Patent ID: 9623622
Date: 2017-04-18
CPC Classifications: B31D,B65D

Claim:
1. An inflatable packaging material comprising: first and second outer films positioned in confronting relation to each other and sealed together by a perimeter seal and a plurality of border seals located inward of the perimeter seal, the perimeter seal comprising a top seal and a bottom seal, wherein the border seals define a plurality of air columns; a valve assembly positioned between the first and second outer films, the valve assembly comprising an upper valve film, a lower valve film, and a non-sealable material positioned between the upper and lower valve films, and a valve seal extending parallel to the top seal and spaced from the top seal, the valve seal connecting the first and second outer films and the upper and lower valve films, such that the top seal and the valve seal define an inflation passage therebetween, and the valve seal forms a top end of each of the air columns, wherein the non-sealable material is arranged to form a plurality of valve portions positioned along the valve seal and a plurality of passage portions positioned in spaced relation along the inflation passage, with each air column having one of the valve portions located at the top end thereof to provide a valve passage through the valve seal to allow airflow into each air column, wherein the inflatable packaging material is further configured to be sealed by two side seals extending between the top and bottom seals, and the passage portions are arranged such that one side seal is configured to pass through the inflatable packaging material at a space between the passage portions to seal a first end of the inflation passage, and the other side seal is configured to pass through the inflatable packaging material at one of the passage portions to create an open inflation port for introduction of air into the inflation passage at a second end of the inflation passage opposite the first end, and wherein the upper and lower valve films form a one-way valve, such that airflow from the inflation passage through the valve passages is permitted, and the upper and lower valve films cooperate to obstruct airflow from the air columns through the valve passages.