Abstract:
A packaging device includes first and second thermoplastic films superposed with each other, wherein predetermined portions of the thermoplastic films are bonded creating a plurality of fluid containers, a plurality of check valves each connected to a corresponding fluid container, a fluid passage in a first direction connected to the check valves, and a second border between an inflated section including the plurality of fluid containers and an uninflated section, wherein the first and second thermoplastic films are folded and two side edges of the films are bonded and a first portion of a first border connecting the inflated section to a second section is folded and an overlapped portion of the first portion is bonded leaving a remaining portion of the first border unbonded wherein the uninflated section forms a loop, and wherein the uninflated section forming the loop is folded into the inflated section to form a lining.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application hereby incorporates by reference the entire technical disclosures of U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,422,108 and 7,938,264. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    Embodiments of this invention relate to a structure of a packaging device for use as packing material, and more particularly, to a pocket corner pack device and a pocket end cap device for achieving an improved shock absorbing capability to protect a product from a shock or impact characterized as having an inflated portion and an uninflated lining portion. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    In product distribution channels such as product shipping, a styrofoam packing material has been used for a long time for packing commodity and industrial products. Although the styrofoam package material has a good thermal insulation performance and a light weight, it has also various disadvantages. For example, recycling the styrofoam is not possible, soot is produced when it burns, a flake or chip comes off when it is snagged because of it&#39;s brittleness, an expensive mold is needed for its production, and a relatively large warehouse is necessary to store it. 
         [0006]    Therefore, to solve such problems noted above, other packing materials and methods have been proposed. One method is a fluid container of containing a liquid or gas such as air (hereafter also referred to as an “air-packing device”). The air-packing device has excellent characteristics to solve the problems with styrofoam. First, because the air-packing device is made of only thin sheets of plastic films, it does not need a large warehouse to store it unless the air-packing device is inflated. Second, a mold is not necessary for its production because of its simple structure. Third, the air-packing device does not produce a chip or dust which may have adverse effects on precision products. Also, recyclable materials can be used for the films forming the air-packing device. Further, the air-packing device can be produced with low cost and transported with low cost. 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  shows an example of structure of conventional air-packing device. The air-packing device  20  includes a plurality of air containers  22  and check valves  24 , a guide passage  21  and an air input  25 . The air from the air input  25  is supplied to the air containers  22  through the air passage  21  and the check valves  24 . Typically, the air-packing device  20  is composed of two thermoplastic films which are bonded together at bonding areas  23   a.    
         [0008]    Each air container  22  is provided with a check valve  24 . One of the purposes of having multiple air containers with corresponding check valves is to increase the reliability, because each air container is independent from the others. Namely, even if one of the air containers suffers from an air leakage for some reason, the air-packing device can still function as a shock absorber for packing the product because other air containers are still inflated due to the corresponding check valves. 
         [0009]      FIG. 2  is a plan view of the air-packing device  20  of  FIG. 1  when it is not inflated which shows bonding areas for closing two thermoplastic films. The thermoplastic films of the air-packing device  20  are bonded (heat-sealed) together at bonding areas  23   a  which are rectangular periphery thereof to air tightly close the air-packing device  20 . The thermoplastic films of the air-packing device  20  are also bonded together at bonding areas  23   b  which are boundaries of the air containers  22  to air-tightly separate the air containers  22  from one another. 
         [0010]    When using the air-packing device, each air container  22  is filled with the air from the air input  25  through the guide passage  21  and the check valve  24 . After filling the air, the expansion of each air container  22  is maintained because each check-valve  24  prevents the reverse flow of the air. The check valve  24  is typically made of two small thermoplastic films which are bonded together to form an air pipe. The air pipe has a tip opening and a valve body to allow the air flowing in the forward direction through the air pipe from the tip opening but the valve body prevents the air flow in the backward direction. 
         [0011]    Air-packing devices are becoming more and more popular because of the advantages noted above. There is an increasing need to store and carry precision products or articles which are sensitive to shocks and impacts often involved in shipment of the products. There are many other types of product, such as wine bottles, DVD drivers, music instruments, glass or ceramic wares, antiques, etc. that need special care so as to avoid shocks, vibrations or other mechanical impact. Thus, it is desired that the air-packing device protects the product to minimize any shock or impact. In case the product to be protected has a pointed end, the possibility exists that the air-packing device may be ruptured by it. Thus, it is also desired that the air-packing device does not rupture during transportation. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    It is, therefore, an aspect of embodiments of the present invention to provide a structure of a packaging device for packing a product that can minimize a shock or vibration and protect the product. 
         [0013]    It is another aspect of embodiments of the present invention to provide a structure of a packaging device for packing a product by a packing space created by the packaging device unique to a particular product. 
         [0014]    It is a further aspect of embodiments of the present invention to provide a structure of a packaging device that has improved durability to prevent rupture of the packaging device caused by a pointed corner of a product. 
         [0015]    According to one embodiment of the present invention, a packaging device includes first and second thermoplastic films superposed with each other and extending between a first end and a second end along a first direction, and having a first section close to the first end and a second section close to the second end and connected to the first section at a first border extending perpendicular to the first direction, each section extending along the first direction, wherein predetermined portions of the first and second thermoplastic films in the first and second sections are bonded creating a plurality of fluid containers, a plurality of check valves each connected to a corresponding fluid container, a fluid passage extending along the first direction and connected to the check valves, wherein the plurality of fluid containers comprise a second border between an inflated section comprising the plurality of fluid containers and an uninflated section, the second border extending in the first direction, wherein the first and second thermoplastic films are folded and two side edges of the films are bonded and a first portion of the first border connecting the inflated section of the first section to the second section is folded and an overlapped portion of the first portion is bonded with each other leaving a remaining portion of the first border unbonded wherein the uninflated section forms a loop, and wherein the uninflated section forming the loop is folded into the inflated section to form a lining. 
         [0016]    In one aspect of the above embodiment, at least one fluid container is positioned below a bottom portion of the lining. 
         [0017]    In one aspect of the above embodiment, the plurality of fluid containers extend in a direction parallel to an insertion direction of a product to be held. 
         [0018]    In another aspect of the above embodiment, the second section of the packaging device includes at least one inflated fluid container providing an extra protection to a side of the packaging device. 
         [0019]    In yet another aspect of the above embodiment, one end of the loop in the packaging device may be bonded to further prevent, for example, direct contact to the inflated section by the product. 
         [0020]    In still another aspect of the above embodiment, the fluid container of the packaging device may contain a gas or fluid. 
         [0021]    In yet another aspect of the above embodiment, the packaging device further includes a plurality of heat-seal lands each bonding the first and second thermoplastic films in an area of the fluid container to create a plurality of series connected cells in the fluid container, the heat-seal lands are positioned in the fluid container in a manner to allow a fluid flow between the cells. 
         [0022]    According to another embodiment of the present invention, a packaging device includes first and second thermoplastic films superposed with each other and extending between a first end and a second end along a first direction, and having a first side section close to the first end and connected to a middle section at a first side border and a second side section close to the second end connected to the middle section at a second side border, each section extending along the first direction, wherein predetermined portions of the first and second thermoplastic films in the first, middle and second sections are bonded creating a plurality of fluid containers extending in a direction perpendicular to the first direction, a plurality of check valves each connected to a corresponding fluid container, a fluid passage extending along the first direction and connected to the check valves, wherein the plurality of fluid containers include a third border between an inflated section including the plurality of fluid containers and an uninflated section, the third border extending in the first direction, wherein the first and second thermoplastic films are folded and two side edges of the films are bonded and a first portion of the first border connecting the inflated section of the first section to the middle section and a second portion of the second border connecting the inflated section of the second section to the middle section are folded and an overlapped portion of each of the first and second portions is bonded with each other leaving a remaining portion of each of the first and second borders unbounded wherein the uninflated section forms a loop, and wherein the uninflated section forming the loop is folded into the inflated section to form a lining. 
         [0023]    According to various embodiments of the present invention, the packaging device can minimize the shocks or vibrations to a product when the product is dropped or collided. The packaging device includes the plurality of fluid containers each having a plurality of cells connected in series. After being inflated, for example, by compressed air, the lining formed by the uninflated section of the packaging device. The uninflated section of the packaging device acts as a lining that holds a product to be protected, while the lining helps prevent rupture of the fluid containers by preventing direct contact of the product to the inflated section. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0024]      FIG. 1  is a schematic perspective view showing an example of basic structure of conventional air-packing device. 
           [0025]      FIG. 2  is a plan view of the air-packing device  20  of  FIG. 1  when it is not inflated for showing bonding areas for closing two thermoplastic films. 
           [0026]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of four packaging devices according to a first embodiment of the present invention and a product that is securely held by a lining and by a plurality of air containers in each of the four packaging devices for protection. 
           [0027]      FIG. 4  is another perspective view of the packaging device of  FIG. 3  wherein the packaging device is not inflated. 
           [0028]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the packing device of  FIG. 4  wherein the packing device has an inflated portion and uninflated portion forming a loop. 
           [0029]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the packing device wherein the packing device has the inflated portion and the uninflated portion forming the loop that has been folded into the inflated portion to form a lining. 
           [0030]      FIG. 7  is a frontal view of the packing device viewed from a front side of the packing device that receives a product to be protected. 
           [0031]      FIG. 8  is a top view of four packing devices according to the first embodiment that are used to protect a package. 
           [0032]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of two packing devices according to a second embodiment of the present invention and a product that is securely held by a lining and a plurality of air containers of each of the packaging devices for protection. 
           [0033]      FIG. 10  is another perspective view of the packaging device of  FIG. 9  wherein the packaging device is not inflated. 
           [0034]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the packing device of  FIG. 9  wherein the packing device has an inflated portion and uninflated portion forming a loop. 
           [0035]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the packing device wherein the packing device has the inflated portion and the uninflated portion forming the loop that has been folded into the inflated portion to form a lining. 
           [0036]      FIG. 13  is a plan view of two packing devices according to the second embodiment that are used to protect a package. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0037]    The packing device according to various embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that although various embodiments are described for the case of using an air for inflating the packing device for an illustration purpose, other fluids such as other types of gas or liquid can also be used. The packing device is typically used in a container box to pack a product during the distribution channel of the product. 
         [0038]    The packing device according to an embodiment of the present invention is especially useful for packing products which are sensitive to shock or vibration such as hard disk drives, personal computers, DVD drivers, bottles, glassware, ceramic ware, music instruments, paintings, antiques, etc. The packaging device reliably holds the product within a lining area of the packaging device to secure the product to be protected. As a lining in the lining area prevents the product to directly touch an air container cushioning the product, rapture of the air container in turn is prevented also. The product and the packaging device are then placed in a container box. Thus, the packaging device absorbs the shocks and impacts applied to the product when, for example, the product is inadvertently dropped on the floor or collided with other objects. 
         [0039]    The packaging device of the present embodiments includes a plurality of air containers each having a plurality of serially connected cells, and an uninflated portion that acts as a lining to hold a product. The air container is air-tightly separated from the other air containers while the cells in the same air container are connected by the air passages such that the air can flow among the cells through the air passages. Each cell in the air container has a sausage like shape when air fills in the air containers. The air containers are formed even below the bottom of the lining to insure protection to the product. In addition, the air containers are aligned in a manner so that the product to be held can be inserted in a direction parallel to the direction the air containers are aligned for an easy insertion. Depending on needs, extra air containers may be formed next to a container portion of the packaging device as will be described later. 
         [0040]    One embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to  FIGS. 3 to 9 .  FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing each of four packaging devices  30  holding each corner of a product to be protected (hard disk drive) for shock absorption. Normally, the hard disk drive and the packaging devices  30  are placed in a container box, such as a corrugated carton, for transportation. Although there are many different types of hard disk drives with different shapes and sizes, the packaging devices  30  of the present embodiment can accommodate all of the types of hard disk drives because of its flexibility, especially, a location of heat-seal lands  43  where an air container can be easily bent can be freely determined. 
         [0041]      FIG. 4  is another perspective view showing the packaging device  30  of the present embodiment before being inflated, for example, by a compressed air. This configuration is especially suited to hold and protect a flat rectangular shaped product. However, it should be noted that any number of these packaging devices  30  can be used to protect a product with any number of corners. An actual example of using the packaging devices  30  is shown in the perspective view of  FIG. 3 , in which four packaging devices  30  hold a product such as a hard disk drive by its corners. 
         [0042]    Referring to  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 , the packaging device  30  is made of two thermoplastic films which are bonded (heat-sealed) together to create a plurality of air containers  42  in an inflated portion  51 . Such bonded areas air-tightly separate the air containers  42  from one another. The inflated portion  51  is divided into a container portion  54  and a side portion  55 . The container portion  54  is connected to the side portion  55  at a vertical border  45 . The packaging device  30  further includes an uninflated portion  52  connected to the inflated portion  51  at a horizontal border  46 . The vertical border  45  is formed between the container portion  54  and the side portion  55  from near an air passage  41  to the horizontal border  46  extending in a vertical direction. Top and bottom edges of the packaging device  30  are bonded near the air passage  41  so that the packaging device  30  forms a loop. More specifically, in  FIG. 4 , a part of the vertical border  45  that overlaps between front and back sides is bonded, whereas the uninflated portion  52  is not bonded between the front and back sides and forms the loop. In the packaging device  30 , each air container  42  may have a plurality of serially connected cells  42   a - 42   c.  In  FIG. 4 , as described above, the packaging device is folded and the top edge and the bottom edge are bonded with each other along the air passage  41  to form the loop as will be explained later in detail. 
         [0043]    The cells  42   a - 42   c  of the air container  42  connected in series are created by bonding (heat-sealing) the two thermoplastic films of the air container  42  at each small heat-seal land (separator)  43 . The heat-seal lands  43  are small area on the air container  42  and do not completely separate the adjacent cells  42   a - 42   c.  Thus, two small air passages (left side and right side of the heat-seal land  43 ) are created for allowing the air to flow therethrough toward the next cell. The heat-seal lands  43  are provided to create the cells  42   a - 42   c  as well as to define locations for folding the packaging device  30 . In other words, the locations of the heat-seal lands  43  are uniquely arranged to create a specific shape of the packaging device  30  when wrapping a product. Any number of heat seal lands  43  can be created within the air container  42  to create a specific shape. 
         [0044]    Typically, each air container  42  is provided with a check valve  44  at one end so that the air is maintained in the air container  42  because the check valve  44  prohibits a reverse flow of the air. In the example of  FIG. 4 , the check valves  44  are provided near the top edge of the packaging device  30  and are commonly connected to the air passage  41 . When the air is supplied through the air passage  41 , the air flows through the check valves  44  and inflates all of the cells  42   a - 42   c.    
         [0045]    In a variation of the present embodiment, the air introduced from the air passage  41  may be blocked by an optional air stopper  48  at an end of the air passage  41  where the films are bonded with each other. The air may be introduced to the air passage  41  from the other end which is open and will flow to each of the air containers. 
         [0046]    The air containers  42  in the inflated portion  51  are filled with the air while the uninflated portion  52  is not inflated. Thus, the uninflated portion  52  does not act as a cushion but will act as a lining  53  to hold a product to be protected as will be explained later in detail. It should be noted that because the uninflated portion  52  does not act as a cushion, it is unnecessary to form an air container which is inflated by the air. However, to produce the packaging device  30  of the present embodiment through a standard production machine, the air containers and/or check valves may be formed in the same manner throughout the thermoplastic films. 
         [0047]    The top edge and the bottom edge of the packaging device  30  are bonded to form the loop as described above and as show in  FIG. 4 . Thus, when the air packing device  30  is filled with compressed air, the air packing device  30  takes the shape shown in the perspective view of  FIG. 5 . As shown, the packaging device  30  has an inflated portion  51  and the uninflated portion  52  forming the lining  53  that is not inflated because of the horizontal border  46  which prevents the flow of air to the uninflated portion  51  as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0048]    The inflated portion  51  is made of a plurality of air containers  42  in the container portion  54  and the side portion  55  that are filled with the compressed air and forms a structure in which the air containers  42  are aligned in the same direction as the vertical border  45  with at least one side open. This alignment of the air containers  42  may facilitate the insertion of a product to be held. In this example, the inflated portion  51  forms a substantially rectangular shape with a top and a side not covered with the air containers  42 . The side portion  55  of the structure is formed along the vertical border  45  where the container portion  54  and the side portion  55  are connected as shown in  FIG. 4 . The side portion  55  can accommodate any number of air containers to provide an extra protection as well as to adjust the size of the packaging device  30  so that it fits into a container box. Two corners of the structure are formed near the heat-seal lands  43  because the heat-seal lands  43  promote to form a bent corner in the air containers  42  in the packaging device  30 . 
         [0049]    The uninflated portion  52  itself does not have the capacity to absorb shocks because it is not filled with the compressed air. However, the uninflated portion  52  is folded into the open part of the structure formed by the inflated portion  51  to form the lining  53  within the structure. In addition, the air containers  42  of the inflated portion  51  are formed even underneath the bottom portion of the lining  53  to further protect the product. Therefore, the lining  53  is suitable to securely hold a product to be protected. It should be noted that the thermoplastic films of the lining  53  may also be bonded to form an air container, so that the lining  53  is reinforced thereby having a sufficient physical strength with respect to the product received therein. 
         [0050]    Referring to a perspective view shown in  FIG. 6 , the condition of the packaging device  30  wherein the uninflated portion  52  is folded inside to make the lining  53  is described. In other words,  FIG. 6  shows the perspective view of the packaging device observed from a side (arrow B) of  FIG. 5 . As shown, the uninflated portion  52  is folded inside to make the lining  53 . The position of the horizontal border  46  ( FIG. 4 ) is so selected that the bottom of the lining  53  remains within the structure formed by the inflated portion  51 . One corner of a product to be protected, such as a hard disk drive, is inserted into the lining  53  and contact the bottom of the lining  53 . Here, in addition to the air containers  42  being positioned on each side of the hard disk drive, there is at least one air container  42  of the inflated portion  51  positioned directly below the bottom of the lining  53  to further protect the hard disk drive. 
         [0051]    The lining  53  can stabilize the position of the product to be protected because the air containers  42  are positioned directly below the bottom of the lining  53  to cushion the product. Moreover, the lining  53  prevents the product from direct contact with the inflated portion  51 . Namely, when the product is inserted into the lining  53 , the end of the product which sometimes has a sharp edge or corner will not directly touch the inflated portion  51  which includes the cells  42   a - 42   c  of the air container  42  that is filled with compressed air. This prevents breakage or puncture of the packaging device  30 . In the present embodiment, the lining  53  is made of two sheets of films heat-sealed with one another as noted above, thus, the durability of the packaging device  30  is enhanced. Thus, the lining  53  increases the reliability of the packaging device  30 . 
         [0052]      FIG. 7  is a front view of the lining  53  of the packaging device  30  as depicted in  FIG. 6 . The lining  53  is surrounded by the inflated portion  51  that protects the product to be protected because of the cushion function. As noted above, in an actual application, for example, four packaging devices  30  may be used to hold a flat rectangular shaped product, each at each corner for protection. Then, the four packaging devices  30  packing the product therein is installed in a container box made of hard paper, corrugated fiber board, etc., commonly used in the industry. 
         [0053]      FIG. 8  is a top view showing each of the four packaging devices  30  holding the product  111  such as a hard disk drive by each corner. The configuration within the packaging devices  30  is indicated by dotted lines. As shown, the product  111  is securely held by the packaging devices  30  provided at four corners of the product  111 . The corner of the product  111  is packed by the lining  53  and the inflated portion  51 . As the packaging device  30  completely surrounds each corner of the product  111 , it can absorb the shocks and impacts from any direction. 
         [0054]    Another embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to  FIGS. 9 to 13 . Similar to the previous embodiment, the packaging device in this embodiment is basically configured by the inflated portion and the lining portion. The lining portion is configured so as not to be inflated by the compressed air and is folded inside of the inflated portion. This configuration can be advantageously used for protecting a product that has relatively flat and rectangular object, such as a notebook computer, DVD driver, etc. 
         [0055]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view similar to that shown in  FIG. 3  except that the packaging devices  90  cover the ends of the product to be protected, for example, a notebook computer for shock absorption. Normally, the notebook computer and the packaging devices  90  are placed in a container box, such as a corrugated carton, for transportation. 
         [0056]      FIG. 10  is another perspective view showing the packaging device  90  of the present embodiment before being inflated by the air. It should be noted that this packaging device  90  can be used in a pair to protect a product. An example of actual use of the packaging device  90  is shown in the perspective view of  FIG. 9 , wherein a pair of packaging devices  90  holds a product such as a notebook computer. 
         [0057]    Referring to  FIG. 10  and  FIG. 11 , the packaging device  90  is made of two thermoplastic films which are bonded (heat-sealed) together to create the plurality of air containers  42  in an inflated portion  91 . Such bonded areas air-tightly separate the air containers  42  from one another. The inflated portion  91  is divided into a middle portion  94 , a first side portion  95  and a second side portion  96 . The middle portion  94  is connected to the first side portion  95  and the second side portion  96  at a first side border  97  and at a second side border  98  respectively. The packaging device  90  further includes an uninflated portion  92  connected to the inflated portion  91  at a horizontal border  99 . The first and second side borders  97  and  98  are formed between the middle portion  94  and the first side portion  95  and between the middle portion  94  and the second side portion  96  respectively from near an air passage  41  to the horizontal border  99  extending in a vertical direction. Top and bottom edges of the packaging device  90  are bonded near the air passage  41  to form a loop. More specifically, in  FIG. 10 , a part of each of the first and second side borders  97  and  98  that overlaps between front and back sides is bonded whereas the uninflated portion  92  is not bonded between the front and back sides and forms the loop. In the packaging device  90 , each air container  42  may have a plurality of serially connected cells  42   a - 42   c.  Typically, each air container  42  is provided with a check valve  44  at one end so that the compressed air is maintained in the air container  42  because the check valve  44  prohibits a reverse flow of the air. 
         [0058]    In the example of  FIG. 10 , the check valves  44  are provided near the top edge of the packaging device  90  where the top and bottom edges of the packaging device  90  are connected to form the loop and are commonly connected to the air passage  41 . When the compressed air is supplied through the air passage  41 , the air flows through the check valves  44  and inflates all of the air containers  42 . The air introduced from the air passage  41  may be blocked by an optional air stopper  48  at one end of the air passage  41 , where the thermoplastic films are bonded with each other, thereby closing the air passage  41 . In this case, the other end of the air passage  41  can be used to introduce the air. 
         [0059]    The air containers  42  in the inflated portion  91  are filled with the air while the uninflated portion  92  is not inflated. Thus, the uninflated portion  92  does not act as a cushion but will act as a lining  93  to hold a product to be protected as will be explained later in detail. It should be noted that because the uninflated portion  92  does not act as a cushion, it is unnecessary to form an air container to be inflated by the air. However, to produce the packaging device  90  of the present embodiment through a standard production machine, air containers and/or check valves may be formed in the same manner throughout the thermoplastic films. 
         [0060]    The top edge and the bottom edge of the packaging device  90  are bonded to form the loop as described above and as show in  FIG. 10 . Thus, when the air packing device  90  is filled with compressed air, the air packing device  90  takes the shape shown in the perspective view of  FIG. 11 . As shown, the packaging device  90  has an inflated portion  91  and the uninflated portion  92  forming the lining  93  that is not inflated because of the horizontal border  99  which prevents the flow of air to the uninflated portion  91  as also shown in  FIG. 10 . The packaging device  90  can be bent at around the middle of the air containers  42  when the air is appropriately filled therein. It is also feasible to provide a heat-seal land  43  (separator) such as shown in  FIG. 10  and  FIG. 11  to facilitate folding of the packaging device  90  to form a flat bottom with two corners formed where the heat seal lands  43  are located. 
         [0061]    The inflated portion  91  is made of a plurality of air containers  42  in the middle, first side, and second side portions that are filled with the compressed air and forms a structure in which the air containers  42  are aligned in the same direction as the first and second side borders  97  and  98  with a top portion open. This alignment of the air containers  42  may facilitate the insertion of a product to be held. In this example, the inflated portion  91  forms a substantially rectangular shape with the top not covered with the air containers  42 . Each of the first and second side portions  95  and  96  of the structure is formed along the first and second side borders  97  and  98  respectively where the middle portion  94  and each of the first and second side portions  95  and  96  are connected as shown in  FIG. 10 . Each of the first and second side portions  95  and  96  can accommodate any number of air containers to provide an extra protection as well as to adjust the size of the packaging device  90  so that it fits into a container box. 
         [0062]    As shown in  FIG. 11 , the packaging device  90  has an inflated portion  91  formed with the air containers  42  and an uninflated portion  92  that is not filled with the air. The uninflated portion  92  itself does not have the capacity to absorb the shocks and impacts because it is not filled with the air. However, the uninflated portion  92  is folded and inserted in the inflated portion  91  to make the lining  93  that is suitable to hold a product to be protected. In addition, the air containers  42  of the inflated portion  91  are formed even underneath the bottom portion of the lining  93  to further protect the product. In this example, the inflated portion  91  has a substantially thin rectangular structure. 
         [0063]    Referring to the perspective view shown in  FIG. 12 , the condition of the packaging device  90  wherein the uninflated portion  92  has been folded inside to make the lining  93  (shown as dotted line) is described. The uninflated portion  92  which is not provided with the compressed air is folded inside within the space of the inflated portion  91  to form the lining  93 . One end of a product to be protected, such as a notebook computer, is inserted into the lining  93  and contacts the bottom of the lining  93 . The lining  93  can stabilize the position of the product to be protected because there are air containers  42  positioned directly below the bottom of the lining  93  to cushion the product within the inflated portion  91 . 
         [0064]    Moreover, the lining  93  prevents direct contact of the product with the inflated portion  91 . When the product is inserted in the lining  93 , the product will not directly touch the air container  42  of the inflated portion  91  that is filled with compressed air. Although a product may have a relatively sharp edge or corner, since such a sharp part of the product will not contact the inflated portion  91  directly because of the lining  93 , the packaging device  90  will not be easily punctured by the product. 
         [0065]    In the present embodiment example, the uninflated portion  92  is made of two sheets of thermoplastic films which may be heat-sealed by the same pattern as that of the inflated portion  91 . Thus, the uninflated portion  92  reinforced in this manner is used for the lining  93 , the durability of the packaging device  90  will be increased as the product does not directly touch the inflated portion  91 . Thus, the lining  93  increases the reliability of the packaging device  90 . 
         [0066]      FIG. 13  is a top view showing a pair of packaging devices  90  that are aligned in the same condition as that when the packaging devices  90  are used to hold a product to be protected. The packaging device  90  on the left shows the inflated portion  91  and the lining  93  inside the inflated portion  91 . The packaging device  90  on the right shows the inflated portion  91  and the lining  93  inside the inflated portion  91 . It should be noted that the bottom of the lining  93  is directly above air containers  42  so that the bottom of the lining  93  will not contact the container box when installed therein. 
         [0067]    Although various embodiments of the present invention are described herein, one skilled in the art will readily appreciate that various modifications and variations may be made without departing from the spirit and the scope of the present invention. Such modifications and variations are considered to be within the purview and scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.