edge, the opening having a width that is less than 25% of the length of the edge. 
     
     
         10 . An inflatable packaging cushion comprising:
 a body comprising a chamber segment that includes at least one inflatable chamber, the body further comprising a neck segment that extends outward from the chamber segment, the neck segment comprising an internal fluid passage that fluidly communicates with the at least one inflatable chamber and is open at an opening of the neck segment such that the neck segment defines a fluid port that is configured to allow fluid to enter and exit the at least one inflatable chamber through the internal fluid passage of the neck segment for respective inflation and deflation of the at least one inflatable chamber; and   at least one snap strip extending within the neck segment of the body, the at least one snap strip being configured to be selectively moved between a sealed position that closes the internal fluid passage and an unsealed position that opens the internal fluid passage.   
     
     
         11 . The inflatable packaging cushion of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one snap strip is configured to be moved from the sealed position to the unsealed position by squeezing the neck segment of the body at opposite ends of the at least one snap strip. 
     
     
         12 . The inflatable packaging cushion of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one snap strip comprises a male snap head having a flange and a female snap groove having hooks, and the female snap groove being configured to receive the male snap head with a snap-fit connection when the at least one snap strip is in a sealed position. 
     
     
         13 . The inflatable packaging cushion of  claim 10 , wherein the chamber segment extends a length that defines a closed shape. 
     
     
         14 . The inflatable packaging cushion of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one snap strip comprises at least three snap strips. 
     
     
         15 . The inflatable packaging cushion of  claim 10 , wherein the opening of the neck segment extends through an end portion of the neck segment. 
     
     
         16 . The inflatable packaging cushion of  claim 10 , wherein the neck segment extends outward from an end portion of the chamber segment. 
     
     
         17 . The inflatable packaging cushion of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one inflatable chamber comprises at least two inflatable chambers. 
     
     
         18 . An inflatable packaging cushion comprising:
 a body comprising a chamber segment that includes at least one inflatable chamber, the body further comprising a neck segment that extends outward from the chamber segment, the neck segment comprising an internal fluid passage that fluidly communicates with the at least one inflatable chamber and is open at an opening of the neck segment such that the neck segment defines a fluid port that is configured to allow fluid to enter and exit the at least one inflatable chamber through the internal fluid passage of the neck segment for respective inflation and deflation of the at least one inflatable chamber; and   at least one snap strip extending within the neck segment of the body, the at least one snap strip having a sealed position that closes the internal fluid passage and an unsealed position wherein the internal fluid passage is open.   
     
     
         19 . The inflatable packaging cushion of  claim 18 , wherein the chamber segment extends a length that defines a closed shape. 
     
     
         20 . The inflatable packaging cushion of  claim 18 , wherein the neck segment extends outward from an end portion of the chamber segment.