Stock material, protective packaging product and method

Abstract

A protective packaging product comprises a paper tube and an interconnected string of air filled pillows positioned within the paper tube. The paper tube is preferably a Kraft paper tube, and the air filled pillows are preferably plastic air filled pillows. The paper tube and interconnected string of air filled pillows can include perforations facilitating the tearing off of a selected length of the protective packaging product. A method of providing a protective packaging product comprises providing an elongated plastic film tube; providing an elongated paper tube; positioning the plastic film tube within the paper tube; inflating the plastic film tube; and forming a series of transverse heat seals in the plastic film tube to thereby form an interconnected string of air filled pillows within a paper tube. The method can further comprise providing perforations in the plastic film tube and the paper tube facilitating the tearing off of a selected length of the protective packaging product, or severing the plastic film tube and paper tube to produce a selected length of the protective packaging product.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A protective packaging product comprising: 
 a paper tube; and    an interconnected string of air-filled pillows positioned within said paper tube.    
     
     
         2 . The protective packaging product of  claim 1  wherein said paper tube is a Kraft paper tube.  
     
     
         3 . The protective packaging product of  claim 1  wherein said air filled pillows are plastic air filled pillows.  
     
     
         4 . The protective packaging product of  claim 1  wherein said paper tube and interconnected string of air filled pillows include perforations facilitating the tearing off of a selected length of said protective packaging product.  
     
     
         5 . A method of providing a protective packaging product comprising: 
 providing an elongated plastic film tube;    providing a pair of elongated paper sheets;    sandwiching the plastic film tube between the paper sheets;    adhering the confronting lateral edges of the pair of elongated paper sheets together;    inflating the plastic film tube; and    forming a series of transverse heat seals in the plastic film tube to thereby form an interconnected string of air filled pillows within a paper tube.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising: 
 providing perforations in the plastic film tube and paper sheets facilitating the tearing off of a selected length of the protective packaging product.  
 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  further comprising: 
 severing the plastic film tube and paper sheets to produce a selected length of the protective packaging product.  
 
     
     
         8 . A method of providing a protective packaging product comprising: 
 providing an elongated plastic film tube;    providing an elongated paper tube;    positioning the plastic film tube within the paper tube;    inflating the plastic film tube; and    forming a series of transverse heat seals in the plastic film tube to thereby form an interconnected string of air filled pillows within a paper tube.    
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising: 
 providing perforations in the plastic film tube and paper tube facilitating the tearing off of a selected length of the protective packaging product.  
 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising: 
 severing the plastic film tube and paper tube to produce a selected length of the protective packaging product.  
 
     
     
         11 . A method of forming a stock material from which to make a protective packaging product comprising: 
 providing an elongated plastic film tube;    providing a pair of elongated paper sheets;    sandwiching the plastic film tube between the paper sheets; and    adhering the confronting lateral edges of the pair of elongated paper sheets together.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising: 
 providing perforations in the plastic film tube and paper tube facilitating the tearing off of a selected length of the protective packaging product.  
 
     
     
         13 . A method of forming a stock material from which to make a protective packaging product comprising: 
 providing an elongated plastic film tube;    providing an elongated paper tube; and    positioning the plastic film tube within the paper tube.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising: 
 providing perforations in the plastic film tube and paper tube facilitating the tearing off of a selected length of the protective packaging product.