Flexible packaging materials and methods of making and using same

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to packaging materials for packaging articles, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a inflatable packaging material which includes, in one embodiment, a plurality of individual strips, strands, or units of material bondably connected to an exterior surface of a flexible, inflatable substrate. The flexible inflatable substrate having a decorative extension and the flexible inflatable substrate forming a cohesive cushioning unit for use as a packaging material.

1 . A packaging material, comprising: 
 a substratum adapted to support and cushion an object; and,    a printed pattern disposed on at least a portion of the substratum to provide the substratum with a grass-like appearance.    
     
     
         2 . The packaging material of  claim 1  wherein the substratum further includes an embossed pattern on at least a portion of the substratum.  
     
     
         3 . The packaging material of  claim 1  further including a decorative extension extending outwardly from at least a portion of the substratum.  
     
     
         4 . The packaging material of  claim 3  wherein the substratum further includes an embossed pattern on at least a portion of the substratum.  
     
     
         5 . The packaging material of  claim 2  wherein the embossed pattern is in register with the grass-like pattern.  
     
     
         6 . The packaging material of  claim 2  wherein the embossed pattern is out of register with the grass-like pattern.  
     
     
         7 . The packaging material of  claim 3  wherein the decorative extension is inflatable.  
     
     
         8 . The packaging material of  claim 3  wherein the decorative extension includes embossing on at least a portion of the decorative extension.  
     
     
         9 . The packaging material of  claim 3  further including a printed pattern simulating the appearance of decorative grass disposed on at least a portion of the decorative extension.  
     
     
         10 . The packaging material of  claim 8  further including a printed pattern simulating the appearance of decorative grass on at least a portion of the decorative extension.  
     
     
         11 . The packaging material of  claim 1  wherein the substratum is constructed of sponge-like material.  
     
     
         12 . The packaging material of  claim 1  further including a mass of individual strips, strands or units of material connected to the substratum.  
     
     
         13 . The packaging material of  claim 12  wherein the packing material further includes a bonding material disposed on the mass of individual strips, strands or units of material to form a cohesive mass of strips, strands and units of material connected to the substratum.  
     
     
         14 . The packaging material of  claim 13  wherein the of individual strips, strands or units of material are intertwined to form a cohesive mass of strips, strands and units of material connected to the substratum.  
     
     
         15 . A packaging material, comprising: 
 a substratum adapted to support and cushion an object; and,    a mass of individual strips, strands, or units of material connected to the substratum.    
     
     
         16 . The packaging material of  claim 15  further including a decorative extension extending outwardly from at least a portion of the substratum.  
     
     
         17 . The packaging material of  claim 16  further including printing on at least a portion of the decorative extension.  
     
     
         18 . The packaging material of  claim 15  wherein the substratum further includes an embossed pattern on at least a portion of the substratum.  
     
     
         19 . The packaging material of  claim 15  wherein at least a portion of the strips, strands, or units of material connected to the substratum are strips, strands or units of clear film laminated to strips, strands or units of iridescent film.  
     
     
         20 . The packaging material of  claim 15  wherein the substratum is constructed of sponge-like material.  
     
     
         21 . The packaging material of  claim 16  wherein at least a portion of the mass of strips, strands or units of material connected to the substratum are constructed of strips of clear film laminated to strips of iridescent film.  
     
     
         22 . The packaging material of  claim 21  further including embossing on the decorative extension extending outwardly from the substratum.  
     
     
         23 . The packaging material of  claim 22  further including a printed pattern on the decorative extension.  
     
     
         24 . The packaging material of  claim 15  wherein the mass of individual strips, strands or units of material connected to the substratum are intertwined to form a cohesive mass.  
     
     
         25 . The packaging material of  claim 15  wherein the packing material further includes a bonding material connected to the mass of individual strips, strands or units of material to form a cohesive mass of strips, strands and units of material disposed on the substratum.  
     
     
         26 . The packaging material of  claim 24  wherein the packing material further includes a bonding material disposed on the mass of individual strips, strands or units of material to form a cohesive mass of strips, strands and units of material connected to the substratum.  
     
     
         27 . A packaging material, comprising: 
 A substratum adapted to cushion at least one object,    at least one depression in the substratum, the at least one depression sized and configured to receive at least a portion of the at least one object; and    a mass of individual strips, strands or units of material connected to the substratum.    
     
     
         28 . The packaging material of  claim 27  wherein the packaging material further includes printed pattern simulating the appearance of decorative grass disposed on the substratum.  
     
     
         29 . The packaging material of  claim 27  further including an embossed pattern connected to the substratum.  
     
     
         30 . The packaging material of  claim 27  wherein the strips, strands or units of material connected to the substratum are constructed of strips of iridescent film laminated to strips of clear film.  
     
     
         31 . The packaging material of  claim 27  further including a decorative extension extending outwardly from the substratum.  
     
     
         32 . The packaging material of  claim 27  wherein the mass of individual strips, strands or units of material disposed on the substratum are intertwined to form a cohesive mass.  
     
     
         33 . The packaging material of  claim 27  wherein the packing material further includes a bonding material disposed on the mass of individual strips, strands or units of material to form a cohesive mass of strips, strands and units of material connected to the substratum.  
     
     
         34 . The packaging material of  claim 30  wherein the packing material further includes a bonding material disposed on the mass of individual strips, strands or units of material to form a cohesive mass of strips, strands and units of material connected to the substratum.  
     
     
         35 . The packaging material of  claim 27  wherein the depression is substantially elliptically configured and sized to receive at least a portion of at least one substantially egg-shaped object.  
     
     
         36 . An inflatable packaging material, comprising: 
 a flexible inflatable substrate having a decorative extension, an exterior surface and an interior surface, the interior surface defining an expandable interior inflation space; and    a mass of individual strips, strands, or units of material disposed on the exterior surface of the flexible inflatable substrate.    
     
     
         37 . The inflatable packaging material of  claim 36  further including a means for inflating the flexible inflatable substrate.  
     
     
         38 . The inflatable packaging material of  claim 37 , wherein the means for inflating the flexible inflatable substrate is disposed in the expandable interior inflation space of the flexible inflatable substrate.  
     
     
         39 . The inflatable packaging material of  claim 37 , wherein the means for inflating the flexible inflatable substrate is associated with the exterior surface of the flexible substrate and is in fluid communication with the expandable interior inflation space of the flexible inflatable substrate.  
     
     
         40 . The inflatable packaging material of  claim 37 , wherein the means for inflating the flexible inflatable substrate includes an exothermic reaction assembly, wherein when the exothermic reaction assembly is activated, an exothermic reaction takes place thereby producing a gas capable of filling at least a portion of the expandable interior inflation space of the flexible inflatable substrate.  
     
     
         41 . The inflatable packaging material of  claim 40 , wherein the exothermic reaction assembly further includes at least two chambers, wherein at least one of the at least two chambers contains a weak basic composition, and at least one of the at least two chambers contains a weak acid composition.  
     
     
         42 . The inflatable packaging material of  claim 41 , wherein the weak basic composition is a composition including a Group I or II element.  
     
     
         43 . The inflatable packaging material of  claim 42 , wherein the weak basic composition is selected from the group consisting of sodium carbonate, calcium carbonate, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         44 . The inflatable packaging material of  claim 42 , wherein the weak acid composition is vinegar.  
     
     
         45 . The inflatable packaging material of  claim 36 , wherein the exterior surface of the flexible inflatable substrate includes a decorative effect.  
     
     
         46 . The packaging material of  claim 36  wherein the mass of individual strips, strands or units of material connected to the substrate are intertwined to form a cohesive mass.  
     
     
         47 . The packaging material of  claim 36  wherein the packing material further includes a bonding material disposed on the mass of individual strips, strands or units of material to form a cohesive mass of strips, strands and units of material connected to the substrate.  
     
     
         48 . The packaging material of  claim 47  wherein the packing material further includes a bonding material disposed on the mass of individual strips, strands or units of material to form a cohesive mass of strips, strands and units of material connected to the substrate.