Inflatable, cushioning, bubble wrap product having multiple, interconnected, bubble structures

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.

1. A cellular cushioning material comprising two superposed sheets of film material joined together along a plurality of generally parallel, undulating seal lines arranged in a pattern such that adjacent ones of the seal lines are offset laterally of each other and form rows of spaced apart bubble chambers with flow passageways interconnecting adjacent ones of the bubble chambers in each row and a last bubble chamber in each row being otherwise closed so that air can shift between the chambers in a row to accommodate loads, the flow passageways in alternate rows being positioned between, aligned with, and formed by the same seal lines as the bubble chambers in the intermediate rows so there is no dead space between the bubble chambers and the flow passageways in adjacent rows, a longitudinally extending inflation channel, and laterally extending inlet ports interconnecting the inflation channel and one of the bubble chambers in each of the rows. 
     
     
       2. The cellular cushioning material of  claim 1  wherein the undulating seal lines are generally sinusoidal. 
     
     
       3. A cellular cushioning material comprising two superposed sheets of film material joined together to form:
 a longitudinally extending inflation channel near a longitudinally extending edge of the material;  
 a plurality of generally parallel, undulating seal lines arranged in a pattern such that adjacent ones of the seal lines are offset laterally of each other and form rows of spaced apart bubble chambers with flow passageways interconnecting adjacent ones of the bubble chambers in each row and a last bubble chamber in each row being otherwise closed so that air can shift between the chambers in a row to accommodate loads, the flow passageways in alternate rows being positioned between and aligned with the bubble chambers in the intermediate rows; and  
 laterally extending entrance ports interconnecting the inflation channel and the first bubble chamber in each of the rows.  
 
     
     
       4. The cellular cushioning material of  claim 3  wherein the seal lines are generally sinusoidal. 
     
     
       5. The cellular cushioning material of  claim 3  wherein the bubble chambers are inflated, and the sheets of film material are sealed together along a longitudinally extending seal line which crosses and closes off the entrance ports. 
     
     
       6. The cellular cushioning material of  claim 5  wherein each of the bubble chambers has a height on the order of ¼ inch to 9 inches. 
     
     
       7. A cellular cushioning material comprising two superposed sheets of film material joined together to form:
 an inflation channel which extends longitudinally of the material near a lateral edge of the material;  
 a plurality of generally parallel, undulating seal lines which extend laterally on one side of the inflation channel and form rows of spaced apart bubble chambers with flow passageways interconnecting adjacent ones of the bubble chambers in each row and a last bubble chamber in each row being otherwise closed so that air can shift between the chambers in a row to accommodate loads; and  
 laterally extending entrance ports interconnecting the inflation channel and the first bubble chamber in each of the rows.  
 
     
     
       8. The cellular cushioning material of  claim 7  wherein the seal lines are generally sinusoidal. 
     
     
       9. The cellular cushioning material of  claim 7  wherein bubble chambers are inflated, and the sheets of film material are sealed together along a longitudinally extending seal lines which crosses and closes off the entrance ports. 
     
     
       10. The cellular cushioning material of  claim 9  wherein each of the inflated bubble chambers has a height on the order of ¼ inch to 9 inches. 
     
     
       11. The cellular cushioning material of  claim 1  wherein the bubble chambers are inflated, and the sheets of film material are sealed together along a longitudinally extending seal line which crosses and closes off the entrance ports. 
     
     
       12. The cellular cushioning material of  claim 1  wherein the inflation channel is positioned near an edge of the material, and the bubble chambers are located on only one side of the inflation channel. 
     
     
       13. The cellular cushioning material of  claim 1  wherein the inflation channel is positioned between two edges of the material, and the bubble chambers are located on both sides of the inflation channel. 
     
     
       14. A cellular cushioning material comprising two superposed sheets of film material joined together to form a plurality of curvilinear seal lines arranged in a pattern forming rows of spaced apart bubble chambers with a first chamber in each row having an opening near a longitudinal edge of the film material, and flow passageways interconnecting adjacent chambers in each row, wherein a last bubble chamber in each row is otherwise closed so that air can shift between the chambers in a row; wherein each row of chambers has an axis which is generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the film material. 
     
     
       15. The cellular cushioning material of  claim 14  wherein the curvilinear seal lines form generally circular chambers. 
     
     
       16. The cellular cushioning material of  claim 14  wherein the film material comprises a single sheet folded over to provide the two superposed sheets. 
     
     
       17. The cellular cushioning material of  claim 14  wherein adjacent rows of chambers share a common curvilinear seal line. 
     
     
       18. A cellular cushioning material comprising two superposed sheets of film material joined together to form a plurality of wavelike seal lines arranged in a pattern forming rows of spaced apart bubble chambers with a first chamber in each row having an opening near a longitudinal edge of the film material, and flow passageways interconnecting adjacent chambers in each row, wherein a last bubble chamber in each row is otherwise closed so that air can shift between the chambers in a row; wherein each row of chambers has an axis which is generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the film material. 
     
     
       19. The cellular cushioning material of  claim 18  wherein the wavelike seal lines are generally sinusoidal. 
     
     
       20. The cellular cushioning material of  claim 18  wherein the film material comprises a single sheet folded over to provide the two superposed sheets. 
     
     
       21. The cellular cushioning material of  claim 18  wherein adjacent rows of chambers share a common wavelike seal line. 
     
     
       22. An inflated cellular cushioning material comprising two superposed sheets of film material joined together to form a plurality of continuous curvilinear seal lines arranged in a pattern forming rows of spaced apart bubble chambers; wherein the chambers in each row have flow passageways interconnecting adjacent chambers so that air can shift between chambers in a row to accommodate loads; and wherein a first bubble chamber in each row is closed by a longitudinal seal line extending near an edge of the film material. 
     
     
       23. The inflated cellular cushioning material of  claim 22  wherein each row of chambers has an axis which is generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the film material. 
     
     
       24. The inflated cellular cushioning material of  claim 22  wherein the curvilinear seal lines form generally circular chambers. 
     
     
       25. The inflated cellular cushioning material of  claim 22  wherein adjacent rows of chambers share a common curvilinear seal line. 
     
     
       26. An inflated cellular cushioning material comprising two superposed sheets of film material joined together to form a plurality of continuous wavelike seal lines arranged in a pattern forming rows of spaced apart bubble chambers; wherein the chambers in each row have flow passageways interconnecting adjacent chambers so that air can shift between chambers in a row to accommodate loads; and wherein a first bubble chamber in each row is closed by a longitudinal seal line extending near an edge of the film material. 
     
     
       27. The inflated cellular cushioning material of  claim 26  wherein each row of chambers has an axis which is generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the film material. 
     
     
       28. The inflated cellular cushioning material of  claim 26  wherein the wavelike seal lines are generally sinusoidal. 
     
     
       29. The inflated cellular cushioning material of  claim 26  wherein adjacent rows of chambers share a common wavelike seal line. 
     
     
       30. A cellular cushioning material comprising two superposed sheets of film material joined together to form a plurality of seal lines arranged in a pattern forming rows of spaced apart chambers with a first chamber in each row having an opening near a longitudinal edge of the film material, and relatively narrow flow passageways interconnecting adjacent chambers in each row, wherein a last bubble chamber in each row is otherwise closed so that air can shift between the chambers in a row; wherein the relatively narrow flow passageways are free of corner shapes or sharp bends. 
     
     
       31. The cellular cushioning material of  claim 30  wherein the seal lines form generally circular chambers. 
     
     
       32. The cellular cushioning material of  claim 30  wherein the film material comprises a single sheet folded over to provide the two superposed sheets. 
     
     
       33. The cellular cushioning material of  claim 30  wherein adjacent rows of chambers share a common seal line. 
     
     
       34. The cellular cushioning material of  claim 30  wherein each row of chambers has an axis which is generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the film material. 
     
     
       35. The cellular cushioning material of  claim 30  wherein the seal lines are generally sinusoidal. 
     
     
       36. An inflated cellular cushioning material comprising two superposed sheets of film material joined together to form a plurality of continuous seal lines arranged in a pattern forming rows of spaced apart chambers; wherein the chambers in each row have relatively narrow flow passageways interconnecting adjacent chambers so that air can shift between chambers in a row to accommodate loads; wherein the relatively narrow flow passageways are free of corner shapes or sharp bends; and wherein a first chamber in each row is closed by a longitudinal seal line extending near an edge of the film material. 
     
     
       37. The inflated cellular cushioning material of  claim 36  wherein each row of chambers has an axis which is generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the film material. 
     
     
       38. The inflated cellular cushioning material of  claim 36  wherein the seal lines form generally circular chambers. 
     
     
       39. The inflated cellular cushioning material of  claim 36  wherein adjacent rows of chambers share a common seal line.