Cushioning self-closing packaging material

Abstract

The present invention relates to a new packaging material in the form of a unitary laminate sheeting. The package-forming material comprises a unitary sheeting of a first paper layer laminated to a water-impermeable plastic film for forming a package which encloses and seals an article therein. The film and paper layer advantageously have the same dimensions, and the laminate has a surface that is receptive to receiving adhesive or cohesive materials. A coating of cohesive material covers at least a portion of one of the first and second outer surfaces, and the packaging material can be placed about an article to be packaged such that a first portion of the surface of the packaging material that includes cohesive material contacts another portion of the surface that includes cohesive material to adhere such portions to each other and form a sealed package which encloses the article. Also, the adhered cohesive portions can form an adhered band which completely surrounds the article to be packaged.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A package-forming material comprising a unitary sheeting of a first paper layer laminated to a water-impermeable plastic film for forming a package which encloses and seals an article therein, wherein the film and paper layer have the same dimensions, and the laminate has a surface that is receptive to receiving adhesive or cohesive materials; a coating of cohesive material covering at least a portion or all of one of the first and second outer surfaces; wherein the packaging material is placed about an article to be packaged such that a first portion of the surface of the packaging material that includes cohesive material contacts another portion of the surface that includes cohesive material to adhere such portions to each other and form a sealed package which encloses the article.  
     
     
         2 . The package-forming material of  claim 1 , wherein the cohesive material is applied upon the entire first or second outer surface.  
     
     
         3 . The package-forming material of  claim 1 , wherein the water-impermeable plastic film has a first corona discharge treated surface that is laminated to the first paper layer.  
     
     
         4 . The package-forming material of  claim 1  wherein the adhered cohesive portions form an adhered band which completely surrounds the article to be packaged.  
     
     
         5 . The package-forming material of  claim 1 , wherein the plastic film of the laminate includes a second corona discharge treated surface that is laminated to a second paper layer.  
     
     
         6 . The package-forming material of  claim 1 , wherein the laminate is fluted or corrugated to provide cushioning to the article enclosed by the sealed package.  
     
     
         7 . The package-forming material of  claim 1  wherein the plastic film is polypropylene, polyethylene or polyester and the paper layer is coated paper, Kraft paper, bond paper or white paper.  
     
     
         8 . The package-forming material of  claim 1  wherein the paper layer of the laminate includes a printed surface, the printed surface is adhered to the plastic film, the plastic film forms an outer portion of the laminate, and the cohesive material is applied to the paper layer.  
     
     
         9 . The package-forming material of  claim 1  wherein the paper layer includes first and second surfaces, the first surface is a printed surface, the second surface is adhered to the plastic film the printed surface of the paper layer forms an outer portion of the laminate, and the cohesive material is applied to the plastic film.  
     
     
         10 . The package-forming material of  claim 1 , wherein the paper layer includes first and second surfaces, the first surface is a metallized surface, the second surface is adhered to the plastic film and the metallized surface of the paper layer forms a decorative outer portion of the laminate.  
     
     
         11 . A package comprising the package-forming material of  claim 1  wherein the cohesive material is present upon a part or all of first and second surface portions of the packaging material and the package is formed by placing the first surface of the packaging material above the article to be packaged and by placing the second surface portion of the packaging material below the article to be packaged, such that the first and second surface portions of the packaging material that include the cohesive material contact and adhere to each other to form a sealed package which encloses the article.  
     
     
         12 . The package of  claim 11 , wherein the cohesive material is applied upon the entire first and second surface portions of the packaging material.  
     
     
         13 . The package of  claim 11  wherein the first and second surface portions of the packaging material are provided on one side of a single sheet of the laminate and then the sheet is folded around the article to be packaged to place the cohesive material containing portions in face-to-face orientation so that they can adhere together to form the package.  
     
     
         14 . The package of  claim 11  wherein the first and second surface portions are provided as first and second laminate sheets which are placed above and below the article to be packaged with the cohesive material containing surface portions in face-to-face orientation so that they can adhere together to form the package.  
     
     
         15 . The package of  claim 11  wherein the adhered cohesive portions form a margin which completely surrounds the article to be packaged.  
     
     
         16 . A process for creating a package which encloses and seals an article therein, which comprises: 
 providing a packaging material in the form of a laminate that includes a water impermeable plastic film that is laminated to a first paper layer, wherein the film and paper layer have the same dimensions, and the laminate has a surface that is receptive to receiving adhesive or cohesive materials;    applying a cohesive material to one entire surface of the laminate; and    forming a package by placing the packaging material about an article to be packaged such that a first portion of the surface of the packaging material that includes cohesive material contacts another portion of the surface that includes cohesive material to adhere such portions to each other and form a sealed package which encloses the article.    
     
     
         17 . The process of  claim 16  wherein the plastic film of the laminate includes a second surface that is laminated to a second paper layer, wherein the laminate is further prepared by corona discharge treating the second surface of the plastic film to render it receptive to adhesives, followed by laminating the second surface of the plastic film to the second paper layer.  
     
     
         18 . The process of  claim 16  wherein the cohesive material is applied to first and second surface portions of the packaging material and the package is formed by placing the first surface of the packaging material above the article to be packaged and by placing the second surface portion of the packaging material below the article to be packaged, such that the first and second surface portions of the packaging material that include the cohesive material contact and adhere to each other to form the sealed package which encloses the article.  
     
     
         19 . The process of  claim 18  which further comprises providing the first and second surface portions on one side of a single sheet of the laminate and then forming the package by folding the sheet around the article to be packaged to place the cohesive material containing portions in face-to-face orientation so that they can be adhered together to form the package.  
     
     
         20 . The process of  claim 18  which further comprises providing the first and second surface portions on first and second laminate sheets and placing the sheets above and below the article to be packaged with the cohesive material containing surface portions in face-to-face orientation so that they can be adhered together to form the package.  
     
     
         21 . The process of  claim 16  wherein the plastic film is laminated to the paper layer with a water-based adhesive, wherein the paper layer is paper, Kraft paper, bond paper or white paper and the plastic film comprises polypropylene, polyethylene or polyester.  
     
     
         22 . The process of  claim 21  wherein the paper layer of the laminate includes a printed surface, the printed surface is adhered to the plastic film, and the plastic film forms an outer portion of the package.  
     
     
         23 . The process of  claim 21  wherein the paper layer includes first and second surfaces, the first surface is a printed surface, the second surface is adhered to the plastic film and the printed surface of the paper layer forms an outer portion of the package.  
     
     
         24 . The process of  claim 23  wherein the paper layer includes first and second surfaces, the first surface is a metallized surface, the second surface is adhered to the plastic film and the metallized surface of the paper layer forms a decorative outer portion of the package.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the adhered cohesive portions form a margin which completely surrounds the article to be packaged.