Small box shipper with internal inflatable bag

Abstract

An inflatable bag, folded on itself to form a first inflatable panel and a second inflatable panel, includes a first and second side, a first and second end, a valve, and two heat seals, each extending from the second side of the bag, spaced apart from each other and the first side and first and second end of the bag, and bonding a portion of the first inflatable panel to a portion of the second inflatable panel, the bag adapted upon inflation of the bag, to hold an article disposed between the first and second panels of the bag. The inflatable bag can be adhered to a flat blank, or otherwise disposed in a box or on a box component. Upon inflation of the bag, an article disposed between the first and second panels of the bag can be encapsulated by the bag. Alternative embodiments are also disclosed.

1 . A packaging system comprising: 
 a) an inflatable bag folded on itself to form a first inflatable panel and a second inflatable panel, the inflatable bag comprising 
 i) a first side,  
 ii) a second side,  
 iii) a first end,  
 iv) a second end,  
 v) a valve secured to the first end of the inflatable bag, and  
 vi) two heat seals each extending from the second side of the bag, the two heat seals spaced apart from each other, and spaced apart from the first side, the first end, and the second end of the bag, the two heat seals each bonding a portion of the first inflatable panel to a portion of the second inflatable panel; and  
   b) a flat blank to which the inflatable bag is adhered;    the system adapted upon inflation of the bag to hold an article disposed between the first and second panels of the bag.    
   
   
       2 . The packaging system of  claim 1  wherein the two heat seals are parallel to one another.  
   
   
       3 . The packaging system of  claim 1  wherein the inflatable bag is a thermoplastic bag.  
   
   
       4 . The packaging system of  claim 1  wherein the box comprises a paperboard material.  
   
   
       5 . The packaging system of  claim 1  wherein the second inflatable panel comprises a closure flap, the flap adapted to fold over the second side of the inflatable bag, and adhere to an outer surface of the first inflatable panel.  
   
   
       6 . An inflatable bag, folded on itself to form a first inflatable panel and a second inflatable panel, comprising: 
 a) a first side,    b) a second side,    b) a first end,    c) a second end,    d) a valve secured to the first end of the inflatable bag, and    e) two heat seals each extending from the second side of the bag, the two heat seals spaced apart from each other, and spaced apart from the first side, the first end, and the second end of the bag, the two heat seals each bonding a portion of the first inflatable panel to a portion of the second inflatable panel of the inflatable bag;    the bag adapted, upon inflation of the bag, to hold an article disposed between the first and second panels of the bag.    
   
   
       7 . The inflatable bag of  claim 6  wherein the two heat seals are parallel to one another.  
   
   
       8 . The inflatable bag of  claim 6  wherein the inflatable bag is a thermoplastic bag.  
   
   
       9 . The inflatable bag of  claim 6  wherein the second inflatable panel comprises a closure flap, the flap adapted to fold over the second side of the inflatable bag, and adhere to an outer surface of the first inflatable panel.  
   
   
       10 . The inflatable bag of  claim 7  wherein the first side and the second end of the bag each comprise a fold.  
   
   
       11 . A method of preparing a package comprising: 
 a) providing a flat blank having a first wall; and    b) adhering an inflatable bag to the first wall of the flat blank, the inflatable bag folded on itself to form a first inflatable panel and a second inflatable panel, the inflatable bag comprising 
 i) a first side,  
 ii) a second side,  
 iii) a first end,  
 iv) a second end,  
 v) a valve secured to the first end of the inflatable bag, and  
   c) two heat seals each extending from the second side of the bag, the two heat seals spaced apart from each other, and spaced apart from the first side, the first end, and the second end of the bag, the two heat seals each bonding a portion of the first inflatable panel to a portion of the second inflatable panel of the inflatable bag.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the two heat seals are parallel to one another.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the inflatable bag is a thermoplastic bag.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the flat blank comprises a paperboard material.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the second inflatable panel comprises a closure flap, the flap adapted to fold over the second side of the inflatable bag, and adhere to an outer surface of the first inflatable panel.  
   
   
       16 . A packaging system comprising: 
 a) an inflatable bag folded on itself to form a first inflatable panel and a second inflatable panel, the inflatable bag comprising 
 i) a first side,  
 ii) a second side,  
 iii) a first end,  
 iv) a second end,  
 v) a valve secured to the first end of the inflatable bag, and  
 vi) a heat seal extending along the second side of the bag, the heat seal bonding an edge portion of the first inflatable panel to a corresponding edge portion of the second inflatable panel of the inflatable bag; and  
   b) a flat blank to which the inflatable bag is adhered;    the system adapted upon inflation of the bag to hold an article disposed between the first and second panels of the bag.    
   
   
       17 . The packaging system of  claim 16  wherein the inflatable bag is a thermoplastic bag.  
   
   
       18 . The packaging system of  claim 16  wherein the flat blank comprises a paperboard material.  
   
   
       19 . An inflatable bag, folded on itself to form a first inflatable panel and a second inflatable panel, comprising: 
 a) a first side,    b) a second side,    c) a first end,    d) a second end,    e) a valve secured to the first end of the inflatable bag, and    f) a heat seal extending along the second side of the bag, the heat seal bonding an edge portion of the first inflatable panel to a corresponding edge portion of the second inflatable panel of the inflatable bag;    the bag adapted, upon inflation of the bag, to hold an article disposed between the first and second panels of the bag.    
   
   
       20 . The inflatable bag of  claim 19  wherein the inflatable bag is a thermoplastic bag.  
   
   
       21 . A method of preparing a package comprising: 
 a) providing a flat blank having a first wall; and    b) adhering an inflatable bag to the first wall of the flat blank, the inflatable bag folded on itself to form a first inflatable panel and a second inflatable panel, the inflatable bag comprising 
 i) a first side,  
 ii) a second side,  
 iii) a first end,  
 iv) a second end,  
 v) a valve secured to the first end of the inflatable bag, and  
   c) a heat seal extending along the second side of the bag, the heat seal bonding an edge portion of the first inflatable panel to a corresponding edge portion of the second inflatable panel of the inflatable bag.    
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the inflatable bag is a thermoplastic bag.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the flat blank comprises a paperboard material.